The flash of the cameras lit up in Aveline's eyes as she stood near the screen, watching Margo surrounded by gleaming lights.
Margo rarely grants interviews; whenever she decides to make a public appearance, everyone seizes the opportunity. Reporters, news anchors, business columnists, and foreign media were all seated, eagerly awaiting her words. Margo took her seat, a translator beside her — not that she needed one; she was fluent in all languages. But Margo would always be the powerful figure they knew; everything served the eternal Queen. She lived a life where laying a red carpet on her every path seemed within the realm of possibility. To Aveline, everything about the beautiful immortal seemed possible.
However, Aveline's color of hope slowly faded. How could she possibly approach Margo in a place teeming with influential figures? "Next time I'll talk to her," she considered. But a voice inside her whispered the opposite. If she let this moment pass, the next day might bring changes; her hope and courage could vanish. It was now or never. Aveline took a deep breath to clear her mind, sighed, and decided to serve the guests.
"Miss Sinclair, will there be changes as your country is facing major challenges in politics and turmoil with neighboring countries?" an American journalist asked. His companion was taking pictures, while another was recording a video.
"If we don't see the reforms that we're expecting, if we don't witness true deregulation, I think the markets will face some setbacks. You're seeing a slowdown in our economy into the first quarter; we're projected to grow probably less than 2 percent. A lot of this is because people are just waiting to see," Margo replied eloquently, leaving the reporter satisfied with her answer.
"Follow-up question, Miss Sinclair. What about partnerships with other companies that could lead in the future?"
"There is certainly an opportunity for us, given the solidarity we have within our business and our strong balance sheet, to participate in that consolidation. We recently acquired a company in Amsterdam; we expect to follow up on that with additional acquisitions moving forward. So, our growth strategy is predicated upon tremendous growth."
The clicking noises of the camera accompanied Margo's words. She remained undisturbed by the flashing lights, and every sound of the shutters was like raindrops falling on a roof.
Meanwhile...
"James! Inform the press there will be a 10-minute break. The interview must end in 2 minutes," the director demanded, adjusting the camera for a better angle.
"Yes, sir!" James nodded in response.
The assistant relayed the message to the media. With the remaining questions swiftly answered, the crew escorted Margo to her room. Some audience members rose from their seats, eager for a glimpse of the illustrious CEO, but were thwarted by the vigilant bodyguards.
Aveline's heartbeat thundered, each pulse echoing in her chest like a drum, overwhelming her senses like the relentless ticking of a clock. Margo's entourage approached in her direction. Aveline bowed her head, using the tray laden with wine bottles as a shield to conceal her face.
The bodyguard opened the door to a waiting room designated for Margo Sinclair's relaxation. The walls were adorned with a picture of Mount Everest and a Renaissance painting, crafting a serene ambiance. A small, black wooden coffee table laden with magazines stood across the room, atop a red carpet that sprawled across the floor. A flatscreen television, displaying mundane commercials, hung in one corner.
"We will have a ten-minute break, Miss Sinclair. I'll arrange for some refreshments. Please, enjoy your stay," the assistant director informed her before exiting the room.
"Is there anything you need, Miss Sinclair?" Diana inquired, poised at the door.
Margo, seated on the couch and leaning back, replied, "I want to be alone. You may go," her voice soft but firm.
"I'll leave you to it, Miss Sinclair," the secretary acknowledged with a nod, then quietly closed the door behind her as she exited.
Aveline checked her watch and sighed in disappointment. Twenty minutes remained in her shift, after which she could go home early. Her world was gradually enveloped in sadness. Moments ago, she had experienced a whirlwind of emotions, a surge of energy that made her believe she could conquer the world. Now, she felt useless—a total loser. Reality had harshly reminded her, stripping away that small piece of confidence and crushing it.
Despite the sadness that shimmered in her eyes, Aveline continued to keep the glasses full; that was all she could do. She chastised herself for her foolish dreams, acknowledging her defeat with a resigned sigh and a sad smile. She knew what her fate held; hope seemed like a distant dream.
