CHAPTER 8
Julius had been so busy all day in his office that he was almost going to miss the fashion pageant at his fashion institution. He knew he needed to be there in person; they had to select a candidate from one of their certified apprentices, and this was one of the rare occasions that brought him physically to the firm, given the fact that many of the contestants were not familiar with him. Upon his entrance into the auditorium, the pressure in the atmosphere seemed to increase slightly. He was the no-nonsense boss, and imperfection was not a word in his dictionary; even the paid judges became wary upon his arrival.
He tried not to attract more attention to himself than he already had, not that he could help it, and made his way to the spot reserved for him. Soon, Mrs. Benita showed up before him, presenting some notes and tabs with information on the contestants—those who had competed and those who were yet to compete. The look on his face screamed boredom, something the older woman was used to seeing. He was still going through the files handed to him, feeling unimpressed, when the red curtain on the center stage was pushed aside for the next contestants to appear, a model trailing behind her. The duo had yet to perform when they heard a deep voice echo through the speakers.
"Do you think we are here to pick school uniforms?" His words were unfiltered and his time scary.
"This is a fashion pageant, not some tie-and-dye practicals— call in the next person, please."
He dismissed the contestant even before the show could begin, leaving the audience in awe.
Julius didn't see the need to beat around the bush; someone who couldn't manage even a good fabric combination should not be in the show in the first place. Whoever they chose to sponsor from the apprentices must be able to convince him, both in style and words, that the firm's investment would not be a waste.
This was the first time his company would be participating in the AVAT (an international pageant show featuring designs and designers), and he wanted to ensure they went with nothing but the best. If there wasn't anyone good enough from his institution, he was prepared to extend the offer to the public until he found what he was looking for. He didn't believe in going with whatever was made available.
He sat, his eyes lazily fixed on the empty stage and it was soon occupied by a familiar figure with blonde hair, which lit the candles in his eyes even without him knowing.
He was surprised to see her perform so elegantly. The couple of times he had encountered her—outside the institution one night and that morning at the coffee shop—she had looked so scared, like a mistreated puppy; but on stage, she appeared to be a completely different person. So this was why he had seen her outside the institution. He had noticed the familiar red car parked outside but wasn't sure if it was hers, and now he thought about it why had she been in his subconscious, she was no important person, a crazy girl desperately in need of a partner.
He was not going to deny it though; her speech, her steps, and the way she presented her model were in sync. For a beginner, the outfit she designed for her model was just so good, and he couldn't help but be more impressed by her. Suddenly, while watching her, a devilish grin settled on his face as a thought came to his mind. He beckoned to Mrs. Benita, who stood by the side, to come closer and ordered her to turn on the bright lights beside the judges. The older lady couldn't help but wonder what the boss was up to. She hadn't been hallucinating; she had seen him smile, although it was a mischievous one, his eyes fixed on the petite figure on the stage.
"Let us see how far you can go amidst distractions," Julius said to himself as he waited for the lady's gaze to fall on him. As expected, the contestant in question ran out of words the moment their eyes locked, but for some reason, he was not upset at her inability to remain focused; he was perhaps glad to know that he had such an effect on her.
"What is wrong, Miss Wilson?" his voice echoed from the speakers, bringing her back to reality. "Go on," he further said, the grin on his face screaming pleasure.
In time, Alice, who had thought her friend was nervous due to the boss's obvious presence, made some flirtatious movements, swaying her hips from side to side. Her perfect shape accentuated the dress that had been perfectly tailored for a nice fit. Her eyes met those of her bestie, and she flashed her an encouraging smile as though saying, "You are doing perfectly well." Judy's gaze also caught that of Mrs. Benita, who wore a reassuring smile, and she resolved to never glance at this particular judge until she was done. Although her words faltered at some point and her hands trembled unnoticeably, she managed to finish her speech well. The judges, from earlier, took turns asking her questions regarding her design, and she provided fitting responses, praying that the dirty-blonde-haired man she had been avoiding wouldn't ask her a question. Fortunately, he didn't, allowing her to make it to the backstage and on getting there she released a heavy breath of relief and in the spur of the moment Alice gave her a very tight hug, both girls forgetting that something could be damaged on their outfits. Well the show's over right?
On the other hand, Julius sat there with a smirk on his face; he had taken note of the fact that the blonde was intentionally avoiding his gaze. Nice.
He didn't know why but seeing her go from strong to confused at the site of him had amused him but soon the amusement on his face was quickly replaced by a stern one as the next contestant came up to the stage.