The modeling agency was far bigger than Abi had expected.
As she stepped inside the building, her heart began beating faster. The waiting area was filled with young women—tall, elegant, and dressed in stylish outfits.
Some of them were confidently checking themselves in mirrors. Others were scrolling through their phones, pretending not to be nervous.
Abi suddenly felt very aware of herself.
For a moment, doubt crept into her mind.
Maybe I shouldn't be here.
She looked down at the simple outfit she was wearing.
Hazel had helped her choose it the night before.
"Keep it simple," Hazel had said. "Let them see you, not the clothes."
Abi took a deep breath.
Hazel believed in her.
That was enough.
A woman sitting behind the reception desk called out a name.
"Next."
One by one, the girls were called into the audition room.
Some returned looking confident.
Others walked out with quiet disappointment written on their faces.
Abi's turn finally came.
"Abi Hart," the assistant called.
Abi stood up quickly and walked toward the room.
The moment she stepped inside, several people were waiting behind a long table.
Photographers.
Fashion scouts.
Agency representatives.
They all looked at her.
For a brief second, the room went quiet.
Abi suddenly felt exposed under their gaze.
"Relax," one of the scouts said calmly. "Just walk to the mark and pose."
Abi nodded.
She walked forward slowly.
At first her steps were careful.
Then something strange happened.
Her nerves faded.
Abi had always been confident in her own skin.
Her posture straightened naturally. Her movements became smooth and graceful.
She reached the marked spot and turned slightly, just as the photographer instructed.
The camera flashed.
Again.
And again.
One of the scouts leaned toward another and whispered quietly.
"She has a natural presence."
The other nodded.
"Good proportions too."
Abi followed every instruction they gave.
Turn.
Pause.
Walk again.
By the time the audition ended, her heart was racing.
"Thank you," the assistant said.
"You'll hear from us soon."
Abi nodded politely and walked out of the room.
But as she stepped back into the hallway, she felt something strange.
Several of the other girls were staring at her.
Not with friendliness.
With competition.
Abi quickly left the building and stepped outside into the fresh air.
Her phone buzzed a few minutes later.
Her heart skipped.
It was an email.
She opened it with trembling fingers.
Congratulations.
You have been selected for the agency's beginner modeling program.
Abi gasped.
She had made it.
Without even realizing it, she began running down the street.
She couldn't wait to tell Hazel.
Back inside the agency building, however…
The scouts were still discussing her photos.
One of them held up a picture of Abi on the tablet.
"She could work well for commercial fashion."
Another nodded thoughtfully.
"Actually… she might even fit something bigger."
The man turned to his assistant.
"Send her portfolio to Valentino Fashion House."
The assistant raised an eyebrow.
"You mean Luca Valentino's company?"
"Yes."
The scout looked again at Abi's photo.
"Something about her could work for one of their future campaigns."
Across the city, in the tall glass building of Valentino Fashion House…
A report had just been placed on Luca Valentino's desk.
And soon, another file would arrive.
A file containing the photos of a young woman named Abi Hart.
The younger sister of Hazel Hart.
A connection that would soon bring all three of their lives closer together.