Chapter 16

Aurora POV:-

"Please be confident during your presentation Aurora," Susan whispered. I tried to look confident but seeing the presentation of the current participant I was a nervous wreck.

She was not only confident but famous too in the jewellery world. Three years ago, She was one of the most talked-about designers in New York fashion week. I mean she was none other than Evelyn Rodriguez.

Even the Judges were impressed with her presentation. "Girls, she is our main competition. I am telling you both." Emily whispered.

I gulped because after fifteen minutes we three were staring at each other in apprehension. If Evelyn was a storm then George was a volcano.

"I don't think we stand a chance today girls, omg! We will be out in the first round."

Susan glared at her. "Shut the fuck up!"

"Do I stand a chance among them, Susan? They are both world-famous jewellery designers," I muttered and Susan thinned her lips in a straight line.

"Aurora Knights, I don't give a damn even if they are the reincarnation of Jesus Christ. What I give a damn about is that you will go to that stage, stand tall like the fucking princess that you are and present your design with as much enthusiasm and confidence as you have. Do you fucking understand me?"

I nodded not in understanding but because I didn't have any other option. I was walking on a two-edged sword. Although I was nervous and wanted to run away, I was still sitting here because of four people.

First was mom, I am here in this contest not for me only but because of the legacy of my mom and grandfather. Second, my Dad who I wanted to make proud. The third was Gabe, I wanted to prove to him that I would not be depending on him in future. I can earn my own money and I won't be washing dishes in his restaurant and last but not the least, I was sitting here because of the person sitting beside me.

Susan would eat me alive after cutting me into tiny pieces and boiling in hot oil if I ran away with my tail between my legs.

Fuck, I was stuck!

I stood up with shaking legs when Katie announced my name. Glanced at both my girls, Emily at least smiled to boost my confidence but Susan glared at me like a cruel stepmom.

Today I felt like Cinderella and Susan was my cruel stepmom. "Go…" she whispered while gesturing to me with her hand to walk further but my legs felt like they had been glued to the floor.

"Our Next contestant, Miss Aurora Knight…" Katie announced again and Susan this time pushed me towards the stage. Somehow managed to walk there with my jelly legs. I touched my mom's necklace to have courage and when I stood in front of thirty-five talented people I was a nervous wreck.

"Miss Knight, are you alright?" Kevin Rawls asked me.

I passed him a shaky smile. "Yes…" and then cleared my throat. The PPP started. There was my design on the big projector.

"What inspired you for this design, Miss Knight?" Maya smith asked me.

"My mom is my inspiration behind this design," I replied with a smile trying to look confident when I was anything but…

I pointed at the blooming rose necklace. "The blooming rose represents youth, beauty and pleasure. My designs are for everyone. Doesn't matter what age you are, as the blooming rose we all can bloom in whatever age…"

"Do you think an eighty-year-old woman will like this design, Miss Knight?" Kevin Rawls asked me.

I smiled. "Yes, as I said Mr Rawls it doesn't matter what age you are, what matters is how old you feel. And this design represents Youth, not physically but emotionally. A woman could be ten, twenty, fifty or eighty, everyone likes flowers! It symbolises love and harmony."

"You are trying to compare your designs with beauty and youth. Nice idea, Miss Knight." Kevin Rawls said.

I smiled at the remark as I nodded at everyone and walked back to my seat.

"That was impressive," Emily whispered. Susan on the other hand sighed deeply.

"But nowhere near Everlyn or George. Now I am just praying for our selection in the next round." She muttered dejectedly. I looked down with remorse that I somehow failed my friends but Susan squeezed my hand in assurance.

"You tried your best. That's all you could have done, Aurora. Rest is not in our hands."

I looked into her eyes, searching if she was disappointed but found nothing but genuineness. "Thanks for the pep talk."

"And hey, nothing is decided yet, let's wait for the result, there is still a possibility of us getting selected for the next round," Emily said, cheering our mood and we all nodded.

"That was one hell of a competition ladies and gentlemen. I am impressed by the designs but we all know many of you have to leave this journey. Only five contestants are going to be In the next round which will not be in a hotel but on the cruise…"

There was a loud clapping and pop sound from the constants.

"I want to be on that cruise with that hot piece of ass!" Emily said, her eyes fixed on Alexandrios kyschove. The Russian billionaire on whom she was drooling over.

Both Susan and my eyes broadened when this whore winked at him as their eyes met and he smirked.

"You whore!" Susan whispered.

"Ya! Well, that's in your portfolio, not mine. You find a new fuck every night not me," She retorted back making Susan kick her leg.

"Now ladies and gentlemen please enjoy the services of our hotel. The results will be out in the evening." Katie informed and all the contestants stood up to leave.

The judges were still sitting and talking as the constants left one by one. "Let's go!" I said to Emily but she wiggled her fingers gesturing us to leave.

"What?" Susan snapped.

"Girls, we are not going anywhere from this competition without God damn winning it even if I have to fuck that judge for victory."

"Stop being crude, Emily."

She raised her brows. "I am not being crude, Aurora. Look, I don't know if I will see him again or not. So I am going to try my luck and second, about that victory fuck, you think that's gonna happen."

I bit my lip. "I don't know…" I sighed, throwing my hands in the air. "It's just that I want to win the contest on my own, not because my friend fucked the judge."

Emily gave me an unimpressed look. "Girl! I like him, you know like really like him, and trust me on this nothing like that will happen because he doesn't seem like a man who will select you in return for a casual fuck. Girls die to be with him. So just finish this topic and wish me luck because I want this man."

"Get lost!" Susan said and I laughed. "Best of luck, Em! Just go live your life."

Emily rolled her eyes and gave us a middle finger. "Fuck you both!"

"Na! I prefer my own man. Now shoo away." I laughed and suddenly felt a pinch in my heart remembering Gabe.

Emily went towards the judges while I checked my phone, not even a single message from Gabe. Somehow I managed from throwing a fit of crying in suffocation.

"I am hungry, let's go and check out the restaurant here."

"Hm!" I hummed as my mind was on my phone but what Susan was saying. I opened my Instagram account just to check if Gabe was active or not and to my horror he was but he didn't even pin me. I bit my lower lip from inside over the thought that he was ignoring me.

I opened the Dm and was about to send him a message but Susan snatched the phone from my hands.

"Susan…" I snapped at her but she looked at me with anger-filled eyes. "You are a fool Aurora, an emotional fool."

I gasped at her words. "Excuse me!"

"No, I won't excuse you, you fool! How could you do that to yourself? That man doesn't even bother to ask about your well being. He has his ego set on his ugly nose and you just bow down to him like a submissive bitch! If he is giving you the cold shoulder then why can't you return the favour."

I got angry at her. "Susan, don't get involved in my relationship. I told you…"

But she didn't let me finish this time. "Hey, I am not getting involved alright. I am just telling you to have a spine, you used to be a girl who valued herself before anyone else and now you are just roaming behind him as if you are some lost puppy who always needed its master. Goddamn it! It is my first time seeing you like this. You love him I get it, but does he love you the same way, I think not! But as you say I am not giving you any advice."

I opened my mouth to speak but she raised her hand and I snapped my mouth shut. "Yo knows what Aurora, I never thought I would say this to you but girl, for mine and Emily's sake, please focus on this contest. It's just a matter of three more weeks so see if you can manage that and not call him till we are here…" saying that she placed the phone in my hand and wandered away leaving me there standing alone with tears rolling over my cheek.

I checked the phone again, he was active still but not even a hi from him let alone a call. I fisted my hand and decided that I won't be calling him till I am here.

Yes, for now, my whole focus would be on winning this contest.