Those who are lost then found

The chatter of over a dozen women filled the conference room we were in. 16 women, all young and sexy, wearing nothing but the most exquisite and tantalizing lingerie underneath white fluffy robes. Each one had their makeup and hair done as if we were going to be walking down a runway to strut the latest trend in the fashion world.

I, Roxxy, was of course one of those women.

I was called in by my agency yesterday to inform me that I have been chosen to be one of the models who would be walking down the runway for Victoria's Secret for their yearly fashion show. An incredible honor, one only a handful of models ever received. And those that do have seen their careers skyrocket in both success and popularity.

I look around the room, every single one of us here, hungry for success and fame. But most of all, everyone wants to bag a rich man while we are still young. I admit, even I am no exception. Many times, I have used my looks to get my way, both in work and life. And the current topic of everyone's conversation was exactly that.

'Using what we have to land a whale,' as it were.

According to my agent, we were called in today so we can try on the jewelry that we will be wearing on the runway at the event. A normal occurrence in our line of work, and something that shouldn't have been a big news for any of us. But, listening to the chatter all around the room, you'd know that this meeting was anything but ordinary.

The reason behind the excitement was the company that was coming.

Celestial Creations

The jewelry brand has taken the fashion world by storm with their unique and exquisite designs. Every piece from them can be compared to masterpieces that only royalty wears. Every single one of their products costs tens to hundreds of thousands of dollars. Everyone who's anyone, from celebrities to politicians, is clamoring for one of their designs.

I've even heard that to commission a piece from them would take almost a year just to book a meeting.

That is how popular they are.

I smiled as I heard some of the things the other models are saying about the people we are waiting for. The people from Celestial Creations are coming here to assign which of us will wear their designs.

"I heard the owner is very rich!"

"Of course he's rich! Have you seen the interview with Ryan Reynolds? He said it cost him close to 100k when he ordered a custom necklace for Blake! And that's with a discount!"

One conversation went, the two models by the corner of the room talked, huddled together. Their hair is being done by a couple of assistants.

"Do you think he's single?"

"Does it matter? I'll still try my luck!"

Said one of the more slutty ones among us here, that one is known for hooking up with high-profile men and has even been linked with a married CEO who is now going through a divorce.

I shake my head at the things I've heard, though to be honest. I too would like to try my luck. I am confident enough in my looks; I'm sure I could seduce whoever the owner is if I put my mind to it. We don't have to end up marrying, or we could keep it casual.

"What if he's ugly? Or fat?" I heard one girl say. I turn to a group of three sitting in front of a mirror; like everyone else, they were discussing the possibility of getting with the owner of Celestial Creations. "And? Does it matter if he is?" one of them replied. "I can always convince him to hide the fact that we are together!" reasoned one of them.

I scoffed at her words; that was such a vile thing to do. To attempt to get into a relationship with a rich person but deny it to the rest of the world. A classic user, gold digger move if I ever saw one. I mean, I am not above using my looks to get with someone for my personal benefit. But I would at least show that person a little bit of respect. Like admitting to the world that we are together.

The same was talked about all around the room for the next few minutes until the door slid open. All conversation ended, and everyone turned to look. The first to enter was the main project coordinator, Miss Jenna. She is the one in charge of contacting our agencies, meaning she's the one who we need to listen to the most. Unless one of the big bosses comes to take over or watch the show. Which they do, mostly to ogle us openly.

Miss Jenna entered, followed by two of her assistants, each carrying a laptop. They set it up on one of the tables and quickly began clicking on them. Miss Jenna clapped her hands twice, getting everyone's attention before speaking.

"Listen up! The people from Celestial Creations will be arriving any minute now! When they do, they will be calling you guys up one by one! You will remove your robes and allow them to study you closely!" She started announcing in a loud voice.

"I don't want to hear any complaints from any of you! Understood?" she asked, and we all nodded our heads. This was par for the course; every event starts with this, so we've gotten used to it. Just the standard disclosure announcement followed by the signing of a contract and NDA of sorts.

"Each of you will be presented with a couple of jewelry pieces to try on! They will decide who is going to wear what!" she added to everyone's excitement. It's not every day any of us get to wear jewelry that's worth hundreds of thousands of dollars, even if it's just for a short while. Unless we can convince the owner to gift them to us, something that's been done by others before.

It comes with a cost, though, and for some of these girls, the cost is worth paying for.

After saying her piece, Miss Jenna walked out of the room, leaving her assistants to their jobs. She didn't take long to return; after about 10 minutes, we heard her voice from the door, talking to someone. The door opened, and she walked in, followed by two beautiful women.

