“You really did kill it, Sage. Everyone is talking about you out there,” Sire says once he puts me down.
“Thank you, guys!” I squeal in excitement, simply because they’re here, and hug them both again. I knew they’d come for the runway show, but I didn’t see them in the crowd.
“Sorry, do you guys have passes?”
I pull away and turn to a woman wearing a headset and holding a clipboard.
“They’re my brothers, it’s–”
“Oh, I’m so sorry, Ms. Loana. I didn’t know–” She looks between August and me, and before she can ask, August speaks up.
“Yes, we’re twins,” he says with a soft laugh and she looks between the two of us, taking in our nearly identical features.
“Right.” She looks between all three of us now. “I’m sorry again and–”
“It’s okay, really.”
She apologizes again before rushing off.
I let out a laugh and the boys turn to me. “Are you mean to these people or something? Why was she so sorry?” Sire teases, and I playfully shove him.
“I am not mean to anyone!” I don’t know why people get so flustered when they make mistakes around me; I’m nice to all of my staff.
August starts talking about everything he loved about the show, and when Sire tells me he was on the edge of his seat out there, I know he isn't exaggerating.
When I look back over at Sire he’s watching me with a smile. “I think this was your best show yet.”
I feel my excitement growing as I grab his hand to contain myself. “Thank you, bonus bro. I thought so, too!”
I get lost in another conversation with my brothers, and all of my nerves from earlier never return. I think the world could be ending, and my brothers could somehow make me feel better.
Chapter Ten
Sage
“Are you sure you’re okay?” I glance at Sire’s busted lip.
I called August to ask for his opinion on my outfit, but he brought up some fight they got into, so I called Sire to make sure he was okay. Not only does he look unharmed besides the lip, which he claims was a cheap shot, but he is relatively unfazed, so I know it's not serious. I'd normally scold them for fighting, especially in public, as such big public figures, and I don’t condone violence, but they said this guy started it for no reason, which isn’t cool.
“Yes, Sage. Finish your makeup.”
I glance at Cara, and she tells me it’s okay to keep talking, but I really should let her get back to work, so I tell Sire I love him before hanging up.
“Sorry about that.” I put my phone down and turn back to Cara.
“It’s okay.” She gets her makeup pallet, and I close my eyes as she starts applying my eyeshadow. “I hope this isn’t inappropriate, but your brothers are hot.” She sort of whispers, and when I laugh, I sense her relaxing.
“It is inappropriate, but I want you guys to feel comfortable enough around me to make inappropriate jokes.”
My team has been working with me for almost a year now, and I feel like they are comfortable around me, but they’re too professional.
“We are,” Annet voices. “Angie sort of traumatized all of us, and we would prefer not to end up like your last two teams, so we try to be on our best behavior.”
I cringe at the reminder of my past teams. Annet has been here the longest as my personal hairstylist, so she knows how both catastrophes went. I was too nice, as Angie put it, and they got way too comfortable. A lot of them didn’t even listen to me, and I’m not a demanding or bossy person, but I am sort of in charge, in this room at least, and it was just a nightmare.
Angie fired them because I felt too bad to do it, and when my new team came, she was strict with them. She eased off after a while, but it clearly took a while for them to warm up.
“That’s fair, but Angie ismyagent. I love you all and won’t fire you because you called my brother hot, so please don’t be afraid to talk to me like I’m your friend because I like to think we are… friends, I mean.”
