After returning to the manor, Nancy and Sudiksha ran out and greeted Pratiksha as they excitedly held onto her arm. Pratiksha simply laughed. She wasn't going to disappoint their expectations; especially not the man that thoughtfully helped her so much.
Sudiksha noticed Pratiksha's gaze was focused on the man sitting on the sofa flipping through documents. She smiled cheekily as she pushed Pratiksha towards him, "We won't be light bulbs anymore, hurry over and keep him company!"
After speaking, Sudiksha and Nancy returned to their own respective rooms. However, not long after, Sudiksha ran back out holding her phone towards Pratiksha helplessly, "Vikrant is calling, do you want to pick up?"
Pratiksha took a quick glance at Moksh before she nodded, grabbing the phone from Sudiksha's hands.
"Pratiksha, since the magazine has decided not to use you, you should return home first. There's no point for you to stay in the US. Don't blame my sister for being ruthless, she did it for the sake of Rastogis. The magazine wasn't happy with you, so you don't have the right to blame anyone," Vikrant said, speaking like everything he and his sister did was right.
"After using me, you kicked me aside, now you want me to gladly accept all this?" Pratiksha's tone was calm but contained a slight sense of ridicule.
"Why won't you give up? Why must you go against Payal? Why can't you just let us off?" Vikrant asked impatiently. Pratiksha felt like a heavy and annoying baggage that he was desperate to get rid of, but she just kept following him around.
"There is no reason for me to let despicable people off!" Pratiksha's tone was firm, "I know how the industry is like. Today Payal has backup, so she is capable of stepping all over me and is using me to benefit herself. But, that doesn't mean she will still be this fortunate tomorrow..."
"You already have no chance, just let it go! The fact that I love Payal , is not her fault. My sister was right, you indeed do not have any tolerance."
Pratiksha suddenly clenched her left fist. Sensing the change in her emotions, Moksh reached out his comforting palm and pulled her into his warm embrace.
Vikrant was indeed a heartless person, otherwise, he wouldn't be able to treat Pratiksha this way. He took her love and destroyed her career, now he wanted her to support his new relationship - he was practically draining her of everything she had.
"Your selfishness will only push Payal further into hell." After speaking, Pratiksha hung up the phone and tried her best to calm herself down.
Moksh put down his documents, held onto her hands and gently swayed her body.
"I'm fine. It's normal to be annoyed once in a while, it helps me train a stronger heart."
"Did you see your mentor?" Moksh did not ask any further as he changed the topic.
"Uh huh, it went smoothly." Pratiksha naturally sat beside Moksh as she leaned against his arms, "I also met a few famous photographers. Moksh, I was so happy...all that was missing was you. I couldn't help thinking, if I could attend an event like that holding your hand, how perfect it would be."
"You will have plenty of chances in the future," Moksh responded suggestively.
"Are you tired? Should I give you a massage?" Pratiksha asked as she knelt beside him. However, before she could do anything, Moksh turned towards her, grabbed hold of her hand and picked her up in his arms; carrying her horizontally.
"I want you to massage a different part of me..."
"Hubby...I won't make you wait much longer..." Under the moonlight, Pratiksha hugged Moksh and as the moment became more passionate, she mumbled, "...because I realized, when I think of you kissing someone else, I feel extremely uneasy."
...
Early the next morning. Secret's Headquarters. Mina once again notified Payal and the others to attend a meeting. After writing up the contract yesterday, today they had to officially sign it.
Payal wanted to take part in the magazine shoot as soon as possible because the child in her stomach was already over 1 month old. If things kept getting delayed, people would easily discover soon.
The Top Ten Model Awards was to take place in half a months time. She wanted to use the results from Secret's shoot to obtain an award, that way she would be able to climb up the ranks to become an A-grade model.
As Secret was a weekly publication, her appearance in the magazine would be before the awards ceremony. So, whether she would be able to influence the Oriental Trend, would go towards her assessment for the Top Ten Model Awards qualifications.
5 minutes later, Mina entered the meeting room. She glared at Payal and Siya Rastogi with a mocking expression, however, they didn't realize.
"Mina, we are ready to go. We can get started with the shoot as soon as you are ready. Don't worry, Payal is an extremely professional model, she will definitely complete the task given by Secret and ignite the Oriental Trend."
"Also, we have already organized for Pratiksha to fly home, she won't be causing us any more trouble...after all, you know she's not easy to deal with."
Mina sneered as she played with the pen in her hand, "What should we do now? Sorry, Siya , unfortunately, I didn't ask you here to sign the contract...I...asked you here to change models again."
After speaking, Mina tore the contract in Payal's hands into shreds, "I'm no longer using either of your models. This is the condition the model I want has given me."
Upon hearing this, Siya Rastogi slammed her hands on the table angrily, "Mina, what do you mean by this?"
Siya Rastogi had never thought Secret would go back on their words.
"Can't you understand what I'm saying? I said I won't be signing Payal. For the sake of your family's personal matters, you've shoved an unworthy model into my hands. Siya Rastogi, is this how you treat your friends?"
"I don't know what you're talking about," Siya Rastogi had a surprised expression.
"Fine, let me ask you one thing: why did you tell me Pratiksha is a newcomer? She is already internationally renowned and has received multiple awards. She is even the disciple of Royal Magazine's editor, yet you intentionally told me she's a newcomer. Were you afraid I wouldn't take Payal, so you deliberately defamed her?" Mina exclaimed loudly.
"I..." Siya Rastogi was choked up.
"Did you know, because of your selfishness, how humiliated I felt at last night's photography exhibition?"
Mina continued to blame Siya Rastogi regardless of their past friendship, "Siya Rastogi, I don't care what you do when no one is looking, but in front of me you better contain your scheming."
"But, you can't just say you don't want her like that. You've seen Payal's abilities before..."
"Regarding this matter...I have no say - I've already made a promise to the model I've worked so hard to sign. If you want to plead, go speak to her. As long as she agrees to work with Payal, I have no opinion." Mina placed the shredded contract on the table and turned to ask her assistant, "Has she arrived?"
"Yes, she's arrived."
Hearing all this, Siya Rastogi clenched her teeth, "Let me see who this model that has made you shred up our contract and sever our ties is."