Burning Passion

CHAPTER 60: THE SHOW (One) FULFILLING DREAM

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THE FASHION MONTH EVENT

Guests arrived and are now walking the Red Carpet, welcome by the assigned hosts.

Inside the Event Hall, Nikki guided a group of celebrities to their tables. She then asked if they needed anything. Fortunately, her floor manager experience helps her manage the stress of settling down the guests and assisting them with their requests.

Meanwhile, before the show begins, a group of a known bands is now playing on the stage. There are times they will introduce the new singers to sing with them to entertain the night.

And Nikki cannot take away her eyes from the buffet table. She sees a lot of yellow food displayed, which means they are all made from mangoes.

Sadly, she's only an usherette tonight. Now, it's been one hour and a half since she's running around facilitating the guests. She's not complaining, but she's craving for that mango cake she saw on the table. Still, they're waiting for the star models tonight, and one of them is Min Xi.

Speaking of Min Xi, finally, the stars of the night arrive and are walking the red carpet.

As for what everybody's expecting, Theo is her date who's too damn handsome tonight with his gray tuxedo. Pinching by jealousy, Nikki shook her head, and she was staring at the huge monitor screen placed in the stage's corner.

She has no right to get jealous, and she is just one of the hundreds of girls dreaming of having someone like him as a future husband. All the fans were waiting outside, screaming both Min Xi's and Theo's names, and everyone thought they were absolutely a perfect couple.

Later, after being flooded with photoshoots, the couple moves to where the host invited them for a brief interview. Every person in this Hall and the fans outside listening keenly to the couple's answer.

"Hello! What a splendid dress!" 

Min Xi is wearing a red halter backless short dress. Shows off those cream-white long legs, whose someone won't fall in love with Min Xi's beauty? Her long black hair rested on her back and wearing that perfect smile, her full red lips are one of her best assets. Her ticket to become an Ambassador for the famous Lip brand in New York.

"Undoubtedly, you are the Queen tonight!" the host compliments Min Xi.

"Hello, Tim."

"Hi, Min Xi! Quick question. How many children do you plan?"

Min Xi laughs like she was shy about the question.

"Oh, my god, Tim. You're making me blush." 

"Oh, this is from your fan's question! As we can see, you are a perfect factory of kids!"

"Wait, doesn't that mean producing too many children? You know, I have my career to take care of, but maybe three could do. Hm? How about it?"

Meanwhile, back to the Hall, someone laughs in a sarcastic tone. The nearby tables looked in her direction, and they found out it was the veteran actress who already received many awards in her showbiz career.

"Immature people these days are such a liar," she quoted.

Nikki heard as she was standing behind her.

"Like I didn't hear her saying once," she went on. "I'm afraid to get pregnant, and I don't want to get fat. Huh! Ridiculous!"

Those who heard stayed quiet. The one who throws criticism is an all-time award-winning actress. Many shocked registered to their faces but acted like they heard nothing. Anyway, this is the world they're living in. All is about a competition to the top and criticism from other artists.

'So, Min Xi doesn't want a child? Is this the reason Theo is too nice to me when he learns that I am pregnant?' Nikki thought. 'He cares for a woman bearing a child. But agreeing to Min Xi for not getting pregnant? He must love her that much.'

Her heart fills with jealousy, but like she always told herself, she has no right to have this feeling. Besides, that was their life. Whatever arrangements they would come up with, it's their choice of how they will live their life as a married couple.

As for her, she was happy to become a mother soon. Who doesn't want a child? She knows a lot of couples who badly pray to have children but never have even one child. By now, she focuses on her very own goal and dreams. She fought for her mother's life, and to bring another life into this world is a fulfilling dream for her.

Nikki came back to her senses when the Hall filled with applause. Theo and Min Xi are now entering the entrance. The media who were allowed to cover the event inside the Hall could not get enough to take as many photos of the couple.

However, Theo seems uncomfortable. Most of the time, he is casually stepping away from Min Xi whose busied doing her pose in front of the camera, but then she'll throw her body toward Theo and take more poses.

Poor Theo will either turn to his side or nod at the guest he spotted on the nearby table to avoid the camera focusing on him.

"Enough, Min Xi," he whispered to her.

However, Min Xi trained herself to act. She giggles, like Theo, whispering sweet words into her ears, and it was everyone's assumption.

"Tsk! Faking it." Critic by the same actress who commented on Min Xi's interview just a while ago.

Nikki, whose heart was wrenched in jealousy; she's confused about why this actress made criticisms against Min Xi. She wonders if the two were in a war, like a lot of cases between celebrities. Is she meant to say that Theo and Min Xi are more like an act as sweet in front of everyone? 

Theo surely looks stiff and looks uncomfortable. But he seems not like this public display thing. 

Nikki turned away, strode toward a corner as she could not breathe. It seems the crowd is suffocating her. She steps toward the table and asks for cold water to drink. She finishes two full glasses in a row. She was this thirsty. Or maybe because of her pregnancy? It must be.

Nikki inhales, hoping she won't faint later.

Moving to the highlights for tonight's event, all the models and supermodels are now preparing for their walk. Theo escorted Min Xi toward her dressing room.

"Everyone, out," he said calmly. Quickly, everyone went out, except for Min Xi's manager.

Theo stays facing the wall and heaves a furious sigh. He turned around, the anger plastered to his face.

Striding toward her, Min Xi takes another step. 

"Do that again!" Theo just controlled his voice to not heard outside.

"Why? Because she is watching?" Min Xi tried to sneer at him. "Huh!"

She wanted to scream, but this was not the right place and the right time to do that.

"Master Shang, can we focus on the show for now? It will start in a few minutes. Min Xi needed to prepare for—"

The manager stammered to his words. Theo glared at him, so he shut up and took a seat in the corner. Once again, Theo flashes a glare at Min Xi.

"You like Fame? Go ahead! This is your night! But mind your place!" Theo said it firmly before he turned away. He heaves another furious sigh to calm himself and hide his furious grimace.

* * *

Back to the Event Hall. Nikki continues assisting the guests. Miss Mina approached her and brought her to the buffet table.

"Nikki, someone requested to bring some food toward a dressing room. Kindly bring them over? You were the one that asked to send them over."

"Okay, Miss Mina." She quickly took the tray and headed backstage.

Miss Nina told her which room, but she couldn't find it. She asked a staff member but then pointed out the outside dressing rooms.

Nikki trailed the hallway where she was told to follow. She began suspecting it was a prank because the corridor was empty, and no one was walking around at this part of the Castle. She kept going, and finally, she found the room.

She knocked and waited for the door to open. 

"Hi! I was here to deliver the food."

"Oh, thank you. Can you place them inside? I will call the boss that the food is here. Can you watch it for a minute?"

"Huh? Oh, okay. No problem."

The woman leaves, and Nikki is left alone inside the dressing room. What with this room? It was just an empty room with one sofa.

The boss? Who is that be? Why should it be this far from the Event Hall? Fortunately, she did not lose her way, and there are no weird things like… a ghost? Anyway, she's not afraid of it.

"Oh, my ghost!" She screams when the door suddenly opens.

"You? Why are you here?" It surprised her to recognize the person who entered the room.