<b>Chapter </b><b>127 </b>


    Celeste arrived in a sleek ck car, dressed in her usual stylish suit. They exchanged greetings, and Nivera slid into the back seat as <b>the </b><b>driver </b>and Darren pulled away from the estate.


    The nerves kicked in almost instantly and she exhaled.


    This shoot mattered more than any other thing in the world. It wasn’t just a job.


    been stolen when she was thrown into the scandal.


    It was


    a


    chance to reim her name, to take back what <b>had </b>


    Celeste leaned in, cing a hand gently on her thigh. “You’ve got this. You’ve trained for it. You were born for it.”


    Nivera smiled softly. “Let’s hope the cameras agree.”


    The sun was high as Nivera pulled into the small but bustling studio.


    The studio wasn’t too far–about a forty–minute drive–but traffic slowed them down. Still, they arrived on time, and the buzz of activity filled the air immediately.


    Fashion photographers and stylists moved round, preparing clothes, adjusting lights, whispering excitedly about the day’s lineup.


    A man in a blue headset approached them. “Miss Nivera Elton?”


    She nodded.


    “Wee. I’m Kevin, lead on this shoot. I’ll be taking you and your manager around.” He smiled and gestured for them to follow. “We’re


    really excited to have you here.”


    Kevin then led them through the maze–like studio space, pointing out the dressing rooms, makeup station, lighting set–up, and wardrobe


    racks.


    “It’s going to be a full–day shoot. We’ll be doing four looks and two locations. You’ll be shooting with another model in the second half, but we’ll get to that.”


    They turned into a long hallway that led to the final section.


    Kevin slowed as they approached a figure standing with his back turned. Tall with sharp shoulders and dressed in a ck tailored suit. His hands were in his pockets, and he appeared to be speaking to one of the creative directors.


    Kevin gestured toward him. “That’s one of the studio’s newest private sponsors. He’s a huge supporter of talent revival campaigns and insisted on being part of the creative direction for today’s shoot. So you might see him around more often.”


    Nivera’s brows furrowed. There was something eerily familiar about the man. The posture. The sharpness of his silhouette. <b>She </b><b>tilted </b><b>her </b>


    head slightly.


    As if on cue, the man turned slowly to face them


    And her heart stopped.


    No. <b>It </b>couldn’t be.


    Damon.


    The air rushed out of her lungs as recognition mmed into her like a punch.


    <b>1/2 </b>


    <b>16:04 </b><b>Fri</b><b>, </b><b>8 </b><b>Aug </b>O


    His features were exactly as she remembered–chiseled, smug, confident—but the surprise in his expression <b>was </b><b>genuine </b>when his gaze met-


    <b>hers</b>.


    Nivera stood frozen, her breath caught, her body refusing to move.


    Of all thepanies he could have invested in, why did it have to be this one?


    Damon gave her a soft, polite nod—but his eyes lingered for a moment too long, and it made her ufortable.


    Kevin beamed. “Mr. Castillo, thank you for joining. Meet Nivera–our newest ambassador.”


    “Damon Castillo, a pleasure.” He stretched out his hand towards her. Nivera’s hands trembled as she took it.


    “Celeste,e let me show her private changing room and whether or not it’s to your standard,” Kevin said and Celeste nodded.


    “I’ll be back soon,” she told Nivera whose eyes widened as she walked away.


    Thest thing she needed was to be alone with Damon as she was reminded of how badly Alejandro reacted thest time she was <b>with </b>Damon.


    She still hadn’t forgotten his warning and although she liked the punishment that he gave to her she wasn’t oblivious to the fact that he <b>was </b>truly pissed and so, she was going to be foolish enough to try such a thing again.


    <i>And </i>so, without any further words to Damon, she turned to leave but he held her hand stopping her.


    She immediately yanked it out of his hand. “Don’t touch me, Damon!” Nivera hissed in annoyance.


    <i>“</i><i>Are </i><i>you </i>really going to be like this, Nivera?” Damon asked.


    “Yes. Thest time we met, you kissed me without my consent.”


    “I missed you<i>,</i><i>” </i>Damon said.


    “I had a <i>boyfriend </i>but that didn’t stop you<i>,</i><i>” </i>Nivera retorted. “Whatever we had was good while itsted but let it go and leave me alone. It’s <i>been </i>years.”


    “Ma’am, your changing room is ready<i>.</i><i>” </i>She heard an employée say and she turned her attention away from Damon.


    “Lead the way,” she said happy to be away from <i>him</i>.


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