The first to follow Miss Jenna was a small woman wearing a sharp suit that fitted her body perfectly. Her hair was a curly mane that almost surrounded her face. She carried with her an air of authority, like she was used to commanding the respect of people. But her eyes were her most striking feature, gold in color and very intimidating.

The eyes of someone who knows what they are doing.

If she is the owner, then I wouldn't want to try my luck, even if I do swing that way, which I don't. I still wouldn't try, for my own safety.

The next one to enter was a woman who I recognize, Piper McLean. An up-and-coming model who is quickly becoming one of the most sought-after models in the industry. Her father, the actor Tristan Mclean, brought much attention to her name. Add that to her absolutely gorgeous looks and the fact that she is the exclusive model for Celestial Creations, and it ensured that she doesn't run out of modeling gigs.

She entered with a smile on her face as she scanned everyone in the room, probably gauging who among us will pose a threat to her position as the company's sole model.

She stood beside the smaller women, wrapping her hands on the other women's arms. I watched her lean down and whisper something in her ear before the two giggled together like high school girls.

"I heard that Piper will be walking the runway with us," Nikki, someone I have known since I started modeling and the closest friend I have in this industry, whispered to me. I leaned closer to her and replied. "Where did you hear that?"

"I went on a date with one of the execs last week; he slipped up at the hotel," she said, her voice low. I turned to her, incredulous and also a bit envious. She just shrugged in reply to my silent question. I turned back to the door when I heard the sound of heavy footsteps. I saw Piper and the smaller women turn to the door with smiles on their faces.

I immediately knew the one coming was the boss, the one who owned Celestial Creations. I waited to see if any of the rumors about him were true, if he is fat and ugly. If he is old and bald and other such nonsense. I was ready for whatever I was going to see, but what entered the room was not something I was expecting.

What entered the room was the most handsome man I have ever seen.

Tall and muscled, but not in a 'I spend all my time in the gym' kind but the 'I can fuck you up real bad if I wanted to' kind of way. The white shirt he was wearing clung to his body like a second skin, showing the contours of his chiseled chest and abs. The short sleeves seem like they were on the verge of ripping apart if he flexed his arms a little bit.

The muscles on his arms seem like they could manhandle any woman into any position he wanted with ease. The veins running along his arms made me want to trace them with my tongue.

His pants, dark in color, failed to hide whatever it was he was hiding underneath them. The obvious bulge on his crotch drew the attention of most of the girls here. Whatever he was packing in there, I wanted to take part in.

He stepped into the room, and immediately, he was in control; he was the one in command. And all of us in here were expected to obey, no questions asked. Such was the aura he exuded. Like there was no use trying to fight him, it was better to submit to him and enjoy whatever he had planned for you.

I turned my gaze to his face and really studied his features. Sharp jawline and a tall nose, lashes that very women in here would be envious of. Luscious lips that I wanted to feel on my skin. And his eyes, God, his eyes. Green like the sea on a clear sunny day. I could drown in them if I stared any longer, but I couldn't look away.

His eyes scanned the room, taking in everyone with an easy smile on his lips. A smile that promised a mischievous and fun-filled time spent with him. Our eyes met, and I was captured by the intensity of his gaze. I felt like I was naked in front of him, and he was a predator, studying his prey. I felt a shiver run through me, and for a brief moment, I considered leaving, running away. But my body betrayed my mind. It wanted to stay; it wanted to see what this hunter would do to me.

Our brief contact was cut as he turned to the others before finally going to Miss Jenna with a nod. I exhaled the breath I didn't know I was holding, and I felt like everyone felt like I did. I saw Miss Jenna swallow before she started introducing the newcomers to us, and when she did, her breath was heavy, and I knew she was just as affected as we all are.

"Everyone! I'd like you all to meet the people from Celestial Creations!" She started, gesturing to the smaller of the two women. "Miss Hazel, she's in charge of the administrative work." Hazel smiled and nodded at us. Miss Jenna followed up with Piper, even though we already know who she is, or at least most of us do. "I think we all know who she is, but Piper McLean is the official model of Celestial Creations!" Piper waved her hands, her smile beaming, and I didn't know why, but it was only now that I noticed her eyes, a kaleidoscope of colors that seemed to swirl and mix.

It was fascinating.

"She is also part owner of their company!" That reveal shocked me and most of us, though I think it made sense, with her father being who he is. It wouldn't really be a surprise to know that she is loaded and can invest in a company like Celestial Creations.

Finally, Miss Jenna turned to the only man in the room—well, not really the only man. Two guys followed him in when he entered, pushing a cart laden with boxes. They are currently setting up and folding a table at a corner of the room, but the presence of the dark-haired, green-eyed man in front of us rendered them almost undetectable.

That was how much pull his presence had, and I felt bad for any other man in the room with him. They simply couldn't compare to him in any way.