"Miss! Hey, Miss!" A woman waved from the far end of the table.
Aveline looked around, making sure the call was for her. "Yes, it's you!" the woman confirmed, pointing her finger at Aveline and walking towards her. "Can you serve room 24C? Bring drinks?" She glanced at the empty tray.
"Sure, but I don't know where 24C is?" Aveline hesitated, her brow furrowing as she tried to recall if she had ever heard of such a place. The woman shrugged confidently, "Don't worry; I'll guide you," she said, tilting her head to the side. "First, let's stop by the buffet table." She removed her headset, pulling the cord from around her neck, her ID with her name visible on it. The woman selected a bottle of wine and some snacks from the buffet, placing them on the tray Aveline held.
"Let's go," she said, leading the way, with a brief glance back at Aveline. Together, they ventured backstage.
Aveline was in awe as they walked through the corridor, noting everything painted in pristine white. The walls and floor were immaculate. Before entering the room, the woman paused at the door to press the small speaker in her ear, while Aveline waited behind her. "Yes, Bob?" she responded into the headset, "I'll check the list." Her finger ran over a paper attached to a clipboard. "For now, the lineup of interviews includes CHB Channel, Stocks Column, and Westin Magazine. Five news channels will conduct interviews, Bob. After that, it's the end of the press conference."
"Yes...yes," the woman nodded, listening through the headset. "Right now, we still have a ten-minute break. Okay, I will let her know." She pressed the button on her earpiece, turned to Aveline with a smile, and asked, "Shall we?" before knocking on the door.
"Come in," a muffled voice called from inside the room.
The woman gestured for Aveline to enter first, then followed behind her. A familiar face greeted Aveline's chocolate eyes.
Margo Sinclair, caught off guard, quickly masked her surprise with a neutral expression. She rose from her seat, her gaze fixed on Aveline without wavering.
Aveline, fearing she might drop the tray, gripped it tightly with her trembling hands.
Only the assistant director seemed oblivious to the growing tension in the room. "Miss Sinclair, your drinks have arrived," she announced cheerfully. Just then, her headset beeped, startling Aveline and nearly causing her to jostle the tray.
"What is it, Bob? An emergency? I'll be right there!" the woman responded hastily. "Miss Sinclair, anything else you need will be attended to. You have ten minutes. I'll return shortly to assist you further." She hurriedly made her way to the door, leaving Margo and Aveline momentarily speechless.
"Hi, Ma-margo," Aveline nervously broke the silence, her internal struggle palpable as though her brain had short-circuited, with her hormones and neurons stuck in traffic.
Margo continued to stand, her gaze fixed on Aveline, a hint of confusion in her eyes.
"I see you brought me a drink. Thanks." She took the tray from Aveline's clammy hands and placed it on the coffee table.
"Uhm...M-margo, you—you look...look pretty tonight," Aveline stammered, her face heating up as if it were an oven.
"Thanks..." Margo replied, her tone unchanged, offering a brief smile.
Memories of slapping Margo in the office and the stolen kisses inside the elevator flashed through Aveline's mind—a mocking reminder of her embarrassment. She awkwardly cleared her throat, her anxiety peaking as she scrambled for words to start a conversation. Her heart pounded against her chest so fiercely it felt as though it might burst. Talking to Margo felt like bridging a gap that had widened over ten years, the void between them too significant to ignore. She fidgeted with the seam of her blouse in an attempt to soothe her nerves.
Margo observed her intently, puzzled by her behavior.
The silence was so profound that, had there been a cricket in the room, its chirping would have filled the space.
"I'm glad you're here," Margo finally said, breaking the ice.
Aveline wanted to say so much, yet she had no idea how to start or what to say. Her hands turned cold, and her chest felt as though it would soon explode. Adrenaline flooded her system, pumping as if trying to escape. It was as if her heart might burst, her eyes wide with fear. Her body urged her to run, but instead, she had no choice but to face her fear.
Suddenly, there was a knock at the door.
Aveline's body stiffened in surprise, her lips pursing into a hard line. A bead of cold sweat gracefully slid down her forehead. She managed to hide her shock; she forced a smile to prevent the short circuits in her brain and the traffic jams of her hormones.
