As the event started to draw to a close, Lyra moved towards the portion of the hall where her models stood in small groups inside the hall.She displayed a satisfied grin on her face, looking particularly pleased by their performance. She opened up her arms to give each of them a hug."Great job, guys." She praised, gesturing cheerfully."This is exactly how I wanted my product to be launched. We did it. We really did." She repeated, nodding happily.While the felicitation was still going on, Lyra's secretary, Bancroft, immediately joined the gathering from behind, looking a bit anxious. She had her boss's bag slung over her shoulder and one of her phones in her hand."Madam, your phone has been ringing nonstop." She said, stretching out the phone as soon as she was near Lyra. "It's Drey." She added in a half-whisper.Lyra collected the phone with an even brighter smile on her face.She picked up the call and started to make her way outside the building, with her secretary tagging
Lyra smiled after the whisper from Matthew. Matthew smiled too and reclined, taking about two steps backward before taking Lyra's hand again and leading her towards the ballroom, where the dinner party was already kicking off.Behind them, the shutter-click sounds of multiple cameras persisted.The moment the duo entered the crowded hall with more people standing and moving about than sitting, the first pair of eyes Lyra saw glaring at Matthew and herself from the front seat was Dante's eyes. His face was red with anger mixed with jealousy, and he looked like he was ready to punch Matthew from where he sat if given the chance. She looked away, ignoring him with a calm smile still on her face as she proceeded with Matthew toward another group of chairs on the left side of the room. She could still sense Dante's eyes even after they had taken their seats.She sat back and picked one of the vintage wine bottles on their desk, and with practiced ease, she peeled away the foil and extra
"No." Lyra blurted, shaking her head faintly and turning to face Matthew again."No, we can't.” She repeated.But we can still be friends, though." She added.Matthew breathed out loudly, taking a short but heavy pause to absorb the response. After that, he nodded and tapped on the steering wheel gently with one of his palms before smiling to respond."Okay." Lyra smiled back and thanked him for his understanding.He turned on the ignition and drove off in a forward direction.After their time at the park, Matthew dropped Lyra off at her apartment's central gate. After she climbed down, he lowered his head from the window to wave meekly."Thanks for making my day, Eleanor. I hope to see you again soon."Lyra let out a short laugh, waving back to say,"Thank you too, and same here."She stood to watch him make a reverse with one hand, finally returning the car to face the previous route before zooming off again into the dark. She then heaved a silent sigh as she turned around after
Dante stiffened at first as the hoarse voice behind him repeated the same question.He swiveled on his feet anxiously and flung his head backward to confirm his fears; it was indeed the wizened, accusing face of Grandmother Alessandra standing behind him.Lyra stepped partially out of the elevator, triggering the sensors on the doors, which delayed them from closing up. She was watching the familiar older woman and her grandson quietly.Dante threw one last helpless glance at Lyra before turning to face his grandma completely."What…what are you doing here?" He stuttered to ask with his eyes twinkling like someone who was before a ghost.And when his grandma kept staring at him judgmentally without answering for the first few seconds, he ran his hand over his head nervously before asking further."I mean, how did you find out about this place?"The old woman shrugged weakly."I told you I would find you, and so did I."Then she folded her arms and moved closer to him by two steps."Re
At Thompson's fashion headquarters, Felix was sitting in his office, with his head bowed and buttocks at the edge of his chair, while his grandmother stood some inches away from his table, with her hands on her waist, fuming and cursing."What the hell was that back there?" She asked, pointing toward the door as though that was where the showcase had been held."Did you see the reaction the crowd gave to these Elysium people? Did you witness the sales they were projected to make compared to us? How can we be losing in and out, Mr. CEO? How dare you bring me so much embarrassment?""But... I couldn't have forced them to show love to our brand." Felix stuttered to defend himself. Looking frustrated too.She stopped for a moment to stare at him disdainfully, dropping her hands from her waist. The look in her eyes this time did not just communicate disappointment but also disgust."Can you just hear yourself? I can't force our customers to show love to our brand,” she mimicked, wagging he
Aria stepped into the hall tentatively; she took a few steps in and then stopped again.Once she was past the entrance, loud music boomed from inside out, so loud that Aria had to screw up her face for a moment to absorb the wind of uncoordinated noise from the speakers. A small crowd was standing at the center stage, and most of them were made up of wild-looking males and skimpily dressed females dancing as partners, hands threw wildly in the air as they dry-humped themselves in the red, bubbly dimness, screaming happily to the sound of the music.Aria kept both hands on her waist as she looked around for traces of Felix.She did not have to look for too long because the moment she switched her face towards the bar area, she indeed found Felix's bowed frame sitting next to a stool with a glass of gin next to him. He was drinking.And his expression was as lost and pathetic as it could ever be.Aria sucked her teeth, not knowing what exactly to feel for him. After all, whatever it wa
"Nice doing business with you, Mr. Dante." Mr. Tommy, the former executive owner of JJ Entertainment, said, shaking hands with Dante as the both of them stood right in front of their head office moments after closing in on the purchase transaction they just concluded.Both of them posed calmly while Dante flaunted the signed agreement in his hand for pictures. About two or three reporters jostled and crouched for the best angle a few spaces away from them, flashing their devices at the industry owners as they tried to capture every moment of the landmark transaction.As the flashbulbs continued to pulse, the atmosphere shifted when suddenly A gray-colored land cruiser vehicle darted through the large, opened gate almost too quickly; it dashed into the sprawling yard of the label facility, followed by the violent screeching of its tires. The entrance made every one of them, including Dante and Tommy, lift their heads impulsively and uniformly toward the direction of the vehicle that
Matthew stopped by at the head office of his record label the next morning. He intended to discuss some of his touring plans with his manager, as he had been too busy attending shows the previous week.The first thing he noticed as he walked towards the sleek lobby of the managerial section was the over-the-board repainting and readjustments being made to the building from the inside out. Even the golden star logo peculiar to the JJ entertainment brand was being replaced all over the walls by a bold single "D" sign. The staff members, too, including the security men at the gate and a few of the cleaners he passed by, wore T-shirts that sported the same logo."What's going on?" He stopped to mutter to himself, wondering how the label owners could have made such a significant change to its logo without informing its biggest artist.He immediately burst into vibrant strides once again, hastening his footsteps as he approached his manager's office, swinging the car keys in his hands.He