"And this gentleman is the owner and the one who creates and designs the pieces of jewelry you girls will be wearing," Miss Jenna started, gesturing to the man who is looking at us confidently. Before she could continue, though, the man stepped forward and introduced himself with a heart-stopping smile.

"Hello everyone! My name is Percy. I'm excited to work with all of you!" His voice was clear. A voice of a man in control. It had that gravelly tone in it that just vibrated within me, making me and many others, I'm sure, shiver in delight and anticipation. It made me wonder how he would sound in bed.

"Mr. Percy Jackson has brought over a few of his finest creations for you girls to try on." Miss Jenna continued as Percy stepped back, allowing her to explain the plan for today. Immediately, he was flanked by Piper and Miss Hazel on both sides. Piper held his left arm tightly, in a way that left no room for doubt.

'So they are dating!'

Seeing that possessive gesture made me pause in my plans to try my luck with him. Comparing Piper to myself, she was prettier, with a better body. She was richer too, and she seems to be very close to him. Obviously, by the way she is clinging to him right now. But I was not just talking about in the physical sense. The way they are talking, how he seems to be fully focused on her as she is speaking to him. The way he looks at her, like she is all that matters.

I don't think I could get in the way of the two of them if that is how he feels for her. And based on the way Piper is acting, it seems like she feels the same way.

They are in love, deeply at that.

While I am all for fighting for what you want, I am not the type to destroy a relationship just because I am physically attracted to a person.

I was brought back to the present by Miss Jenna continuing her speech. "You girls will be called one by one, and they will be handing over a few pieces that you will try on. Like I said earlier, they have the final say on what you will end up wearing! No complaining! No asking to try on different things! Understood?" She nodded, seeing all of us understanding her point.

"We'll start in five minutes." She turned to Hazel, and they started talking while the rest of us finished up preparing. It didn't take long until we were all ready, and the try one started. The excitement we felt earlier for trying on very expensive jewelry came back, and I looked forward to seeing what I would be assigned to wear for the show.

I still remember the first time I saw a piece from Celestial Creation. A post on Instagram showing a necklace of silver, inlaid with blue and white diamonds. I was stunned; it was so perfect I wanted it around my neck. I couldn't afford it, though, so wearing it remained a dream. Now, I have a chance of donning something just as exquisite as that, or something even better.

Soon, the try-on started, and the first of us was called. I watched as she stood in front of Percy, removing her robe in a sensual way. Her intent was clear to everybody who was watching. I turned and looked at Percy to see his reaction and saw him stare at her, but not in a way that showed he was attracted to her, no. It was as if he was studying her like a project that needed to be finished. A problem that needed to be solved.

Piper stood by his side, and the two of them murmured together until Percy went to the table and opened one of the boxes on the table. From it he took a gold necklace studded with rubies of all shapes and sizes. At the center was a very large ruby half the size of my fist. The piece glittered against the light, and I heard the model gasp in wonder along with a few others.

Percy went around her and put it on her himself before walking around, studying her. The model was wearing a red satin pair of lingerie, symbolizing Valentine's, as she was assigned by the company. The red rubies complement her outfit perfectly. I saw Percy nod, happy with the result when Hazel came to him, passing a smaller box. From the box came a pair of earrings, with matching rubies dangling from the white diamond stud.

She put it on, and Piper pushed her on the only full-length mirror in the room. The model was told to turn, and the three of them, together with Miss Jenna, watched for a few seconds until Percy declared that she was done. Hazel took the pieces back and placed them in a container, which she handed to one of Miss Jenna's assistants, who labeled it with the model's name before placing it on another table.

The model wrapped her robe around herself while thanking Percy quite enthusiastically. Despite her efforts, though, Percy remained unmoved and simply smiled at her before calling on the next model.

Another model came up to him, and the same thing happened as she tried on whatever Percy decided for her to try. It took a few tries for him to find what suited her best. Miss Jenna's assistants noted and stored the jewelry pieces, and another model was called. This went on, and 5 models were called before Nikki, who was sitting next to me, was called.

She turned to me with an excited grin on her face before stepping up to Percy. I kept my eyes on her as she dropped her robe to reveal her baby pink lingerie underneath. At 6 feet 2 inches, Nikki is one of the taller girls around and will be even taller when wearing heels, which she is doing now. She cut a gorgeous figure just standing there in front of Percy as he walked around her, eyes roaming all over her body.

She turned around as directed, and I saw a faint blush on her face, which surprised me a little. Nikki wasn't the shy kind of woman; she was confident and brave. And I have never known her to be bashful in front of men. She was direct with what or who she wanted, and she often goes for the men she is interested in in a straightforward manner.

But looking at her now, her face slightly red, staring at Percy, her eyes follow him like a lovestruck puppy.

