Page 11 of Aquarius Awakening
“Where have you been hiding this talent? I love all the designs. Fellas, what do you think?” I asked the other members of the team.
They nodded their heads in unison and agreed. Now that I was confident our swimwear portion of the show was saved, it was time to share my designs.
“Before I share my designs, I want to remind you to be honest. In this moment, I’m a fellow designer, not your boss. If anything needs to be altered, I will not be offended,” I reminded them.
I placed my sketches on the desk for them to view. They each took their time reviewing the five sketches. I was nervous because I knew how difficult it could be to criticize your boss. This was a pivotal moment for us because I needed to know I could trust my team.
“I have a slight suggestion on this piece,” Louisa commented.
“Go ahead. I’m listening,” I stated.
“I think the V-neck of the dress should come up a little more. With the cutouts on the side, we don’t want the piece to be too revealing,” she offered.
I walked over to the sketch to view it again. Louisa had made a valid point.
“Any other suggestions?” I asked.
A series of “no’s” could be heard from the other members of the team. “Okay, Louisa, I agree with the suggestion,” I affirmed.
Next, we focused on the accessories. As I looked at the sketches, my heart beamed with pride. We had a full line, and it was all coming together. I was so happy I could cry tears of joy. Now, it was time for the team of seamstresses to do their thing and bring everything to life. When Leon walked the other day, I had no idea what we would do. Now, I could laugh because the real talent was still here with me.
It’s Showtime
Two WeeksLater
Today was the day of the show I had been waiting for. My team and I stood in the large warehouse that would host our fashion show. Two other brands were showing ahead of us today. One was a men’s wear line, and the other was a women’s line. No matter how many shows I put on, my nerves were always all over the place. The models were all lined up, being tended to by a hair or makeup artist. I paced back and forth, ensuring every model had the right hair and makeup for their outfit.
Love Faith would put on the last show of the day, so we still had another thirty to forty-five minutes if the second show started on time. The other women’s clothing brand was currently on. Each brand would be allowed thirty minutes from start to finish for their show. The actual runway experience would only be fifteen minutes.
“Models, if you’re finished with hair and makeup, please see Milani. She will direct you on where to go for your outfit,” I instructed.
I continued to inspect the makeup and hair while my stomach did somersaults. The cheers from the crowd let me know the first show was over. A deejay played soft music as an interlude between the next show.
“I have the first few girls all set up with the dressers. The seamstress is on standby in case of any last-minute adjustments. Everything is going well so far. Why don’t you get ready? I’ll keep an eye out for the rest of the models,” Milani offered.
“You’re right. Let me go get myself together,” I agreed as I walked off. I was just in time as the makeup artist finished with the last model. As I took a seat in her chair, I sat back and closed my eyes as she beat my face. This would probably be the last bit of quiet I would get for the day. As I sat with my eyes closed, I heard a familiar laugh that I hadn’t heard since high school. I opened my eyes and looked around to see if I could figure out who it was.
When my eyes landed on him, a low gasp escaped my lips. I couldn’t believe it was Jacob Grant, my former bestie from high school. He was one of the models in the men’s wear line. Time had been very generous to him. Long gone were his thick bifocals. Jacob had definitely grown up. His pecan-colored skin matched the beige two-piece linen set he wore. I only saw a side profile, but it was a perfect view. Last I heard, he was acting in a very popular show. I didn’t watch much television, so I had noidea if he was any good. What were the odds that he would be here of all places?
“Alright. You’re all done,” the makeup artist announced.
I took the handheld mirror she held out for me. After a thorough look at my makeup, I handed it back to her. The woman staring back at me was the version I loved to see—well put together. Slowly but surely, I was finding my confidence again. The dark circles that were prevalent under my eyes a few weeks ago had since disappeared. Peace had found me as I slipped into my new reality. Not having to deal with Mason’s verbal abuse or worrying about another round of treatment did me good.
I thanked my makeup artist then made my way over to the dressers. While I got dressed, I wondered if I would get the opportunity to see Jacob. He and I lost touch after high school. I felt my cheeks flush as memories of my feelings for my high school bestie that I once had a crush on resurfaced.
Just as I finished getting dressed, Milani walked over to me. “It’s showtime!” she excitedly declared.
My nerves wouldn’t allow my mouth to open. I nodded in agreement as I walked out of the dressing room. My dressers checked every model, but I was on hand to assist. It was imperative that every model looked their best. We only had one chance to get everyone talking about this latest collection. Our shows would give us buzz and free marketing if they caught the right person’s attention. The exclusivity of the show was what drew in the crowd.
The first model made her way down the runway as I held my breath. One by one, each of the ladies did an amazing job showcasing my team’s work. After the last model, I made my way onto the runway. I waved out into the crowd and smiled as if I were a model myself. Once I was backstage, I let out thebreath I had been holding in. My team cheered me on, along with Imani.
“The show was amazing. See? You were worried for nothing. Did you hear the crowd cheering? Those people were giving you a standing ovation,” she excitedly said.
“I just need a minute to catch my breath. That was intense,” I admitted.
I felt a set of eyes on me as I spoke with Imani. Jacob and I locked eyes as he made his way over to me.
“Long time no see, beautiful,” he stated.