"Four minutes, Miss Sinclair," the assistant director announced, popping her head inside before shutting the door.
Four minutes, four minutes. Oh my god, I only have four minutes, Aveline panicked internally, as if hearing a time bomb about to explode. Anxiety began to cluster in her abdomen like spark plugs. Tension crept across her face, draining the color from it.
"Hey, are you alright?" Margo asked, her concern evident in the softening of her eyes.
"I love you!" The words escaped Aveline's lips before she could catch them, her hand flying to her mouth in horror. "Shit! Shit! Did I say that out loud?"
Margo's face was a tableau of shock and disbelief, her expression frozen as she processed Aveline's unintended confession.
Taking a deep, steadying breath, Aveline found herself repeating, "I love you!" with a mixture of desperation and determination. "Damn it! I said it again!" Her face flushed a deep shade of pink, the realization that there was no taking back her words sinking in. She bravely held Margo's gaze, the weight of her confession hanging in the air between them. She sighed, her voice a nervous whisper, "I really like...like you a lot. But I-I think it's more than that. Since I've already spilled the beans...I'll just say it—I—love—I mean, I like you." Words tumbled out in a hurried stream, her nervousness tangling her vocal cords.
Margo, still visibly taken aback, stood rooted to the spot, her wide eyes reflecting a mix of astonishment and something undefinable.
"I—I tried to keep it inside. I tried to keep it a secret. But...but I can't," Aveline confessed, her resolve steeling as she refused to break eye contact, even as her lips trembled with the weight of her admission. "I just love you. I've fallen for you. And there's no turning back." A single tear slid down her cheek, a bittersweet smile tugging at her lips.
Aveline let out a nervous laugh, as if to lighten the mood, though it was clear her humor was laced with pain. "You...you're like a virus. It might sound utterly cheesy, but I think I've been infected by you." She chuckled, a nervous sound accompanied by a sniffle. "The Margo Sinclair disease, that's what this is."
"You're all I think about. Your face haunts me even with my eyes closed. I can't eat, I can't sleep, I can't do anything without you invading my thoughts," she continued, her voice breaking under the strain of her emotions. Wiping away a tear, she blurted, "F-fuck! My heart stops every time I see you," her voice reaching a fevered pitch. "I love you, Margo," she declared, each word soaked in sincerity.
"I love you," she gasped, struggling for air as her heart laid bare. "Every moment, every day, it's you I love." She clung to each word, her breath hitching with the intensity of her feelings.
"Finally, I've said it." Aveline inhaled deeply, a sense of release washing over her as though she had been unburdened. Her cheeks burned with a blush so vivid it seemed to light her from within; she attempted to shield her flushed face with her hands.
The world around Miss Sinclair seemed to come to a halt, leaving her wordless. A look of sheer astonishment was etched across her face, as if time itself had frozen in that moment.
Then, the door swung open, breaking the spell.
Their attention snapped to the door.
"Miss Sinclair...we're ready," the assistant director's voice cut through the thick tension, her presence momentarily filling the doorway.
Margo remained speechless, caught in the aftermath of Aveline's confession. Her usual composure had deserted her, leaving her visibly shaken and without words for the first time in what seemed like forever.
Aveline quickly left without turning back. She bit her lower lip, trying to hold back the tears that threatened to spill from her eyes as she quickened her pace along the corridor. But she could no longer contain them. First, a tear escaped from her right eye, stinging as it slid down her cheek and rolled off her chin. Then another followed, and another, until they fell like rainfall, her sniffles breaking the silence every few seconds as she let them flow. Her vision blurred with the onslaught of tears, and she found refuge in a corner, leaning against the wall. Her shoulders shook with the weight of her grief; tears streamed down her already wet cheeks. She had spoken her truth; there was nothing left to fear. Yet, why did it hurt so much? Aveline felt a rejection, not directly from Margo, but from the circumstances surrounding them. It was as if her very existence was a mistake from the start. Her lips quivered as she wept uncontrollably. "Please...stop. Please...s-stop," she begged her eyes to cease their tears.
