Chapter 40 Make My Heart Race
The room fell into a stunned silence, and all eyes turned to Christina. For a moment, no one dared to breathe. It was a bold move, to say the least. Asking a top model like Xandra to take off the dress designed by Christina was something no one expected.
Xandra’s face twisted in a mixture of shock and fury. She opened her mouth to retort, but then she caught sight of Christina’s calm, unwavering gaze. It was the first time anyone had dared to stand up to her so directly, and it made her hesitate. She had always been the one in control, the one who dominated the room. But now, the tables had been turned.
Christina stood tall, her posture confident and unwavering. “You’re right, Ms. Sullivan. If you dislike the dress so much, it’s better that you remove it rather than embarrass yourself on stage. After all, it’s not worth wearing something you consider ‘cheap.’” Her words were laced with cold precision, and her eyes never left Xandra’s.
Xandra’s hands clenched into fists at her sides. The nerve of this woman! How dare she speak to her like that? But even as anger bubbled up inside her, she couldn’t deny the subtle sting of embarrassment. She had pushed too far, and now Christina was calling her out in front of everyone.
“Are you threatening me?” Xandra finally sneered, trying to regain her composure, but her voice faltered slightly.
“No,” Christina replied coolly, “I’m simply suggesting that if the design doesn’t meet your standards, it’s better to not wear it at all. After all, it’s your reputation on the line, not mine.”
The room was still eerily quiet, the tension palpable. Xandra’s eyes narrowed, her pride warring with her desire to maintain her position as the queen of the show. She could feel the weight of the eyes on her, waiting for her to make the next move.
The Public Relations employee, still standing in the corner, looked at Christina in awe. This was something she never expected from the designer. While many had anticipated Christina to cower under Xandra’s superiority, she was doing the exact opposite. She was standing her ground.
Finally, Xandra let out a small, dismissive laugh. “You’ve got guts, I’ll give you that.” She gave a final glance at Christina before turning to the employee. “Fine, I’ll go check the scene, but don’t get too excited. This is a one-time favor for you.” With that, she tossed her hair back arrogantly and strutted out of the room, leaving behind a group of speechless onlookers.
As soon as Xandra was out of the room, the tension began to dissipate. The makeup artist, who had been observing the entire exchange, let out a breath she didn’t realize she had been holding. “Wow… that was bold,” she whispered to the assistant, who nodded in agreement.
Christina, on the other hand, merely turned back to her work, unbothered by the brief confrontation. Her mind was already back on the show and the designs she had worked so hard on. She wasn’t here to fight over petty insults; she was here to prove her worth.
The assistant, still in shock, spoke up. “Ms. Sullivan, um, we’ll make sure everything is ready for the show. Don’t worry about Xandra. You’ve got this.”
Christina offered a small, satisfied smile. “Thanks. I’ll handle it.”
Later that evening, as the show approached, Christina found herself in the final preparations. Despite the drama backstage, she couldn’t help but feel a sense of anticipation. This was her moment—the culmination of everything she had worked for. And no one, not even Xandra, could take that away from her.
As the models lined up for their turn, Christina stood at the side, watching the outfits she had carefully crafted being paraded down the runway. Her heart pounded with pride. This was it. She had made it.
When Xandra finally made her appearance, strutting down the runway in Christina’s design, the crowd was captivated. The elegant lines of the suit, paired with the model’s confident walk, left everyone in awe.
And just like that, Christina knew that her name would soon be known throughout the fashion industry.