Filed to story: The Breaking Point (Maya & Julian) Book PDF Free
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The diamond was only on display for a few minutes before the guards took it back to the safe.
Tension was brewing in the air, and the contestants looked motivated. No longer were they friendly to one another.
With the rules explained in full, the host told everyone that they could leave now for a break, then they would gather in the other hall.
Maya took a deep breath. “This is no ordinary show we’re in; it’s a battlefield.”
The contestants were feeling motivated after seeing what kind of prizes awaited the winner.
When they were gathering in the other hall, Selena shook the people around her off and sat beside Luna, smiling. For once in her life, she politely said, “These designers can’t win. I bet you’re taking that diamond home with you, Ms. Alana.”
Luna felt everyone looking at her – there were hostile gazes, looks of scorn, or even looks of challenge. She suspected that Selena was trying to turn everyone against them.
Top Designer was a show designed for new designers. Aside from the big shots in the panel of mentors, everyone else was just regular designers. Still, this was a show made by East Joy. A big shot might have been hidden amongst them.
Luna was about to say something, but Selena’s sycophants cut in quickly.
“You know, we should be envying you instead. That’s an expensive diamond, but Mr. Graham still used it as a prize just for you.”
“Yeah. Even if Alana does win it, the diamond still remains a thing that Mr. Graham used to make you happy.”
Luna and Maya froze, and Luna gave Maya a look that said, ‘Julian sponsored that diamond?’
Maya shook her head. She had no idea about this, but it was possible that Julian would do this just to boost Selena into famedom.
Since Maya wasn’t saying anything, Luna blurted, “Oh, so the ba – I mean, Mr. Graham sponsored that?”
Selena didn’t like that the diamond was being put up as a prize, but she still felt happy, and she put on a sheepish smile. “I’m surprised he would do that. He didn’t tell me about it.”
Everyone played along. “Hey, he invested in this show. He bought the whole hotel and resort the shoot is happening in, and all just for Selena! She’s going to win this show easily. I envy whoever gets to be on her team.”
Luna snapped, “What the he – “
Maya covered her mouth and smiled at everyone politely. “Sorry, but my boss is feeling peckish. We should get to our seats.”
Once they were away from the crowd, Luna grumbled, “Why did you stop me? That b*tch was looking so smug. I can’t believe she’s showing off her affair!”
One of the better parts of this show was that everyone was treated fairly. Designers, assistants, and celebrities? They were all the same. Even their seats were joined.
Maya held Luna’s hand and pulled her to their seats. “I wouldn’t have stopped you, but the cameras were pointed at you and you looked like a witch.”
That distracted Luna. Realizing that this was a live show, she quickly massaged her cheeks. “Really? Then I must look really ugly. Good thing you stopped me, because I would have said something that would make even a sailor blush.” That, and Twitter’s going to cancel me.
She hunched over a little. “First day on the job, and I already want to quit. You’re a lot more patient than I am.”
Maya said calmly, “Even if the public knows I’m Julian’s wife, they’re just going to say I’m not worthy of that spot. The only way to prove them wrong is to show them what we got. Arguing with them never works. Besides, I’m going to get a divorce anyway. I wasn’t going to get anything, but now I have a chance at the diamond. It’s a stroke of luck.”
Luna’s eyes glinted. “True. Once you make a name for yourself, you can expose Selena’s true colors. Once we have fame and justice on our side, she’s going to be canceled too. And that jack*ss called Julian can eat sh*t.”
That’s not what I meant. Maya didn’t explain, though. She asked Julian to help her out so she wouldn’t sabotage him, because if he were to pull his support out, she would be done for. Still, it was really mortifying to hear Selena boasting so much. I have to win. Even if it’s not for Grandma, I have to do it for my dignity. I’ll smack Julian’s face with the diamond.
…
The behind-the-scenes footage was given to Kevin for evaluation. After Kevin watched it, he sent it to Julian and embellished the story a little. ‘This woman is more than meets the eye. I can see how she managed to hook up with you.’
She had been hyping up her relationship with Julian even when the show was in its early days of promotion, which he had noticed. Still, he didn’t stop it, given that it would help the show’s ratings. If Selena stayed in her line, he would boost her to fame for Julian’s sake.
Julian texted back, ‘Think before you speak next time, or else.’