Aveline knew she had to confront the truth. The pain was overwhelming, crushing her soul once again.
++++
The cameras flickered to life again in front of the stage.
"Miss Sinclair, how do you approach financial modeling for companies?"
"I should be able to give a brief, concise answer to that question," Margo began. "Financial modeling involves quantitative analysis commonly used for asset pricing or general corporate finance. In my company, we use hypothetical variables in formulas to determine the likely impact on market behavior, profitability, or economic conditions. As of now, our financial situation is stable and has not been affected by the economic recession," she answered casually. As the camera panned across the audience, Margo glanced at the screen. Her eyes briefly registered surprise, showing a flicker of puzzlement, but her reaction quickly dissipated. She chose not to maintain eye contact with the camera each time the lens focused on her; instead, she devoted her attention to the questions being asked.
Aveline watched the screen once more, her shift now over, still clad in her waitress uniform. She took a deep breath; her sad eyes lingered on the green-eyed beauty, and a sad smile formed on her lips. She headed for the exit, feeling weary and defeated, while the guards, dressed in tuxedos and wearing white gloves, opened the door for her.
The night had ended.
In every fairy tale, a magical night always unfolds, but not for her. Like Cinderella, who left her shoe behind, Aveline left her heart. It no longer accompanied her. She sighed, perhaps her tears had grown weary too. Finally, she stepped outside, greeted by the gentle wind, while the stars observed from afar, bearing witness to the sadness in her eyes. Aveline gazed at the tall building before her.
A digital clock struck...
Twelve midnight.
She looked up at the stars. "Are you kidding me? It's midnight. Should I leave my shoe behind and hope for a fairy tale to come true?" Aveline whispered to her fate. Despite the ache in her heart, she smiled at the stars. She marched forward, descending the stairs, leaving behind pieces of herself like a jigsaw puzzle. For as she stepped off the final stair, she was no longer complete but broken.
In front of the hotel stood a fountain, before which Aveline paused. At its center, a statue of an angel gazed down upon her, its water shimmering like a mirror under the moonlight. The warmth from the scene seemed to tenderly soothe the wounds in her heart. The bustling sounds of people filled the streets behind her; some hurried home while others relished the night's tranquility. Aveline allowed her gaze to linger on the moving waters. Street musicians serenaded the night, their soulful melodies carried by the wind.
Aveline observed the fountain more closely; she watched as the water leaped, slow at first then rapidly, resembling ballerinas dancing gracefully on a crystal stage. The water moved softly around her outstretched fingers, its cool touch reminiscent of Margo's hand. Withdrawing her hand, she watched the water droplets fall back into the fountain. In that moment, the fountain offered her solace for her broken heart, making Aveline feel as though a part of her pain was being washed away.
Aveline noticed a handful of coins glinting underwater, a smile blooming on her lips. She retrieved a penny from her purse; it sparkled in the fountain's light. Her brown eyes met those of the angel statue. "Can I make a wish?" she whispered to the statue, closing her eyes to breathe deeply. At that moment, she released the coin, tossing it into the air, and time seemed to stand still. The people around her appeared frozen. Was her mind playing tricks on her, or had the universe conspired once again? Only the stars overhead silently observed. The coin fell gently, descending like a feather, dropping slowly as if it were snow until it touched the water's surface, creating a tiny splash and a ripple effect. It then began its slow descent, as if pulled by gravity from another realm, gently sinking. The coin, shrouded in its own mystery, finally settled on the fountain's floor.
A gentle wind blew, caressing Aveline's face and softly stroking her hair.
Once again, Aveline heard the noise but chose to ignore it.
Footsteps approached the fountain rapidly. A pair of red shoes ran in a hurry; their heels echoed on the pavement and stopped behind Aveline. Two soft hands grasped her shoulders and turned her around.
The playful waters of the fountain leapt higher, reaching up to twelve feet, and the lights illuminated the face of Margo Sinclair.
"I saw you leaving...why? Why are you leaving?!" Margo held Aveline's arms firmly.
