I stepped out, my breath catching at the sea of people rising to their feet. Cameras flashed, the crowd roared, and behind me, models—mymodels—lined up in formation, their presence as strong as the work they wore.
We took our bows, the moment stretching into something surreal, something I had only ever imagined in the quiet of my dreams. And then, as the applause softened enough, it was time for me to speak.
I took a deep breath, holding the microphone with steady hands. “Thank you all for being here tonight. This collection is a labor of love and a celebration of beauty in all its forms. Each piece you’ve seen tonight serves as proof of the power of creativity and the importance of diversity in fashion.”
As I spoke, my eyes scanned the crowd, landing on familiar faces—my mother, friends, supporters, industry insiders. Then,my gaze locked onto a pair of gentle grayish-blue eyes.
Ronan.
He was sitting near the front, dressed in a perfectly tailored midnight blue suit, accentuating his broad shoulders and lean physique. His tie was a deep shade of burgundy, contrasting sharply with his crisp white shirt. He looked annoyingly handsome, his hair as neat as ever, and his jawline sharp enough to cut a diamond.
Panic bubbled up inside me.
For a moment, I felt like the ground was slipping away.
But I forced myself to breathe, to stay grounded in the present. “This journey has been filled with challenges but also immense joy and fulfillment. I am grateful to my incredible team, without whom none of this would be possible. To all of you, thank you for believing in my vision.”
The applause thundered, grounding me in the moment. I finished my speech, a mix of relief and triumph settling in. As I turned to leave, my eyes met Ronan’s—only for a second. Heart racing, I hurried backstage, where Inaya and Alejandro, my other friend, waited with open arms.
“You did it, Nina! That was amazing!”
I hugged her tightly, the tension slowly easing from my body. “I couldn’t have done it without you.”
Just then, I saw my mom making her way towards me, a proud smile lighting up her face. Her presence always brought a sense of calm and reassurance, and I knew she had been my biggest supporter throughout this journey.
“Mamma!” I exclaimed, stepping into her warm embrace.
She held me close, whispering softly, “You were incredible, Nina. I’m so proud of you.”
I felt a rush of emotions.
“Grazie, mamma. Your belief in me means everything,” I said, my voice choked with emotion.
She gently brushed a strand of hair from my face and kissed my forehead. “I’ll let you celebrate with your friends, but I hope you know you made history.”
With one last affectionate squeeze, she stepped back, giving me a nod of encouragement before making her way towards the exit.
Turning back to Inaya and Alejandro, I smiled. Alejandro, tall with a slight scruff along his jaw, had an easy charm that could put anyone at ease.
“Everything was perfect.” He pulled me in for a hug and kissed my cheek softly. “I loved it.”
“Thank you, Ale. You’re such a dear friend to me. You both are.” And with Inaya joining, the three of us stayed in a hug for a while.
We finally pulled back from the hug, and Alejandro kept his hands on my shoulders. “So, what’s next for our star?”
I laughed, glancing around at the bustling backstage area, filled with energy and celebration. “First? I need to get out of this dress before I end up tripping over it. Then maybe we celebrate with Vitello Tonnato and wine?”
“I can’t drink, but I can eat!” Inaya chimed in, grinning.
Alejandro nodded, a mischievous smirk forming. “You mean you’re finally letting us spoil you a bit, huh? That calls for a big night out. We’ll make it unforgettable.”
At that moment, a few other colleagues came up to congratulate me, their smiles wide and voices overlapping in praise. I thanked each one, still a little dazed by the attention. But when they left, Inaya leaned closer, her voice softened.
Alejandro’s phone buzzed, and he gave an apologetic smile. “I need to take this.”
He winked, squeezing my hand before slipping to the side, leaving me and Inaya standing alone in the bustle. I glanced at her, still buzzing from the night, but she had a look in her eyes that told me she had something else on her mind.
“What’s up?” I asked, raising an eyebrow. “You have your I-need-to-say-something-that-will-annoy-youlook.”
