Chapter 57: A Goddess Before Their Eyes (2)
I was taken aback when I heard that announcement. The photoshoot hadn’t even begun, yet Zayne already looked at me as if he had found his eternal muse.
The feeling was surreal, like stepping into a movie scene where a woman walks gracefully down the street and every man turns his head to watch, forgetting whatever he was doing.
"Thank you." I offered them the warmest smile I could manage. "I could never have looked this beautiful if it weren’t for Jeanne and her team."
The staff exchanged quick glances, some nodding in agreement, others still staring as if they couldn’t quite believe what they were seeing. Jeanne smiled proudly, her arms crossed as though she were the artist showing off her masterpiece.
"All credit goes to you," Jeanne said softly. "We only brought out what was already there."
Her words made my cheeks warm, though I quickly brushed it off with another smile. Compliments should have been easy to accept, yet sometimes they felt heavier than criticism, as if I wasn’t sure I deserved them.
Still, I straightened my back and prepared myself. Margareth led me to a new backdrop dominated by light purple and blue, but since most of the photos would be close-ups, the backdrop wasn’t that important, it was only there to set the mood.
They also didn’t give me any props because the pearls in my hair, the seashell crown resting delicately on my head, and the shimmering tones on my skin were more than enough to capture the beauty of a sea goddess.
As I stepped into position, the studio lights brightened, catching every shimmer on my skin. I lifted my hand, letting the cool-toned colors painted on my fingertips glisten like drops of seawater.
The camera clicked over and over, the sound echoing through the studio like a heartbeat, and maybe it was just my imagination, but I could swear Zayne forgot to breathe each time his eyes met me through the lens.
"Perfect ... hold it right there," he whispered, almost as if he was speaking only to himself.
I tilted my chin, letting my hair fall over my shoulder, pearls catching the light and sparkling like tiny stars scattered across the night sky.
For a moment, I was completely immersed in the momentum. The world around me faded until all I could hear was the steady rhythm of the shutter and Zayne’s instructions.
It was surreal, exhilarating, just like the first time I had ever stepped into this industry, a young woman brimming with dreams, unaware that the same world she adored would one day turn against her and shatter her life.
But here I was, walking this path once again, carrying a new dream in my heart; the dream of becoming a star brighter than I had ever been before.
This time, I wouldn’t let myself break so easily. I would mend every wound, soften every scar, and face every fear that once brought me down.
This time, I would rise higher, like a phoenix reborn from its ashes, spreading its wings to soar across the sky again.
"Perfect!" Margareth called out. "That’s the last shot!"
The lights dimmed slightly as the camera lowered, and the studio finally let out a sigh of relief as one.
A ripple of applause followed, soft at first, then growing louder as the staff broke into smiles. Margareth clasped her hands together in delight, while Zayne stood frozen behind his lens, his eyes still locked on me as if unwilling to let go of the moment.
"Helcia, that was the most perfect shot I’ve ever seen!" Margareth came over, handing me a bottle of water. "Ms. Roselle was only watching through the face cam earlier, but she was so captivated she told me she can’t wait to see the results of your photoshoot."
Her words felt so sincere that I believed Margareth wasn’t exaggerating about Vivienne’s reaction.
Still, it was a little disappointing that Vivienne couldn’t witness my photoshoot in person.
"I couldn’t have done any of this without all of you." I lowered the bottle and gave the staff around me a warm smile. "Thank you for helping me today."
Once again, the studio filled with applause, making my cheeks burn with a shy kind of pride.
Margareth clapped her hands. "Today’s photoshoot is over, but you still have a video shoot the day after tomorrow. I hope you can bring the same energy there." She leaned closer, her voice dropping to a whisper. "By the way, Ms. Roselle wants to give you a bonus for today’s shoot. You’ll see it in your bank account later."
My eyes lit up the moment I heard the word bonus. Who would’ve thought my performance could surpass their expectations so much that Vivienne couldn’t help but reward me?
Or maybe Vivienne did it because Margareth told her I wasn’t just an ordinary rookie. Either way, I didn’t really care.
The only thing that mattered was ... I was getting a bonus!
"Thank you for letting me know." I smiled. "And please, send my gratitude to Ms. Roselle."
After exchanging a few pleasantries, I headed toward the dressing room to change, but Zayne suddenly stepped in front of me.
"Helcia, do you have a minute?" He held my hand to stop me, making me flinch slightly.
"Yes?" I gently slipped my hand free, then asked politely. "Do you need something?"
He scratched the back of his neck, looking nervous. "I’m sorry if this sounds odd, but ... you’re the first model who’s ever made me feel something." His words rushed out in a fluster. "Not in a bad way! I mean ... I can really see you as my muse. That’s why I want to ask if you’d be willing to model for my portfolio. It could be a great exposure for you too."
Earlier, I had checked his social media and found out he was a popular photographer with over two million followers.
He’d photographed plenty of rising models, helping many of them gain attention fast.
However, some of his work looked a little questionable.
It was hard to explain. The models weren’t dressed in revealing clothes—most of them wore normal outfits—but their poses ... it was as if he wanted to sexualize them in ways that didn’t feel subtle.