I watched as she was given a number of pieces to try on, including a bejeweled belt. The belt was studded with countless gems of red, blue, and pink and hugged her waist perfectly. It complemented her lingerie perfectly, along with the gold chain necklace with a large pendant inlaid with a pink gem, a diamond, I think.

Now I don't know much about diamonds and gems in general. But I at least know that pink diamonds were rare. And right now, a large one is dangling from my friend's neck, nestled between her breast. I heard her gasp when she was made to face the mirror. Seeing and hearing her reaction made me excited for when it will be my turn. Nikki turned and stared at her reflection some more before Percy nodded in approval. Like the others before her, she took off the pieces, and they were stored as well.

The smile on her face never left as she sat down next to me again, her happiness palpable. "He's even more handsome up close!" She gushed quietly as soon as she sat down. I stared at my friend, the one who just minutes ago confessed to going on a date with an executive, acting like a teenager who just spoke to her crush for the first time. "Calm down! You're acting like a kid!" I whispered back, patting her arm.

"You don't get it Roxxy! He's…" She let out a heavy sigh before continuing. "He's perfect! Even the way he smells is sooo sexy!" She followed up dreamily. I just stared at her in confusion and curiosity. Nikki was still staring intently at Percy even as another model was trying on another batch. I stayed quiet as I waited for my turn, my heart beating a bit faster from anticipation of how I would react to him.

It was another two models before I was called; I stood from my seat and walked to them as gracefully as I could. Percy's gaze was upon me the moment I started walking, and I felt the intensity of his gaze immediately. He looked at me as if I were prey, studying me closely, looking for the easiest way to bring me down.

Only instead of feeling afraid, I felt a shiver of desire shoot through my spine. My breath hitched as I came closer to him, and I finally saw his sea-green eyes taking me in. Slowly, I shrugged off my robe and showed him what I was wearing underneath.

I moved with the sensuality of a woman exposing herself to her lover for the very first time. The excitement and anticipation made my heart beat wildly in my chest. I should have been used to this by now, but I was feeling and acting as if it was the first time I was doing this all over again. And it wasn't even the most that I have done for a modeling gig! At least I was wearing lingerie right now; in the past, I had to audition in the nude!

I handed the robe to one of Miss Jenna's assistants and stood before the most beautiful man I have ever laid my eyes on and waited for his verdict.

"You can relax; I don't bite," perhaps noticing my nervousness, Percy joked as he stood by my side. He tilted his head, staring at the head and neck area. I heard a scoff from Piper followed by a giggle from Hazel, which I choose to ignore for my benefit. Otherwise, my imagination might just take a more carnal turn, staring at the very man who is right now closely looking at my lace-covered breast.

"Hmm." Just him humming had me shivering; his tone had that gravelly tone in it and scratched a part of my brain that usually reacts to men when they speak after just waking up. And it made me add to my imaginations that are running rampant in my head, the image of him just waking up in my bed, beside me after a night of passion, wild passion.

I had to squeeze my thighs together and pray to God he doesn't notice how turned on I am right now. He walked around me then, as if mocking my prayers. I closed my eyes and hoped he didn't notice anything from the thin string of my underwear.

"I really like this color; it's my favorite, you know." He said from behind me, his voice just a whisper, but it still brought a shiver through me, as if he just muttered it against my skin. "It really suits you!" He added, and I almost risked it all, biting my lower lip to stop the moan that almost made it out of my mouth.

'How could he have this kind of effect on me? I just met him today' I thought to myself as he stepped back in front of me. The way he was tilting his head as he thought of what to make me wear made me think of a different scenario. One where he is thinking of what he is going to make me wear, only the choice is not among jewelry but rather something else. Something he is going to have so much fun removing from my body.

Deciding to throw caution to the wind, I took a deep breath and began to talk with Percy. Well, flirting really.

"Maybe they made me wear this specially for you," I said in a small voice, looking at his eyes with a slight smile. I felt him pause, clearly derailed from his thoughts, and I felt a little bit silly for what I just did. His eyes bore down on mine as I squirmed from his stare. Slowly, a wolfish grin blossomed on his lips, as if he is enjoying my reaction to his attention on me.

He came closer, close enough for me to feel the heat from his body, and I held my breath. My skin burned when he brushed my hair from my shoulders; his breath flitting through my ears brought a fresh wave of arousal so intense I almost grabbed him and made out with him right then and there.

He stepped back and held my eyes with his, his grin still in place, and all I wanted at that moment was to wipe it from his face. With my lips and some other part of my body.

"Maybe they did choose this for me..." His reply came slow and low, the sensual undertone undeniable. My knees grew weak, and I wanted to drop down to the floor, the perfect position for me for what I wanted to be doing for him. His eyes gleamed with mischief, one that promised enjoyment for me and him.

