Jay took Riele out to a beautiful place. It was filled with flowers and there were a few couples there. "What's this place?" she asked him. "It's Called, 'A place of love." Jay watched her stare at the place with amazement. "It's where lovers come to spend some time or where someone comes to profess his love to the one he loves."Riele turned to look at him when he heard it. What does he mean by that? She thought. They weren't lovers. Does that mean... "Riele, I have been dying to let you know this." he paused, grabbed her hands, and placed a tiny kiss on them. "I love you, Riele. I don't know how long this feeling has been there but I can't seem to hold it in anymore. I can't seem to pretend that we are just friends when I feel something deep for you." Riele was about to speak but he continued. "I get jealous when I see someone else making you smile. I was angry when Kim kissed you and it was then I realized that... I love you."Riele was shocked. She wasn't expecting this when s
“Riele,” Kim called with a smile on his faceRiele was confused. First, he came to her house unannounced and now he is smiling at her. “Listen, I know you are wondering why I am here and I will explain all that if you just stop standing there and staring at me like that.” She couldn’t believe she had been standing there for a while. She mustered up the courage and sat down next to him. She wanted the night to be over so she could sleep through all the whole happenings today. She waited for him to say what he had to say so that he could get the hell out of her house. “How was your day with Jay?” Why is he asking me about Jay? She asked herself. “It was great,” she answered. “I had a good time with him.” “I see.” He rubbed his palms together and his eyes were fixed on something she couldn’t place her mind on. He slowly turned to her and asked, “Did you tell him yes?” What? Does that mean he knew about Jay’s plan? Is that why he is here? But why would he be h
The following day, Riele went over to Charlotte's house. She was unable to get any sleep because she didn't trust Utter with her best friend. What if he decides to hurt the baby? She arrived at her place and pressed the doorbell several times but there was no sign of Charlotte. She was about to kick the door with her leg when the door opened only for Charlotte to see Riele in a karate style. She was shocked."What is going on?" She asked.Riele cleared her throat, ignored her question and went inside the house. "What took you so long to open the door?""I was just coming out of the bathroom and you didn't tell me that you were coming around." Charlotte was watching her friend search the whole apartment. "What are you looking for?""Where is he?""Oh! Kim?" She asked.Riele came to meet her and she could tell that something definitely happened last night. "Yes, Kim. The one you said came over last night drunk, the one...""Chill girlfriend, I know the Kim you are talking about.""Well
Jay and Madison were through with the shoot and Jay ran to meet Riele who was lost in thoughts as she walked aimlessly around the company. "Hey," he called.She turned to look at him and flash him a bittersweet smile. "Hi, how was the shoot?" She asked.Jay could tell that there was something different about the way she sounded. He knew something had happened in his absence."It was okay. I finished fast so I could catch up with you. What are you doing here though?""I was just getting some fresh air.""Is there something you aren't telling me?""Uh?"Jay held her hand and pulled her close. "Your face..." he stroke her face. "...your eyebrows..." he touched them as he straightened. "...and the sound of your voice tells me something is wrong.""It is nothing... I just...""Is it because of what happened last night? I apologized and I told you that I will wait for you.""No, Jay, it is not about you.""Then who?"Riele bit her lips as she looked at Jay. He was so worried about her. Why
Kim and Jay were seated in the office discussing about something important. "There is a new gig and I feel I had to let you in on it." "What is that?" He passed the documents over to Jay and explained the details to him. "We will be going to California for a fashion show and from what is written there, you can see that our presence is very important." Jay flipped the pages as he read the documents. "So you are saying that we are all going for this trip." Kim nodded. "You, me, Madison and Charlotte." Jay stopped reading when he noticed Kim stopped without calling Riele's name. "Aren't you forgetting someone?" "Who?" he pretended as if he didn't know what he did. "Where do you leave Riele in all this?" "It is not compulsory for her to be there." "What is going on, Kim?" "How do you mean?" "I thought you were trying to build a bond with her but with what I am seeing, I feel like you are trying to distant yourself away from her." "That's not true." "Really?" "Can we not talk
Riele decided to visit Charlotte after work and then go home later. She entered the apartment and saw her preparing dinner. "You love cooking," she dropped her bag and joined her in the kitchen. "It is not me but the baby. ""But the food will still pass through you. ""What are you driving at?" she cast her a quick look before going back to what she was cooking. "I am saying that you love food."Charlotte laughed. "How was work today?" "Well, the usual.""What did Jay and Kim say about your dress?""Nothing.""What do you mean nothing? Were they busy?""Kim is acting strange and I don't like it. "Charlotte noticed the sadness in her voice. She knew they had so much to discuss so she turned off the gas and gestured for her to sit down. "What happened?""Remember yesterday I told you that he came around...""Without any purpose, which of course I doubt."Riele looked at her and she could tell she was making fun of the whole Kim coming without a purpose thing. "Are you going to b
