Beautifully scared

"Miss Tasong Ella, congratulations once again." "Thank you very much, sir, for this life-changing opportunity." "You deserve it. You're a beautiful young woman, and I hope that by joining our team, you'll help our company grow." "I'll do my very best, sir," I assured the manager as we shook hands. I still couldn't believe I was the new face of Scent and Glam! It was one of the cosmetics companies in the country. Although it wasn't very big, its products were outstanding. They were expensive, yes, but most importantly, they were made with natural ingredients. I had always dreamed of becoming a model and an actress, and now, my dreams were finally coming true. God, I couldn't even explain the joy in my heart! "Well, I hope you know we'll be hosting a grand party in your honour this evening. Please make sure you come with your family," Maurice, the manager, said. I nodded with a smile, and he turned to leave. "Congratulations, darling!" I turned to see my best friend approaching me with a huge smile on her face. "Thank you so much, Queen. I still can't believe this is happening!" I exclaimed. "Oh, but it is, darling! You were amazing. I mean, this company is going to benefit so much from having you on board." "You think so?" I asked, raising an eyebrow. "I know so! Girl, are you seriously doubting your worth?" she asked. I smiled. "Well, thank goodness the party isn't until late tonight. We still have time to go home and get ready," she said, pulling me towards the exit as cameras continued flashing around us. We finally reached the parking lot, and she ushered me into the passenger seat before getting behind the steering wheel. Just as she started the car, my phone began to ring. It was Carl. "Perfect timing! Pick it up," Queen urged. I hesitated, wondering whether I should answer or not. But before I could make up my mind, Queen snatched the phone from my hand and answered it while keeping one hand on the steering wheel. "Hey, Carl! The one and only Mr Nkah!" she greeted cheerfully. "Wow, Queen! It's been a while. How are you doing?" Carl's voice came through the phone. "I've never been better! But why aren't you here?" Queen asked. "Here? Where?" Carl asked, sounding confused. "Stop pretending you don't know! I mean, your girl just won herself a beautiful crown, and you weren't even there to share in the..." "Queen, can I have my phone back?" I interrupted sharply. "Oh, no! You just got crowned, and he wasn't even there? Let me scold him a little!" Queen insisted. I knew there was no point arguing with her, but I couldn't let her tell Carl about my new position just yet. I mean, Carl was my boyfriend, and he took his Christian faith very seriously. When I first saw the audition announcement for Scent and Glam's new face on social media, I told him about it. But he gave me a thousand reasons why I shouldn't participate. So, I went behind his back and auditioned anyway because this was something I had always dreamed of. I couldn't let such an opportunity slip away. Besides, I wanted to be the one to tell him. Without warning, I snatched the phone from Queen's hand and ended the call. "Hey! I was just about to scold him!" Queen complained. "I know. Anyway, could you drop me off at his place? I have something important to discuss with him. I'll join you at your place once I'm done," I said, my expression suddenly serious. She opened her mouth as if she wanted to argue, but one look at my face made her change her mind. Before long, the car came to a stop in front of Carl's apartment. I glanced at my wristwatch. It was already eight o'clock, and I had only three hours to get ready for the party, which was scheduled to last late into the night. I hurried out of the car and headed for his apartment. His door was still open, so I walked in and found him working on his laptop. The moment he noticed me, he turned towards me with a smile. "Wow! Look who's finally here, looking all stunning," he remarked as he stood up to hug me. "Thank you," I replied with a smile, avoiding his gaze. "How are you doing?" he asked calmly. "I'm fine," I answered. He nodded and helped me settle into a seat. "Looks like you had fun with Queen. But was I supposed to be there?" he asked. I took a deep breath before answering. "Well, um... I'm the new face of Scent and Glam," I announced quietly, but clearly enough for him to hear. Carl froze for a moment, as though he was trying to understand what I had just said. "I don't understand. What do you mean?" he asked, his brows drawing together. "Remember the audition I saw on social media? The one I told you about?" I asked. "The one I clearly told you not to audition for?" he replied. I nodded. "Yes." "Okay. What about it?" "Well, I went for the audition, and I won. They're hosting a party in my honour tonight, and I want you to come with me," I explained as calmly as I could. He stared at me for what felt like an eternity. I didn't need anyone to tell me he was angry. "You're joking, right?" he finally asked. "I'm serious," I replied, looking straight into his eyes. He took a deep breath, as though he was trying to control his anger. "Well, you chose to do this on your own, completely ignoring what I told you. So, you might as well attend the party without me." With that, he got up, picked up his phone and laptop, and headed towards his room. "When you're done, please use the door," he added coldly. And just like that, he left me sitting there all by myself. I stared at the doorway for a moment, unable to believe what had just happened. "Okay. Fine!" I muttered. 💫 Thank you for reading! Stay tuned for the next episode, where the story continues… 👑