Chapter Seventeen.

DIANA

NEXT DAY

I woke up and had a nerve relaxing bath to release all the stress from the previous night. The chauffeur took me to the institute and as soon as I entered the room assigned to us for our dress up, and I saw a group of girls standing at the door.

"Good morning ma'am." they greeted and became elated when I saw Lisa also standing at the door.

"Lisa, Good morning. What are you doing here?" I asked surprised.

"Well your husband called me last night to come make you look top-notch,so here I am to perform my magic." she said with a smile which I returned.

"But I thought you were in Paris."

"About that, your husband also sends his private jet to pick me up." That much about getting surprised, I was really stressed out about the makeup issue, but it seems Leonard got it covered, my phone binged, I brought it out and saw a message from Leonard.

Leonard:(-HOPE YOU SAW MY SURPRISE-), I texted him back.

ME:(-YES, THANKS YOU ARE A LIFESAVER ?-), I typed with a smiling emoji and a reply came immediately.

Leonard:(-THERE IS NO NEED OF THANKING ME WIFEY.MAKE SURE TO GET THE CONTRACT, ALL THE BEST XOXO-) I smiled. Awwwwn didn't know he could be so sweet.

"Diana, we don't have the whole day, the program is about to start." Lisa yelled, and I rushed in, taking a seat at the dressing table and Lisa commenced on my face and the girls I saw earlier did wonders on my hair.

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THE PROGRAM

We are currently at the backstage and Mr. jay was giving a speech, I was dressed in my two - piece sleeveless floor length dress with a lace top, it has a split at the side from the floor to my mid-thigh.it looks more of a satin prom dress with the exquisitely crafted appliqués shimmering across the upper bodice and my hair was in a messy bun, I could see Daphne across the room she was in a gown more like a mini ball gown.

Mr. jay was calling out the names of the participants and luckily for me, I was number 26,he's currently in number 21 so am a nervous wreck.so much what if was coming to my mind like what if I don't perform well, what if the viewers kick me out, and I don't get the contract.

"I am calling on number 26,Diana Jackson." Mr jay called, and I breathe in and out thrice before walking to the stage, and I was surprised with the number of audience, I walked up to Mr. jay confidently, and he smiled.

"Miss Diana, you look fabulous."

"Thank you."

"So can you give us a little information about your dress and how you got the idea of making it." he handed the mic to me.

"Okay, so I got this idea when I was nineteen, I remembered I was sitting at the roadside when the drawing came to me, so I brought my design book out and started drawing, back then I thought if I could have a lace and some shimmering materials I'm good to go, so this is it my creation." I said and a round of applause follows.

"Thanks Diana." I bowed lightly before cat walking to the backstage and as soon as I got there I breathed out loudly.

"That was awesome Diana." Ma'am Mabel said, hugging me and I smiled.

"No time for hugs, come in and wear your next dress and a new makeup." Lisa said, and we followed her to the room.

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LEONARD

I was sitting at the judge's table, and I was stunned when Diana came out with that outstanding look, my mouth was open for a few minutes before I could close them. She was really a beauty, a sight to behold and the way she spoke with confidence was super amazing.

They called out the participants in all their outfits and Diana keeps on surprising us (the judges and audience) with her unique fashion, they all came out by now they were only 10 and there would be only one winner, so Mr. jay added a twist to the contest he asked them to make any dress in front of the audience for 40 minutes, they were provided with the materials, the equipment, and a mannequin, but before they could begin five couldn't touch the machine because of their shaky hands, so they were disqualified, Diana and the remaining four went to work immediately. I was just staring at Diana intensely, how she cut and sew with perfection.

Forty minutes later they stopped, and we could see what they created on the mannequin, but I was unable to get which one was Diana's. They were asked to stand next to their creation, and I was amazed at what Diana created, simple but magnificent, she made a crop top with a plain material and a short skirt with a glittering material.

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DIANA

My heart was beating like a party drum when I stood next to my design, when Mr. jay told us about the challenge an idea just came to me to make something simple but beautiful, for this round the audience will rate our dresses by voting. Daphne was among the top five, and she made a gown which was incomplete,the three others did the same thing they all made a top with no shorts or skirts. Mr. jay was on the third dress asking the audience whether they liked it or not, the three others were already out, so it's just Daphne and I, he walked to Daphne's own, and she smiled sweetly.

"So guys, what do you think about this design." some yelled 'yes' but majority yelled 'no' do I guess Daphne was out, she stared at me with a dangerous gaze, truth be told Daphne's design was beautiful it was a short party gown with shimmering materials but the only thing that made her lose was that she didn't finish her creation on time.

Mr. jay walked to me, and before he could say anything everyone shouted 'yes' and I was stupefied to do anything, so I cried because I can see myself achieving my dreams, Mr jay and another guy walked to the stage with the contract, so I signed, and I thanked everyone who voted for me, I saw Leo smiling at me from the judges table and I smiled back.