Comfort in Chaos

V modelling company

Gia's heart raced as she sat in the opulent conference room of V Modeling Company, the pinnacle of her career just within reach. Sunlight poured through the floor-to-ceiling windows, illuminating the minimalist décor that screamed prestige and power. A sleek folder with the company's logo sat before her, containing the contract that would cement her as the face of the industry for the next four years.

Her assistant, Mia, leaned over and whispered, "This is it, Gia. All your hard work is paying off."

Gia nodded, her lips curving into a small, triumphant smile. She had waited years for this moment—the culmination of endless shoots, grueling schedules, and relentless ambition. Everything she'd sacrificed was about to pay off.

The door opened, and the CEO, an impeccably dressed man in his late fifties, entered the room with a warm smile. He extended a hand. "Gia, the future of V Modeling. It's an honor to have you here."

"The honor is mine," Gia replied, her voice smooth but brimming with confidence. She knew her worth, and today, the world would too.

As the CEO sat down, the room buzzed with anticipation. His assistant hovered nearby, holding a pen for the final signature. Gia reached for the pen, her fingers grazing the polished surface, when the door creaked open again.

Everyone turned as the CEO's other assistant entered, her face pale and tense. She hurried to his side and leaned down, whispering something in his ear.

The CEO's expression darkened immediately. His once-welcoming demeanor was replaced with a cold, unreadable mask. He leaned back in his chair, his eyes narrowing as he regarded Gia.

"What's wrong?" Gia asked, her voice wavering slightly.

The CEO placed the pen down deliberately, his movements slow and deliberate. "Gia, is there something you'd like to tell us before we proceed?"

Gia blinked, confused. "I… I'm not sure what you mean."

The assistant stepped forward, holding out her phone. The CEO took it and turned the screen toward Gia. Her stomach dropped as she saw the headline:

"Scandalous Tape Leaks: Gia and Actor Ace in a Heated Night of Passion."

"No," Gia whispered, her blood running cold. Her eyes darted to the screen, where a still from the video showed her and Ace in bed, their faces unmistakable. Her breathing quickened as she shook her head. "This… this can't be happening."

The CEO stood, his tone sharp and unyielding. "I'm sorry, Gia. V Modeling cannot afford to associate with someone embroiled in such controversy. This kind of behavior is not aligned with our brand values."

Gia stood as well, her voice rising in desperation. "This is a mistake! That video it's private. It was never meant to"

"It doesn't matter," the CEO interrupted, his voice cold. "The damage is done. Our decision is final."

The words hit Gia like a slap. She had walked into this room on the cusp of greatness, and now, in a matter of seconds, it was all slipping away.

"Please," she pleaded, her voice cracking. "You can't do this. This is my career, my life. You've seen my work—you know what I'm capable of. Don't let some stupid scandal ruin everything."

The CEO didn't budge. "Escort her out," he said to the assistants, his tone dismissive.

Before Gia could say another word, two staff members stepped forward, guiding her toward the door. The world seemed to blur around her as the weight of the moment crashed down on her.

The scene outside was chaos. Paparazzi had already caught wind of the scandal and were waiting like vultures. Cameras flashed as questions were shouted from every direction.

"Gia! Is it true you leaked the tape yourself?"

"Did Ace cheat on Abigail with you?"

"How do you respond to the backlash from fans?"

Gia shielded her face, panic setting in. "Get me out of here!" she shouted to Mia, who was fighting to clear a path through the crowd.

"Move! Give her space!" Mia yelled, her voice hoarse as she pushed past the mob. They finally reached the car, the doors slamming shut as Gia collapsed into the backseat, trembling.

Mia climbed into the front seat, grabbing her phone as it buzzed with nonstop calls. "Gia," she said, turning to face her. "Every brand is pulling out. They're cutting ties one after another."

"Fix it!" Gia snapped, her voice sharp and frantic. "Do something! You're my assistant—this is your job!"

"I'm trying," Mia shot back, her tone firm. "But they've already made up their minds. It's a nightmare."

Gia's hands balled into fists as she fought to control her breathing. Her mind raced, replaying the video, the headlines, the CEO's words. Everything she had worked for gone in an instant.

"Take me to my parents' house," she said finally, her voice trembling. "I… I need to get away from all this."

