I had never seen a city this big before.
Tall buildings shone under the afternoon sun.
Cars rushed past, horns echoing everywhere.
People moved fast, each one looking like they had somewhere important to be.
I stood there with my small suitcase, staring up at the glass towers and bright lights.
A little scared. A little excited.
This was it, the start of my dream.
For years, I'd wanted to become a model.
I'd practiced in front of mirrors, taken pictures in my friends' shops, joined small photo shoots back home.
But I knew that if I really wanted to make it, I had to come here, where big names lived, where dreams were made or broken.
I took a deep breath and smiled to myself.
"You can do this," I whispered.
The agency I came for, Celestia Models stood right in the center of the city.
The glass building sparkled like it owned the place.
When I stepped inside, my heels clicked against the clean marble floor.
The lobby smelled like perfume and coffee.
A tall woman at the front desk asked me to wait, smiling politely.
I sat and tapped my fingers on my bag, trying to calm my nerves.
Then I heard a voice behind me, low, smooth, confident.
"Ellie Summers?"
I turned around.
A woman stood there; tall, graceful, dressed in a cream suit that hugged her in all the right places.
She looked like she was in her mid-thirties.
Her body was perfect, her posture sharp but calm.
Her dark hair was tied into a neat bun, and her eyes… her eyes were the kind that made you forget what you were about to say — cold, sharp, and beautiful.
"Yes, that's me," I said quickly.
She smiled faintly.
"I'm Kylie Lawson. Head of creative direction here. Come with me."
I followed her down a long hallway.
My shoes made soft sounds on the floor, and I could smell her perfume; light but warm, like flowers after rain.
It made my heart beat faster for reasons I didn't understand.
Her office was large and simple.
A white desk, a small camera, and a wall of tall windows showing the city outside.
"Have a seat," she said, motioning to the chair across from her.
I sat carefully, folding my hands in my lap.
Kylie studied me for a long time.
"So, Ellie Summers. You've done a few small projects?"
"Yes," I said. "Mostly local shoots and adverts. I haven't done anything big yet, but I'm ready to learn."
She smiled, leaning back in her chair.
"You have a nice face. Confident eyes. That's good."
"Thank you," I said, feeling my cheeks warm.
"Stand for me," she said.
I stood. I wasn't sure what to expect, but she walked around me slowly, like an artist studying her subject.
Her eyes trailed from my shoulders to my legs, not in a rude way, but with quiet focus.
Still, I felt every second of that gaze.
"You carry yourself well," she said softly. "You look comfortable in your skin. That's rare."
"I've practiced a lot," I said, trying to smile though my heart was pounding.
She stopped in front of me. Our eyes met, and for a moment, the room felt smaller.
"You'll do well here," she said. "I can see it."
"Really?" I asked, relieved.
She nodded, her lips curling into a faint smile.
"But I'd like to talk to you more, privately. About your future."
"Privately?" I repeated.
"At the Grand Arc Hotel," she said. "Room 509. Eight tonight."
Her tone was calm, but her eyes lingered on me.
My stomach twisted.
"Can you tell me more about this private meeting?" I asked slowly. "If that's part of the process…"
"It's not," she said, cutting in gently. "But I think you'll find it worth your time."
Then she smiled again, the kind of smile that left my thoughts tangled.
"Think about it."
Her phone rang, and she turned away to answer it.
That was it, the meeting was over.
I left the building, sunlight hitting my face, my mind spinning in every direction.
Back at my small apartment, I dropped my bag on the couch and called Jane.
Jane had been my best friend since college; bold, funny, and never afraid to speak her mind.
She was openly lesbian and always teased me for being "too polite for my own good."
When she picked up, her voice was as sharp as ever.
"So? How did the interview go?"
"Good, I think," I said. "The woman in charge, Kylie… she said I'm good enough."
"That's amazing!" Jane shouted. "You did it!"
I hesitated. "She also asked me to come to a hotel tonight."
There was a short pause. "A hotel?" Jane asked, suddenly curious. "Like, for another interview?"
"I don't know," I said honestly. "She said it's to talk about my future, but the way she looked at me…"
I stopped. Just remembering it made my face warm.
"It didn't feel like business."
Jane laughed softly. "Oh, I see. So Miss Kylie might be mixing business with pleasure?"
"Jane," I groaned. "Don't start."
"Hey, I'm just saying," she teased. "She's probably testing you. Or maybe she really likes you. Either way, you can handle yourself."
"I don't know if I should go," I said quietly.
"Ellie, listen," she said, suddenly serious. "You've worked so hard for this. Maybe she just wants to see if you're serious too. Go. Keep your eyes open, but don't let fear make your choices."
I looked out the window. The city lights were starting to appear. "You think so?"
"I know so," Jane said. "Besides, if it's what we think it is, it might even be fun. But if you aren't comfortable, just walk away. Still, I'd say loosen up a bit."
I smiled faintly. "You always know what to say."
"That's why you call me," she said, laughing. "Now go get ready. And call me after."
The Grand Arc Hotel was even more beautiful than I imagined.
The lobby was quiet, filled with soft music and the smell of candles.
I walked to the elevator, my heart thudding harder with every step.
In the mirror, I checked my reflection; simple makeup, soft dress, hair tied loosely.
I looked fine. Nervous, but fine.
The elevator doors opened with a soft sound, and I stepped out on the fifth floor.
Room 509.
I stopped in front of it. The hallway was quiet. My palms were sweaty.
For a second, I almost turned back, but Jane's words echoed in my mind:
Keep your eyes open, but don't let fear make your choices.
I knocked.
The door opened.
Kylie stood there, her hair damp, her shoulders glowing faintly under the soft hotel light.
A towel was wrapped loosely around her, as if she had just stepped out of the shower. Steam curled from inside the room.
"Ellie," she said, voice low and smooth. "You came."
I swallowed hard. "You said you wanted to talk."
"I do," she said. Her eyes ran over my face in that same calm, unreadable way. "Come in."
I stepped inside. The room smelled like sandalwood and rain.
The city lights outside painted soft gold across the floor.
Then I heard the door close behind me. The sound made my heart skip.
Kylie turned, a small, knowing smile on her lips. The air between us felt heavy, charged.
Her hand went to the edge of her towel.
I froze. My eyes widened, unsure what to think.
The towel slipped slightly. Her gaze met mine; steady, daring, waiting.
My breath caught.
And before I could say a word,
The city lights flickered, and the door clicked shut completely behind me.