Chapter 2: A Chance Encounter

The following morning, Aries woke up to the familiar sound of the bakery bustling downstairs. Her parents had already been up for hours, prepping dough, mixing batter, and setting out fresh pastries for the early crowd. Aries stretched, rubbing the sleep from her eyes as she glanced at the stack of rejection emails still sitting in her inbox from the day before.

She had to keep trying. Giving up wasn’t an option, not with so much at stake.

After getting dressed, she headed downstairs and grabbed a quick bite to eat. Amy was already at the table, laptop open, and a frown on her face. “You look deep in thought,” Aries remarked, reaching for a croissant.

“Just looking at tuition costs,” Amy replied, her tone a little too casual for the heaviness of the topic. “I was thinking... maybe I could apply for a scholarship or get a part-time job when I start school. That might help cover some of the costs.”

Aries’ heart sank. She hated that her sister had to worry about money instead of focusing on her dreams. “We’ll figure it out,” Aries said, trying to sound confident. “I’ve got a few more interviews lined up this week.”

Amy shot her a sympathetic smile. “I know you’re doing everything you can. I just wish it wasn’t all on you.”

Before Aries could reply, the bell over the bakery’s door chimed. “I’ll get it,” she said, grateful for the distraction as she hurried over to the front counter.

A man in his mid-twenties stood at the counter, his hands in the pockets of his tailored coat. He had a warm smile and an air of quiet confidence about him. His dark hair was neatly combed, and he had the kind of effortless style that made him look like he’d stepped out of a fashion magazine. Aries blinked, trying to figure out if she had seen him before.

"Good morning," the man greeted, his voice calm and smooth.

"Morning!" Aries replied, slipping into her customer service mode. "What can I get for you?"

He scanned the display case, eyeing the array of pastries. "I’ll take a black coffee and whatever you recommend from the selection. It all looks good."

Aries smiled, grabbing a cup and starting the coffee. "You new in town?" she asked casually. "I haven’t seen you around before."

The man chuckled softly, his eyes twinkling with amusement. "Yeah, you could say that. I’m just here on business for a few days. Thought I’d check out the local spots while I’m in town."

As Aries handed him the coffee and placed a few pastries in a box, the man pulled out his wallet. That’s when Aries noticed something—a sleek gold pin on the lapel of his coat, the kind you only saw on people who worked for high-end companies.

"What kind of business are you in?" she asked, curiosity piqued.

"Jewellery," he replied with a smile. "I work for a company that designs custom pieces. We’re launching a new collection soon, so I’m scouting some potential venues for an event."

Jewelry. Aries’ mind immediately went to her parents’ anniversary, which was just a few months away. She had always dreamed of getting them something special, something that would show them how much she appreciated everything they’d done for her and Amy. But with their finances stretched thin, that dream seemed a long way off.

"Sounds fancy," she said, trying to keep the conversation light.

"It has its moments," the man replied, taking the box of pastries from her. "I’m Keith, by the way."

"Aries," she introduced herself, offering him a polite smile. "Nice to meet you."

He lingered for a moment as if debating whether to say more. "Actually, Aries, there’s something I’ve been meaning to ask you."

Aries raised an eyebrow, unsure of what to expect. "Oh? What’s that?"

Keith hesitated, glancing around the bakery before continuing. "I know this might sound strange, but I think you’d be perfect for something my company is working on. We’re launching a new line of jewellery, and we’ve been looking for someone to model the pieces for the campaign. You’ve got the right look, and I think you’d be a great fit for the project."

Aries blinked in surprise. "Me? A model?" She laughed nervously, brushing a strand of hair behind her ear. "I don’t know the first thing about modelling."

"That’s okay," Keith reassured her. "We’d provide all the training and support you’d need. It’s a professional shoot, but we’re looking for someone authentic—someone who hasn’t been in the industry and can bring a fresh perspective. You’d get paid well, of course."

Aries stared at him, unsure if this was some kind of elaborate joke. A model? Her? Sure, she’d heard people say she had a nice figure, but modelling was an entirely different world.

"You don’t have to decide right now," Keith added, sensing her hesitation. "Just think about it. I’ll leave my card with you. If you’re interested, give me a call."

He handed her a sleek business card, the kind that screamed high-end. Aries took it, still trying to wrap her head around what had just happened.

"I’ll... think about it," she finally managed, still feeling a little dazed.

"That’s all I ask," Keith said with a smile. "And if you don’t want to do it, no pressure. But I think you’d be great."

With that, he gave her a nod and headed out the door, leaving Aries standing behind the counter, card in hand.

For a moment, Aries just stood there, staring at the card. She couldn’t believe what had just happened. A modelling offer? From a high-end jewellery company? It sounded too good to be true. She glanced at the card again, reading Keith’s name and contact details. This couldn’t be real, right?

Amy appeared at her side, her eyes wide with curiosity. "Who was that?" she asked, clearly having overheard some of the conversation.

"Some guy from a jewellery company," Aries replied, still staring at the card. "He wants me to be a model for their new campaign."

Amy’s jaw dropped. "No way! That’s amazing!"

"I don’t know, Amy," Aries said, shaking her head. "I’ve never done anything like that before. What if I screw it up? What if it’s a scam?"

Amy frowned, but then her face brightened with determination. "I don’t think it’s a scam, Aries. And as for screwing up—you’ve got this! You’re beautiful and smart, and if they think you can do it, then why not give it a try?"

Aries sighed, feeling the weight of the decision settle on her shoulders. Part of her wanted to jump at the opportunity, but another part of her was terrified. What if she failed? What if she made a fool of herself?

But then she thought about the bakery. About Amy’s tuition. About her parents’ tired faces as they tried to keep the family business afloat. This could be a way out, a way to finally help her family in a big way.

"I’ll think about it," Aries said again, though this time with more conviction.

Amy grinned. "You’d make a killer model, Aries. I can already picture it."

Aries smiled weakly, her mind racing with possibilities. Maybe this was the break she’d been waiting for. Maybe, just maybe, things were finally starting to look up.

As the day went on, Aries found herself thinking more and more about Keith’s offer. Could she really do it? Could she step into a world she knew nothing about and succeed?

Only time would tell. But for the first time in a long while, Aries felt a spark of hope. And she wasn’t going to let it slip away.

End of Chapter 2.

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