Why do I feel shame, guilt… like I've committed an irreversible crime?
With the words echoing in her thoughts, Aliyah could barely move an inch.
She kept her gaze fixed on the floor, unable to face Imogen. Her mind searched for something, anything to do or say.
Just then, Alexander broke the silence with a casual, unbothered smile.
"Miss Vale. Someone would think we stole your car with the look on your face," his words full of confidence.
"We?" Imogen repeated, her eyes shifting as an outrageous smile spread across her face.
Aliyah knew that smile. She knew that tone, she knew Imogen.
It was the beginning of a game.
And Imogen never played to lose.
She would engage in the most unspeakable actions just to win a game.
"I didn't realize you had gotten so close to my best friend, Mr. Sinclair." Imogen continued smoothly, stepping towards them slowly.
"Friendly enough to be stealing cars together, apparently."
Aliyah could feel it; she knew the performance had begun, and she was the unwilling co-star.
Imogen let out a playful laugh as she got up to them, but Aliyah wasn't fooled. She could see right through the charm.
So, she thought fast.
"Mr. Sinclair, I'll get the papers ready," Aliyah said quickly, cutting in before the conversation could go any further.
She only hoped Alexander wouldn't ruin her effort to keep things controlled.
"Of course," he replied with a polite nod. "Reach out to my assistant once you're done."
Just as Aliyah started walking away, Imogen stopped her.
"Come on, babe… we never have time to ourselves," she pulled Aliyah closer to stand between herself and Alexander.
"Don't leave just yet. Let's indulge Mr. Sinclair for a moment, before I'm pulled back into managing shoots, clients, and keeping the brand booked solid. Ugh, it's nonstop."
Imogen turned her attention to Alexander with an easy smile.
"People assume modeling is all about makeup, designer dresses, and striking a pose," she said, with a casual flick of her hand.
"They have no idea how much work it takes to become what we are…balancing image, influence, and results. It's a full-time job being both the face, the body, and the engine behind the brand."
Aliyah's face was frozen with nothing to contribute, but yet again, Alexander spoke.
"I truly believe every role and every position in the company is what keeps us running smoothly," he said, glancing at his watch as if time were suddenly more important than the words being spoken.
Imogen flashed a quick smile. "Of course…of course," she replied, her voice feminine and agreeable.
She paused for some seconds before she continued.
"I saw an article online about plus-sized models just yesterday," she continued, her smile with amusement.
"It was… ridiculous. Not to body-shame, of course, but models should never look like they're eating the runway."
She let out a small, almost dismissive laugh. "Don't you think so, Mr. Sinclair?" She asked lightly.
Alexander glanced at Aliyah, then returned his attention to Imogen. "I have some work to attend to, Miss Vale. It was a pleasure having you start up a conversation, really," he said in a low voice before walking away without waiting for a reply.
Wishing she could leave with Alexander, Aliyah just stood there facing Imogen, her memories flashing back to what had happened at the penthouse, as it sent shivers down her spine.
"You snake…" Imogen snapped. "One would think you don't have desires with that face of yours, Aliyah."
Hmm. When did I become just Aliyah?
What happened to the baby? Babe? Liyah..?
Aliyah's mind raced silently.
"Do you really think you have a chance with him?" Imogen asked her raising an eyebrow.
Aliyah couldn't hold back a scoff. That question stirred something inside her.
"The question should be if I even want a chance with him, Gen."
For a moment, Imogen's smile faded, replaced with a more serious glare.
"If? He's a fucking hot ass billionaire for crying out loud. You think I'll believe you don't want him?" She sighed dramatically. "Do you really want to go against me?"
Aliyah's eyes widened in disbelief. "I never want to go against you. You're my best friend!" Her voice was louder now.
Imogen's expression remained hard. "Then act like I am and have some shame," she replied. "You look desperate hanging around him since he came to Étoile. That's not even how you get a man to like you."
She rolled her eyes and continued.
"You know what your co-workers will say if they ever caught you acting this way around him. Nobody likes you, Liyah. So you should respect yourself before it's too late."
Aliyah felt the sting of her words hit like a physical blow. Her throat tightened, and the familiar sting of tears began to form at the corners of her eyes. One blink was all it would take for them to fall, but she fought to hold them back.
Imogen turned on her heel, walking away before Aliyah could break.
The final hours of work ended in tears droplets staining the papers on Aliyah's desk.
Apart from that, though, she had a smooth day, without any complaints from her senior colleagues, and, thankfully, no interactions at all with most of them.
But her father had been on her mind.
The moment she finished her tasks, she drove straight to the hospital to see him.
When she arrived, she was met by an unusual crowd outside the ward.
The somber expressions, muffled cries, and comforting embraces made it clear, someone had passed. Likely a patient whose family was now unraveling in grief.
Would her father be next?
Would he ever get better?
Lost in thought, Aliyah didn't notice the woman in front of her until she bumped into her just outside her father's room.
"I'm so sorry…" Aliyah sighed, exhaustedly shaking her head.
She noticed a smile on the unfamiliar lady's face, it wasn't a happy smile or an angry one..
"Chaotic day, isn't it?" Eliza asked calmly, picking up her phone that had dropped.
Aliyah sighed again, her hand on her head, she was barely breathing as her heart raced in her chest.
Eliza noticed her distress and gently took her by the arm to sit on a bench that was beside them.
"You have to calm down, darling, you might be having a panic attack." She dusted off the strands of hair on Aliyah's face, holding her hand tightly to calm her down.
Aliyah clung to Eliza's presence as if it were the only solid thing in the room. Minutes passed. Slowly, her breathing began to regulate, the edges of her panic softening.
She noticed Eliza's hands were still locked on hers with a focused gaze.
"I'm so sorry to bother you… I just couldn't control whatever was going on inside me," Aliyah whispered exhaustedly.
Eliza let out a smile as she let go of her hands. "It's alright… panic attacks happen a lot at hospitals. It's a whole lot to take in walking through these walls," she said calmly and stood up.
"You're exhausted. You should get a good rest," she added politely.
Aliyah got up, wondering if the world still had people this kind still existing. "Thank you very much. I will," she smiled.