ugh the glass doors, her spine rigid. It had been twenty-four hours since she stood in the rain at City Hall, twenty-four hours sin

ping. The air was thick with a performative pity that made Hester want to scr

hair slightly disheveled, sweat beading on his upper lip. But when he saw her, he

to grab her shoulders. "Where have you

he movement into a cough, stepping back. "Battery died

id, guiding her forcefully toward his

eyes with a tissue. She looked radiant, despite the fake tears. She was wearing a lo

voice high and pitchy. "Thank go

oorframe. She kept her hands in her pockets, her finge

etention. Stress. I can't fit into the finale dr

't water retention. It was a baby bump.

s. If Brandy doesn't walk, we lose the contra

at Hester. His eyes

walk for her,

silence stretched, tight a

y. "The models are wearing full-face masks. No one will know it's you. Yo

body double?" Hester

y, bestie. You're past your prime anyway. This way, you

ave Brandy's career. They wanted her to walk the runway, earn the applause,

rap. And it was the

fist inside her pock

prised by her easy s

Hester said, dead

clapping his hands. "I knew you were

e door latched, she pulled out her phone. She dialed Josie,

hispered. "Are yo

etting u

rs. I need high-definition footage of the fina

doing?" Josie asked, c

g back wha

rack. It was a masterpiece of haute couture-black lace,

. It fit her like a second skin. Brandy had never been a sample size; she was

k feathers and crystals, obscuring everything from her fo

The woman staring back wasn't the tired

ct number Isham had given he

econds later. I own

It was a cold,

os-hairspray, shouting, half-naked bodies running. Brandy was si

her mouth full, dusting sugar from her

ening. She felt the shift in her center of gravity. The music w

she reached the curtain. "Remember. You are

eyeholes of the mask. "Don't worr

counted down. "Thr

light of the runway hit her. The roar o

smile. She unleashed the walk that had made her fa