The others were dismissed. Just like that. Some left angrily, some quietly, and some with disappointed faces. I stood there, still trying to understand what had just happened. I was chosen. Me. Out of all those girls.
"All selected candidates, follow me," the female judge said. Her voice was calm, but it carried authority. We all quickly followed her. She led us through a hallway and into a large room. The moment I stepped inside, my breath caught. The room was filled with clothes. Not just ordinary clothes. Sexy dresses in different styles, colors, and designs hung neatly around the space. There were masks of all kinds, some simple, some decorated with shining stones and feathers. Heels lined the shelves, each one more beautiful than the last. It felt like stepping into another world. A world I had never imagined myself being part of.
"Pick any dress that suits you," the woman said. "Wear a mask and prepare for a quick test." The other girls moved immediately, excitement written all over their faces. I stood there, frozen, my eyes scanning everything around me. I didn't even know where to start. Everything looked too expensive. Too perfect. Too far from my reality.
"Maya." I turned quickly. The female judge was looking at me. "Follow me," she said. I nodded and walked toward her. She moved gracefully through the racks and stopped in front of a dress. She picked it out and held it up. It was red. A deep, beautiful red that seemed to shine under the light. The fabric looked soft and elegant, the design bold yet classy. She picked a matching mask and a pair of heels. "These will suit you," she said. I swallowed hard. "For me?" She gave a small nod.
I was led into the dressing room where a stylist helped me change. My hands were shaking slightly as I stepped into the dress. The fabric hugged my body perfectly. The stylist adjusted it carefully, fixing every detail. Then she placed the mask on my face. When I finally looked at myself in the mirror… I didn't recognize the girl staring back at me. She looked confident. Beautiful. Different. Was that really me?
I took a deep breath and stepped out. The moment I did, the room went quiet. Everyone turned to look at me. For a second, I felt exposed. But then I saw something in their eyes. Surprise. Admiration. Even the man who had rejected me earlier stared at me. "I guess I was wrong," he said slowly. The woman beside him smiled slightly. "Never judge a book by its cover," she replied. My heart swelled with something I hadn't felt in a long time. Confidence.
I walked toward her quickly. "Ma… please," I said softly. "Can you tell me your name?" She looked at me for a moment before answering. "My name is Valeria," she said. Valeria. The name felt powerful, just like her.
The man stepped forward and addressed all of us. "You will all resume tomorrow evening," he said. My heart jumped again. "Once you arrive, come straight here and dress in the outfit you chose today." We all nodded. This was real. I had a job.
We were asked to change back into our normal clothes. I carefully removed the dress and mask, handing them back to the stylist. As I stepped out of the room, my mind was still spinning with everything that had happened. I walked quickly, eager to leave and share the news with my family.
Then suddenly… a hard push. My body lost balance. "Watch where you're going," a sharp voice snapped. It was her. Selena. Before I could react, I almost fell. But I didn't hit the floor. Strong hands caught me. I froze. My eyes lifted slowly… And met his.
For a moment, everything around me disappeared. He was… Handsome. Sharp features, deep eyes, and a presence that demanded attention without even trying. He looked rich. Powerful. Different. Our eyes locked, and time seemed to stop. Then he gently pulled me up. "Be careful," he said softly. His voice was calm, but firm. Then his expression changed as he turned to Selena. "The next time you push someone like that," he said coldly, "I will deal with you." The room fell silent. Selena's face tightened.
He turned back to me. "Are you okay?" I nodded quickly. "Yes… yes sir, I'm fine. Thank you." Before I could say anything else, another girl rushed over. "Selena, you have to stop this," she said. "She did nothing to you." Selena scoffed. "She tried to take my place," she snapped. "And now she's being compared to me?" Her eyes burned into mine. "I hate you," she said loudly. "And don't think this ends here." My heart skipped. "As long as you keep working here, you'll regret it. Next time, your random boyfriend won't be there to save you." She turned and walked away with her friend. I stood there, speechless. I couldn't say anything. I didn't need to. Someone had already spoken for me.
I turned to thank him… But he was already gone. Just like that. Like he was never there.
I rushed home that evening, my heart full of excitement. "Mom!" I called out as I entered. "Mom, I got the job!" She looked up at me, and a warm smile spread across her face. "I'm so happy for you, Maya," she said softly. I ran to her and hugged her tightly. "Thank you, Mom. I promise to make you proud." I pulled back slightly and added quickly, "And don't worry. It's not dangerous. The place has high security. Nothing will happen to me." She looked at me for a moment before pulling me into another hug. "I'm sorry," she whispered. "I'm sorry you have to carry this burden." Tears filled my eyes. "My God will always bless you," she added softly. I closed my eyes in her arms. For the first time in a long time… I felt like maybe… Just maybe… Things were about to change for the better.