A Life Reclaimed

CHAPTER FIVE

AURELIA'S POV

“We're glad you accepted our offer, Miss Celeste”, the manager said as I signed the contract.

“I'm honored to have been selected for that role," Mr. Arnes. I was overjoyed when I saw the email”

I replied

“Well, we only want the best for our brand”

I giggled, and we did the necessary things and the contract was signed.

The brand was like a branch under a bigger company and name. It needed a pretty face to represent them and push the brand out to the public as it was new, regardless of the fact that it was from a big company.

It was a skincare brand, so it made sense that they chose me. I had what they called “flawless skin”.

I couldn't wait to start modeling and doing adverts for them.

Tiffany was burning in jealousy. The next day at the agency she threw a tantrum about how she never got any deals, which was untrue. She was just jealous that my deals were higher than hers.

“Throwing tantrums won't get you anywhere love. It might get you fired, but that's about it”. I said to her as I watched the film's display of madness.

“You shut up right there. "You think you're so much better than me, huh?”.

“Oh no darling. I don't think, I know. And you don't really think that you'll get jobs with the lack of effort you put out in, right? You only put your effort into hating me and stealing the men that come my way. "I don't even know how you managed to secure that No. 2 spot”. I said as I looked her up and down. She was very annoying.

“Why you-”. She was about to say something, but the CEO called her.

“That's enough! Tiffany to my office this instant.”

She looked over at him and then at me. I smiled and walked away.

What a pest.

She was eventually suspended. Apparently, that wasn't the first time she had thrown tantrums like that. She was a pretty girl that had good potential. But her jealousy got in the way of her self-improvement. Sad.

I spent the next few weeks working with the new brand in preparation for the launch of their products. I gained traction for them on social media through my i********: and t****k accounts. Everyone was waiting for the new products and my follower count increased.

I started getting more Pr packages to promote on my social media accounts. More brands reached out to me, both big and small, and I was elated.

People were writing online publications about me, and I was getting more and more popular by the minute.

Then the debut of the products finally came. I was the face of all the products, billboards and advertisements.

I got more brand deals and was being recognized by fashion houses who wanted me to model for them on the runway.

I had never been this happy in my life, or rather, my past life.

“Another email just came in. It's from a cereal brand. "They want to redesign their packaging, and they want your face to be on the packaging this time”. Layla said as she handed me the mail.

“This is… amazing. That's the fifth one this week.”

“I know love. I'm so happy. You know, I didn't know if you wanted to take modeling seriously anymore with the way you were nonchalant about it before. But after the accident, everything changed for the better, and I'm so happy for you.”

“Well, I couldn't have done it without your support and love”. I said as I hugged her she hugged me back tightly, and we giggled and laughed.

That night, I searched for my, well, Briella’s profile out of boredom. I scrolled down to see all the pictures that I posted of myself all those years ago. I stopped posting when I married Ambrose.

I saw a picture of a painting that I made when I was leaving high school. I used to be so in love with art even though my parents said it was useless. I didn't see it that way, but I had to stop it eventually after I got married to Ambrose. He hated seeing my supplies in our room.

I laughed when I remembered leaving them on the floor to piss him off. In fact, that was when he started hitting me. After the first time he hit me, I stopped painting.

I saw another picture of myself at my graduation. Alone as usual.

I sighed and kept scrolling. I felt nostalgic, and I relived my memories through the pictures.

I was low-key grateful that I died and was reborn. I felt loved and appreciated here. I enjoyed being Aurelia more than I enjoyed being Briella. The only person I missed was my precious Maxine.

Sigh. Where did it all go wrong?

It started when my parents introduced me to Ambrose.

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I was finishing up my painting when a maid entered my room.

“Ms. Briella, your mother and father request your presence in the living room.”

“Oh okay, I'll be right down then”. She nodded and left the room.

I hid my canvas in my closet and walked downstairs. My parents were discussing something with someone but stopped when they saw me.

“Good morning father, good morning mother.”

“Good morning Briella, please have a seat, we want to introduce you to our guest here.”

I looked over at the man my father pointed to. He was quite handsome. I greeted him as well and he returned the gesture. I sat down and faced my parents.

“Briella, this is Ambrose Frey. He's the son of Connor Frey and the CEO of Gray's businesses. "The biggest sales company in the country,” my mother said,

“It's nice to meet you Ambrose”. I said

“It's nice to finally meet you too, Briella” he said with a smile.

“Well, you're probably wondering why we called you here.” My father spoke up and I nodded. “Well, you and Ambrose are getting married.”

He said and my eyes widened.

What?