At that moment, I would have agreed to whatever he suggested to me. I would have done everything for him. Would have allowed him anything. I stared as I waited for what he was going to be doing next, and I was rewarded for my patience.

Just a little bit different from what I was envisioning.

"So, I am going to improve it, turn it, you, into something I would enjoy looking at very much!" Percy's eyes smoldered, and his lips turned into a predatory smile that had me quivering. He turned to the table and dug around for a bit until he came up with a larger box than the ones he chose for the others.

With his back turned to me, he opened the box and pulled something from it that made Miss Jenna and her 2 assistant's eyes widen. I waited, holding my breath to see what he had chosen for me. And when he did, it made my eyes almost pop out of their sockets with what I saw he was holding with both hands.

Silver chains glittered in the light, crisscrossing each other. Each strand is laden with small gems and stones of all kinds and colors. And at the center, where all the strings meet, a large blue stone shone, surrounded by smaller gems. The entire thing was exquisite, like something an ancient princess would wear. Just thinking of the cost of this piece made my head hurt.

And Percy is offering it to me for me to wear.

"Let's see if this will make you more appealing to me." His words carried with them a barely disguised fascination. He stepped closer and lifted the piece above my head, making me duck down. He lowered it slowly until some of the straps settled over my shoulders. I felt its weight as it hung on me; it was quite heavy as expected due to the number of gems and the amount of metal it had.

His words and proximity made my face burn, and I squirmed where I stood as he went behind me. "Lets see,." he murmured from behind me as I felt the bejeweled piece tighten around my waist. I could feel the stares of everyone in the room on me as he walked around me, his fingers trailing over the skin of my waist, his touch burning a path where his fingertips had been.

I was sure my eyes were reflecting the arousal he made me feel with those few simple words and touches, and yet he ignored me and stared at my body. His gaze was intense yet playful as he studied his creation, which at the moment I was wearing.

"Hmmm."

Tilting his head in that cute and endearing way that almost made me grab his head and pull him in for a heated kiss. "Better, but something is missing." He mused; the frown between his brows made me want to kiss it away. I clasped my hands behind me to stop any impulsive action I might have taken, though that action of mine did cause my breast to jut outward, as if I was presenting them to him. Which, in a sense, I was.

My eyes followed Percy as he went back to the table, rummaging for a bit until he came back with a smaller box. Inside were a couple of bangles, solid gold, thick, and heavy-looking. There were 4 of them, and each was imbedded with red and blue gems, perfectly complementing the net I was wearing.

Taking my hands one at a time, Percy places the bangles in place. One on my upper arm and one on my forearm. Each piece reflected the light in such a way that shows how high the quality of the works is.

Percy stood back after he was done, a smile on his lips and a satisfied look in his eyes. He twirled his fingers at me, indicating for me to turn. And I did, turning in a circle in front of him. Showing him his work, presenting him all of me. And if he wanted, I would have shown him absolutely everything.

His smile grew wider as I finished my turn; he again stood behind me and, with his hands on my shoulder, turned me towards the mirror.

"Perfect! Like a queen from ancient times!!" The view I saw took my breath away; I never ever thought I would look like this one day. Ethereal, that was the word that kept ringing in my mind as I stared at my reflection. The glittering of the jewelry pieces Percy chose for me made me look like I am a goddess, shining from within. I turned my body, and it brought a tinkling sound to softly emanate from me, like a fairy.

With excitement, affection, and arousal filling my chest, I locked eyes with Percy's reflection. I was about to turn and really offer a night, a week, to him. His stare and his easy smile made me think of really pursuing him, not just for a hookup, but for a relationship. I opened my mouth, about to invite him to dinner, when blazing eyes caught my attention.

Just to the right of Percy, a pair of blazing, multi-colored eyes glared at me. The intensity of its stare stopped me from acting on what I planned to do. Those eyes promised pain and anguish if I went with my plan.

The heat I was feeling from earlier was dashed with a coldness from that glare. I knew there was no doubt that I would have suffered retribution from the owner of those eyes if I had invited Percy out.

I suddenly found myself gulping down the words I was going to say. Nervously, I looked back to Percy, who was still smiling at me, oblivious to the anger that was building in one of the women he came with. Slowly, I turned back and came to face him again.

"It really is beautiful! Thank you for choosing for me!" I told him, my tone now more subdued than earlier. I was still feeling the attraction I felt earlier, but I was no longer feeling the urge to act on it. The excitement was still there, but it was for the chance of wearing such exquisite jewelry, not about being able to spend the night with a man such as him.

