The backstage dressing room is now filled with quiet whispers and models shooting what they assume is inconspicuous glances at Lewis and Shayla. After the other models witnessed Lewis walking in, they knew he wouldn't be here just because he could, he was associated with the SHARK and everyone here knew he represented Scope! so after witnessing the scene of the director running away with an ashen face, they could only wonder why this model had attracted Lewis to her side. This model was in a shared dressing room! They could only whisper quietly to each other, trying to figure out why. Nobody here had seen this model in recent years and some had no clue who she was. Why was she so special?!
Lewis was quite used to the whispers and glances from being around Leroy for the last six years, so he stood tall while confidence radiated from his body. Being backstage was easy work for him, all he needed to do, was wait until the frightened director decided to return, then he could return to Leroy, full of information about his wife.
Linda helped Shayla style her hair into a messy bun with small tendrils cascading at the side of her face, this look had been set out in the pre-show brief. Everyone else seemed to be ready so when the director returned to the joint dressing room his brows furrowed in confusion, seeing Shayla still being worked on. Wasn't this model supposed to be someone associated with Scope Entertainment? Why was she slacking? He couldn't control his anger!
The director bellows loudly, so all can hear
'You have two minutes, get to your places' then his eyes narrow on Shayla and Linda while everyone else gets up to leave. He stupidly sneers loudly, not caring who hears what he says
'You two best finish up! You're a model! Start acting like one! Can you not see everyone else is ready? It's time to go, chop chop!'
Lewis quietly watches this interaction thinking 'this director sure has balls, does he not realise we had let him off lightly earlier?'
Linda who was spraying Shayla's hair now stops, putting the can down while sarcastically sneering
'Can you not see director? Our Shayla is ready!'
The director frowns as he watches Shayla rise from the chair and walk out, without a word. Lewis barges past the director, hitting his shoulder in the process and like Shayla did, he strides out quickly, without a word.
The call over the tannoy system informs Leroy that the runway show will be starting in five minutes. His eyes scan the backstage door from where his sitting, in an elevated VIP box, on the second floor, expecting Lewis to come through any moment. So when Lewis throws open the door and practically runs up the steps, Leroy becomes alert, worried about his wife. Leroy steps out into the hallway, striding swiftly to the steps. As soon as Leroy spots Lewis he demands
'Tell me how my wife is?!'
Lewis stops where he is, his eyes scowled from his anger 'she's fine but the director of Glamour's show has gone too far'
Leroy screws his face in confusion while he snaps 'Care to elaborate Lewis?! What does the director have to do with my WIFE?!'
'The director neglected the signed contract with your wife, he gave her private dressing room to someone else. When I found the director he lead me to Shayla in the joint dressing room but he had already called her a nobody. Your wife actually allowed this to slide but the directors incompetence showed once again when he came back, he practically humiliated her while everyone was leaving President Shark' Lewis explains hurriedly then winces, expecting Leroy to start screaming at him.
Instead Leroy begins moving, swiftly making his way down the stairs calling 'come! Now!' To Lewis. Both men descend the stairs and slip through the backstage door, unnoticed by the crowd that have made their way to their seats.
Leroy walks straight to the back of stage area, swiftly finding the director.
The director spots the SHARK before he even gets to him! His eyes widen in fright as he strides closer but he stands there smiling weakly
'Pr..president..' is all the director gets out of his trembling mouth before Leroy's fist lumps him painfully in the jaw. The director stumbles backwards before fainting, falling onto a model, there's loud gasps and chatter erupts as the model screams in pain. Some of the other models pull the now crying model out from under the director as Shayla hears the commotion. Instead of walking on stage to perform the opening, she bounds over to the commotion after seeing who is involved.
Shayla manoeuvres herself around the commotion to get to Leroy but Lewis steps in her way, Shayla shoves Lewis to get to her husband before screaming at him exasperatedly, while all the other models look on in bewilderment!
'What the hell do you think you're doing?! That's the director! He was supposed to be the one opening the show! Now what are we supposed to do?' Shayla's words echo across the now quiet back of stage, all the models now glance at Leroy.
Leroy looks back in puzzlement before ordering confidently 'I will announce the show starting! For the rest of you, you should know your sequences, you have rehearsed. Treat this show like any other but as I am now representing glamour, I expect your performance to be spectacular tonight' the models cheer and clap at this before Leroy pulls Shayla aside as the hurt model is seen to by the expert hands of Lewis.
'The director deserved that punch, he insulted and humiliated you sweetheart' Leroy whispers, reaching his arm up to Shayla's face, running his fingers softly along her right cheek whispering again 'nobody but I am allowed to do anything unworthy to you love, remember that, if something happens, you inform me. You want no lies, no secrets, so do I princess'
Shayla's eyes begin to tear up emotionally but Leroy quickly swipes them away before placing his lips lovingly onto hers. Thankfully this little encounter is not in eyeshot of anyone.
Shayla pulls back and smiles up at her man, saying softly 'okay'.
Leroy places his searing kiss on her lips before letting his wife go. He walks to the side of the stage, grabs a microphone then walks out confidently onto the runway causing the crowd to erupt in screams of excitement, hollering and cat call whistles.
The comments online go crazy..
'Someone pinch me!'
'What a fantastic surprise 🤗 we love you president Shark!!!!!'
'Think I'm going to faint…..'
Leroy waits until the crowd has calmed down before he starts to speak
'Welcome! Welcome all! There's been a slight change of plan this evening, instead of the director, I will be running the show tonight' the crowd erupts again at this unexpected news. Once the venue is quiet again Leroy speaks
'Please put your hands together, give a round of applause for our opening model, showcasing the sex theme for this show!'
Shayla takes a deep breath before she struts down the runway, pulling multiple poses at the end for Glamour's photographer and the media below the stage. The cameras flash wildly throughout Shayla's poses then she confidently struts back down the runway.
When things go wrong as a performer, the show must go on!