Title:Paris
Author:Tapestry
Rating:PG13
Email:Shaddow_Cat@hotmail.com
Standard Disclamer Apply
*denotes thought
8/7/01
"Woman was created from the ribs of man
Not from his head to top him
Nor from his feet to be walked upon
She was made from his side to be his equal
From beneath his arms to be protected
From very near his heart to be loved."
--Anonymous--
oui - yes
bonjour - good morning
bonsoir - good evening
je t'aimé - I love you
beauté - beauty
peiné - sorry
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
~ Chapter 1: Off to Paris!! ~
Serena Duval. A 23 year-old sapphire-eyed blonde waiteress in Marseille,
France. She had pale porcelain skin, and long golden silver hair that
was at the moment, secured in a neat knot behind her head. She knew her
job and hated it. Her boss was a fat greasy little man who had the arms
of an octopus. In fact, if she hadn't needed the money for her studies, she
would have been long gone by now from the tiny greasy little diner.
It was a slow day. Sitting down by the counter, Serena flipped through
a fashion magazine that was displaying Pierre LaConte's latest designs.
She stared at the model on the cover, Minalle Reynaud.
Serena sighed and shook her head. Tossing, the magazine as a rowdy bunch
came into the diner. Pasting on a smile, Serena looked at the customers.
She wanted to roll her eyes when she saw who it was.
Henri du Clerc and his little gang. Henri had been pestering her for
the last month and it was obvious he wasn't going to stop anythime soon.
"Bonjour, ma petite." came his voice.
"Bonjour monsieur, what can I get you today??" she sighed.
"You break my heart, chérie. After courting you for so long, I would have
thought you'd known by now." said Henri feigning a hurtful look.
"Your pardon, Monsieur du Clerc, I cannot remember it. You must tell me,
non??" replied Serena sarcastically.
Henri gave an exaggerated act of weeping as his gang laughed. After that,
he ordered his food and contented himself to watching.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
"Tell me, chérie. Why do you reject my heart so?? I really love you, ma
chérie." asked Henri as Serena was locking up the diner, later that night.
Serena rolled her eyes this time.
"Love, Henri??? You mean lust." replied Serena as she stuffed the key
into her purse. "You do not love anyone but yourself, monsieur."
"How can you say that, chérie?? Sacré Dieu, I do more for you than any
other demoiselles I've ever been with!!"
"Bonsoir, monsieur." said Serena as she walked away down the pavement,
moonlight lighting the way.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Paris, France.
Minalle Reynaud. A 23 year-old fashion model in Paris, France. She stared
up at the ceiling of her living room, her sky blue eyes livid and golden
blonde hair touching the floor. It had been months and those private
investigator agencies still couldn't find one trace of any of her family.
Anybody even related to her.
Minalle Reynaud had been raised in an orphanage and when she'd turned
18 years-old, she'd gone to work as a tour guide where she'd promptly been
'discovered' and became a model.
"Madame, telephone call for you on line 2. It is the private
investigators." said a man who had just entered the living room.
"Merci, Julian." answered Minalle as she picked up the phone by her side
and pressed the second button.
"Oui?"
A cough came over the receiver. "Mademoiselle Reynaud?? This is Monsieur
Deverall speaking and-"
"Give me your report, monsieur. Do not waste time." snapped Minalle.
"Oui, oui. Our agency, has managed to locate a distant relative of yours.
On your mother's side we believe."
"And????" prompted Minalle as she gripped the receiver tightly.
"We believe she is your mother's second cousin's daughter. Your third
cousin, I think."
"What's her name??!!! Where does she live???" snapped Minalled impatiently
not wanting to listen to the investigator rattle off anymore on how the
woman was related to her.
"Her name is Serena Duval. She's 23 years-old, and works as a waitress in
a little diner is Marsielle." answered Deverall.
"Have the agency send me her address and picture. I want to see what she
looks like. Oh, and send your fee to my secretary. Oh, and merci beaucoup
Monsieur Deverall." said Minalle before she replace the reciever.
She was too excited to listen anymore. She had a family!! She had a
cousin!!!
This was the happiest day of her life.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Darien Clavélle. A 25 year-old fashion photographer in Paris, France for
the fashion magazine Monique, named after the founder and editor of the
magazine, Monique de Bour.
"Non!! Non!! Do not stand there like you're a statue or wood. Bend a
little bit...oui, oui...ah smile for me, chére. Okay, that's it!!" exclaimed
Darien as he took the last snap.
The model brushed past him on her way to the dressing room. Smiling coyly,
the model winked boldly, her blonde hair floating behind her.
Darien merely flashed one of his all devastating smiles, his ocean eyes
twinkling as a unruly lock of ebony hair fell into his eyes. The model
nearly tripped from staring at him.
