Illusions

0. makeup

Amira's POV

"I don't care, she can't go out looking like this."

My makeup artist takes my chin and moves it to examine it for the thirteenth time. 

"Sir, with all, due respect, I think it's fine."

He rolls his eyes at the attendant's comment and grabs a makeup wipe, starting my look over again.

"She's going on in ten minutes, Eric," someone else yells, "do your thing, but make it quick!"

Eric clicks his tongue and reaches for his makeup bag, reaching in and getting fresh brushes. 

Eric has platinum blond hair, all buzzed off and bright green eyes, in other words, he's every guy and girl's dream. 

He's been at most of the shows in New York this year, and we've become friends, especially after his boyfriend broke up with him minutes before a show. We went out for drinks after and he met his current boyfriend that night, and now he's trying to get me a boyfriend to return the favor. 

"I'm sorry, love," he says as he gets to work with my eye look, "they said they would have base products for me to use, but the darkest foundation was much too light for you. For being such a high-end designer brand, you would expect nothing but the best, right?"

This isn't the first time this has happened to me, so I'm numb to the experience. The first time it happened, I remember crying the entire drive home, and the poor taxi driver had no idea what was happening. 

I give him a thumbs up in response, knowing he hates when I speak while he's working, and he smiles. 

"Look up for me." 

I look up at the ceiling and do my best not to go blind with all of the lights beaming down on me. 

A couple of minutes later, Eric holds up a mirror and I examine the intricate designs he made on my eyelids to match the pattern of the dress I'll be wearing tonight. 

"Eric, this is incredible," I smile at him and he simply nods, "you outdid yourself again, it hurts me to take this all off every time."

"The art is nothing without a perfect canvas to work on," he says in return and I continue staring at him, "that's you in case you didn't catch on, Amira."

A small man with a clipboard walks in.

"Two minutes," he yells, "why aren't you dressed?"

Eric rolls his eyes.

"I'll help her."

He walks over to the rack and grabs the hanger with my name on it. 

"You don't have to, Ric," I say as I pull my heels on, "I'll manage."

He continues getting the dress out of the garment bag and unzipping it. I shrug my robe off and he helps me into the dress, zipping it up and fixing any wrinkles.

"How do I look?"

He spins me around so I can see myself in a mirror. The dress is black and it reaches the ground, barely grazing it. It seems like a simple cocktail dress, but when the light hits it correctly, the intricate embroidery is visible, as is with the other pieces tonight. My hair is pinned and hairspray-ed to perfection, sitting in a perfect updo on my head, and the makeup ties it all together.

"I think you look hot," he smirks, "if you don't bring one of those rich guys in the audience home tonight, I'm going to sue the designer."

I chuckle and we walk out to the area behind the runway.

"Eric, thank you again, this makeup looks amazing!"

He air hugs me and tells me to find him after so we can get drinks to end off New York fashion week in the 'perfect way'. 

He is not taking no for an answer.

"Amira, you're up."

I step up and wait for the cue to go. 

The attendant gives me a thumbs up and I begin my walk out. 

I black out at this point and don't remember anything until I see the pictures the next day. 

My entire walk is a blur but I remember random faces in the audience, which is pretty normal; however, I can't seem to get a random man's face out of my head. He had dark hair, a chiseled face, and dark eyes, he was majestic, to say the least.

I don't even realize, but I'm backstage again and everyone's pushing me to the side so the next person can go.

"You did a great job, Amira," I look for the owner of the voice and see a model I'm familiar with, Ana, "I love your dress!"

"Thank you, Ana," I smile and walk over to her, "I wish I could've watched you, but I had an issue with my makeup."

She takes a closer look at my face.

"It looks unreal, what are you talking about?"

I explain what happened to her and she sighs. 

"I swear brands have all of this money and yet they get stingy," she scoffs, "I'm sorry you had to deal with that, let's get drinks after this and forget about everything."

"One of the makeup artists, Eric, and his boyfriend, Miles, invited me out with them," I explain to her while she starts taking her accessories off, "would you like to join us?"

She nods and puts her jewelry in a box marked for collection as I start doing the same.

"Amira Rose!"

I look up and see a new attendant staring at me.

"Yes?"

"Your phone's been ringing for the past ten minutes," he yells, gesturing into an office, "please deal with it before my ears start bleeding."

I nod and walk over to the makeshift office.

Someone hands me my phone and I see that my publicist has been trying to reach me for an hour, so I call her.

"Amira, thank god," she sighs with relief, "I know you had a show, but there's a situation."

I frown at the tone of her voice.

"What kind of a situation?"

"One I can't discuss over the phone," she says in a hushed tone, "please come see me first thing after you get out, okay?"

"Alright."

I send Eric a text letting him know I'll meet him at the bar because I have a 'last-minute meeting'.

Fuck. 

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well chapter 1

sorry guys i lose interest in literally every book i write

um but this one has a way easier-to-follow plot so!