Chapter 2, Esmeralda

When I said karma would get me I didn't imagine this. I imagined something like me falling in the stairs on camera or staining my dress with wine. Everything but this.

I'm fucked.

There's no other way to say it. I am fucked.

I just had the biggest panic attack of my whole existence and Milo Chase is the one who calmed it. Milo Chase, my childhood best friend who now hates me.

And here I am, thinking about it when I am about to say my speech in fronton millions of people. I don't even know if my mascara is still smudged. When he told me that I had five minutes left, Cleo did the best she could to re-do my makeup and help me look like I haven't cried.

I look around and revise my speech. I take a deep breath and try to ignore the thundering in my chest. I can do this.

A staff member gestures to the scene that I am about to enter.

"Three, two, one, and we're on live."

This is my cue to enter the scene and what I see almost takes my breath away. There are too many people here. Too many cameras.

I walk towards Milo, who has a microphone in his hand and gives me his hand.

I try to forget earlier's embarrassment.

The public's cheering is like nothing I've heard before.

I take it and my heart skips a beat at the feeling of his hand, soft, yet strong and muscled.

He leads me to the front of the scene and lets go, and I almost frown, when the cold meets my hand.

He brings the microphone to his mouth and smiles with the smile that usually makes all the women go crazy, including me.

"Hello, ladies and gentlemen. My name is Milo Chase and I am here tonight with Esmeralda Hernandez, who's making her return to the modeling industry !"

The cheering starts again and I wave my hand at everyone, smiling.

The dark haired man turns his head to look at me and the smile he gives me is different than his other ones. It is full of mischief.

Lord, I have a bad feeling about this one.

"How are you feeling tonight, Esmeralda ?" He asks me. "Aren't you nervous about coming back into the industry ?"

I see where this is going. He's playing a game and I am going to play it with him.

I raise a brow and a little laugh comes out of me.

"Oh, not at all, Milo." I look at the public and smile. "I missed this, I missed all of you."

People begin cheering and whistling again and I wait until they stop to continue.

"As you all know, I have taken a break from modeling these past two years, and the reason why is that I wanted to focus on myself and live my traveling fantasies. I visited multiple countries and learned about a whole lot of cultures and communities, which is, I think what made it even more special. Obviously, modeling is one of the things that makes me the happiest, and I am very excited to be back at it, but like everyone, I sometimes need changement." I smile again at the public. "And, now that these two years have passed, I realize that we can never take things for granted, whatever it is, money, family or even friends." I don't dare to look at Milo but I feel his burning gaze on me. "And this time away, has also made me realize that not everyone is as lucky as I am, not everyone has access to education, a roof to live under, or water. That there are children out there, who are ambitious and have so much potential but do not have access to school, or basic hygiene supplies. Which is why, I have decided to create a charity association for homeless people in places such as India and South Africa. Every week we will pack supplies, food and water and provide it to them. We will also work on building schools and shelters where it is needed. Tonight, you can donate to my charity and help people in need. Thank you to Nora and Christopher Chase for having me tonight, and organizing this gala. And thank you for your attention."

I am breathless, and I feel so much better to have finally announced the news.

A pause, and the crowd literally goes crazy. Everyone is clapping, cheering and some are even whistling. Flashes are shining everywhere, and for a moment I am struck with euphoria.

This is for me. People are screaming my name, people are proud of me.

I am so proud of myself.

I look around me and my vision blurs again for the second time, but this time it's because happy tears are menacing to get out.

Through my tears I could've sworn Milo's lips twitched upward.

I finally wave at everyone and leave the scene.

Cleo immediately jumps in front of me and holds me so tightly that I don't think I can breath correctly.

"You were so perfect, Esme. Everyone loved you. You killed it !" She finally eases her embrace and I smile at her.

"Thank you, I was genuinely scared at first, but then it just got out and I instantly felt better."

"You were amazing !"

Staff members congratulate me as I pass through them and I see my parents at the back of a room. They are both beaming with joy. I walk over to them and embrace them.

"We are so proud of you." My mother's blue eyes are glowing with tears. I look nothing like her. One could say we are polar opposites. She has short red hair and is petite. On the other hand, I am tall, brunette and I have grey eyes. The only thing I got from her is the temper and the smile.

My father is smiling as well, as he embraces me.

"I think they might be going crazy about you." He laughs.

I groan and smile in return. "Tell me about it."

My father's eyes are grey, like mine. His hair is dark and he is tall, but his personality is the thing I did not get from him. On the contrary of my mom's usually impulsive self, he is calm and patient. Opposites attract, I guess.

My family's fortune is based off my grand parents. They did politics, and so, it was transferred to my dad, who then abandoned it to start his own company, and the statistics increased even more after that. My mother was a simple florist with a shop near his neighborhood. She didn't have any family and was struggling to pay her studies. They got married, even if Dad's family was opposed to it and they had Rita, then me. My grandparents passed away a few weeks after my birth. Ever since I was ten years old, I loved having everyone's attention on me, I loved being under the spotlight and that is the reason why my parents got me into modeling when I turned sixteen.

I almost jump out of my body when I see Nora, Christopher, and Chase walking toward me.

Milo has his hands in his pockets and throws me a pointed look as the approach.

I smile at his parents.

"Hello, Nora, Christopher. Thank you so much for everything you have done tonight."

My parents greet them too, our fathers starting a conversation about market sales or something like it.

The brown haired woman grins at me and puts her hand on my shoulder.

"Oh, it is our pleasure, sweetheart. It was absolutely fabulous !"

She then turns to my Mom and engages a conversation with her, leaving Milo and I facing each other, none of us wanting to speak.

He has his hands in his pockets, and is turned towards the party and the people dancing.

After a long minute, I decide to break the awkward silence.

"I know the last thing you want is to talk to me right now, but-"

"You are right, Esmeralda. Talking to you is the last thing I want. What happened tonight means nothing. I do not care about you, I do not care wether you embarrass yourself in front of the whole world. I care about me and my parents reputation." He leans, his lips to my ears. His voice is colder than I've ever heard it. "And being seen with a whore isn't good for business, is it ?"

He is gone before I even have time to process what he just said.

And being seen with a whore isn't good for business, is it ?