Mia nodded, giving the driver the address. "We'll figure this out," she said, her voice softening. "One step at a time."

Gia stared out the window as the car sped through the city. She pulled out her phone, her fingers shaking as she dialed Ace's number. The line rang and rang, but there was no answer.

"Pick up, damn it," Gia muttered, tears pricking her eyes. She tried again. And again. Still nothing.

"Of course," she whispered bitterly, her voice breaking. "He gets me into this mess and then disappears."

Unbeknownst to Gia, a black sedan had been trailing their car from the moment they left the V Modeling building. Its tinted windows concealed the driver, who kept a careful distance as they navigated through the busy streets.

Gia was too lost in her thoughts to notice. Her mind raced with questions, regrets, and the sinking realization that her life would never be the same.

Abigail leaned back into the plush cushions of her sofa, the soft fabric a stark contrast to the storm of emotions she had carried just days ago. Now, as she scrolled through the latest headlines on her tablet, a smirk tugged at the corner of her lips. "Ace's Downfall: Scandal Erupts as Tape Goes Public," one headline read, accompanied by a grainy image of Ace being dragged off the set, his face a portrait of humiliation.

Her heart didn't swell with joy, but there was a deep sense of satisfaction. Justice. That's what this was. After all the pain Ace had caused her, all the sleepless nights and broken trust, seeing him brought low was the vindication she hadn't realized she craved.

Her phone buzzed on the coffee table, breaking her reverie. She picked it up, glancing at the name on the screen: Thomas Marc.

A small smile graced her lips as she answered. "Thomas."

His voice poured through the receiver, smooth and commanding, like the faint hum of a cello. "You love what you see on the news, don't you?"

Abigail chuckled softly, unable to hide her satisfaction. "Yes, I do. It's perfect timing. All thanks to you, Thomas. You always know when to deliver."

There was a quiet laugh on the other end. "I saw his expression, Abigail. He looked like a man drained of life. Completely hollow. The confusion, the despair—it was written all over his face. He knows it's over."

Abigail leaned forward, her fingers tracing idle patterns on the arm of the sofa. "He deserved it. Every bit of it. I couldn't have done this without you, though."

"It's nothing," Thomas replied, his voice lighter now. "You did the hard part. I just gave it a push when it mattered."

"You're being modest," Abigail teased. "If it weren't for your timing, this wouldn't have landed the way it did."

Thomas hummed, a sound that carried a mix of amusement and satisfaction. "Well, enjoy it while it lasts. But don't forget, we're meeting at three. I'll send my driver to pick you up."

Abigail rolled her eyes, though her smile remained. "No need. I can manage."

"Abigail," Thomas said, his tone firm but not unkind. "I insist. Humor me."

She sighed, recognizing that tone. Thomas was nothing if not persistent, especially when it came to her. "Fine," she relented.

"Good," he said, the smile audible in his voice. "See you soon."

As the call ended, Abigail set her phone down and exhaled slowly. Thomas. Always so careful, so calculated. He had been her unwavering ally through this entire ordeal, the only person she had confided in about the evidence she had collected against Ace.

Her mind drifted back to the day it all started—the day Ace and Thomas had first met. She had introduced them, hoping their shared interests might lead to something productive. Instead, it had unleashed a torrent of tension. Thomas had seen right through Ace, his sharp instincts picking up on the lies and deceit that Abigail had been too blind—or too in love—to see.

She remembered the messages Thomas had sent her that day. Each one had been filled with an urgency that had both comforted and unsettled her. "You need to act, Abigail. He doesn't deserve your silence." His words had stayed with her, pushing her to take the steps she had been too afraid to consider.

When she finally showed Thomas the evidence—the texts, the photos, the receipts that proved Ace's infidelity—he hadn't hesitated. "We'll handle this," he had said, his voice steady and resolute. And he had meant it.

Now, as she sat in her quiet apartment, the fallout playing out in real-time across news outlets and social media, Abigail felt an odd mix of emotions. Relief, yes. Satisfaction, certainly. But there was also a twinge of uncertainty, a small voice in the back of her mind asking what came next.

Her phone buzzed again, a notification lighting up the screen. Another headline, this one more biting: "Ace's Rise to Stardom Cut Short by Scandal: Who's Behind the Leak?"

Abigail's smirk returned. Let them wonder.