Kevin leaned in his chair and crossed his legs on his desk. With one hand, he texted back, ‘So what’s your deal with her? An old flame rekindled?’
Julian texted curtly, ‘Shut it.’
Kevin texted quickly, ‘Okay, so that’s not the case. Your wife, I mean your ex, is going to join the show, and you’re letting Selena start a whole scandal? No wonder Maya wanted a divorce.’
Kevin sent him a snapshot and added, ‘Don’t say I didn’t warn you, but any woman who can stay calm when her husband’s involved in an affair either can’t be bothered with him, or they’re up to something big. You’d better be careful.’
When Damon was summoned to sort out the footage, the screen was showing the scene where everyone was buttering up to Selena. Happily, he said, “Mr. Stewart, I put Ms. Palmer and Alana on the same team to boost her fame even further. The lots were rigged. Once the show starts and Mr. Graham finds out we made sure Ms. Palmer would win this competition, he’s going to be so delighted.”
With his phone in his hand, Kevin stiffly turned around and stared at Damon. “What did you just say? You put who and who on the same team?”
“Alana and Selena.” Damon scratched his head sheepishly. “That’s going to boost the show’s popularity, isn’t it?”
Kevin almost fell from his chair, and he felt his brain exploding. Popularity? First, we have to figure out how to survive Julian’s wrath! “Who told you to do that? You can get fired for that, you know that?” Kevin felt his hair stand on end. “Tell the director we’re changing the rules right now.”
Maya got news about the rule change. The investor would also be a part of the audience judge, and they would take part in the whole competition. The rooms would be reassigned as well.
“We were supposed to share a room. Now that we have to do things in our own room, it makes things complicated for us.” Luna realized this meant trouble for them. If they had to come up with a design separately, they would be exposed easily.
“What’s Kevin doing? We signed the contract and now he comes up with some bullsh*t new rule.”
Maya frowned. Calmly, she said, “Let’s see what the production team is coming up with. We can come up with a few designs if the rules don’t work in our favor. I’ll get the designs to you beforehand so once the show starts, you can just use them.”
Luna heaved a long sigh. “Guess that’s our best bet for now.”
The rooms were reassigned before the night even fell. The corridor was L-shaped, and Maya was assigned a room at the corner. It was right beside Luna’s. Maya checked the time and said, “Nothing to worry about now. It’s time to draw the lots, so let go.”
The ladies came out of their rooms and ran into Selena coming out of the room beside Maya’s. Once they locked gazes, Selena quickly huddled closer to Luna. “What a coincidence, Luna. This is your room? We’ll be seeing each other a lot, then.”
A camera was following Selena. Maya kept her silence while she tugged on Luna’s hem, telling her to stay calm. Luna faced the camera and held back her urge to roll her eyes. She nodded with a smile, but she said nothing.
Everyone else was coming out of their rooms and heading to the hall as well. Now that everyone was present, it was time to split them into groups. The host faced the camera and had the teams draw lots separately. It was to make sure things were fair.
Each designer would be having a celebrity on their team, and the designer could have an assistant with them. The three would make a team.
Luna put her hands in a prayer. “Please don’t put Selena on my team.”
Maya smiled in amusement seeing her friend pray so hard.
Soon, it was Luna’s turn. She took a deep breath and went ahead to draw the lot, but she took her own sweet time before drawing it out. The staff member took a look and announced, “Congratulations. Miss Selena Palmer, you’re a team with Luna.”
Luna almost cursed, but she put on a formal smile for the camera. “I’ll be in your care now, Miss Palmer.”
Before the host could say anything, Selena stood up and put a hand over her chest while smiling sweetly. “Alana’s been my idol for a long time. It’s an honor to be on her team.” She looked at Luna.
Luna played along and nodded, then she got down from the stage.
Maya was a little miffed, and so was Luna. They sat together and listened to everyone chatting and laughing away, their minds buzzing. How did we even get her on our team?
Reminded of Selena’s overly friendly behavior, they realized something. This team is rigged.
After the lot drawing was over, everyone went back to their rooms. Maya looked at the room next door and realized it was empty. Is someone else going to show up? She didn’t have time to think about that. She went into Luna’s room and quickly came up with a draft with Selena’s proportions in mind. These would be for Luna’s use, and she had to be fast, lest things changed again.
