It started with Jace Circe Reed in her office.
She was leaning back, arms crossed over what seemed to be a gray plaid blazer vest under a black coat. Her thick black glasses framed her face. She was stunning. It was a mystery to the world, and even to Athena, why she didn't have a lover. Even Athena would've wanted to profess love to her.
Her aura screamed bold and confident as her eyes focused on the mid-aged woman sitting cross-legged across a low coffee table.
"I've been hearing about you, Ms. Blackburne," Jace said.
As if that were a coincidence. Athena gave her a warm, practiced smile, even though inside she was grinning from ear to ear.
"You probably know us, too, right? Given that you were trying to get our attention," she replied sweetly.
"No, just yours, Ms. Reed. But do enlighten me," Athena challenged with a voice that carried a playful edge. Of course, she had already done her research — every page, every headline, every strategic partnership that involved Jace herself.
JRClothing was the parent brand, their first major success, a local clothing line that had carved out its own influence. From celebrity endorsements to viral runway moments, it had become recognizable. Now came the next move: JRCosmo, a dive into cosmetics. With fashion already in the bag, beauty was the obvious frontier.
Still, Athena wanted it to be Jace who sold it to her. To let her know that she was a client worth chasing.
She gave her a polite smile, leaning back slightly to mirror her.
"And please, call me Athena."
Jace didn't speak right away. She cleared her throat, took a sip of her coffee, then finally bit.
"Spare me the flattery, please. I believe JRC speaks for itself already. We're women who both know what we want." She played with the buttons on her laptop. "But what I want isn't just a face, Athena. I need a narrative. Something people can root for, obsess over, tear down, and then still buy into. You get it?"
Athena nodded, hiding a grin.
"You want a symbol."
"I want you," Jace confirmed. "With the right story, you'll rise above everyone else. JRC can do that for you."
It seemed like Jace was ready to give everything just to earn Athena's favor. Still, Athena didn't give in, not yet, strategically tantalizing her. Rule two: Make them desperate.
"I'm quite expensive, Ms. Reed."
"Payment is pending. All we need is your signature," Jace scoffed. And Athena knew she had won.
"The contract includes three feature campaigns, two seasonal endorsements, and one personal development clause."
Athena tilted her head, one brow arching as she sipped from her glass. Her eyes flicked toward Jace with the right amount of amusement.
"Personal development?"
Jace didn't flinch. Instead, she leaned forward, elbows resting lightly on the table, like she was about to drop the next big plan, and she did.
"Pageantry." A beat. "You have the walk. The presence. What you need now is a crown as Miss Something, and suddenly, we're not just selling beauty. We're selling aspiration."
The word hung in the air longer than Athena liked. It wasn't something she hadn't considered before, but hearing it framed like that made it real.
She guessed, in some ways, she was still that same little girl, wide-eyed, stubborn, dreaming too big for the room she was in.
She swirled the coffee Jace had handed her earlier, then set it down with a soft clink. Her voice was even.
"I thought we were selling makeup."
Jace cracked a smile. Small. Controlled. It didn't quite reach her eyes.
"We're selling you. And the version of you they want to become."
Athena didn't reply right away. Instead, she glanced out the floor-to-ceiling window of the high-rise office. Below, the city glimmered like an audience waiting for curtain call.
It shouldn't have been this hard. This was exactly what Athena Blackburne was made for—to please the crowd. To be known. To be unforgettable.
"What happens when I win?" she asked.
Jace's smirk deepened, this time a little more real.
"Then we both do."
The silence settled between them, the weight of Jace's words stretching across the room.
Statistically, the odds were slim, maybe a 1 in 50 shot. It was either a win or not. But Athena wasn't chasing odds. She was chasing leverage. The crown wasn't the goal; it was the catalyst.
A few years ago, she might've joined for the thrill. For the chance to see the dream take shape under stage lights, to hear her name echo in applause, to prove something to the younger version of herself who never quite fit in.
But now, things were different.
Of course she was joining. That was never in question. But it wasn't for validation. Not for vanity. Not even for victory.
It was for what came after.
Because a crown gave you headlines. Even a runner-up could land morning shows, magazine covers, brand deals.
You didn't need a sash to leave a mark.