"Darien, you should be ashamed of yourself. She could have tripped and
broken her leg you know." scolded another model walking up to him, her
mahogany hair held tight in a stylish twist, her emerald eyes sparkling
with amusement.
"I don't like working with all these green models, Lita. Where is my
Mina?? And where is Raye??" sighed Darien.
"Sorry, Mina's taken the week off to go relative hunting. Mina wheedled
Raye to go with her. For moral support." smiled Lita.
Darien gave an exaggerated groan.
"What is making my handsome photographer moan so??" came a laughing sweet
voice.
"Maddie. What are you doing here ma petite??" asked Darien his eyes
brightening.
"My boss gave me an early lunch." laughed the chestnut haired girl as
she wrapped her arms around Darien.
"Then we should adjourn and have lunch." announced Darien as he pressed
a kiss to her temple.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Camalita Margot. A 24 year-old fashion model in Paris, France. One hand
reached up to toy with her mahogany tresses while she watched Darien and
Madeline LeBeau walk off hand in hand with bright inquisitive emerald eyes.
"Lita??" came a voice.
"Oui?"
"What are you looking at?? Come on, we must change out of these clothes
or Elizabeth will have a fit." said a burgundy haired woman. Her hair was
almost black with burgundy highlights. Her amber eyes stared at Lita with
a curious gaze.
"Be there in a second, Beryl."
"Suit yourself. Don't say I didn't warn you about Elizabeth's temper."
called Beryl as she headed for the dressing room.
Lita continued to gaze thoughtfully even though Darien and Madeline were
already gone.
"Camalita Margot!! What do you think you're doing just standing there??"
exclaimed Elizabeth Laborteaux in a horrified voice.
"I was thinking Elizabeth."
"About Darien and Madeline again??"
"Oui."
"They make a lovely couple, Lita. What do you always look so hard for??
Problems or flaws in their relationship?? Darien's happy, leave it be."
"I know Madeline is a wonderful girl. But I just can't help feeling that
Darien will be making a mistake by marrying Madeline."
"You and your feelings. Always the romantic. Now, shoo!! Change out of
that expensive outfit, immediately!!" exclaimed Elizabeth.
"Oui, Madame Laborteaux!!" teased Lita as she rushed off into the dressing
room.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Beryl La Croix. A 24 year-old burgundy-haired fashion model with amber
eyes in Paris, France. She shook her head at Lita's behaviour. It seemed
she was still on that feeling Darien and Madeline marrying would be a
mistake. Beryl sighed. Sometimes, she just couldn't figure out her fellow
model.
"Would you like me to wait for you, Lita??" asked Beryl.
"Non. I'll meet you at the cafe, Beryl."
Beryl shrugged and exited. On her way to the cafe, she caught sight of
Darien and Madeline in a deli diner eating spaghetti. Beryl smiled to
herself. They made a handsome couple but Lita was right in some ways. They
suited each other but there wwas still that something missing. It was
probably because Beryl could see Madeline loved Darien to death while
Darien's love wasn't as soul deep as his fiancée's. But...that was none
of her business. As long Darien was happy and it worked for them...who
was she to comment??
*I wonder if Lita wants me to order her a latté??*
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Madeline LeBeau. A 23 year-old chestnut-haired tour guide of the
Eiffel Tower sat in a diner across the man she loved. She stared at the
face of her fiancé. He was busily swallowing a mouthful of spaghetti.
Her eyes gazed at him with love. Her eyes like wet jade filled with
love and hope as she turned to look at her hand where her engagement ring,
a gold band with a briliant sparkling solitaire rested on her ring finger.
"What are you thinking about darling??" asked Darien as he looked up from
his meal and caught sight of her goofy smile and her intense stare at her
hand.
"I was thinking how much in love I am with you." smiled Madeline.
Darien looked up at her, surprise evident in his eyes. Slowly, his lips
curved into a smile.
"Oh chérie,"
Darien leaned over the table and kissed his fiancée in a deeply intimate
kiss.
There were murmurs of 'oohs' and 'aahs' over the handsome couple who
seemed oblivious to anything else except their kiss.
When they broke the kiss, Madeline smiled but something seemed to be
bothering her now....
"Je t'aimé, Darien." whispered Madeline as she stared into Darien's
ocean blue eyes.
Darien merely smiled.
Her unease grew....he hadn't returned the words.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Marseille, France.
Raquel Deveraux. A 24 year-old fashion photographer who worked in Paris,
France for the magazine, Monique. But right now, she was currently in
Marseille, France with a fashion model friend of hers who had come hunting
for a distant cousin whom she'd never met.
"Raye!! Hurry up, I think it's this road!!" called a voice.
Raye sighed. What had possessed her to agree to come to Marseille with
Minalle Reynaud???
