Against all odds

More Than Friends

KIARA'S POV*

The chauffeur pulled up in front of my apartment building, and I let out a tired sigh as the city lights reflected against the tinted windows.

Tonight had been exhausting.

I thanked him before stepping out of the car, holding the door open for Luka and Bella as they followed behind me into the building.

The second we entered my apartment, I kicked off my heels near the doorway and headed straight for the fridge. My feet were killing me after spending the entire day smiling for cameras and pretending my shoes weren't slowly destroying me.

The soft glow from my floor lamp lit up the living room, and the faint scent of vanilla candles still lingered in the air.

I grabbed a bottle of water while Luka and Bella helped themselves to sodas like they paid rent here.

Luka settled onto the couch, loosening the collar of his shirt, and I sat across from him, taking slow sips from my water.

"The talk show was a success," he said calmly before drinking from his soda.

A small smile tugged at my lips.

"It really was."

"Kiara, should I order pizza? Because I'm literally starving," Bella yelled from the kitchen.

"Yes, darling, go ahead," I replied absentmindedly while scrolling through i********:.

Notifications flooded my screen nonstop.

Tagged photos. Fan edits. Interview clips. Thousands of comments.

It still felt surreal sometimes.

"You haven't been engaging on social media lately," Luka pointed out. "Your fans are already starting to worry."

"I've been busy," I muttered. "I barely even have time for myself these days."

"That's still not an excuse," Luka replied professionally. "You could post a quick vlog, outfit pictures, or even random updates. People want consistency."

I leaned back against the couch cushions and sighed softly.

"I know. I've just been overwhelmed lately."

Luka's expression softened slightly.

"I get it, Kiara. But social media matters now. Brands pay attention to engagement."

Sometimes I hated that.

It was exhausting having to constantly look perfect online while I'm breaking inside.

"Also," Luka continued, "you've gotten more brand deals and magazine photoshoots. Most are smaller features for now, but it's still progressing."

My face instantly brightens a little.

"Seriously?"

"Yes. And if things keep going like this, bigger opportunities will come faster than you think."

A grin spread across my face.

"Thank you. Seriously. I appreciate everything you and Bella do for me."

Right on cue, Bella walked over dramatically with a pizza box in her hands and handed me a slice.

"b***h, I'd do anything for you."

"Yeah," I deadpanned, taking the pizza from her, "including starving me."

Bella smacked her lips loudly before taking an aggressive bite of pizza.

"Girl, be grateful I even gave you a slice. Models are supposed to survive on salad and shii."

I burst out laughing.

"Bella, you curse way too much."

"Kia, ever heard of freedom of speech?"

Before I could answer, Luka casually stole a slice from Bella's plate.

The betrayal on her face was immediate.

"Oh hell no!"

She practically launched herself at him while Luka and I laughed uncontrollably.

"Nope," Luka teased while dodging Bella's attacks.

"But I have heard there's love in sharing."

"b***h, there is NO love in sharing!"

The fake Chicago accent she used nearly sent me into cardiac arrest from laughing.

Eventually, Luka checked the time on his watch and stood up.

"I should get going."

I got up and hugged him tightly.

"I'll email you if anything important comes up," he said.

"Alright. Drive safely."

"And Kiara?"

"Hm?"

"Please engage on social media before your fans start thinking you died."

I gasped dramatically.

"Wow. Such positivity."

Luka smirked before heading toward the door.

The second he left, Bella plopped down beside me on the couch.

"We should totally film a t****k challenge tonight. Your fans would eat it up."

She spoke with her mouth full, making me stare at her in disgust.

"First of all, chew properly. Second of all... fine."

Bella clapped excitedly like a child.

"I'll go set everything up after I shower," I added.

"Good, because I need one too."

After showering, I slipped into a silky purple pajama set and tied a bonnet over my hair before beginning my skincare routine.

A few minutes later, Bella walked into my room wearing the same pajama set - except hers was pink.

I blinked slowly.

"I like that we're matching."

Bella said excitedly.

"I only wore this because it's literally the only pajama set you have at my apartment."

"Told you to move; I want to move in."

"And I told you I don't like cats"

Bella gasped dramatically.

"Mila is not just a cat."

"Bella, your cat literally sheds everywhere

whenever I come over."

"Because she pays rent emotionally."

I stared at her.

"That doesn't even make sense."

Bella pointed a finger at me accusingly.

"And for your information, Mila doesn't even like you."

"That cat hisses at everybody."

"Because she can sense bad energy."

"Girl, shut up and come film this challenge."

After setting up the tripod and lighting, we spent the next thirty minutes attempting the t****k dance.

Well... Bella attempted it.

I mostly spent the entire time crying from laughter because she couldn't stay serious for more than five seconds.

By the time we finally got a decent video, both of us were out of breath.

After editing it, I uploaded the video and tagged Bella immediately because I already knew she'd start complaining if I didn't.

As Bella walked out of my room, she suddenly stopped by the doorway.

"Oh, Momma said you should call her."

I sighed dramatically.

At this point, Bella genuinely believed my mother belonged to both of us.

"She is MY mother, Bella!" I yelled after her.

"Believe it or not, she's mine too!"

Laughing quietly, I grabbed my phone and called my mom. She answered on the second ring.

"Hey, Kia."

"Hey, Mom. How are you?"

"I'm okay, baby. Bella told me you had a long day."

Of course she did.

Honestly, I was starting to think my mother loved Bella almost as much as she loved me.

"It wasn't that bad," I replied. "I just had a lot to do today."

"Well, I mainly called to check on you and Bella.

Grandma sends her love too, but she's asleep right now."

I smiled softly.

"If she were awake, she'd probably talk my ear off for hours."

My mom laughed.

"Exactly."

"Tell Granny I said I love her."

"Tell Granny I said I love her."

"I will."

"Goodnight, Mom. Love you."

"I love you too, baby."

After the call ended, the apartment suddenly felt quieter.

Too quiet.

I lay back against my bed and stared blankly at the ceiling while the faint glow from the city lights slipped through my curtains.

Slowly, my thoughts drifted toward my father.

Even though he had never really been part of my life, there were moments when I still wondered what it would feel like to have a dad.

To have someone teach me things. Protect me. Show up for me.

Bella's father had always treated me kindly - almost like I was his own daughter - but there was still this space inside me that never fully disappeared.

And knowing my actual father denied me only made it hurt more.

I tried not to let it affect me.

And I never talked to Mom about it because I never wanted her to think she wasn't enough for me.

Because she was.

She always would be.

Swallowing those thoughts down, I grabbed my phone again and opened "the House of Aurelia's page".

They had finally posted the official campaign pictures from the photoshoot.

My heart skipped slightly as I scrolled through the comments.

Some people praised me. Some defended me fiercely. Others were unnecessarily cruel.

One comment read:

"Using Kiara is a stain on the brand."

I stared at it longer than I should have.

No matter how successful I became, some people would always find reasons to hate me.

Just as I was about to exit the comments, another one caught my attention.

Zara herself had commented.

She talked about how happy she was to work with me and how much I reminded her of herself when she first started modeling.

A warmth spread through my chest almost instantly.

I quickly liked both her comment and the post before placing my phone on the nightstand.

After saying my nightly prayer, I finally allowed sleep to pull me under.

Any thoughts on this chapter?

Please vote and comment 😄