You just needed the camera to turn your way.
"When are you planning?" Athena asked.
Jace looked at her like she had been expecting the question.
"Is that a yes, Athena?" she asked with a witty smirk. Her hand hovered in the air, waiting for Athena to catch it. Athena responded with the same expression, shaking it before Jace could retract.
"I'll still have to chat with the National Director. Only then can I start making plans."
"You know them?"
"No." A pause. Jace almost blushed, Athena couldn't tell if it was from remembering something or from frustration.
"We went to the same fashion school in Italy."
"Oh." She definitely remembered something.
Jace cleared her throat, sensing her dignity was slipping.
"Anyway, your contract with us is not limited to that. In addition to it, JRC will handle you like an agent."
"Like the ones for celebrities?"
"For modeling, yes. It benefits both you and us," Jace affirmed.
Athena couldn't help but feel a little disappointed. Aside from pageantry, she had always wanted to try acting. There was just something about fully embodying a character, being someone else, even for a moment.
But she supposed that would come at the right time.
As if hearing her thoughts, Jace continued,
"One of JRC's business plans in the upcoming years, aside from JRCosmo, is to expand into the entertainment industry. Still, the likelihood of that happening depends on future trends."
"As in singers? Like that group Fifth Harmony?"
"No. Comparing it to them is too high a standard." Jace shook her head, then looked at Athena with purpose.
"Athena, do you sing?"
Well, damn.
"Me? Hey, not… really?"
She sings. The real question was, can she sing? Seriously, how did the conversation jump to singing? A minute ago, they were talking about Miss Universe.
Wasn't this woman dreaming a little too big? Then again, she was a genius fashion designer.
Athena sighed internally. Still a genius, regardless.
It hadn't been her plan to stick around, but now that she knew these opportunities were possible through Jace, why would she go anywhere else?
"I'll keep that in mind," Jace said with another smile before taking her laptop. The only sound in the room was her typing.
Athena watched her steadily as she took her coffee again and finally enjoyed it.
Jace really was so pretty.
Jace glanced her way, and Athena quickly shifted her gaze, pretending to study the art on the wall behind her, a painting of a woman seated in quiet elegance. Fitting, somehow.
"Any more questions?"
"Uh, you do know the R and C in your name are reversed, right?"
"I know," Jace chuckled. "Here's the contract. Magazine, commercial, and the pageant. All in 4 years as our talent. Is that okay with you?"
She handed Athena the device, letting her read it herself. Sure enough, it did say four years.Where would she be by then? Athena couldn't help but wonder.
Getting to MJ Delevingne was still the goal, but until she had a clear answer on who her next connection would be, she was at a temporary halt.
Still, she kept a cool head. There was no need to rush. She was adaptable, and she could think her way through.
She clicked the draw button and gave her signature next to Jace's.
Jace smiled as Athena handed it back.
"Welcome to JRC, Athena. And, just Jace is fine."
"Jace," Athena repeated. "When do we start?"
"We'll get you the feature campaign first, so we can put your face in stores. Pre-production takes about one to two weeks depending on the mood and outcome we want to show people. Of course, you'll get a say on everything since it's still your image we're talking about."
Athena nodded along. Jace had said so much, it felt like her ears were falling off from the weight of it.
"Great. When can we have the meeting?" Athena cut in, gently but firmly.
Jace didn't seem to mind, if anything, she seemed grateful not to have to repeat her over-rehearsed speech.
"Come back here in a week. You can relax before then. Although your assigned agent will keep in touch with you anyway."
It really did feel like she was becoming a S-Tier celebrity.
Athena rose, stretching her legs with subtle grace before glancing Jace's way again. Only to catch her looking. Not at her face, but at the slit in her skirt, where skin peeked through.
She pretended not to notice and bent down to grab her purse, flashing Jace an innocent smile.
"I hope I'll see you more often then, Jace."
She strode out of the room with confidence, fully aware Jace was probably still eyeing her.
Call her mother, because she was good at adapting. But that little flick of a moment? She'd let it slide for now.
Didn't mean she wouldn't keep it in mind when she's making her plans.
Her phone chimed with a text message.
It read: "This is Mikaela, I'll be your manager :]"