𝑺𝑯𝑬, héctor fort

002

Mira couldn't stop smiling as she stared at her phone, rereading the email from Adidas. The message was brief but clear: Exciting Collaboration Opportunity. It was an invitation to work with them on a new project—exclusive, high-profile, and involving a special guest star. The email didn't reveal who the other guest was, but Mira could already feel the adrenaline building in her chest. This could be huge.

Still standing by the horses' stable, she tapped the screen to reply. But before she could type anything, her phone buzzed again—this time, it was a message from her mom, Sara.

"Hey sweetheart, everything okay? You around?"

Mira rolled her eyes but couldn't help laughing. Her mom was always checking in on her, even when she was 18 and had her life together. It was endearing, in a way.

"Yeah, just out with the dogs," Mira replied quickly, then added, "Got some crazy news."

Her phone buzzed back almost immediately.

"Tell me everything. Coming down for lunch?"

Mira glanced at the time. It was nearly noon, and her stomach had been growling for a while. She nodded to herself and quickly typed back, "On my way."

Mira went inside, her dogs trailing behind her like little shadows. She walked into the kitchen, where Sara was already preparing a meal. Her mom was standing over the stove, humming quietly to herself as she stirred a pot.

"Smells amazing," Mira commented, her heart still racing from the news.

Sara smiled at her, flipping a piece of flatbread onto a plate. "It's your favorite. Have a seat, I'm almost done."

Mira sat at the table, tapping her fingers impatiently on the wooden surface. Her mom didn't seem to notice her daughter's excitement, too focused on the food. But Mira was practically bursting with it.

"So, what's this news of yours?" Sara asked, setting down a plate of grilled chicken and couscous in front of her.

Mira leaned forward, practically vibrating in her chair. "Adidas emailed me. They want to do a collaboration. A huge one. It's a solo project, and... and they want me for a special campaign too."

Sara paused, her spoon mid-air, a look of surprise crossing her face. "Wait, what do you mean 'special campaign'? Like... you, alone?"

"Not just me." Mira's grin grew. "There's a guest. Someone I don't even know, but it's going to be big."

Sara raised an eyebrow. "Someone you don't know? That's interesting." She leaned back in her chair, folding her arms. "Do you know who it is yet?"

Mira shook her head. "Nope, the email doesn't say. But I'm assuming they'll tell me soon enough. The whole thing feels really... secretive, but in a good way."

Her mom seemed thoughtful for a moment, then smiled warmly at her daughter. "Well, it sounds like a big opportunity. Are you excited?"

Mira nodded quickly, her eyes bright with anticipation. "Are you kidding? I've always wanted to work with Adidas. It's like... a dream come true. And the fact that they want me for this—it's insane."

Sara set her spoon down, crossing the kitchen to grab a bottle of water for Mira. "I'm happy for you, sweetheart. I can't wait to hear more about it as it unfolds. You deserve this kind of recognition."

"Thanks, mom." Mira's voice softened, and she leaned back in her chair. "I just hope everything goes smoothly. I want this to be something big. Not just for me, but for everyone involved."

Sara smiled. "You've got it, honey. You've always had that drive."

Mira's phone buzzed again, interrupting the moment. She glanced down at the screen. It was her agent, Emily.

"Speak of the devil," Mira muttered, before swiping to open the message.

emily 💫: Hi Mira, great news! Adidas has confirmed the collaboration, and they're asking if you're on board. Let me know ASAP. I'll go ahead and handle the details once I hear from you. Also, I believe the guest star they're referring to is Hector Fort, a Barcelona player. I know this is your first time hearing about him in this context, but I think you'll enjoy working with him. Let me know!

Mira froze, her eyes widening as she read the message over again. Hector Fort.

Her first reaction was to smile—Héctor was undeniably talented, a football star. And she'd definitely heard his name before, even though she didn't follow football that closely. But still, the thought of working with him was... a bit overwhelming. Not because he wasn't amazing, but because it was a huge deal.

She quickly typed back to Emily.

mira: ofc im in. let's do this.

Almost instantly, Emily replied with a thumbs-up emoji. Mira sighed, letting herself sink deeper into the chair.

"Everything okay?" Sara asked, noticing the look on her face.

Mira blinked, still processing the fact that she'd just agreed to something this big. "Yeah... It's Héctor Fort," she said slowly. "The football player. I'm supposed to do a campaign with him. Like, the Hector Fort."

Her mom raised an eyebrow, her curiosity piqued. "Well, well, that's a very interesting combination. Football and music. Are you nervous?"

Mira shrugged. "I don't know yet. I guess... maybe a little? It's a big deal. He's huge."

Sara grinned. "I'm sure you'll be just fine. You've got this. It'll be fun. You'll make it fun."

Mira nodded, biting her lip as she processed everything. She could already imagine the press conferences, the photo shoots, the fans. It would be a lot, but it was also an incredible opportunity.

"I'm going to tell Anya," Mira said, her voice suddenly more excited. "She'll lose her mind when she hears about it. She's going to be so stoked."

"Good idea," Sara said. "Call her, and then come back here for some lunch. You'll need your energy for all this exciting stuff."

Mira grinned, already grabbing her phone again. She was about to call her best friend when another message popped up on the screen.

emily 💫: Hey Mira, it's Emily again. Just got word: You'll be meeting Hector for the first time at the shoot. It'll be in Barcelona, in two weeks. Just so you know.

Mira felt a wave of nervousness wash over her. Barcelona. Two weeks. Her stomach fluttered with anticipation. She quickly tapped out a reply, then tossed the phone onto the couch.

"I'm going to Barcelona in two weeks!" she exclaimed, jumping up and rushing to tell her mom. "I'm so excited I can't even breathe."

Her mom laughed softly. "Looks like you're about to have an adventure of a lifetime, huh?"

Mira smiled, thinking about how much her life was about to change. For the first time in a long while, she felt ready for whatever came next.