Chapter 51: Chapter 51

Ariana's POV

It was the day of my big final rehearsals, ever since that last incident, Ms. Bennie had not been responding to my practice, she would just sit and watch me do whatever without any contribution whatsoever, I wondered why she was being so hostile o towards me, I hadn't done anything wrong to her. Today is the day of my big final rehearsals before I'll do my commercial and then it will be aired, although, I had practiced on my own, I was still a nervous wreck, all the models were already seated, waiting to see what I've got that made me to be chosen as the face instead of them, from the corner of my eyes, I saw Samantha smirking, she probably wished I'll fail so I could be replaced.

"Spot please" I managed to rasp in my nervousness and Olivia came forward with her makeup kit and did a retouch on me.

"Don't be nervous, you look beautiful and on the day of your come out, You'll look extremely Smashy" she winked at me before moving out from the stage, I mustered a smile, "the lights we be on in few seconds. Ready...roll"

I pasted a smile on my face as I did a step out, walking few steps before pausing with one hand on my knee and the other on my waist, the lights of the camera clicked before I changed to another style, calling out the names of the styles in my head before posing, "seductive" I left my lips slightly agape, turning my head to the side, I used my other hand to rub my bare shoulders and set my eyes to look dreamy, after the click of the camera, next, I did a twirl setting different expressions while the cameras kept clicking and when the lights were changed, I did a pose that fits in very well, I could see the awed look of everyone and this boost my morale as I twirled in a round motion, smiling, and then I heard it, a snap, my eyes widened as the strap of my dress undid, just before it came off, I caught it and held it close to my chest, I gazed around, the audience were staring at me in confusion, wondering why I had stopped, Ms Bennie walked up to me furiously, "why the hell did you stop? Continue"

"I...my...dress..." She didn't even wait to listen to my explanation, "oh common, stop with your excuses, you've forgotten your next step" I shook my head, why won't she listen to me? She pushed me back to the middle of the runway and in the process, the heels of my shoe broke and I fell down, landing on hands and knees on the floor, my dress sliding from my chest, I heard the gasps and whispers as they stared at each other in confusion, Ms. Bennie snickered, "you couldn't even keep your attire well and you want to be our calendar girl" I was seated on the floor, trying to cover my body with my arms, tears flowed freely from my eyes, someone must have done this, how could my strap unbind at the same time, my shoe which was strong yesterday suddenly broke, Olivia ran towards me and tried to help me up, "let her be, I am her manager, I do not need you to do my duty okay" Ms. Bennie queried, "come on, stand up, why are you just sitting there crying?"

"What's going on here?" Dylan's voice boomed and the whole place was suddenly quiet that even a drop of a pin can be heard, his gaze found me sitting on the floor with tears in my eyes and the molten color flashed, indicating how furious he was feeling, he stared at Ms. Bennie" I said what's going on here?" He barked causing her to jump, she whimpered fearfully, pointing towards me, "s...she...f...fell...d...down" her teeth chattered as she stammered out her words, Dylan walked to me, and took in my state in a glance, his eyes burned with anger, he quickly took off his jacket and placed it on me, he gently drew me up, "choose another manager" I stared at him in confusion, "Ms. Bennie cannot be your manager anymore because she's leaving, so choose another " I heard Ms. Bennie gasped and the staff murmured among themselves, my gaze landed on Olivia, "I... choose her"

"Henceforth, you'll be her manager" Dylan informed her and she nodded her head, beaming continuously, I saw her mouth "thank you" to me and I smiled weakly

"B...but... Sir..." Ms. Bennie started but was shunned by Dylan, who raised a finger to stop her words, he only said a single word and that was, "out" she whimpered, "w.. what!'

"I said get out..." He bellowed she had no choice but to scurry away, she paused by the door when Dylan told her to halt, "walking up to her menacingly, his gaze fierce, he is the ruthless Dylan Sabastine, no one could stand in the face of his anger and go freely, "I promise you that outside fashion bureau, I'll make sure, you never have to work in any other place ever again, now get going and never show your face to me ever again"

"Mercy Sir, have mercy on me"

"I'll show you mercy when I land your ass in jail and make sure you don't get bailed, I said get going" she all but ran out, wailing so loudly. There was a collective silence in the hall, everyone wondering what he's gonna do next, what he did next shocked everyone including me.

Dylan walked up to me and drew me against his chest much to the amazement of everyone, "what are you doing?" I whispered from the corner of my mouth, he brushed his lips against mine and my eyes bulged, others gawked from him to me and I blushed from the root of my hair, why did he do that? He placed his arm around my shoulders possessively, "it should be noted that anyone that I will not tolerate any insult on her, she's my woman, anyone who messes with her will face my wrath, am I understood?" There were rapid nods all over, their expression shocked, he turned to Olivia, "what just happened with Ms. Bennie shouldn't repeat itself"

"Yes Sir"

"You're all dismissed, the rehearsals will be done again tomorrow".

Dylan's POV

I stormed into my office, visions of Ariana on the floor trying to cover up herself kept replaying in my head, how could she allow people to stomp on her that way, Ms. Bennie, she'll regret her actions for the rest of her life, I'll make sure of that, my office door swung opened as Ariana walked in, "what was...." I cut her short furiously, I was so mad at her also, "you didn't deem it necessary to inform me of Ms. Bennie's misbehavior towards you?" I gritted, and she slowly backed away fidgeting, "I...I...wanted to handle it myself " I scoffed at her, "I saw how well you were handling it and she was damn enjoying your humiliation" she walked closer and rub my shoulders, "please, calm down"

"Do not tell me to calm down, I just cannot tolerate it when you're humiliated, do you derive joy in being humiliated? Henceforth, if anyone misbehaves with you, I won't hold back" I puffed out a breath, needing a drink, I eyed her torn dress, I'm going to find out who's responsible for that, "let's go"

"What? Where?"

"You have to get changed"

I watched the beginning of a blush on her cheeks as she examined her dress, she swallowed as she walked out with me.

Samantha's POV

I screamed in annoyance as I entered my office, event of what had just taken place in my head, how could he declare her as his woman in front of everyone, he had simply given her an edge over me, he had placed more value on her than on me, gosh, when will they realize that she's a fraud, an Ill omen, I kicked against my desk and hop on one foot as pain shot up my legs. For a moment, I wished I was the one being claimed so possessively in front of everyone, I am the only one that deserves to be loved, she doesn't deserve one bit of love, I'll remove this facade of hers and show her real face to the world, her come out is just a few weeks away, I promise that the world will see how ugly she really was. They'll get to know that she's nothing but a freak.