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“The internet is a thing sunshine,” he said as if it were the simplest thing in the world and I blinked at him in shock. “You practically prostrated to my parents. No one has ever done that before. Do you realize how big of a deal this is?”

“I don’t think it’s that big of a deal. It’s how people greet elders, isn’t it?”

“Yes, but you did it,”

I didn’t know how to explain to him that they were probably already planning our wedding and the longer I tried, the more tongue tied I was.

After a while, I sighed deeply and Nathan just laughed.

He pulled me closer to him and pressed a kiss to the top of my head.

One of his hands trailed down my exposed back and he hummed into my hair.

“Your dress looks beautiful,” he murmured and before I could say anything, he added. “I would prefer it on the floor.”

“Nathan,” I chided as I looked around to make sure no one had heard him. “You can’t say things like that.”

“Would you prefer if I said I wanted to fuck you in the dress or if I explained how I wanted to peel it off your body and fucked you face down on the nearest table?”

My skin was alive with want and I knew that if I didn’t get out of this position, I would end up doing something absolutely crazy. I tried to move out of his hold but he wasn’t letting me go. If anything, he pulled me even closer and I heard him mumble some words under his breath.

“I should go before I do something stupid,” he kissed my head once more and disappeared.

I watched him go and I realized a few people backstage were staring at him and me but for some reason, I couldn’t bring myself to care. I rushed to take the nearest seat and pulled out the card so I could read it.

Her courage was her crown and she wore it like a Queen- Atticus.

That’s what is tattooed on your back- minus the name of the person who said the quote which led me to a deep dive to find out who did .

It only seems fitting to give you clematis because they symbolize royalty- or at least that’s what I was told.

Judging by how hard I have seen you work for this, I know that it is going to be amazing.

Nathan.

I allowed the words from the letter to resonate with me throughout the show.

I couldn’t join them in the audience but it brought me great joy to know that they were out there watching.

I kept holding my breath waiting for something terrible to happen but everything just seemed to be going perfect.

There were no mishaps with the dresses and the models killed it on the runway.

At the end of the show, I was close to tears and when it was time for me to walk down the runway, I felt my hands slick with sweat but I did it with a smile on my face.

It felt so amazing to finally be able to talk about it and tell people the inspiration behind a lot of the ideas.

The ovation at the end almost broke my composure and by the time I was off the stage, the first tear slipped.

I wiped it away and made my way around to mingle with people. A lot of people came up to me to offer up congratulations and I was shocked when I saw Mia walk up to me. I hadn’t expected her of all people to come but I graciously accepted a hug from her.

“I didn’t think you would be here.” I admitted and she laughed.

“I am glad I came, you have a true talent,” she told me and I couldn’t help my smile. “I know Francine hoped to be here, but she couldn’t come because she had a last minute emergency but she told me to let you know that she sent you a gift. ”

“You can tell her that I am super grateful and I will personally send her an email when I open it.”

We spoke for a while but then she got a message on her phone and her smile fell.

She excused herself and I made my way over to my parents.

My mother had red rimmed eyes and she was dabbing at her face with a handkerchief.

I quickly looked away because I knew that anything she would say had the power to bring me to tears.

“Tell me when she’s done,” I told my dad who laughed. “You are not going to make me cry today.”

“Oya, I have finished,” she said and I turned to her. She pulled me into a hug and I wasted no time in wrapping my hands around her shoulders. “I am so proud of you. I sent pictures to all your aunties and they could not believe it.”

“Of course you did,” I muttered and a small smile took over her lips.

I turned to Olivia who was smiling at me but there was something else in her eyes that let me know something was wrong. I could see that she was clutching her phone in her left hand with a death grip and I suddenly remembered that I left mine in the hotel to avoid any form of distractions.

I narrowed my eyes at her and she shot me an innocent smile. I knew she wouldn’t give me the phone even if I asked so I gently excused myself from my parents and made my way backstage to find Marissa. I could hear Olivia’s footsteps following behind me urgently.

“I need your phone,” I said as soon as I made my way over to Marissa and she jumped slightly. “Give me your phone please. ”

She cast a wary glance at me and I knew that she had probably seen whatever it was that Olivia did too.

“I’m not sure if that’s a good idea,” Olivia said from behind me and I almost screamed in frustration.

“Can someone just give me their phone?” I all but yelled and that was when I felt him behind me.

I turned and saw Nathan standing there and for the first time he wasn’t smug or smiling, he looked somber and there was an expression in his eyes that looked similar to guilt. What could he possibly have to feel guilty about?

“Nathan, give me your phone.” I said and he hesitated before reaching into his pocket and handing it over to me.

All night I was wondering when disaster was going to strike. I never expected that it would strike at the end of the night when I was floating on the high of a successful show.

Nathan’s phone was opened up to a browser and a gossip site. The headline was bold and I had to read it about four times to be sure that we were seeing the exact same thing.

PRIVATE INTERVIEW WITH ADIRA AROGUNDADE LEAKED: SHE SAYS SHE IS ASHAMED TO BE BLACK AND TELLS FANS TO SHOVE A ***** UP THEIR PRIVATES.