Riele got home and she was happy to see Harry awake, watching T.V. She stared at him for a while and she remembered how much he troubled her when he was younger. He has grown into a big boy and she can't wait to see more of him. For a young boy, he is handling matters pretty well. She hasn't sat down to talk to him about things but one day she will. "Harry, I am home." He rushed to meet her and took the things she brought with her. "Welcome sis." "Why isn't the door locked? I have told you several times... " "to shut the door whenever you are out…I know." He locked the door. "How was work?" "Exhausting." "And Mr. Kim?" he turned to look at his sister who was already giving him weird looks. "Since when did you and Mr. Kim become close friends?" "We aren't friends yet but I would love to be close to him. He seems like a sweet guy. I prefer him more to that Jay guy." "Jay is a very sweet person. You are just saying all this because you haven't met him yet." "Maybe and maybe n
Riele was running so she could get to the hospital in time. She had no idea why she didn't board a taxi instead of running. She was happy and a great joy filled her heart as she thought about the text she received from the doctor. Her thought was disturbed by the continuous beeping of a car. She was getting irritated because she felt the beeping was directed toward but she was on the sidewalk and not the road, so why the beeping? She asked herself and then she turned only to find a Rolls-Royce Phantom driving in her direction and the moment she stopped, the car stopped and the driver rolled down the window and she saw it was her boss. She was shocked that all she could do was stare at him in bewilderment. Why was he here? Questions that couldn't be answered just by asking herself were raging in her mind. She was appalled when she saw him get out of his vehicle and approached her. She was immobile till he stood in front of her. Riele was dumbstruck. "Mr. Kim, what are you doin
Kim sat on the edge of the bed, his hands folded tightly in his lap. The room felt too quiet now that the words he had been holding inside were finally out. The weight of everything—his feelings for Riele, the kiss with Jane, the way he had been juggling both women for so long—was pressing down on him. And yet, for the first time in what felt like forever, he wasn’t sure where to go next. Jay leaned against the wall, arms crossed as he regarded his friend. The tension between them had always been palpable, but now it was different. Jay knew Kim had been struggling with his feelings for a while, and he knew it wasn’t easy to come to terms with it. Still, the conversation they needed to have wasn’t over."You've got to talk to Riele about the kiss," Jay finally said, his voice steady but firm. "You can't just let that slide. It means something, Kim. She deserves to know how you feel."Kim’s eyes dropped to the floor as he exhaled sharply. “I know it was a mistake,” he muttered, his voi
Kim stiffened as Jane’s lips touched his, his mind racing. The kiss was fleeting, but the impact lingered like a storm cloud ready to burst. He pulled back sharply, his hand raising as if to create distance between them.“Jane, what are you doing?” His voice was low, confused, and laced with regret.She smiled faintly, her eyes searching his. “Reminding you of what we had… and what we could still have.”Kim clenched his jaw, his heart heavy with the weight of her words. “That was a long time ago. Things are different now. I love Riele.”Jane’s expression darkened, but she masked it with a bitter smile. “Love? You think what you have with her is love? We built something real, Kim. That doesn’t just disappear because she came into the picture.”“It’s not about her replacing anything,” Kim said firmly. “It’s about what’s real now.” He took a step back. “I can’t do this, Jane. I’m sorry.”But before he could say more, a gasp from behind startled them both.At the garden’s entrance, Riele
The morning sun filtered through the grand hotel windows, filling the room with a soft glow. The air was warm with the scent of fresh pastries and brewed coffee as the four of them gathered for breakfast. The mood was lighter than the night before; the glow of victory still clung to their smiles and conversations.“Any plans for today?” Jay asked, his eyes twinkling with playful energy as he glanced around the table.“I think we should take a break and explore,” Jane suggested, her fingers idly stirring her cup of tea. “After all, we’re in one of the most beautiful cities in the world.”Riele nodded, the idea of getting some fresh air and exploring beyond the competition appealing to her. “That sounds great. We should make a day of it.”Kim, his hand resting lightly on Riele’s, looked between her and Jane. “All of us together?”Jay grinned. “Actually, why don’t we split up? I’ve got some places in mind, and I was thinking Riele might want to join me. You could—” He flicked a glance at
