"Nice. Excellent!" Kody burst out, his voice full of energy. "Now give me something different—switch it up."
Kendra flowed through several more poses, smooth and steady, until the audition finally came to an end.
Kody's excitement was plain on his face. He looked ready to pick a winner right then and there, but with so many girls still waiting their turn, he held himself back and stuck to the plan.
Kendra stepped off to the side of the studio. Sebastian rushed over, his grin wide and impossible to hide.
"Not bad," he said, almost laughing. "I was worried five years of playing perfect wife had dulled your edge—but you're still razor-sharp. If you land this, it's huge for you, and it'll put our little agency on the map too."
Kendra offered him a polite smile and stayed quiet.
Back in college, Jaycob had never let her take any side jobs. But she hated seeing him carry everything alone, so she secretly started modeling for a photography student to earn some money on the side. The schedule was easy to work around, and the money helped a lot.
That student later turned into a big-name photographer—known not just for her stunning shots, but also for how harshly she called out lazy or unprofessional models on social media.
Kendra had listened to those rants for years without realizing how much she was soaking up. All those lessons about angles, lighting, and attitude were coming in handy now, more than she ever expected.
Across the studio, Kody had finished looking through every single candidate's shots.
"Thanks for coming in today, everyone," he called out. "Kendra Murray—stay behind. The rest of you can head out."
A quiet wave of disappointment moved through the room as the other models packed up their bags. Then a sharp voice sliced through the murmurs. "So it's rigged now? Investors pulling strings for their picks? I've never even heard of Kendra Murray. Why does she get to stay, and I don't?"
The speaker was Rosie Lloyd, a model with a solid reputation and real followers in the industry.
If it had come from someone less established, people might have brushed it off as sour grapes. But Rosie's words carried real weight; her work was strong, and she had the popularity to back it up.
Kody frowned and glanced her way. "Not buying it? Alright. Let's put the photos up."
The big screen flickered to life, scrolling slowly through the test images.
The early shots were decent but nothing special. Then Rosie's set appeared—bold, confident poses with a strong, commanding energy. Clearly professional.
A few soft murmurs rippled through the room.
"Wait," Kody said evenly.
The slideshow kept going until Kendra's images filled the screen. She didn't strike dramatic poses like Rosie, but every frame carried a soft, effortless grace. Her shots didn't scream "commercial ad"—they felt more like quiet, intimate glimpses into the private world of someone refined and well-bred.
Kody pointed to the screen. "This season's line is all about minimalism and high-end pricing. Kendra nails the vibe we're going for. There is this subtle sadness in her expression—it adds depth, makes the clothes feel like quiet luxury, real elegance. Rosie, you're great, no question—but for this particular collection, Kendra's look and presence fit better."
With the side-by-side comparison right there for everyone to see, the grumbling died down.
Rosie snatched up her bag, her expression stormy. "You'll regret this," she snapped, then turned and walked out, the door slamming behind her.
At the Mills Group's top-floor office, an assistant knocked lightly before stepping in, tablet in hand.
"Mr. Mills, one of Jaycob's subsidiaries is selecting a new model this season. Ms. Murray attended the audition today."
He passed the tablet over to Kristopher. Onscreen, Kendra looked as though she had stepped back onto the stage she once dominated—every movement fluid, every expression finely tuned. Yet beneath the flawless exterior lingered a quiet sadness in her eyes, subtle but impossible to ignore, tugging at the viewer without a single word.
Kristopher studied the screen for a long moment before speaking. "Inform Jaycob that you're taking over this project. From now on, you'll personally oversee the model's work."
"Understood."
The door clicked shut behind the assistant. Kristopher's fingers hovered over the tablet, brushing lightly across Kendra's image. For seven years, Jaycob had ground her down until this was all that was left.
Kristopher murmured, voice low and cold, "Jaycob, you're truly beyond forgiveness."
With the chaos finally settled, Kody and his assistant escorted Kendra upstairs to finalize the contract.
The moment the elevator doors slid open, Kendra stopped short. Standing inside were Jaycob and Aaron.
Wasn't Jaycob supposed to be out of town? So that had been a lie. Or perhaps he had simply returned ahead of schedule.
Kendra cast them a brief glance, then deliberately looked away, acting as though they were complete strangers.
She and Sebastian remained silent. The air inside the elevator grew thick, pressing down on everyone's nerves.
Unable to bear it any longer, Kody cleared his throat and stepped forward. "Mr. Mills, we've just wrapped up selecting the model for this season's new collection. We were on our way upstairs to sign the contract. Would you like to review the audition photos?"
Jaycob said nothing. Unfazed, Kody opened the tablet and flipped through the images, one after another.
There was no arguing it—Kendra looked breathtaking.
Jaycob's gaze flicked toward the screen, his expression turning stormy. A short, icy laugh escaped him. "This is the model you chose?"
Kody stiffened. "Is something wrong? Should we consider someone else?"
Jaycob remained silent, his face unreadable and cold as stone.
Sensing the tension, Aaron smoothly stepped in. "That decision is entirely up to you. It's only a minor brand under the Millis Group—there is no need for Mr. Millis to get personally involved in something so small."
Relief washed over Kody's face. Without wasting another second, he motioned for Kendra and Sebastian to step out with him.
They exited on the ninth floor, while Jaycob and Aaron continued upward to the twenty-first—an executive level reserved strictly for senior management.
Once the elevator doors closed behind them, Kody finally let out the breath he had been holding, as though he had just narrowly escaped a storm.
Kendra followed Kody and the assistant down the office corridor in a daze, her feet moving on autopilot while her mind drifted elsewhere. She only snapped back to reality when Kody's voice cut through the silence.
"Why is the office locked? Where is HR?"
The assistant was already tapping furiously on her phone. "They went down to the fifth floor. I'll go get the contracts right away."
Kody's brows knitted together as he turned and strode after her. "They knew we were signing this afternoon. If they're not prepared, I'll make sure they don't forget next time!"
As the two of them disappeared down the hall, Sebastian glanced at Kendra. "I'm heading out for a smoke."
And just like that, Kendra was left standing alone.
With nothing else to do but wait, she drifted toward the stairwell, craving a breath of fresh air. She moved slowly, unhurried, until she reached the corner and nearly collided with a tall figure who stepped directly into her path, blocking her way forward.
