CHAPTER 01 🎀
Mika’s POV.
It’s been a month since I last showed up at management. Everyone was wearing sexy dresses paired with high heels. As I walked toward the Christmas-themed year-end event, the grand venue sparkled with lights. It seemed like everyone was ready to flaunt their best looks tonight.
I entered with a smile, wearing a red dress with a daring slit and towering stilettos. I felt confident and powerful in this red dress with matching red lipstick. I realized it had been a whole month since I was last here. In that month, I had shut off my phone and locked myself in my room. All because of Neil — my ex-boyfriend who used me and dumped me after he got what he wanted. I found out he was only with me to get famous and secure a spot at a prestigious modeling agency. The nerve of that guy. And he disappeared before I could even collect the half a million pesos he owed me.
I will never forgive him.
Taking a deep breath, I let my long, hazelnut hair fall in waves over my shoulders. I could feel everyone’s eyes on me as I walked the red carpet. My confidence and energy were coming back to me.
I am Mika Salazar, 25, one of the best models at Demuèr — a renowned modeling agency in the country.
I walked with poise. When my manager, Morti, saw me, his jaw dropped. He hadn’t changed — still tall, thin, and wearing his favorite black glasses.
“And who are you?” He raised an eyebrow as I stood in front of him. His fellow managers, who had been chatting, turned to look as well.
“Seriously? You don’t recognize me? I was only gone for a month, Morti,” I laughed, revealing myself to them.
“f**k! Don’t tell me it was you—”
“Yes, it’s me — Mika Salazar, the one and only.”
Their jaws collectively dropped. The other managers just stared at me.
What was their problem? Sure, I’d gained weight, but that shouldn’t shock them. I still looked amazing. I was still hot. From an XS, I went to an XL — but there were plenty of successful models with bodies like mine.
The silence broke when Ezraela arrived. She immediately greeted Morti, our manager. Ezraela was another top model at Demuèr — or rather, one of my top competitors.
“Who is she?” Ezraela asked Morti, her eyebrow arched. She had changed a lot, especially with her new blonde hair.
Morti sighed and whispered to Ezraela. But I heard what he said.
“It’s Mika.”
Ezraela’s eyes widened. She scanned me from head to toe, her face filled with disbelief.
“What?!” she exclaimed.
Then she burst into laughter, the sound sharp and painful.
“Really? I didn’t know we had a pig at tonight’s event,” she sneered, dripping with insult.
My cheeks burned with anger. How dare she! And she said it right to my face.
“Ezraela, stop,” Morti snapped, clearly embarrassed by her behavior. “Just go over there, Mika. We’ll talk later. For now, I need to introduce Ezraela to Mikotto — one of the top co-shares of this company.”
Morti glanced at me before walking away. I didn’t know what hurt more — Ezraela’s insult or Morti’s dismissal of me.
That woman! I should’ve known Ezraela would never change.
Why was I even surprised? She was one of the reasons I sometimes wanted to disappear from the modeling world.
I took a deep breath and straightened my back. I wouldn’t let anyone ruin this night. I had set myself aside for too long, but now that I was here, I wouldn’t let someone like Ezraela push me down.
I continued walking, looking for a place to hide for a moment. But before I could, I heard Ezraela’s voice, just low enough for me to catch.
“See? Told you she’s finished. She can’t compete with me anymore.”
"I mean look at her, she gained so much weight, disgusting, did she think she could survive here with that size? Confidence cannot carry her weight."
I heard them laughing like an evil villain in the story. Right now I want to pull her yellow hair and let her know how I wanted to do that for so many years ago. But I won't do that. I do have still dignity and respect for this event.
- - - - - - - > After Two Hours…
Finally, the event grew interesting.
The lights dimmed, leaving the stage as the only source of illumination. Waiters began serving food.
My eyes landed on a tray of panna cotta — my favorite dessert. I declined the turkey offered and settled for the dessert. I didn’t want to ruin my lipstick with turkey. I’d eat later, after the awards.
The host took the stage as I savored a spoonful of panna cotta. He began announcing the winners one by one. I waited eagerly for my name. I was sure I’d be named Top Model of the Year. I have sold millions of magazines. No one else had broken that record.
I wasn’t wrong.
“And the Top Model for this year, who will receive a new commercial, a higher salary, and an exclusive model package is…”
A drum roll filled the air, my heart pounding.
“The one and only Mika Salazar—”
But the host suddenly paused as Morti whispered something to him.
I was ready to stand up, but a sinking feeling told me something was wrong. Why was Morti stopping him?
“I’m so sorry for the delay,” the host said, clearly uneasy. “Apologies for this change. The announcement wasn’t confirmed earlier.”
“The winner is…”
It felt like something lodged in my throat. This couldn’t be happening. I knew I was the top magazine cover model this year. I couldn’t believe Morti would betray me like this after everything we’d been through. I trusted him!
Did everyone just plan to deceive me?
Morti, you’ve gone too far!
“The winner is Ezraela Moqueta!”
