Ella

I picked up a white dress, and then sulked.

"Urgg. I can't possibly wear this! Hmm, but this looks good."

I examined the red dress on the table. "I think this might go."

Not long after my phone rang.

"Hello, Ma'am."

"Hello...."

"I am Angelique Ma'am, and I am calling from Angelique fashion house."

"Oh hello Angelique, nice to meet you!"

"Did you see the dresses I sent Ma'am?"

"Yes of course I did," I said, clutching onto the red dress.

"So, Ma'am I sent a pure white dress with glittery embroidery, it's ankle length, and it's fitted perfectly to your frame. I also sent a matte red dress as a follow-up just in case you did not like the first dress."

"Oh very smart of you, Angelique. I am happy with the red dress."

"Alright Ma'am, I will send my team to come pick up the white dress soon."

"No problem, Miss Angelique." I said and hung off.

This evening was the Bella's Beauty Awards, and I was just getting ready.

****

Max and I were done dressing and we both stepped out of our modern mansion.

"You are wearing red?" He asked.

"Yes, Max."

"I thought you planned on wearing a white dress," he said.

"I changed my mind Max," I said.

"Ella." He called.

"What is it, Maxwell?" I asked him.

"Ella I know we have not been on good terms these past few days, but please let us look happy together this night," He said.

"So Maxwell, what is your problem?? That is your main concern??"

"Ella, if we show up at the event obviously looking like we had a fight, the paparazzi is going to carry the news. Ella baby..." He called. "For the sake of our reputation and our brand, let us show up all lovey-dovey for this event."

I took deep breaths.

"It is fine Maxwell..... I'm actually tired of being angry at you."

"Really baby?"

"Yes Maxwell." He beamed, showing off his dimples. He was about to scream but I stopped him.

"But Mr, do not push your luck. You are still going to make it up to me." I said, acting like a little girl asking for candy.

"No problem, my love." He said happily.

"For Skin by Nature...." I said, offering my hands.

"For Skin by Nature....." He said taking my hands and we both burst out laughing.

He opened the door of our car for me and I stepped in.

We drove quietly to the awards night.

***

From the look of things, this event was going to be the buzz of the town.

As Maxwell and I stepped out of our luxurious car, we were greeted with flashes of cameras and paparazzi. I smiled to myself.

"Now this is it." I thought to myself. "I have always loved the paparazzi, camera flashes, and the spotlights. I stepped out of my car feeling myself. I waved to the people screaming and shouting happily at us, wanting to have a word with us.

"Excuse me, Ma'am, please can I ask you a few questions?" Asked a girl. She was a journalist, she was wearing a black shirt. Her hair was cut short and layered, and she had eyeglasses which made her look like a nerd.

"I am all ears, Ma'am."

"We have heard a lot about you Mrs Ella, about how the sales of Skin by Nature skyrocketed when you became first lady. Please Ma'am, can you give us a little insight about your business acumen?"

She asked, pointing her mic at me.

"Well Ma'am, I would say a little bit of smart work, resilience and risk-taking does the magic. You know you have to have the ability to work smart, not just hard. You do not have to be afraid of taking risks....."

"So you mean we should take a risk, Ma'am....." She had cut me short.

"Yes, I mean so," I replied feeling a little disgusted that she had cut me short. "You take big risks, the bigger, the better actually....only the ones with guts has the glory," I replied to her.

"Hmm....."She said, nodding her head.

She looked at me and smiled. I was sure I impressed her.

"Very well then you have heard it all from our first lady at Skin by Nature.....a little bit of smart work, resilience, and risk-taking can get you there...." She said, turning to her camera person while I stood there smiling sheepishly, feeling proud of myself. I was sure this event was live on all TV houses.

"Enjoy your night Ma'am..." She said, finally releasing me. "And you too Sir....." She said to Maxwell, who had just joined us.

I and Maxwell walked over to the red carpets to take some pictures for the night.

"Hey Ma'am, said a ca. "Just right here." He directed me and Max to the stand.

He showed us different poses before flashing cameras down at our faces...it was not long before other camera-men joined in.

"Done???" I asked.

"Oh not yet, Ma'am." Replied the cameraman.

"Just a few more please....." Echoed the camera at me.

"Okay fine." I said, going back into position."

Maxwell was surprisingly calm and quiet all through this, and I didn't know how to feel about it.

"Baby, are you fine??" I whispered to his ears. Immediately we were done taking pictures.

"Sure." He echoed, rubbing my hands and smiling at me. I smiled back and we both walked into the hall together, hands in hands.

"Oh my..." The hall was decorated beautifully....with red and white lights. There was a podium at the end of the hall for collecting the awards I guess.

"It's so beautiful Maxwell," I said to him. I wanted to see if he was as stunned as me.

"It sure is Ella." He replied, still clutching my hands.

