SHAY
âAre you set?â Dario inquired, planting a final kiss on her cheek.
Shay nodded, her gaze fixed on her reflection in the mirror. Her hair was styled in perfect curls, each one in its place, and her makeup was flawlessly applied to accentuate her features.
âIâm as ready as Iâll ever be,â Shay responded, surprisingly calm.
âBeto and I will be cheering you on from the crowd. Knock âem dead,â Dario said.
Darioâs boyfriend, Beto, had been in the picture for a few weeks now, ever since Dario came out as bisexual to Shay. Shay was genuinely happy for Dario, having been there for him through thick and thin, and knowing he had feelings for her. Beto, who she met for the first time yesterday, was charming, affectionate, and nurturing. He took good care of Dario, and it was heartwarming to see.
âThanks,â Shay replied, leaning back in her chair as she waited for the stylist to bring her outfit.
The show was set to start in thirty minutes, and everyone was in a frenzy, ensuring all the models were ready and the looks were finalized. It was chaotic, but in a good way. Earlier in the day, Shay had caught up with some of the other models, both the ones she knew from seven years ago and the new faces, learning about their diverse backgrounds.
Her twins and baby Nate were with her father and stepmother. They had offered to help with the kids while Shay was working in the city. For the first time in over seven years, she was back to work and it felt amazing.
Shay hadnât realized how much she missed creating content and maintaining a social media presence. Ever since she served Adam the divorce papers, he had been trying to see her more often. He wanted her to reconsider, even going as far as cornering her on the street while she was running errands.
She knew he had his lawyers review the papers, but surprisingly, his objection wasnât about her wanting full custody of Nate. He only wanted to negotiate a post-nuptial agreement that included Sky in their relationship. It shocked Shay that he didnât care about Nate. He had seemed like such a good father, but it was all a facade. All the lies and deceit, he was only ever interested in her and her twin sister. He had some twisted fantasy that she wanted no part of.
Since serving him the papers, her father had arranged for her to have security. She was in the process of installing fences around her property and there would be a security team with the family at all times. Her father felt it was necessary, believing that Adam was capable of more deceit, and he wasnât taking security lightly.
While they were sorting out their divorce, things between Ethan and her had shifted. They hadnât planned it, but they ended up having sex in the kitchen that night. Shay went to bed every night since then, replaying that incident in her mind.
Ethan had confessed his feelings for her, explained their past, and admitted that he was still in love with her. Shay told him that she wasnât ready for a relationship, especially while she was still married, and he agreed to give her time, promising to wait for her as long as she would give him another chance.
âShay, itâs time to get dressed,â the stylist called.
Nodding, Shay got up from the chair and followed him. She was led to the changing area, where all the other models were getting ready, with stylists ensuring everything was perfect.
Shay removed her robe, her nipples covered with pasties, as they fitted her with a bra. She took off the pasties she was wearing and quickly put on the panties, with the stylist shielding her lower half.
Another stylist came over with glitter, spreading the sparkly adhesive all over her body to ensure she would shine under the lights. As they worked on her, she could feel four pairs of hands on her at once, all working together to make sure everything was perfect.
âModels, line up!â the coordinator shouted.
Shay looked down as they placed a pair of heels in front of her. She stepped into them and they helped her fasten the straps around her ankles. Then the main stylist came over with the dress. It was stunning, custom-made, and the first time the brand was venturing into couture.
The stylist held the dress open for her, and Shay stepped in one leg at a time. Another stylist helped her get into the dress, using gloves to help her shimmy into it, pulling it up her body and guiding her arms through the sleeves.
The dress clung to her body, hugging her curves. It was adorned with diamonds and was sheer, making her look almost nude. With the diamonds and sparkles on the dress, she looked stunning.
âLetâs get you in line,â the stylist said.
Shay nodded, starting to feel the nerves. She could hear the loud music playing as the models began their rotations. A makeup artist came over with a brush and palette, making sure she looked perfect as her turn approached.
As the model in front of her started her walk, Shay took a deep breath. She tried to focus on herself, but thoughts of her kids and Ethan filled her mind.
Feeling a gentle push on her back, Shay snapped back to reality, quickly composing herself before stepping out. As soon as she did, she was blinded by the flashing lights, with everyone taking photos as the DJ played the music. Giving a small smile, Shay walked to the beat of the song, her hips swaying from side to side.
She spotted Dario and Beto in the crowd and smiled at them as she strutted down the runway. The walk was long and winding, showcasing the dress for everyone to see. Photographers snapped pictures as she walked, and the audience admired her outfit. Shay felt confident, sexy, and powerful.
As she made her way back behind the curtain, she could feel the adrenaline rush as everyone prepared for the final walk.
âYou were fantastic,â the stylist complimented.
âThank you,â Shay replied as the designer, Mark, approached her.
âCurtain call, darling,â he announced, and she knew what he meant.
Arm in arm, he led her out for one more walk down the runway. Smiling as she walked, she waved at some familiar faces, people she hadnât seen in a long time. The feeling was incredible. Shay had forgotten what it felt like to be adored by the public, to be in the spotlight.
As they made their way back to the starting point, they paused for a final bow. A shower of flowers rained down on them, and she found herself clutching several bouquets, as did the designer. Both were beaming with pride. She joined in the applause, juggling the bouquets in her arms as she did so.
