The showstopper

"You will be my showstopper today." Susan, Melissa's secretary, announced the favour that she wants from Anastasia which sounded more like an order than a request to her.

Anastasia looks terrified at her and steps back immediately.

"NO. That's not possible!" She denied her words instantly.

"But you just said that you will help me in every way possible. Please help me, Anastasia. You don't know the people under whom I work. They held a lot of power. I will be on the street with my three younger sisters. Please help me and be the showstopper." Susan literally begged to her but she continues to deny. She closes her eyes briefly.

"I don't understand why you think I can do that when I definitely can't! I don't even have the potential to be the showstopper! I am a normal girl!" Anastasia exclaimed while looking down at herself. 

"Are you kidding me?!" Susan scoffed at her. "Look at yourself! You can easily be the international model to walk the international runways. You are so beautiful that you will succeed in the work even more than the actual showstopper." Susan exclaimed back.

"That’s impossible. I don't have any experience of modelling. I was in DH fashion company for the job of a small fashion designer. That's all. I design dresses, don't wear them and walk with them." Anastasia tried to explain.

She and some other interviewers were seated for hours to get interviewed at the sitting area of DH fashion company, a new but rising company which is doing miracles in the fashion world. But suddenly someone came and brought them here, in a modeling event for dresses designed by none other than, the MM queen to prepare for the interview with everything that they got. She was really excited after hearing that she got the chance to witness such an iconic fashion show. But never in her wildest dreams that she dreamt of being the showstopper of this show. 

No! It's impossible for her! She can't do that!

"Also I have some personal issues." Anastasia said that part in a low voice. 

She can't forget about her anxiety problems. What if she gets overwhelmed at the ramp and faints due to anxiety? That will be a disaster and the second hand insult will be the bonus. 

"It's not the time to think about personal issues. Be professional. You have to do this today for me or else you can't even imagine the consequences which me and you have to face. Our sponsor and your supposed boss knows no limits to turn our careers down and I don’t want that to happen to any of us. We have so much hope from this project. If it fails, at first he will ruin me and then he will come back to ruin you when he knows that you didn't help even though you had a chance." Susan used another trick to convince her.

This all seems horrible to hear but Khushi is still unprepared to accept it.

"I am sure you will find someone else. Please." She insists and tries to convince her one last time. 

"Enough of pleading. Either you do this or get the hell out of this building with your CV. I don’t see your future of working as the fashion designer here ever after I tell the company how their interviewer left at the time of the company. Which proves how incapable you are for the role of working here. Also look at those models, If you have that courage to ruin all their careers, please walk out. If you can’t see that happening, accept my proposal" Susan said and gave her some space to think properly.

Anastasia steps behind, her back stumbles with the table behind which she holds for some support. This cannot happen. She thought it was her day! She thought nothing can ruin her day today! But it seems like things are getting bad pretty fast. Her interview was cancelled, she was asked to be the showstopper and now she is getting threatened.

She shuts her eyes, trying to focus and decide and she takes the decision almost instantly. She is going to walk out of this hall room. She doesn't care about her job here. She believes in herself that if she is capable enough, she can get the job anywhere. She can not let things get more bad for her today. And if she stays here any longer, things will get worse and she can sense it already. 

She opened her eyes with determination.

"So what did you decide?" Susan asked one more time with hope filled inside her.

"I am leaving." She announced and took her purse and stepped out only to see the models of the fashion show, waiting in line for their turns to come and walk on the ramp. There is so much hope in their eyes and desire to make this show a success. All their careers depend on her one decision today. Will she walk over their dreams?

****

Melissa eyed the man of her dream with a lot of admiration. A sigh left out of her lips as she got lost in his chocolate brown eyes even though he was not looking at her. His perfect body was to die for. His caramel coloured, silky smooth hair was styled in an arrogant way while the black designer business suit hugged his lean muscular body like it was made just for him to wear. 

Darius Henderson.