"Maxwell I can not understand how you can be this calm on such a night as this. Like how is that even possible?" I asked eyes wide.

Maxwell chuckled.

"Let's just say I have been at events like this all my life.....

"Oh spare me the pride...." I said and we both burst into heart-felt laughter.

We took our seats in the hall. We shared a seat with another couple. Some round tables were set according to brands.

"Come to think of it," I thought to myself. "I have actually never been to an award night before, Maxwell was right. Hopefully, I will take back an award for my company."



****

"So the show starts now, actually it has already started a few hours ago, seeing all of you beautiful people smiling and taking photos." The master of the ceremony said, and the whole hall exploded into laughter. He was hilarious.

"Hmm, I like him already," I said to Maxwell, clutching his hands.

"Oh really!!!" He replied, feigning jealousy.

"Yes of course," I replied.

"Now I'm jealous!"

"Oh stop it Maxwell, there's no need to be." I giggled.

I and Maxwell went back and forth in our conversation before finally paying attention to the events.

***

Food and drinks started going around almost immediately after the guests arrived.

"Hmm, now this is more like it." I could hear Maxwell say. "We are in for a feast."

"Stop Max, do not act like I am not feeding you well at home." I chided.

"Well, for the past few days, you have not." He replied honestly.

"True!" I replied. "But you do not have to be so honest."

There was silence between us for some minutes.

"Don't you think Max, that they started presenting the refreshments too early, like it's barely even an hour into the main event."

"Whatever Ella, I am here for it."

"Sure," I replied, finally keeping quiet.



****

"Good evening, prestigious gentlemen and ladies of the night!"

I looked up only to see......

"Mrs Mia Soo!!!"

"What is she???"

"Oh my God!!! Was she this influential??" I asked no one in particular.

"We have finally gotten to the moment we have all been waiting for.....but before that, I hope you all have been having a splendid evening." She said.

I was so distracted with the refreshments that I did not notice when the master of a ceremony called Mrs Mia Soo got on the stage."

"Without wasting much time...I would begin. We have so many awards in so many categories and I would call them out in no particular order." She was saying.

I shifted uncomfortably on my seat and Maxwell held my hands to calm me down.

****

It felt like I was in a trance... Mrs Mia Soo called out the categories one after the other and I watched in fright as the lists flew by....

The best cleanser of the year. The best facial serum of the year. The best facial toner. The best skin moisturizer with sunscreen.... and the lists went on and on with brands coming out joyfully for their awards, happily jumping around the stage and taking pictures.

"It's okay baby....the best is still on its way," Maxwell said to me, holding my hands. " There are still more categories and we will surely get an award. Skin by Nature has never had a year gone by without getting an award and this year is not going to be different."

"Thanks, Maxwell," I said, but I was still feeling uneasy. My mind could not help but wander to what happened between me and Mrs Mia Soo that day at my office.

"Dear lord, let that incident not be used against me!!" I prayed quietly in my mind.

"The award for the best scent of the year is...." There was tense silence in the hall.

"OAP luxurious scents...." Screamed Mrs Mia Soo and the whole hall exploded into loud applause...

The CEO of OAP luxurious scents has come out to take her award. She looked absolutely fabulous, she was in a black mermaid dress..... glittering in warm gold!"



***

All the awards have been called. Ranging from skincare, haircare, bodycare, perfumes-scents and Skin by Nature has not gotten any-yet!

"Hey beautiful people of the night...." Called Mrs Mia Soo and the hall exploded joyously, admist jubilation. It seemed like most brands that were there had already gotten an award except for a few others.....tears escaped my eyes.

"We have finally gotten to the peak of the celebrations. We have just one last award left."

I could see Maxwell all tensed up and on the edge of his seat.

Mrs Mia Soo continued.

"The prestigious awards goes to companies that has served the masses for years. The prestigious awards is not only given to companies that make quality beauty products but also to companies that have made quality beauty products for years."

She said.

"So you see people.... it's not just about the now, it's also about the future. We have a few nominations for these awards, but as we all know, it can only go to one company...."

You could slice through the thick tension in the hall.

"The prestigious award for this year goes to no other brand than......AWS-Ariel water skincare brand."

The screams in the hall were unbearable.

"This is a wrap for the night beautiful people. Go home and stay safe until next year, bye."

Loud music was played at an incredibly loud volume.

The representatives of Ariel waters skincare brand were at the front stage still jubilating with their trophy, taking pictures and over all looking really happy.

The awards night has just wrapped up but Skin by Nature took home nothing.....

"Meet me in the car...." Max said and left the hall. He looked really angry.

I could not move, I could not say a word, this was the first time Skin by Nature missed an award ever since it had been made, and it was all me.

I had lost my voice, I had lost my strength, I was a curse!

I sat glued to my seat as tears filled my eyes.......