Chapter 1
Kris stood in front of the mirror, pinning the last piece of fabric onto the mannequin. Designing clothes had always been easy for her. Understanding people was the hard part.Five years ago, she had given her heart to someone who promised her forever. Instead, he walked away as though she had never mattered.She had cried over him, blamed herself, and wondered what she had done wrong. But that was the old Kris.The new Kris had dreams to chase.She wanted her own fashion brand. She wanted to see her designs on runways and in magazines. She wanted to prove that a broken heart didn't have to break a person's future.Love?Love could wait.Her phone buzzed on the table."Kris! You're late for the photoshoot!" her best friend texted.Kris grabbed her sketchbook and bag with a smile. Another busy day. Another step closer to her dream.She had no idea that before the day was over, she would meet someone who would change her life.His name was Nate.Kris checked the time on her phone and sighed."I'm late," she muttered, clutching her sketchbook and bag. The photoshoot was one of the biggest opportunities she had ever had, and the last thing she wanted was to make a bad impression.Lost in her thoughts, she turned a corner and bumped into someone.Papers and photographs scattered across the floor."Watch where you're going!" the stranger said, bending down to pick them up.Kris barely looked up."I'm sorry... I'm really late," she replied, grabbing her sketchbook before hurrying away.The young man watched her leave and shook his head with a small smile."What a way to start the day."A few minutes later, Kris reached the studio."There you are!" Zara called out. "I was beginning to think you'd changed your mind."Kris smiled nervously."I'm sorry. I just got caught up in the past. I'm here now... I'm just feeling a little anxious."Zara wrapped an arm around her shoulders."Come on, girl. You've got this. One day, everyone is going to know your name."Before Kris could answer, the studio door opened.A familiar face walked in carrying a camera bag.Kris froze.It was the same man she had bumped into.He looked at her, then laughed softly."So, you're the designer?""And you're the photographer?" Kris asked."Looks like we're going to be working together," he said.His name was Nate.The photoshoot was finally over.Kris let out a sigh of relief as the models stepped away and the crew began packing up. Her first major photoshoot had gone better than she expected."Kris?"She turned around to see the photographer walking towards her.Nate smiled."I just wanted to say, your designs were amazing. You have real talent."Kris was caught off guard. Compliments had become difficult for her to trust."Thanks," she replied with a small nod.Without another word, she picked up her sketchbook and walked away.Nate watched her leave and chuckled to himself."Wow," he said, shaking his head. "What an attitude."Still smiling, he shrugged and gathered his camera equipment. There were hundreds of photos waiting to be edited for the magazine.As Kris walked back to her workspace, she couldn't explain why she had been so cold.Maybe she wasn't ready to let anyone get too close.