Percy tilted his head, no doubt noticing the change in my behavior. He took a minute to study me, then he glanced at the mirror behind me and smiled softly. He must have also noticed the glare I was getting from Piper and decided it wasn't worth the trouble, that I wasn't worth the potential fight. Just that fact made me more than sure that the two of them are together. No need to ask them to listen to other rumors.

Piper's anger and possessiveness were proof already; add to that the way Percy now looked at me apologetically. Well, if he isn't with Piper, then I am not a model. Even a blind person would have noticed it by now. And I don't need any trouble coming my way; a rumor like the one I managed to avoid could have been bad for my career.

Percy nodded at my words, indicating that he understood the meaning behind them. "I'm glad it turned out great! I'm sure you'll shine most brightly on the runway!" He praised me as he stepped back, took the small box, and came before me again. He started to take off the bangles, carefully now and avoiding the touches he was giving me earlier. He placed them in the box and passed it on to Miss Jenna's assistants.

All throughout the two of us removing the pieces I was wearing, I could still see the glare from Piper. It put me on edge, and all I wanted at the moment was to go back to my seat and somehow be forgotten by her.

With the last piece now removed, I looked at Percy and smiled at him. He smiled back, and I turned and walked back to my seat. Nikki welcomed me back with a grin on her face. As soon as I sat down, she began asking me all kinds of questions.

"So? Was I right?" She asked right next to me, like we were back in school, sharing gossip about boys. "Yes, Nikki! He is very handsome," I replied, just to get her off my case. I watched as someone else was called forward and saw that, like me, the girl almost reacted the same way I did to Percy. The allure and attraction he held over us was not just something I felt. Slowly, I turned to Piper to see how she was reacting to the new girl being dressed up by her man.

I almost jumped out of my seat when I found that Piper was still staring at me; only now, Hazel, the other woman from Celestial Creations, joined her in staring and studying me.

"They're both looking at you now!" Nikki whispered, noticing the same thing. I gulped and didn't reply. I had to do something, anything, to get them off my back. I really didn't want to get on their bad sides. Unlike them, I couldn't afford to make any enemies in this industry. Steeling myself, I made up my mind to approach Piper later to apologize and promise that I will never get between her and her man. As tempting as that idea is.

The rest of the day went by with no more incidents like mine. Every single one of us got assigned pieces we were going to wear on the runway, and we were all very happy with the choices made for us, including me. The chatter started back up as we finished up, and I kept my eyes on Piper as Miss Jenna talked with Percy and Hazel. Taking a deep breath, I stood and approached Piper, intent on clearing the air between us.

Piper turned to me the moment I was a few steps away. I saw her brows raised as she waited for me; her eyes still had that glint in them, and I got the impression that she was curious about what I was about to do. I noticed Nikki following me but keeping a few steps between us, maybe for support or just to listen to what I was going to say to Piper. I don't know, but I appreciated her presence anyway.

I noticed a few more looking at me, but I ignored everyone. Piper was standing in front of me now and waiting with her arms crossed. Taking the initiative, I held out my hands and introduced myself, as was proper.

"Hi! I'm Nikki! Pleasure to meet you!" I greeted in a friendly voice, telling her I am not here to fight or cause trouble. Piper looked at me, then at my hand, before grasping it firmly. Her hand was surprisingly rough to the touch, like the hand of someone who is used to using her hands a lot. Maybe she plays a lot of sports, tennis maybe? I thought as we shook hands.

"Hello, Nikki! What brings you here?" She asked, tilting her head and staring straight at me. Her eyes were unnerving, and I found myself just blurting out the reason. I wanted to make small talk first, but I guess I was more nervous than I thought. "Look, I just wanted to apologize for how I acted with Percy earlier," I started, my voice low enough so only she could hear. "I didn't know he was your boyfriend."

"Fiancé, Percy is my fiancé."

Piper cut me off with a raised hand. Her words caught me off guard. Though it did make me understand why she reacted the way she did when I started flirting with Percy. He wasn't just her man; he was going to be her husband. I totally get it now; I, too, would have reacted like she did. Especially with a man such as Percy, I would have to be very vigilant with females that come around him.

I watched as Piper glanced at her left hand, at the ring finger and the massive stone on her finger. I could see and feel the love she had for Percy as she stared at her ring. I couldn't help but envy her at the moment; she got with a great guy, it seems, just based on his looks and financial situation. Not that Piper would need to be reliant on Percy; she's rich on her own due to her father being who he is.

She shook herself mentally and got back on topic.

"Congratulations! I'm happy for the two of you!" I told her, and she smiled at me, her smile beaming with the happiness I was sure she was feeling. "Thanks! Though I'm sure that's not all you wanted to say when you came here," was the reply I got, and once again, I found myself just saying what was on my mind. It was like she was pulling my thoughts out of my head, regardless of what I intended to do initially.

