Beyond The Lie

Chapter 60: Showtime

Adeline.

Friday, June 23rd, 8:00 AM
Backstage, Fashion Launch Venue, Paris

I stood in front of the mirror, sipping my coffee and surveying my reflection. My hair was tied back in a messy bun, and my eyes were still puffy from lack of sleep. But despite the chaos of the past few days, I felt a sense of calm wash over me.

"Okay, guys, let's get started!" I called out to my team, who were busy setting up the backstage area.

The hair and makeup team swarmed around me, beginning their magic. I closed my eyes, letting them work their wonders.

"Adeline, we need to go over the runway order one more time," Rachel said, holding up a clipboard.

I nodded, taking the clipboard and scanning the list. Everything seemed to be in order.

"Looks good to me," I said, handing the clipboard back to Rachel.

As the morning wore on, the backstage area became increasingly frenetic. Models were rushing to get into their outfits, and the sound team was doing a last-minute check of the music and sound effects.

I took a deep breath, feeling my nerves begin to fray. This was it – the moment I'd been working towards for months.

But as I looked around at my team, I felt a sense of pride and gratitude. They'd worked tirelessly to bring my vision to life, and I knew I couldn't have done it without them.

"Thank you, guys," I said, my voice choked with emotion. "I don't know what I would do without you."

My team smiled and cheered, and for a moment, the chaos of the backstage area faded away.

I glanced down at my outfit, feeling confident and prepared. I was wearing a pair of distressed denim jeans, a crisp white button-down shirt, and a tailored black blazer. It was the perfect combination of comfort and style.

***

12:00 PM

I took a break to grab some lunch and catch up with my family and friends, who had arrived to support me. My mom, dad, Emily ans Ryan were all chatting with Rachel, my assistant, while Liv and Soph were busy taking selfies in front of the step-and-repeat backdrop.

"Hey, kiddo!" my mom exclaimed, giving me a warm hug. "We're so proud of you! You've worked so hard for this."

"Thanks, Mom," I said, smiling. "I couldn't have done it without all of your support."

Everyone chimed in with their congratulations and words of encouragement. I felt grateful to have such a loving and supportive family.

Liv and Soph came over to join the group, both of them bubbling with excitement. "Oh my god, Addie, this is all so surreal!" Liv squealed. "We're actually here, and your fashion show is about to start!"

"I know, right?" I replied, laughing. "It's crazy to think about how far we've come."

As we chatted, the hair and makeup team finished up their final touches on the models. The sound team began to do a last-minute check of the music and sound effects, and the backstage area started to buzz with energy.

Rachel came over to remind me that I had a few interviews lined up with some media outlets. "Adeline, you're on in 15 minutes," she said, glancing at her watch.

I nodded, taking a deep breath. It was showtime.

My outfit for the interviews was a chic and professional look, consisting of:

A fitted white dress with a pair of black pumps
A statement piece of jewelry, a silver necklace with a small crystal pendant
My hair was styled in loose waves, and my makeup was natural and understated.