ELENA'S POINT OF VIEW
As I claimed my position, I was acutely aware of eyes still on me, but slowly, the atmosphere began to shift. The music surged back to life. Other models resumed their practices, and staff returned to their duties.
There was something different about the way people treated me now. They were cautious, respectful... not the kind of fawning or insincere respect that made me cringe, but an awareness that I was no longer just Elena Hart, the struggling model; I was Elena Reyes.
I wasn't quite sure how to feel about that yet.
During my lunch break, I slipped out to a secluded courtyard behind the building, a hidden pocket of calm where the media couldn't intrude. I needed to breathe, to gather my thoughts amidst the whirlwind of recent events.
Then my phone rang.
I plucked it from my bag absentmindedly, half expecting a call from my mother or perhaps my agency director with more instructions. But when I saw Alex's name flash on the screen, I froze.