"I really just wanted to say I'm sorry for flirting with Percy; I really didn't know what came over me earlier!" She scoffed at my words, and I looked at her. "Yes, you do; you couldn't stop yourself. You were attracted enough to Percy that you didn't think; you just acted." I looked down, her words hitting the truth of what I had done.

"But I'm not really angry at you. I was irritated that you had the audacity to do it right in front of us, but I was not mad." I looked up abruptly, shocked by her words. She was looking at me with a teasing smile that took me aback, and I didn't know how to react to her words. I mean, I know and understand what she meant; even I would have been irritated if a woman flirted with my boyfriend blatantly in front of me. But I would also be angry and mad, like really mad.

"You're not?" I asked, just to be sure. I could feel Nikki listening closely from behind me, and I wanted to tell her to leave, but Piper answered before I could do it.

"No, I'm not," she answered, shaking her head. "And you're more than welcome to try and get with him again!" I just gawked at her, trying to see if she was teasing or serious. And even though she was smiling, her eyes were serious. Did she really mean to give me the go-ahead to flirt with her man, or is she that sure of his loyalty to her? Did she never even entertain the thought or possibility that with her words, I might take Percy away from her?

"Are you serious?"

I found myself asking, only for her to nod. With more questions now, I asked her why. "Are you not afraid to lose Percy?" Her answer to my question really sent me over the edge. It was so out of the norm and was not what I was expecting.

"Just because Percy hooks up with another woman doesn't mean I'm going to lose him." How could she think like that? I saw Piper look around, then she reached for my arm and led me to a corner of the room. "I don't understand. You two are engaged, right?" I asked, wanting to know what she means and also a little bit curious.

'What if I still have a chance? ' was the thought that is loudest in my mind.

"See Hazel right there?" Piper pointed to the smaller woman she came with. I turned to look and saw her talking with Percy, her hands on his arm, holding it possessively. She was looking up at him, and I saw something I recognized in her eyes. My eyes widened with the realization, "She's in love with Percy!" I gasped, but my voice was low. I turned to Piper immediately, afraid that she might run over to Hazel and start a fight.

Instead of anger or sadness, all I saw from Piper was a beaming smile and a look of love and happiness. Again, I was lost on how to feel; what I was expecting didn't happen, and more questions filled my mind. She turned back to me, still smiling. "Hazel and I were both in love with Percy." She confirmed what I just witnessed, but her acceptance of another woman being in love with her fiancé was still a question in my mind.

Unless

I waited for her to continue, and she did.

"And the two of us are with Percy." There it was. The reason for her calmness. The three of them are together, romantically and physically, I'm sure. I had heard of this kind of setup before, but I didn't think I would meet someone living that kind of lifestyle.

"So, you're in an open relationship with them," I said, thinking I got the gist of things, but I was cut off immediately. Piper shook her head and clarified things for me. "No, we're not!" she said, but if they are not in an open relationship, then how is she okay with Percy being with another woman aside from her?

"Then how are you okay with that?" I asked, gesturing to Hazel and Percy. She gave me a smile before replying. "I'm okay because Hazel also loves Percy, and I love Percy so much to risk not being with him!"

"But how does that work? He's with you two, and the two of you are with him?" I was really curious now; it was fascinating to know that such a dynamic exists.

"Yes, basically. And it's okay with you and Hazel if he hooks up with another woman?" I asked, clearing things up for the most important detail, the thing I wanted to know the most. "For the most part, though, ever since I got with Percy, he's never been anybody else, aside from Hazel and a few others," Piper answered with a shrug of her shoulders. That surprised me.

"There are others? Aside from you and Hazel?"

Things are getting more and more surreal; the more I learn, the more I am both baffled and mesmerized by the dynamic that they have. Multiple women with one man! Granted, he was one fine man, but still. It was definitely not normal.

"I was the last to get into a relationship with Percy; before me, there was Hazel, and before her, there were three other women." I was speechless; the things Piper has been sharing both shocked and tantalized me. The openness she had for such things. It was a new thing for me. Granted, I am a very territorial person, especially to my chosen partner. But what she is telling me is piquing my interest.

"Wow! That is so bizarre!" I told Piper honestly. She grinned in return, knowing that what she has is not the normal kind of relationship.

"And you? How many men are you with aside from Percy?" I asked, curious about her side of things.

Piper's smile was still the same, but the answer I got was not what I was expecting. With a quick shake of her head, she denied being with anyone other than Percy.

"No one, I am only with Percy."