Backstage, Shay exhaled a sigh of relief. Mark planted a kiss on her cheek, expressing his gratitude for her stellar performance and his eagerness for future collaborations. She agreed. The whole experience had been a thrill, and she wouldnât mind a repeat.
âYou were amazing!â someone exclaimed, pulling her into a hug.
As they pulled away, she offered a smile to the stranger before raising an eyebrow in question.
âIâm sorry, weâve been emailing. Iâm Gino, from Harperâs?â the stranger clarified.
âOh, Gino! Itâs great to finally meet you,â Shay responded, recalling their email exchanges.
They chatted and swapped numbers, with Shay promising to stay in touch and follow through with the photoshoot. She was hesitant. It had been a while since sheâd done a cover, and the idea of being on the cover of such a big magazine was nerve-racking.
Shay exchanged pleasantries with a few more people, catching up with some old acquaintances before changing out of her couture outfit. She spent a little over an hour chatting, most of the people excited to see her after so many years.
~Buzz buzz~.
As she slipped into a designer dressâa gift meant to be photographed by the paparazziâshe checked her phone.
From: Ethan
To: Shay Haze
Just Facetimed the twins, they were about to go to sleep. I miss you xx
A smile spread across her face at his message. She tucked her phone into her bag and prepared to leave. She wanted to get back to her hotel before anyone could drag her to an afterparty.
She despised those parties, where people would either engage in mindless chatter or try to pry information out of her. She managed to sneak out, her security detail escorting her to the back door where her car was waiting. Once inside, she closed her eyes, the tinted windows providing her with a sense of privacy.
The drive back to her hotel was peaceful, and all she could think about was soaking her tired body in a bath filled with salts. Upon reaching the hotel, she thanked her team and gave them the rest of the night off before heading to her room. She felt safe in the hotel, knowing that once her room door was closed, the only interaction sheâd have would be with room service.
Once inside her room, she kicked off her heels, relishing the feel of the soft carpet between her toes. She dropped her bag on the table and shrugged off the expensive dress, replacing it with a robe. The bathtub was situated in the room, positioned to offer a relaxing view of the city.
She turned on the water, adding bath salts and a generous amount of body wash to create a frothy bath.
~Ding dong.~
She raised an eyebrow. She wasnât expecting anyone, not even room service. She turned off the waterâalready halfway filling the tubâand walked to the door in her robe, peering through the peephole.
She couldnât believe her eyes. She opened the door to find a dashing Ethan, suited up and holding a bouquet of flowers.
âWhat are you doing here?â Shay asked as she opened the door wider.
âI wanted to see you, and you were incredible at your show,â he complimented, planting a soft kiss on her cheek and handing her the flowers.
She let him in, closing the door behind him and placing the flowers on the table. She loved flowers, but unfortunately, she didnât have a green thumb.
âWait, were you there?â Shay asked as he took a seat on the edge of the bed, casually tossing his coat onto a chair.
âYeah, I came,â he admitted shyly.
âWhy didnât you tell me? I couldâve gotten you seats,â Shay said, remembering the extra ticket she had, originally meant for her husband.
âI wanted to surprise you,â he explained.
She nodded, memories from a week ago flooding her mind.
âAnd,â he paused, reaching out to pull her closer. She stood between his legs, their eyes level as he wrapped his arms around her waist. âI wanted to repeat what happened in the kitchen, this time without restraint,â he said, his voice dripping with seduction.
She threw her head back and laughed.
âUh no, it was a one-time thing,â Shay said, pushing herself away from him and walking over to the window.
âTell me you donât think about it as much as I do,â he challenged.
âEthan,â she warned, rolling her eyes as she stared out at the bustling city.
âTell me you donât want this just as much as I do. Tell me that you never thought of us in the past few years,â he said, standing close behind her. She could feel his presence and see his reflection in the window.
âWhat you did to me was something I never thought could ever happen. You used me. It doesnât matter if you say you loved me, because to you Iâm just an obsession,â Shay said, turning to look him in the eye.
He looked at her with a familiar expression, one she recognized from their past encounters. âIâm just an obsession for something you wanted from Asher, a bet that you took without knowing the full facts, and the both of you ruined my life. Our relationship wasnât real; it was based on lies and deceit,â Shay said.
âI never meant to hurt you. I never meant for you to find out,â he said, his voice filled with regret.
But Shay stood her ground, hardening her heart.
âBut I did, so thereâs no we. Thereâs you and thereâs me and our twins, but nothing more,â Shay insisted.
âIâm sorry for my stupidity. I didnât think much of it. I thought it would be simple, but I fell in love with you. I fell in love with all of you. On our first date, all I wanted to do was to rip off all your clothes and take you right then and there. I fell in love with you because you are different. You defy me. You arenât afraid of me. You make me feel things I never knew were possible. Even when I tried to move on, no one could come even close to fifty percent of what you were. Yes, you are my addiction, but baby, you are an addiction I never want to quit,â he confessed before pressing his lips to hers.
Stunned by his confession, she kissed him back.
Shay would be fibbing if she claimed she didnât harbor feelings for him. It was clear as day that she did, and even Adam was aware of her emotions before they tied the knot.
Everyone was in the know about Shayâs deep-seated love for Ethan. Nothing could alter that fact.
Despite her best efforts to downplay it, despite her attempts to move forward, the truth was evident.
Shay was as hooked on him as he was on her.
They were each otherâs vice and salvation.