Chapter 56 Audrey

I opened the door to find Tina standing in the hallway, leaning against the wall. Grinning, she pushed away from the wall and strode into the room with her clothes in her hand. She shut the door behind herself and walked over to the vanity to get changed. "So, when are you going to tell us who that mystery model was?" she asked pointedly, wiggling her eyebrows at me as she slipped her shirt off.

I felt my face flush, and I quickly waved my hand in an attempt to look nonchalant. "Oh, just... no one. Someone who responded to my flyers."

Tina's grin widened, causing my face to redden even more. "Uh-huh. Sure. Well, anyway, we're all heading out for drinks while we wait for the final results." She paused, jumping a bit as she hiked up her pants. "You're coming with us, right?"

I hesitated for a moment, glancing back toward the door that Edwin had just disappeared through. Part of me wanted to stay, to see if he would come back and we could finish what we had started. But he was gone, and besides..

That would never happen. Not again. Bad idea.

"Yeah, sure," I said finally. "Drinks sound great.

With that, we gathered the rest of the team and headed to the academy bar. The place was buzzing with energy, filled with other teams and models who were also celebrating after the show. The air smelled like cigarettes and whiskey, and the music was pumping so loud that the bartender could barely even hear us as we ordered a round of drinks

Once we had our drinks in hand, we found a table in the corner where it was a bit quieter, although it was still pretty deafening.

"To Team Audrey!" Avis cheered over the din, raising her glass.

"To kicking a** and taking names!" Betty added with a giggle.

We all clinked our glasses together, laughing and grinning. As I took a sip of my c**ail, I felt the tension from the show slowly starting to melt away-although it was quickly replaced with anxiety over what the final results might turn out to be.

"I still can't believe those scores, Tina said, shaking her head in disbelief and causing a frizzy red lock to fall into her eyes. "We even got a perfect ten from the last judge."

"It's all thanks to Audrey," Betty said, nudging me with her elbow "Your designs were amazing. Audrey, really."

"And we couldn't have had a better, more proactive team leader, Gavin added.

I felt my cheeks grow warm beneath their praise. "It was a team effort. I couldn't have done it without all of you."

another round of drinks. I was starting to feel pleasantly buzzed when suddenly, someone bumped into our table

but the flash of blonde hair was already disappearing into the

craning her

wouldn't have surprised me if it was. She had been disqualified from the competition, after

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Chapter 56

on my bag, which had taken the brunt of the spill, to worry

were unharmed. But then my heart sank as I pulled out a soaking wet

no," I whispered, my eyes widening as I unfolded the scarf had made for Edwin. The wool was now stained with dark red wine, the intricate pattern I had spent days working on barely

over my eyes. "Nothing." I lied. "I... I need to go to the

my

rushed to the ladies' room without waiting for a response, quickly rushing

the water But it was no use. The stain had

in my eyes as I stared at the ruined scarf. I had spent two days and nearly all of last night making it, pouring all my gratitude and... other feelings... into every stitch. And now it was ruined before I had even gotten the chance to give it to Edwin. "S***pi**o myself,

was just scarf, I told myself. I could make

much more than

clutched in my hand. I was so focused on trying to hide my tears that I didn't notice the figure approaching until a familiar hand reached out,

startled... only to find that it was Edwin who was standing there. He had removed his disguise, now wearing his usual sweater and tweed jacket. His hair was slightly mussed and

leaning closer to get a better look at me. "Are you

back, the scent of alcohol on his breath only

eyes narrowed. "What are you hiding behind your

"It's nothing, really-

took the scarf from my hand. He held it up in the

this

you," I admitted. "As a thank you for everything. But someone spilled wine all over it and

expression softened. "You made this? For

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