Her Fake Lover

Chapter 26

The day of the awaited show arrived. The day for a fashion show that had been designed by Karfis & Vin and Avant-Garde Valestylez.

All the models were preparing backstage to display the clothes and jewelry that had been entrusted to them, including Anna.

Emmeline, glanced briefly at where the models were preparing. She then drew closer to Anna, and Anna greeted her with a cheerful smile.

"Your debut, Anna," said Emmeline.

"Ah, yes, Miss Karfis. Something I never imagined I would do."

Emmeline placed her hands on Annaliese's cheeks. With a confident yet reassuring smile she said, "I'm sure you can. Don't worry."

Anna looked at Emmy in awe. She nodded her head. "I'll do my best, Miss."

"Hmm." Emmy nodded her head too. She lowered her hand, then smiled again, and left Anna. Anna looked at the direction Emmy was going with a smile. It was only a moment, before she turned around and was surprised to find Hazel standing behind her.

"O-oh, Miss?" said Anna surprised. Hazel sighed with a sinister smile at her.

"I don't know what happened until Miss Karfis gave you her trust in all of this. After you caused such a mess at one of her important events in Paris." Annaliese widened her eyes at those words. The guilt came back to her. "I still remember how ruined my mood was at that time because of you, which fortunately, because of all my experience, it didn't interfere with my appearance afterwards. Not to mention the impact of your carelessness, which has made Miss Karfis have to go through the trouble of checking all her subordinates who were there at that time to find the missing ring." Hazel stepped closer to Annaliese. "You are nothing more than a troublemaker to Miss Karfis, Anna. You don't belong here. You," Hazel glared at Annaliese, "you are a troublemaker! You are a troublemaker!" Hazel sighed sarcastically again as she backed away slowly, before leaving Annaliese behind.

Annaliese, looked at the way Hazel passed with trembling legs, confused feelings, and teary eyes. "I'm a troublemaker for Miss Karfis?" she sighed. The girl felt giddy. "Ah, she's right. How can I be here. What if I again cause trouble for Miss Karfis?" Annaliese became like a lost person for a moment.

"Annaliese Valsecchi!" cried someone approaching. Annaliese gasped and looked at her swiftly. "What are you doing? I called you and you didn't hear me? Ah, my goodness, Annaliese, you're not even done with your preparations yet." Chloe said.

"Ah, y-yes, Miss Chloe."

The necessary group of people came after that, at Chloe's orders, to quickly finish Annaliese's preparations, and Annaliese complied as she was surrounded by several people who would do anything to prepare her appearance. Annaliese moved lifeless at that moment, but Chloe had passed and no one noticed the cloudiness of the expression that dominated Anna's face.

"Miss, try smiling," said one of the people by her side who was helping with the preparations. Annaliese smiled, though not excited.

"Miss, I'll replace your high heels with these," said another, who immediately bent down to put on the shoes he had brought. Annaliese obeyed. But Annaliese's mind was too busy with the burden of guilt that made her unable to maintain concentration even for a moment. The girl stood carelessly from her seat while someone was putting her high heels on, and something bad happens.

"Ah!" Annaliese sprained badly.

"Miss, what are you doing? I haven't finished putting on your shoes yet, why are you suddenly standing up like that?

"Ah, sorry," said Annaliese. "Aw," Anna sighed in pain. Everyone didn't notice the pain, for they had fallen back into the bustle.

Meanwhile, Emmeline, had been with Mrs. Valerie, and side by side with all the important guests, not to mention her family, Lea and Mr. and Mrs. Karfis.

Emmeline and Mrs. Valerie, took turns giving their greetings before the event started. They explained several things that were necessary, related to the fashion show they held together, and warm applause always greeted every information they conveyed about the new product they were carrying. The fashion show was the event their fans had been waiting for.

Emmeline had returned to her seat. Mrs. Valerie was by her side. Her family was also with her.

Mrs. Jeanne kissed Emmeline's forehead. "Congratulations, honey. You've reached your next milestone. You're always making great progress, honey."

"It's your sincerity that makes you all always think that whatever I do is great. Even when I'm stagnant at one point, which I sometimes experience, you still think I'm great. There's nothing I'm more grateful for in this world than having a family like you all. Mom, I love you." Emmeline kissed her mother's cheeks in return, which made Mrs. Jeanne smile happily. "Come on, let's enjoy the show."

They all dissolved in the staging shown. Whenever a model came out showing off the clothes and jewelry they were wearing, everyone took a good look at it. Some views looked critical. Some of the others seemed more calm and enjoying. The whispers that were heard a lot were whispers of admiration and appreciation.

Then after a while, it was the turn of the next model. Annaliese Valsecchi. Whose appearance on reflex made Emmeline straighten her back and pay more attention.

Annaliese smiled awkwardly. She walked with trembling steps, and suddenly she found it was as if her whole body felt anxiety. The onlookers in front of her turned their attention to her. Then on one of the chairs, Emmeline cast a special glance at her.

Annaliese spontaneously remembered when Emmeline came to her backstage. Annaliese remembered Emmeline cheering her on with hope. Then Hazel's words, seemed to hit Annaliese's head, and it messed up Annaliese's belief, and now Annaliese looked guiltily at Emmeline. Her confidence dropped drastically. The burden suddenly felt heavy on her shoulders, and Annaliese, felt suddenly, all the trust placed in her was too big for her.

Annaliese walked over with a sweaty forehead. The fear of making mistakes and causing trouble for Emmeline affected her greatly. No less important to note, her feet hurt. A small accident backstage when she sprained her leg seemed to bring quite a lot of pain. Annaliese felt more and more pain as she walked. She bit the inside of her lips from the pain. But the pain was real. Annaliese's steps began to seem stiffer, and the pain grew more intense. Annaliese let out a small sigh at the pain, but her performance wasn't over yet.

Annaliese saw in her fleeting glance, someone in the front row, straightened his back for a moment with a stiff face looking at her. Annaliese felt, the pain and discomfort in her begin to read.

'Am I starting to look weird, and am I looking bad? Will this work and will I not cause trouble?' anxious words raced through Annaliese's mind, and meanwhile the pain was getting worse.

Annaliese turned around after reaching the end of the catwalk. She prepared to return and the next few steps hurt even more.

Annaliese didn't mean to, when she suddenly stopped from the pain. The sweat on her forehead had increased.

Everyone, had seen something wrong. Emmeline was no exception. She almost stood up when she saw Annaliese stop in her tracks and look in pain. "What's with her?" sighed Emmeline. But Annaliese walked again.

But Annaliese's expression of pain couldn't go away and her steps stiffened. The sight made Emmeline unable to contain herself. She got up and jogged down the catwalk, dashing right at Annaliese as she nearly fell.

"Annaliese," said Emmeline while holding Annaliese's body.

***