Chapter 1

Chapter 1

Sara's Point of View

My hands wouldn't stop shaking. I stared at my reflection in the massive makeup mirror, barely recognizing myself under the artistic swirls of color the makeup artist had created. Music thumped through the studio walls while assistants rushed back and forth, their voices a blur of instructions and demands.

"Five minutes!" someone shouted.

My stomach lurched. Five minutes until my first major campaign shoot for Lumineux Cosmetics. Five minutes until I either proved Josh right for believing in me or crashed and burned spectacularly.

Josh. I caught a glimpse of him in the mirror's reflection, talking with the photographer near the set. He looked perfectly calm in his tailored suit, completely in his element as he discussed lighting and angles. How did he do that? How did he make everything seem so easy?

"Darling, stop fidgeting," Marco, the makeup artist, scolded gently. "You'll smudge my masterpiece."

"Sorry," I mumbled, forcing my hands to stay still in my lap. The silk robe they'd given me whispered against my skin, reminding me of the barely-there designer dress waiting on the rack.

A familiar squeal pierced through the studio chaos. "Aunty Sara!"

I turned to see Mia racing toward me, her dark curls bouncing, with Eva hurrying behind her. My heart lifted at the sight of my five-year-old niece.

"Careful, sweetie," Eva called out. "Remember what we talked about? This is Aunty Sara's workplace."

Mia skidded to a stop just short of crashing into my chair. "You look like a fairy princess!" she declared, eyes wide with wonder.

I laughed, some of my nervousness melting away. "Thank your great-grandmother for that. She insisted on having Marco do my makeup."

"Darling, when Helena Sinclair requests my services, I drop everything," Marco winked. "Besides, you're a natural canvas. Those cheekbones! That skin! Criminal to hide them under drugstore makeup."

The word 'criminal' made my smile falter slightly. Even now, months after my parents' imprisonment, certain words could still cut deep.

Eva must have noticed because she quickly changed the subject. "The boys wanted to come too, but they're with Max at their karate lesson. They made me promise to take lots of pictures."

"Miss Sara?" A production assistant appeared at my side. "We're ready for you."

My stomach clenched again. Eva squeezed my hand. "You've got this."

I stood on shaky legs, letting the assistants guide me to the changing area. The dress they'd chosen was a masterpiece of flowing silk in shades of midnight blue, designed to make me look like I'd just emerged from some mystical pool.

As they helped me into it, I heard more familiar voices joining the studio chaos. James, Leo, and Sam had arrived with Max, their excited chatter filling the space.

"Is Aunty Sara a real model now?"

"Can we be in the pictures too?"

"Dad, look at all the lights!"

Their innocent enthusiasm made me smile despite my nerves. This was why I was doing this. To build something of my own, to be more than just the daughter of criminals.

The dress settled around me like water. Marco made final touches to my makeup while another artist arranged my hair in artful waves.

"Beautiful," a quiet voice said from behind me.

I turned to find Josh watching me, his expression making my heart skip. For a moment, our eyes met in the mirror, and something electric passed between us before he quickly looked away.

"The photographer's ready," he said professionally, all business again. "Remember what we practiced. Just be natural, let the camera capture who you really are."

Who I really am. If only I knew for sure myself.

The set looked like something from a fairy tale. Soft lights created the illusion of moonlight, while artificial mist swirled around delicate flowers and crystal-clear pools.

"Places everyone!" The photographer, Antoine, clapped his hands. "Sara, darling, let's create magic!"

I stepped onto the set, trying to remember everything from my training. Posture straight but not stiff. Chin slightly down. Eyes alive.

"That's it," Antoine encouraged as his camera began clicking. "Give me mystery. Give me dreams. You're a goddess emerging from her secret garden."

The quadruplets watched in fascinated silence, for once staying perfectly still. Eva beamed with pride while Max recorded everything on his phone.

And Josh... Josh never took his eyes off me.

Maybe that's what gave me courage. With each click of the camera, I felt my confidence grow. The nervousness transformed into energy, flowing through me like the silk of my dress.

"Magnificent!" Antoine exclaimed. "Now move to the pool. Let the dress trail in the water."

I did as instructed, feeling more graceful with each step. The water was cool against my skin, making the dress swirl like ink in moonlight.

"Perfect!" Antoine's camera clicked rapidly. "You're a natural, my dear. Born for this!"

Born for this. Not born to be like my parents. Not born to continue their legacy of darkness. Born to create beauty instead.

Hours passed like minutes. The quadruplets eventually curled up on a sofa in the corner, all four sound asleep. Eva and Max had to leave for a business meeting, but promised to return.

Only Josh stayed, watching every shot, handling every detail so I could focus entirely on the camera.

Finally, Antoine lowered his camera. "That's a wrap, people! Sara, darling, you were magnificent. The campaign will be stunning!"

The studio burst into applause. I stood there in my wet dress, hardly believing it was real. I'd done it. My first major campaign, and I hadn't failed.

As the crew began packing up, Josh approached with a warm robe. "You were amazing," he said softly, wrapping it around my shoulders.

Our fingers brushed as he fastened the belt, sending tingles up my arm. I looked up to thank him, but the words caught in my throat when I saw the pride and something else, something deeper, in his eyes.

The moment stretched between us, full of unspoken things. Then someone called his name, breaking the spell. He stepped back quickly, professional mask sliding back into place.

"Get changed," he said. "We'll talk about the next shoots over dinner."

I watched him walk away, my skin still tingling where he'd touched me. What was this thing between us? And more importantly, what was I going to do about it?

The studio lights dimmed one by one as the crew packed up. I stood there a moment longer, savoring the victory of the day while trying to ignore the way my heart raced whenever I thought of Josh's eyes on me.

One challenge conquered. But something told me the biggest challenges still lay ahead.