When the night finally arrived, Emma felt like she was walking on air. She put on her black dress, fixed her hair, and applied makeup with care. Chloe helped her with final touches, and they took a few selfies in front of the mirror before heading out.
“You look incredible,” Chloe said, admiring her reflection. “Liam is going to be so jealous when he sees you.”
Emma’s smile faltered. She had completely forgotten that Liam might be at the ceremony. He had always been obsessed with his reputation, and he was known to attend networking events to try to rebuild his image.
“He probably won’t come,” Emma said, trying to sound confident. “His reputation is in tatters right now. He’s probably hiding at home, plotting his revenge.”
“Let’s hope so,” Chloe said. “Because tonight is about celebrating you, not worrying about him.”
They drove to the ceremony venue, a fancy hotel in downtown Seattle. The ballroom was already filling up with designers, clients, and industry professionals. Emma scanned the room, looking for familiar faces, and spotted Ethan standing near the bar, talking to a group of people.
“Go talk to him,” Chloe whispered. “I’ll be over here by the buffet.”
Emma nodded and walked over to Ethan, her heart pounding. He looked incredible in a suit that highlighted his tall frame and broad shoulders. When he saw her, his face lit up.
“Emma! You look amazing,” he said, kissing her on the cheek. “I’m so glad you’re here.”
“I wouldn’t miss it,” Emma said, smiling up at him. “Nervous, though. I haven’t even thought about what I’m going to say if I win.”
“You’re going to be fine,” Ethan said, taking her hand. “You’re incredibly talented, and you deserve this award. And even if you don’t win, you’ve already succeeded – you’ve built a career you can be proud of.”
Emma’s heart warmed at his words. Ethan always knew exactly what to say to make her feel better.
The ceremony began, and Emma took her seat among the other finalists. The host announced the nominees for each category, and Emma felt her nerves growing as they approached her category.
“And the finalists for Best Rebrand Project are…” the host announced, reading a list of names. Emma heard her name called, and her heart skipped a beat.
She squeezed Ethan’s hand, and he squeezed back, smiling encouragingly.
“And the winner is…” the host continued, opening the envelope. “Emma Carter, for her work rebranding Nexus!”
Emma’s jaw dropped. She had won! She stood up, her hands shaking, and walked to the stage to accept her award. She could hear Ethan cheering from the audience, and she felt a surge of pride as she accepted the plaque.
