“Today, I’m extremely happy to have the opportunity to interview two beautiful American models. Welcome, Emma and Amber. ”
Because the reporter was speaking in Spanish, Amber had to take a moment to listen to the translation before giving a response. On the other hand, Emma was almost as comfortable in Spanish as she was in English, so she easily chatted with the interviewer. In just an instant, the two of them had established a rapport.
“I know the two of you have drummed up a lot of interest in your upcoming photo shoot. Some are even calling it a battle. Tell me, what are your thoughts on this collaboration?” After hearing the reporter’s first question, Nathan was worried Emma would say something negative about Amber. But she maintained her smile as she replied, “I approach every job and every colleague with respect. That’s just my attitude toward work.”
“I do too,” Amber chimed in, avoiding the need to come up with something original to say.
The next question wasn’t as easy to answer. “Now, ladies, how do you see each other?” That was a tricky question. Nathan could feel himself breaking out in a cold sweat. If Emma spoke her mind and insulted Amber like she had at the stage event recently, he wouldn’t be able to stop her. But who could have expected Emma’s response?
After thinking for a moment, Emma simply said, “She’s very confident.” If she had heard Emma’s plan to let Amber’s confidence trip her up, the reporter would have seen this comment for what it was—an insult disguised as praise. But both the reporter and Amber took Emma’s words at face value. Amber smiled as she looked at Emma in surprise. Nathan let out a sigh of relief. Perhaps this interview would come off without a hitch after all.
The reporter then asked Amber for a response. “And how do you see Emma?” Amber’s response was not what anyone had expected. “In my opinion, she’s kind of arrogant.” Nathan’s heart sank, and he had to hold himself back from running onto the stage. Did Amber forget to bring her brains today? Or had she received so much praise lately that she thought she could say whatever she wanted? She was about to take part in a photo shoot with Emma. Everyone would be able to see the results instantly. She was just setting herself up for people to hate her.
The reporter froze for a moment, not sure how to get past this awkward moment. Emma soon came to her rescue, however, and continued as if Amber hadn’t said anything surprising. “Amber is very experienced. She even appeared in the news alongside Caitlyn Roberts. I can definitely learn a lot from her.” The Caitlyn Roberts that Emma mentioned was a supermodel known for her lingerie advertisements for a well-known American company. All the reporters were familiar with her. At the same time, the reporters could tell Emma was only being polite. If Amber was really that great, she wouldn’t be appearing like Secret magazine. Amber completely missed the deeper meaning behind Emma’s words and continued to smile confidently. Finally, she felt she was getting the recognition she deserved.
“It sounds like Amber is very impressive,” the reporter looked at Emma thankfully as she followed her lead. It was a short interview, but Nathan’s heart had almost jumped out of his chest while listening from the side. He kept worrying that Emma would sabotage the interview. He’d never expected Amber to be the loose cannon.
Nathan quickly took Amber off to the side as soon as the interview ended. “I told you to watch what you were saying and focus on the magazine. Why did you insult Emma just now? Why are you sticking up for her? This was my chance to pull her down from her high horse.”
“Did you think I was going to sit back and let this chance go to waste? I’ve taken enough abuse from her, and it’s time to give revenge. What does it matter anyway unless you think deep down that I’m not as good as Emma or Caitlin Roberts? Is that what you think?” Nathan comforted Amber, wrapping her in his arms but sighed at the same time. Amber was smart enough, but at times like this, she sure didn’t act dead. The praise from Emma had gone right to her head, making her feel like she could say anything and get away with it.
“Amber, you know I think you’re the best. Let it go for now. You need to get ready for the shoot. You have to win this battle or you’ll miss your shot at the Top 10 Model Awards.”
“Don’t worry about me,” Amber was filled with determination to win. On the other side of the room, Emma watched the two of them argue with the same half-smile on her face she always wore. Her expression made Nathan feel very uneasy.
Just then, she received a phone call from Eric Interview. She went ahead and passed it along to the legal team. “You know, she has a contract with Kaleidoscope now,” Eric and Emma were completely in sync. Since Amber didn’t know when to stop fighting and was determined to think so highly of herself, they had no choice but to put her in a difficult position. “Then she decided to bully my wife. She’ll have to face the consequences. You know, when I’m not with you, I’m not that easy to deal with,” Emma already knew this or at least had heard about it. He had developed a reputation for being a cold-hearted, powerful leader within the entertainment industry. He was definitely not someone to mess with.
“You only saw her insulting me,” Emma reminded him. “You didn’t hear what I said to her earlier.” Eric just laughed. In his eyes, everything his wife did was right. “I’m sure she deserved it. I’ll come pick you up after the shoot, accompanied by Ashley and Lisa.”
Emma went back to the dressing room to get ready. Emma and Amber would be appearing on the front cover together, wearing similar clothes and makeup. Deep down, they had each thought about stealing the spotlight, but their ability to succeed would depend upon their talents and skills. Emma didn’t talk much while they were getting ready, which made Amber feel extra confident. She assumed that Emma wasn’t talking because she was nervous about being good enough, which made Amber feel even more confident.
The stylist had two sets of similar clothes ready for the models. Each form-fitting top had a high collar with buttons over the shoulder. Orchids had been hand-embroidered all over the fronts and down the sleeves. The long, elegant skirts were flowing and delicate, with hand-painted leaves and blossoms. After putting on the clothes, Emma stood still, her expression as blank as a sheet of online paper. She was quiet and contained, preparing herself mentally.
Amber, on the other hand, spent her time before the shoot practicing different poses. She lifted her hands in the air and lunged forward, imagining herself as an ancient warrior—strong but sensuous.
