Women in Love | A Winrina Romance

A Glimpse of the Future

The morning after Karina's final day in Paris was bittersweet. As she packed her bags and prepared for the long flight back to Seoul, the weight of leaving Winter behind lingered. Their reunion had felt like a dream—one she wasn't quite ready to wake from. But the reality of their busy lives loomed large. Her schedule would be packed the moment she landed, and Winter would be immersed in preparations for Fashion Week.

Karina looked around her hotel room one last time before grabbing her suitcase and heading downstairs to meet her manager. The drive to the airport was quiet, her mind still swirling with thoughts of Winter. She wondered when they'd see each other again, and whether the feeling of closeness they'd built in Paris would survive the distance.

Once at the airport, Karina was whisked through security and into the VIP lounge with her groupmates. Everyone was still buzzing from the success of the tour, but Karina's thoughts were elsewhere.

"Earth to Karina," Giselle teased, waving a hand in front of her face.

Karina blinked, pulling herself from her reverie. "Sorry, what?"

"You've been spaced out since we left the hotel," Giselle said, raising an eyebrow. "Something on your mind?"

Karina smiled, but didn't offer any details. "Just tired, I guess. It's been a whirlwind."

Giselle smirked, clearly unconvinced, but didn't press the issue. "Well, we've got a long flight ahead. You'll have plenty of time to rest."

As they boarded the plane, Karina's phone buzzed in her pocket. She glanced at the screen and felt her heart skip.

Winter: "Safe travels, superstar. Can't wait to see you again in Seoul."

Karina's lips curled into a soft smile as she typed a quick reply.

Karina: "Thanks, boss. I'll be counting the days."

Once she was seated, Karina rested her head against the window, watching the clouds roll by as the plane ascended into the sky. Despite the distance ahead of them, she felt an odd sense of calm. For the first time in a long while, the uncertainty didn't scare her—it felt like a challenge she was ready to face.

---

Back in Seoul, life returned to its usual whirlwind pace. As soon as the plane touched down, Karina and her groupmates were greeted by a swarm of fans and reporters at the airport. The flashing lights, the shouting, the chaos—it was all part of the routine, but after the quiet of Paris, it felt overwhelming.

Karina smiled and waved at the fans, grateful for their support, but her mind was already shifting gears. Once the group was safely in the van, her manager began outlining their schedule for the next few weeks.

"You have a series of interviews lined up tomorrow, and then we start rehearsals for the year-end awards show," her manager said, scrolling through her tablet. "And there's a brand deal we're negotiating for you—looks promising, but we'll talk details later."

Karina nodded, half-listening. The mention of a brand deal piqued her interest, but her thoughts were still with Winter. She wondered what Winter's day looked like, whether she was still in Paris or on her way to New York. She hadn't asked much about Winter's schedule, assuming they'd figure it out when the time was right.

By the time she got back to her apartment, exhaustion had settled in. She tossed her bags by the door and collapsed onto her bed. For a moment, she just lay there, staring at the ceiling, wondering if it was possible to juggle everything—her career, her public image, and this fragile new relationship with Winter.

Her phone buzzed again. She hoped it was Winter, but it was her manager.

Manager: "Quick update: You've got a call with the brand tomorrow. It's a major fashion house, but they want to keep the details under wraps for now. I'll send more info later."

Karina's interest was piqued. Fashion deals always intrigued her, especially if it was with a high-profile brand. She wondered if Winter knew about it—she had connections with nearly every top designer. A small smile crossed her face at the thought of working on something related to Winter's world, even if indirectly.

---

The next morning, Karina sat at her kitchen table, sipping a cup of coffee as she waited for the call with the fashion brand. She felt the familiar pre-call nerves creeping in—no matter how many deals she worked on, there was always that flutter of excitement at the start of something new.

Her manager's voice crackled through the speaker. "Karina, are you ready?"

"Ready," she confirmed, straightening in her chair.

"Great. I've got the representative on the line."

After a moment of silence, a smooth, professional voice filled the room. "Good morning, Karina. My name is Maeve, and I'm the head of public relations for "Les Merveilles", the fashion house. We've been following your career for a while, and we believe you're the perfect fit for our upcoming campaign."

Karina's heart raced. "Les Merveilles" was one of the top fashion houses in the world. "I'm honored," she said, trying to keep her voice steady. "Can you tell me more about the campaign?"

"We can't reveal too much at this stage," Maeve said, her tone professional yet warm. "But it will be tied to a new collection we're debuting during Seoul Fashion Week. We're looking for a global ambassador who embodies both modern elegance and timeless beauty, and we believe you're the ideal person to represent us."

Seoul Fashion Week. Karina's mind instantly jumped to Winter. If "Les Merveilles" was involved, Winter might be too. The idea of working with Winter, even from a distance, filled her with both excitement and anxiety.

"I'd love to be a part of it," Karina said, her voice confident despite the whirlwind of thoughts in her head. "Fashion is such a big part of my life, and I admire what "Les Merveilles" stands for."

"Excellent," Maeve said. "We'll send over more details soon. In the meantime, we'd like to arrange a photoshoot and interview with you in the next few weeks. Let us know your availability, and we'll make it work."

After the call ended, Karina sat back in her chair, processing the news. She couldn't believe it—"Les Merveilles" was a huge deal. But more than that, it was a connection to Winter's world, and she wondered if Winter had known this was coming.

Almost as if on cue, her phone buzzed.

Winter: "I heard a little birdie mention your new partnership with "Les Merveilles". Looks like we'll be seeing each other sooner than expected."

Karina laughed, shaking her head. Of course, Winter was always one step ahead. She quickly replied.

Karina: "Did you have something to do with this?"

Winter: "I might have suggested your name in passing... but they were already fans. I just nudged them in the right direction."

Karina's heart swelled. Karina: "You're full of surprises."

Winter: "Just wait until Fashion Week."