After the award ceremony’s excitement settled, the group decided it was time to unwind. The long hours of preparation, the tense competition, and the adrenaline of victory had left them all exhausted. They headed back to their hotel, each person retreating to their respective rooms to savor a moment of peace before the after-party.Riele entered her room and closed the door, leaning against it for a moment. The plush carpet under her feet felt grounding after the overwhelming rush of the day. She took a deep breath, her mind still replaying the events of the evening—the applause, the bright lights, and Kim’s heartfelt speech thanking them all.When Kim had pulled her into that celebratory kiss, her heart had leaped in her chest. The kiss wasn’t just about winning; it had felt like a culmination of every moment they had fought for. Even now, the memory left her feeling warm and light-headed. She had kissed him back, completely forgetting the cameras, the crowd, and the world beyond the
The air was thick with excitement as the awards ceremony reached its climax. The grand hall buzzed with energy, the flashing lights of cameras catching every angle of the designers, models, and industry professionals who had poured months of hard work into the competition. The atmosphere was electric, the crowd eagerly waiting for the final announcement—the winner of the year’s prestigious modeling competition.The host stood at the podium, his charismatic voice booming through the venue, addressing the crowd with flair. “Ladies and gentlemen, before we announce tonight’s winner, let’s take a moment to thank all the incredible participants who have made this competition so remarkable. Without each of you, this show wouldn’t be the success it is today. A round of applause for all our competitors!”The crowd erupted into applause, and the models and designers stood proudly, each one sharing in the collective pride of what had been a hard-fought competition. From the beginning, every one
The atmosphere in the venue had shifted again, this time to a celebratory one. The excitement in the air was palpable as the models, their looks still sharp and ready, mingled backstage, awaiting their next assignment. The host, a charismatic woman in a bold red dress, stood before the crowd, her eyes glinting with enthusiasm.“Now, everyone,” she announced, “it’s time for something special. We want all the bosses of our incredible models to join them on stage for a photo op. It’s time for a snapshot of success, a symbol of the hard work and collaboration that’s gotten us to this moment.”Riele felt a small wave of anxiety at the mention of the "bosses"—that meant Kim would be front and center, just as he always was. The others gathered in groups, some laughing, some adjusting their outfits, while Riele remained slightly apart, her gaze flicking to where Kim was already motioning for her."Riele," Kim called, his tone casual but firm, “come on over here. I want to get a picture with yo
The music pulsed through the venue, echoing off the high ceilings and filling the space with an energy that was impossible to ignore. Riele stood backstage, her hands trembling slightly as she waited for her name to be called. The sound of other models walking, the faint murmur of the crowd, and the laughter of the host were all distant noises in her ears. Right now, the world seemed to narrow to the space right in front of her—the runway, the lights, and the anticipation building with every passing second.“Next, Riele,” came the voice of the assistant, calling her forward.Her heart thudded in her chest as she took a deep breath. She had prepared for this, practiced for months, and now it was time to shine. She couldn’t let her nerves control her. This was her moment.Jay gave her an encouraging smile as she passed by him on her way to the runway. “You got this,” he whispered, his words simple but full of conviction.Riele’s smile was small but genuine. “Thanks, Jay.”The moment she
**Chapter Title: "The Road to Glory"**The morning light filtered through the sleek windows of the luxury car, illuminating the faces of Kim, Riele, Jay, and Jane as they sat in silence, the anticipation thick in the air. The competition was just a few hours away, and the nerves that had been building up over the past four weeks were reaching their peak.The car was spacious, comfortable, and equipped with everything they could need for the journey. Plush leather seats, tinted windows, and soft music playing from the speakers set a calm tone, but the undercurrent of excitement could not be hidden. Kim was at the front, his face set with determination, while Jane sat next to him, her posture stiff, her fingers fidgeting with the hem of her jacket. Riele and Jay sat together in the back, the distance between them and Jane palpable.As they drove toward the venue, Riele couldn’t help but look out the window, trying to calm her racing thoughts. This was it. The moment she had been waiting
Utter sat in his dimly lit living room, the cold glass of whiskey in his hand reflecting the soft glow of the lamp beside him. The room was still, save for the low hum of a nearby fridge and the occasional clink of ice as he took another drink. His thoughts swirled in a haze of frustration and regret, the burn of alcohol barely numbing the ache in his chest.He had been planning to leave for the competition, eager to reclaim some semblance of control in his life, but that had all been derailed by Madison. She had shown up, as if out of nowhere, and completely dismantled the fragile plans he had made. The anger still simmered beneath the surface. He had to admit, he wasn’t ready to face the competition now—not with everything weighing on his mind. Not with the unresolved mess that was his life.But what else was left for him? He had rejected Charlotte’s pregnancy, and the fallout from that decision had been harder to ignore than he had anticipated. He hadn't been prepared to see her lea