He is a rich, highly dignified business tycoon in the country. He is a self-made billionaire. He has been known for his flamboyant and short-tempered attitude and he absolutely hates the womankind. No woman can even step on his shadow, yet there was a rumour four years ago that he got married to his 'secret girlfriend' whom he loved for a long time but before anyone can prove that, the rumour died down within one year for some reasons and his secret wife was a secret only for the world.

Melissa knew him for three years when he showed interest in the fashion industry for some reason. His business is basically a conglomerate. Their family business is actually everything which makes money. He started investing on her designs because she was the best in her job. If she is known as the queen then he is definitely the king in the business world. There are rumours about them dating but that is far from reality. But she can safely call herself his friend.

Melissa walked toward him in slow steps as he was talking to the present models, trying to boost their performance and confidence. But their attention was more on him than his words which made her burn in jealousy. She always marks her territory with the models but with the problem lingering on her head, she didn't have time to warn the models to refrain their eyes from eyeing what is her. 

"Darius? Can I have a moment of yours? Please." She politely asked as Darius absolutely hates disrespect, especially from women.

Darius Henderson turned around and gestures to her to give a minute more. He then looks at the models again and this time his tone was dangerous and full of intimidation which even made Melissa shiver.

"Just get this done right girls. I don’t want to lose money because of any of you. And if that happens, I will ensure none of you ever even dream of walking on the ramp again." He said as his chocolate brown eyes turned black.

This was more threatening than boosting. Melissa felt intimidated by his way of handling the situation. She is sure he is going to lose his temper knowing that their showstopper cannot make it here and they weren't able to find her replacement yet. Darius returns to Melissa and stands in front of her with his hands in his pockets. His tenth secretary stood behind him.

"What?" He asked arrogantly.

'Don't take it to heart, Melissa. He is like that for the event. He is being professional!' She ranted on her head to calm her heart down as his rude behaviour hurt her.

"Uhh.. We … We have an issue here." She gathered all the courage that she had and prepared herself for the worst.

His eyes widen in anger and she reads it almost instantly. She quickly explains the problem of how the showstopper met with an accident while reaching here and his face reddens. He punches his fist on the side wall, bruising himself and shocking everyone around him. Melissa gasped loudly and stepped forward to help him but he stopped her by showing his palm.

"I am not very good at self-control, Melissa and you know that." He exclaimed. "So, you better set things right before I dump this entire show here and your career too." He threatened her too.

Melissa swallows hard.

"Darius, we are working on this. Please don’t panic." Melissa tried to calm him down which angered him more.

He laughs sarcastically.

"You should panic, Melissa, not me. Because if I lose interest here, you know you will have to pack up forever from this industry or even country and sell your designs on the road rather than on the ramp." He mocked her with no mercy.

His harsh words prick her badly but she nods in defeat. That is the only way to avoid any argument with him. She was battling her eyes continuously to control her tears.

Ariana, his personal assistant, walked up to them, interrupting their conversation as professionally as she could while trying her best to not act affected with everything that happened here in less than five minutes. Because that's the only way to keep her job.

"Sir, the show has begun. Your introduction is first. The media is waiting too." She informed him.

Darius nodded at her coldly and turned back to Melissa. He pointed a finger at Melissa's face.

"Set this up .. FAST." With that warning, he heads out with Ariana. 

Melissa is on the verge of breaking down. Never in her has she been this insulted and it pricked her more because it was coming from Darius whom she loved from the time her eyes landed on him.

"Wh.. what do I do now?!" She exclaimed to no one in the empty corner. 

"Ma'am, we found the showstopper!" She heard her personal secretary's voice and her words sounded honey to her ears. 

"Who is she? One of the best models of Victoria secret or one of the international models who participated on this year's Miss Universe?" She impatiently asked as she turned around to face Susan, her secretary. She was smiling broadly.

"Neither. It's.. me." 

Anastasia walked ahead and stood in front of her.