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“And that you are familiar with this process. You have also been training the models for some time. You know everything,” Roshni added.
“Where is this leading to?”
“You will be my showstopper today,” she stated firmly.
Maya stepped back.
“No,” she rebuked.
“I am not giving you a choice, Maya. Because you didn't give me a choice either. Ramona was your responsibility. Why didn't she come here with the team? Why was she given the liberty to come on her own? If she had been here with the team, that accident wouldn't have happened, and she wouldn't have fractured her leg today. So now you need to agree to whatever I am suggesting.”
Maya continued to deny.
“That's impossible. I left walking on the ramp ages ago.”
“I don't care why you left. But you have to do this today or else there will be consequences. My sponsor will not hesitate to ruin our careers, and I don't want that to happen to any of us. We have high hopes from this event. Do you want to see Blitz shutting down because after ruining me, the sponsor will come back to ruin you and your company too?”
This all seemed horrible to hear, but Maya was still unprepared to accept it.
“I will find someone else,” she insisted and tried to dial a few more numbers. Roshni snatched her mobile.
“You are going to be my show stopper, Maya. Either do this or get out of my show with your models. I don't see their future going anywhere after this. If you have the courage to ruin all their careers, please walk out. If you can't see that happening, accept my proposal.”
She handed the phone back to Maya and walked out with Deep. Maya stumbled backwards, her back hitting the table for support. She shut her eyes, and made her decision instantly. She was going to walk out of this. She grabbed her purse and stepped out only to see the other models of Blitz waiting in a queue for their turns to come. There was so much hope in their eyes and the desire to make this event a success. All their careers depended on her one decision today. Would she walk over their dreams?
************
Roshni stood with the models’ backstage, looking at the screen of the plasma TV to see how they performed on the ramp. Her career depended on this event just like theirs. Ranveer Malhotra finished his introductory speech, and after some typical buzz statements about the show to the media, he took his seat at the front of the ramp. He glared once at the CCTV camera, knowing Roshni was watching him. His expressions sending a clear warning to Roshni that this show had to be a success at any cost. Roshni took a deep breath before glancing at her assistant Deep.
“Check on Maya,” she said with a scowl.
“Yes, Ma'am.”
He hurried out to see if Maya had accepted the decision or not. The show began, with the first two models walking the ramp. Ranveer Malhotra had no interest in looking at them as he was busy checking the hype of the show on social media, scrolling through cool comments on their company page. Despite the continued procession of models, cameras flashing, and people clapping, Ranveer remained engrossed in his phone. The host then announced the final and best collection of Roshni Kundra's designs, and announced the showstopper’s name who would be walking the ramp now- Maya.
As Ranveer heard Maya's name, a gust of wind blew on his face. He raised his head and focused on the center of the ramp, where the spotlight was on her. Maya confidently began to catwalk, her face expressionless and without a smile. She appeared rigid yet effortlessly walked the ramp. Ranveer's heart skipped a beat as he tried to catch a clear view of her attractive face. She was beyond perfection, with slightly raised cheekbones that he had always admired in women. Her lips, though colored, were more adorable with their natural lip color. His gaze then moved to her slender neck. She was breathing hard, indicating a trace of fear that she was intelligently trying to suppress. Unlike the other models with a zero-figure physique, Maya had a different body type. Was she a replacement for Ramona tonight? Where did Roshni find her? There was something about her confidence that Ranveer liked. Maya, was flawless. Despite trying to divert his attention, he couldn't help but remain captivated, knowing he had never felt like this for any woman before. Even Maya's name sounded familiar. So, the question was - who was she?
As Roshni joined Maya to walk on the ramp, the audience clapped and stood up in appreciation. While everyone else cheered them, Ranveer couldn't take his eyes off the showstopper. Even after Roshni and Maya went backstage, Ranveer continued to gaze at the stage. It was only when his associates and other guests came to congratulate him on the show's success that he finally looked away. He shook hands with them, but his eyes still wandered, hoping to catch another glimpse of that beauty.
After almost an hour, Aman returned to Ranveer.
“Sir, everyone is waiting for you at the party hall inside.”
“I will be there,” he replied. “Buy a bouquet and place it in the showstopper's changing room.”
“Okay, Boss. Any message you want me to write?”
Ranveer pondered for a moment, then pulled out a pen from his pocket. Aman quickly handed over a small notepad to him, and Ranveer wrote the message.
‘You handled the walk well, just one thing was missing - your smile! However, I won't be deducting your price for that, as not everyone out here is worthy of seeing it, except for me.’
He tore the page from the notepad and handed it to Aman.
“Attach this to the bouquet,” he exclaimed and left to work on his boss's orders.
Chapter 1
Maya Bajaj locked herself in the changing room, caught in the bizarre feeling of walking the ramp again. While she may have enjoyed it years ago, repeating it now only brought anguish. Life has a way of dragging you out from your past, but it never lets you forget it. If Maya hadn't walked that ramp today, her models, Roshni, and even the company she worked for, Blitz, would have suffered. She couldn't allow that to happen. This walk was for a good cause, and she refused to let it ruin her state of mind. Concluding, she had done it for saving all their careers, she unhooked her dress and changed into her previous outfit. That’s when Maya spotted a big, attractive bouquet placed in the center of the changing room. She was so consumed by her own agony that she had missed noticing it. Maya zipped up her dress and approached the bouquet. These were not your regular red roses. They were expensive, and their dark color and additional fragrance made them unique. A note was attached to the side, which she eagerly opened to read.