I gaped at her words, then I felt bad for her. It doesn't seem fair for her to not be able to do the same as Percy. "What? Why? That doesn't seem fair! Don't tell me Percy is not allowing you to be with other guys..." I was ranting when I felt Piper grab my hand. I stopped talking to stare at her. The previous anger was present again in her eyes, and I was taken aback by that.

With a hard grip, she opened her mouth, and the words that came out made me reflect on what I actually know about their life, which is nothing at all. "I am not with any other men because I don't want any other man!" She hissed, her eyes blazing with anger, and I wanted to take a step back, but her hold on me was tight, and I found myself unable to move.

'She's stronger than she looks!' My mind acknowledged.

"Percy is the only one I want! So he's the only one I get to be with!" After that declaration, Piper lets me go. With a deep breath, she calmed down, and her anger quickly disappeared. "Besides, no other men can compare to him! If I am going to be with someone else, it'd have to be with someone better. And I believe finding someone better than Percy is simply impossible! For me at least!" Her words allowed me to peek into her mind. Her love for Percy was close to actual worship. I believed her when she said she would never be able to find some other men to be better than Percy.

"And Hazel is the same as me, as well as the other 3 women he's with!" She turned to look at Hazel, still talking to Percy, only now they are holding hands. It made me wonder what it is with Percy that made five women willingly be with him and for them to forgo other men. It made me very curious and made me want to take a chance. But could I accept such a setup?

Before I could even think of an answer, Piper began teasing me again. "So, you want to try and join us? We have cookies! Percy-flavored cookies, and I can promise they are delicious!" She wagged her brows at me with a wide grin. I felt myself blush from the meaning of her words. I must admit, it was very tempting, but I know myself as well as she knows herself. I am very selfish and don't share well with others. Curious as I may seem, I know I wouldn't thrive in such a life.

I returned her smile but shook my head. "As tempting as your offer is, I don't think I could live the way you guys do," I told her, a rare seriousness in my tone of voice. "I know myself; I am a very jealous person, so I already know I would be fighting with all of you girls for Percy if I joined, and that would just bring trouble into your peaceful life." Piper smiled, a warm, understanding smile.

Piper's smile as she listened to me turned softer, more genuine. Then she nodded at me with understanding shining from her eyes. "Very well, I thought someone new would be joining us." With one last shrug, Piper linked our arms and led me back to the others. This time, I could see Hazel and Miss Jenna talking while Percy was surrounded by 3 other models, all of them almost hanging off him. Their intention is obvious with how they are looking all over him.

"I think someone will still be joining you guys," I whispered to Piper, nodding towards the girls openly flirting with her fiancé. Piper smirked, then she let go of my arms and went towards her fiancé, swinging her hips along the way. I went back to my seat but kept watch as she snaked her arms around Percy's waist. Then I saw the 3 girls scamper off when Percy leaned down to kiss her on her head.

As soon as I was seated, Nikki started to bombard me with questions. She wanted to know what we talked about after we went to the corner. I just smiled at her and told her everything was fine now and that I was not in any trouble. She tried to pry for more gossip, but I didn't tell her anything else. Even without being told, I knew how sensitive what I learned about them was. And like I said, I didn't want anything that could affect my career negatively.

Spreading that kind of rumor would get me in very hot water. Not just with Percy and Piper, but with the industry in general. So my mouth is staying shut.

~Clap Clap Clap~

Miss Jenna clapped her hands, getting everyone's attention.

"Everyone! It looks like everyone has been assigned their pieces! That's good!" She looked at everyone, then at her assistants, who gave her a thumbs-up. Confirming that she was correct. "Before we end for today, I'd like for everyone to give a round of thanks to the people of Celestial Creations for their generosity!" Miss Jenna began clapping, followed by everyone.

I clapped along, really feeling the gratitude for them. Piper smiled along with Percy and Hazel, and I saw her look at me, and I smiled back. We stopped after a few seconds, and Percy stepped forward and gave us a short speech.

"Thank you, everyone! This has been a great experience for me and our company! I look forward to seeing each and every one of you on the runway in a month!" Percy said, a wide smile plastered on his face. "And the best model on that day will get to choose one piece from what she's wearing to take home for herself," Percy announced to the shock of everyone, including Miss Jenna, who is staring at him, at a loss for words.

No one talked for a few seconds until he walked back to Piper and Hazel. Then everyone started to buzz in conversation. "Did I hear that right?" Nikki asked, shaking my arm. I just nodded, keeping my eyes on Percy as he started to leave with Piper and Hazel on either arm. Just before they reached the door, Percy turned one more time, sweeping the room with his gaze until he stopped at me. Then, with a teasing smile, he winked at me before leaving and closing the door behind him.

I gaped at what he had just done; everyone saw him winking at me. And they also saw our interaction earlier.

"What was that?" Nikki asked, now demanding answers.

And I had nothing to give her.