The year was 1998, and New York seemed to pulse at a different frequency that night. The streets around the Lexington Avenue Armory were overflowing with flashes, limousines, and voices blending in English, French, and Italian — the typical frenzy of the Victoria’s Secret Fashion Show, which promised to be the most talked-about event of the season. Among the names walking the runway, Isabella Iero was one of the highlights. At twenty-three, the Italian-American model had become one of the brand’s favorites: long dark hair, a mysterious gaze, and an aura that mixed elegance with rebellion — something that made her stand out from the usual sweetness many models carried. There was something rock’n’roll about her — something that, ironically, matched perfectly with the show’s most unexpected guest. Damon Albarn, frontman of Blur and newly the voice of Gorillaz, had been invited by the brand as the “musical icon of the year.” The fashion world was obsessed with him — his ironic expression, his London accent, and the fact that, in the midst of the Britpop craze, he had a magnetism that felt almost cinematic. Sitting in the front row, between magazine editors and designers, Damon watched the chaos unfold with that lazily curious air only he could pull off. Backstage was organized chaos: nervous laughter, perfume sprays, last-minute zippers being closed. Isabella, in her pink satin robe, sat in front of the mirror while a makeup artist perfected her eyeliner. In the background, she could hear names echoing down the hallway — “Tyra! Heidi! Naomi!” — and the growing murmur of the crowd outside. “Did you see who’s here tonight?” One of the models asked excitedly. “Who?” “Damon Albarn. From Blur. They said he’s sitting front row.” Isabella raised an eyebrow, intrigued. Of course, she knew who he was — his face was on every magazine cover, and “Song 2” was blasting everywhere since the single had exploded. She had always found Damon fascinating, the kind of man who lived somewhere between charm and melancholy. But she had never seen him in person.