For a moment after my name was spoken, no one moved.
Then Lina was on her feet.
She didn't scream. She didn't clap. She just turned to me, eyes bright and a little wet, and said, "You did it."
Her voice cracked like it surprised even her.
I let out a breath I hadn't realized I was holding. My hands felt steady, but something warm spread through my chest — not triumph exactly, more like relief layered with disbelief.
Selene didn't look at me.
She stood slowly, jaw tight, nails digging into the folder still on the table as if it had personally betrayed her.
One of the representatives cleared her throat, drawing the room back into order.
"Congratulations, Evelyn," she said professionally. "We'll proceed with the contract signing immediately. Legal will finalize the documents today. You'll be expected at Halcyon headquarters tomorrow morning at ten."
Tomorrow.
That word landed heavier than the announcement itself.
"Your campaign schedule will be shared shortly," another representative added. "This includes both domestic and international engagements."
Home and abroad.
I nodded once. "Understood."
They didn't linger. No speeches. No applause. Just brief nods, quiet authority, and then they were gone — heels clicking away like this was just another decision on their calendar.
The door closed behind them.
The room changed instantly.
Lina hugged me before I could react.
"I knew it," she said into my shoulder. "I mean — I hoped — but I knew."
I hugged her back. "Thank you."
She pulled away first, smiling. "You earned it. Don't let anyone tell you otherwise."
I didn't need to look to know Selene was still there.
I felt her before I heard her.
"So that's it," she said.
I turned.
She stood a few steps away, arms crossed, lips curved into something that wasn't quite a smile. Her eyes were sharp, unsettled — not furious, but wounded in a way that wanted company.
"They really like you," she continued. "Quiet. Polite. Easy to sell."
"That's not why they chose me," I said calmly.
She laughed once. Short. Bitter. "You think this is about morals? Or talent? This industry eats girls like you."
"Then why are you so angry?" I asked.
Her smile slipped.
For a second — just one — something raw flashed across her face.
"I was supposed to win," she said. "I wanted this."
"So did I," I replied. "Wanting it isn't enough."
Her fingers curled. "Enjoy it while it lasts."
"I plan to."
She stared at me, searching for something — arrogance, fear, apology.
She found none.
Selene scoffed, grabbed her bag, and turned away.
As she reached the door, she paused, shoulders stiff.
"This isn't over," she said quietly.
Then she left.
Lina exhaled loudly. "Wow."
I blinked. "Was that a threat?"
"Absolutely," she said. "But a weak one. The loudest people are usually the ones already losing."
We gathered our things and left the room together.
Outside, the air felt different.
Lighter.
Liora was waiting near the entrance, phone in hand, pretending not to stare at every person who walked out.
The second she saw my face, she straightened.
"Well?" she asked.
I didn't say anything.
I just smiled.
Her mouth fell open.
"No," she said. "No way."
I nodded.
She gasped — actually gasped — and then hugged me so hard I stumbled back a step.
"You won," she said into my shoulder. "You actually won."
"Home and abroad," I added.
She pulled back, eyes shining. "I knew it. I knew it."
As we walked toward the car, her excitement didn't fade. It multiplied.
"I have to tell my mother," she said. "She's going to cry. I'm going to cry. You're not allowed to cry yet — we'll do that later."
I laughed despite myself.
As the car pulled away, I glanced back at the building.
Somewhere inside, Selene was probably breaking something in private.
Somewhere else entirely, news was already traveling.
Across the city, Milan was not quiet.
The confirmation arrived through official channels first — neutral language, no embellishment. Halcyon had selected Evelyn Hart. Contract signing scheduled. Campaign rollout imminent.
Liora's phone buzzed.
Then buzzed again.
And again.
"Milan's group chat just exploded," she said, glancing at the screen. "They're pretending not to care. Which means they care deeply."
I leaned my head against the window.
I didn't feel victorious.
I felt… marked.
Adrian received the confirmation alone.
No board. No assistants.
Just a notification on his tablet while he stood by the window in his office.
Evelyn Hart — Halcyon.
He read it once.
Then again.
A slow breath left him.
"So," he murmured. "You really did it."
He set the tablet down and stared out at the city, expression unreadable.
Somewhere between pride and something far more dangerous, his jaw tightened.
"Looks like we'll be working closer than expected."
Back in the car, Liora glanced at me.
"You okay?" she asked.
"Yes," I said honestly.
Then I paused.
"And no."
She smiled. "Good. That means it's real."
I watched the city move past us, knowing one thing with absolute clarity:
This wasn't the end of anything.
It was the beginning of consequences.