Chapter Seventeen

Victor, feeling the weight of the moment, took a deep breath and prepared to reveal his next set of designs. The crowd held their breath in anticipation, the air thick with excitement. This was the moment they had all been waiting for. The show was about to begin.

With a swift motion, Victor pulled the cloth off the rack, revealing a collection of designs that were nothing short of breathtaking. The crowd gasped in awe as they took in the sight of the intricate details and innovative styles. Victor's designs were a perfect blend of traditional and modern aesthetics, each piece telling a story of its own.

Mrs. Johnson's eyes widened in admiration, her heart pounding with excitement. She could see the passion and dedication that Victor had put into his work. It was clear that he was not just a designer, but an artist.

Victor, standing tall at the end of the runway, couldn't help but let a smile play on his lips. He turned to the crowd, his voice echoing through the room, "Thank you, everyone, for being here tonight."

From the front row, Mrs. Johnson called out, "Victor, your designs are simply stunning! The blend of traditional and modern aesthetics is truly unique."

Victor nodded, his smile widening. "Thank you, Mrs. Johnson. Thank you, all of you thank you." he said blowing a kiss to the crowd

Backstage, Ms. Isabella watched the exchange on the screen. She picked up her walkie-talkie, her voice filled with admiration, "Victor, you've outdone yourself. The confidence in your stride, the determination in your eyes... You were born for this."

Victor's voice crackled through the walkie-talkie, "Thank you, MsIsabella. This is just the beginning."

And as he stood there the models began their walk back through the runway to him, the crowd erupted into applause. Victor watched as his creations came to life, his heart filled with pride. Together he raised the hands of his models and the applause from crowds became even louder than the first time.

This was how the show came to an end, Victor took a bow, the crowd giving him a standing ovation. He looked out into the crowd, his voice filled with gratitude, "Thank you, everyone, for your support. This is just the start. There's so much more to come."

From the crowd, Mrs. Johnson and Ms. Isabella cheered, their faces beaming with pride.

Victor, basking in the applause, made his way off the stage and into the backstage area. The energy of the crowd still echoed in his ears, as he moved through the dimly lit corridor, he could feel a change in the atmosphere. The frenetic energy of the show was replaced by a sense of calm, quiet moment of reflection.

Mrs. Johnson, seated in the front row, watched Victor's retreating figure with a sense of admiration that bordered on infatuation. Her eyes, gleaming with an unusual pleasure, followed his every move. She was captivated by his charm, his talent, his aura. It was as if she was seeing him for the first time, and she was falling for him.

*******

Upstairs, in the control room, Ms. Isabella was experiencing a similar sensation. As she watched Victor on the screen, her heart pounded in her chest. Her fingers, adorned with flashy gold rings, clutched the edge of the table as she leaned in closer to the screen. The admiration she felt for Victor was overwhelming, consuming her senses.

Suddenly, the door to the control room swung open, and Victor stepped in. Ms. Isabella's heart skipped a beat as he walked towards her, his eyes meeting hers. Before she could react, he wrapped his arms around her in a warm embrace, pulling her close. He planted a soft kiss on her forehead, which made a wave of warmth to wash over Ms. Isabella.

Her heart fluttered in her chest, a symphony of emotions playing within her. She closed her eyes, savoring the moment, the scent of Victor's cologne filling her senses.

His embrace was like a safe haven, his arms strong yet gentle around her. She could feel his heartbeat against hers, a rhythmic dance that echoed their shared excitement. His kiss on her forehead, though brief, triggered something in her mind, something she had been waiting for to happen between them.

When she opened her eyes, she found Victor looking at her, his gaze soft and full of admiration. She felt a blush creep up her cheeks, her heart pounding louder than ever. She was falling for him, and she knew it.

Victor, unaware of the turmoil of emotions within Ms. Isabella, gave her a reassuring smile. He let go of her, his hand lingering on her shoulder for a moment longer before he turned to leave the room. As the door closed behind him, Ms. Isabella was left standing there, her mind a whirl of thoughts and feelings.

She touched her forehead, the warmth of Victor's kiss still lingering. A smile tugged at the corners of her lips.

Victor, standing and staring at his phone, couldn't help but let out a chuckle. "I've made it, Ms Isabella," he said, his voice filled with a mix of excitement and disbelief. "I'm all over the news, I'm the king now."

Ms Isabella, still reeling from the warmth of Victor's embrace, managed a smile. "You deserve it, Victor. You've worked hard for this."

******

Meanwhile, Lila sat in her bedroom, her eyes glued to the TV screen. Victor Vane's face was everywhere, his name on every news headline. She felt a surge of envy rise within her as she watched the gala night event unfold. She wanted to hurl her phone at the TV screen, but she held back, her grip tightening around the device.

Suddenly, her phone beeped, pulling her attention away from the TV. She glanced at the screen, her heart sinking as she read the headlines. All of them were about Victor Vane and Vane Couture, his studio. She swallowed hard, trying to push down the envy that was threatening to consume her.

In another part of the city, Maya was experiencing a sensation similar to Lila's. She sat in her bedroom, staring blankly at the news on her TV. Her eyes were blurry, her mind a whirl of thoughts. "Victor Vane," she muttered under her breath, her voice barely a whisper.

Back in her room, Lila was struggling to contain her feelings. She rose from the couch and moved to her bed, her phone still in her hand. As she scrolled through the news, each headline about Victor Vane added fuel to the fire of her envy. She swallowed hard, trying to calm herself.

No matter how hard she tried, the feeling wouldn't subside. She was left with a bitter taste in her mouth.

Just when things seemed to be at their most intense, an unexpected twist occurred. Lila, still in her bedroom, was aimlessly scrolling through her phone when she noticed a new notification. It was a bank alert, and the amount was staggering: $2 million USD. She blinked, her fingers freezing on the screen. She counted the zeros again and again, her mind struggling to process reality.

Suddenly, she screamed, her heart pounding with a mix of shock and exhilaration. She jumped up from her bed, her phone clutched tightly in her hand. But then, a thought struck her: who had sent the money?

She quickly checked the transaction details and her breath hitched when she saw the name: Luxe Hotels. The realization hit her like a ton of bricks. She immediately dialed Ethan's number, her mind racing.

"Ethan," she managed to say, trying to keep her voice steady. "The money... it's for the Midnight Bloom project completion and the start of a new fashion line, resort wear?"

Ethan's voice came through the phone, calm and reassuring. "Yes, Lila. I hope you utilize it well."

Lila swallowed hard, her mind still reeling from the shock. "Yes, I will," she said, fiddling with the first button on the shirt she was putting on.