Aveline's eyes turned glassy; she shook her head. "I have to go away." Tears streamed down her cheeks. In an unexpected gesture, Margo's hand moved on its own, tenderly wiping Aveline's tears away. The sound of the fountain's waters jumping made the world around them seem to stand still once more. "You said...you loved me. Why? Why are you leaving me?" Pain flashed in her green eyes, her voice laden with hurt. She cradled Aveline's face and pleaded, "Don't leave me."
Aveline's world was shattered by Margo's words.
"Over there!"
"She's here!"
"Miss Sinclair!"
Aveline caught sight of the reporters advancing towards them; fear swiftly enveloped her, causing her brown eyes to shimmer as if they were dissolving under the weight of unshed tears. The agony that she had so painstakingly concealed overwhelmed her. "Tell them...y-you don't know me. Please—Margo, please. They'll destroy you because of me. Just say you don't know me. It's okay to be ashamed of me, Margo. Speak ill of me if you must. It's...it's okay. Your reputation is at stake. Just tell them y-you don't know me," she implored, her voice breaking as her chin quivered with the effort to hold back sobs. Tears overflowed from her deep brown eyes, cascading down her cheeks as heaving sobs broke free from her constricted throat. "I'm a mess, Margo. I don't deserve you. I'm nothing but a mess."
The sound of footsteps grew ominously closer; their chance to slip away unnoticed had vanished.
Summoning every ounce of love within her, Aveline's trembling hands reached out to gently push Margo back, a silent plea for her to distance herself. But Margo tightened her grip, desperate not to let go.
"L-let me go, M-margo," Aveline whispered, the words barely escaping through her sobs, almost choking on her tears.
Then, the reporters converged on them like a storm, suddenly enveloping them in a barrage of flashing lights and eager faces.
"Miss Sinclair! Why did you leave the hotel?"
"Who is this woman with you?"
"What brings you here tonight?"
The air was thick with questions, each one hurled with the urgency and intensity of the flashing cameras that accompanied them, capturing every moment of vulnerability and confusion.
Aveline touched the hand that held her shoulder. With her trembling hand, she wanted Margo to let go, as the sound of flashing cameras was like raindrops hammering on a roof. Margo looked at her with longing green eyes. Aveline tried to loosen her grip, like pulling out a knife, even though it would be painful. She stared at Margo once again, and in her chocolate eyes, she silently pleaded: Leave and let me go. Those were the words she was trying to convey.
Margo's grip began to loosen on Aveline's arm. With tearful eyes, Aveline smiled at Margo. Her deep brown eyes were telling her, It's okay. Just let me go.
Margo's hand slowly glided down her arm, and she finally released her.
Aveline pursed her lips and nodded at Margo. The noise around them became a muffled sound. She offered Margo a soulful smile, her eyes brimming with tears. Her silent message conveyed that Margo had made the right decision in letting her go. The relentless flash of cameras enveloped them, while a gentle wind brushed against their faces, as if nature itself was acknowledging their farewell. Aveline took a hesitant step backward, her gaze lingering on Margo, etching this final image into her memory before she would turn to leave the the sparkling lights behind.
But before she could retreat into the shadows, a pivotal moment unfolded...
Margo, driven by a surge of emotion, pulled Aveline close and captured her lips in a kiss.
Sparks seemed to fly in every direction. Fate, with its own magic, made the world slowly fade away around them. The flashing cameras turned into glowing stars of the night. Their lips remained locked together, making the world cease to exist time and again; the surroundings blurred, and the noises grew indistinct.
As Margo gently withdrew, the look in her green eyes spoke volumes, a mirror to every dream Aveline had cherished about her. She began to utter every promise Aveline needed to hear. "I'll be proud of you." With one hand under Aveline's chin, she tilted her face up and kissed away the tears. "I'll fight for you," Margo vowed, still cradling the most precious girl in her hands, gazing lovingly into her chocolate eyes. "I will make the world kneel at your feet," Margo whispered, her words of love to Aveline. "Just to have you in my life."
++++