"Yes...yes...that's what you said the LAST time, Mina."
"This time, I'm SURE of it, Raye." smiled Mina as she stared at the
address in her hand.
"Oh fine."
Raye groaned to herself. She should have been in Paris. Taking photos of
fashion models. Scenery. Landscape. Not trudging around in Marseille
following a friend to look for some long-lost relative.
"We're here!!!" smiled Mina as she pointed to the tiny diner.
Raye wrinkled her nose. Whoever this cousin was, she couldn't possibly
be a good influence if she worked in a tiny greasy place like this.
"Are you sure it's the right place, Mina?? It doesn't look...um....
savory."
"Of course I'm sure!! See??? Antoine's Bar and Diner." smiled Mina
enthusiastically as she pushed open the little diner.
Raye stared around at the surrounding walls. Old pictures and grease
spots covered the wall. The whole diner smelled of smoke and fried chicken.
She tried not to gag. The ambience sure wasn't that alluring. There were
plenty of men though, and one look behind the counter and Raye knew why.
Behind the counter, a beautiful young woman with silver-blonde hair was
wiping the counter. Her head was bent so she couldn't tell what colour her
eyes were.
Mina seemed to stop breathing....
The woman looked up and Raye saw her eyes were a brilliant sparkling
sapphire blue.
"Bonjour mademoiselles, may I help you??" asked the girl in a strange
tinkling voice that sounded like tiny bells.
Mina gasped.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Serena stared at the two strange women who had just entered. One blonde
and another raven haired. The blonde looked familiar, but she couldn't
place her. They looked too well-dressed to be here in this smelly tiny
yucky diner.
"Serena?? Serena Duval?" asked the blonde.
"Oui?? Do I know you, mademoiselle??" asked Serena politely.
"I-I'm Minalle Reynaud. You're my cousin..."
Serena stared at the blonde dumbly. "Minalle Reynaud?? The model?" asked
Serena.
"Oui."
"You're my cousin??"
"Oui."
Serena tilted her head slightly. Trying to discern if this was a joke.
"Um...I think you must be mistaken, Mademoiselle Reynaud. I have no
family. I was raised in an orphange when my parents died 15 years ago."
stated Serena in a confused tone.
"You're REALLY my cousin. Well, actually third cousin. But you're my
relation no less!!" said Mina.
"Uh-huh...I can see a slight resemblance, but that doesn't mean I'm your
cousin." reasoned Serena.
"I had a Private Investigator look for any trace of any family. Your
mother was my mother's second cousin. Take a look at this report yourself."
said Mina as she shoved papers into her hands.
Serena glanced at the papers. "So, you're not joking??" asked Serena
warily.
"Non."
"I'm related to you?"
"Oui." smiled Mina.
"Oh. I guess we could talk about this later when I get off from work."
"Great!!" chirped Mina. "I'll see you at 10pm at your house??"
"Um...sure." answered Serena. She was still reeling from the news that she
had a cousin and she was Minalle Reynaud.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Later, Mina and Raye were sitting in Serena's apartnent in front of a
fire. They were chatting away and Mina and Serena were asking questions
about one another. Raye had to smile to herself. The two cousins had plenty
of similarities between them. They could almost have been sisters.
"So what are you doing now?? Why do you work in that diner if you hate the
place??" asked Mina.
"I needed the money." sighed Serena. "For college. Luckily, I'll be
graduating once my exam results come out." she smiled brightly.
"Wonderful!! Then you can come with me to Paris!! Quit this horrible
job that you have!!" exclaimed Mina enthusiastically.
Serena gaped at her new found cousin.
"Paris?? But I cannot!! I wouldn't be able to find a job until I get my
college degree." said Serena sadly.
"Come be a temporary model!! I know blonde models are the latest rage in
Paris with the fashion designers. With hair like yours...and a face like
that...who knows??" grinned Mina.
"Moi??? Fashion model?? Mina, you may be my cousin, but I'm starting to
doubt that." commented Serena.
"Actually...I think Mina's right. She may just have hit on a bright idea
for once." mused Raye as she looked Serena over.
"Raquel-"
"Raye."
"Raye, be serious. I am no beauté."
"You are merely modest, chére. I am a photographer, I know beauty when I
see it. In fact, I believe you would be very photogenic." smiled Raye.
"But-"
"It is settled then." said Mina smugly.
Serena groaned...
They weren't even here for 24 hours and already her cousin was running
her life. *But it would be nice to be able to see Paris..* thought Serena
to herself.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Paris, France...
Darien Clavélle dropped his jacket to the floor of his apartment and
slumped onto the couch lazily. Today had been a busy day of photo shoots
for the latest fashion lines of Isben DePaolo, and Mina was no where to
be seen. The cover girl for this month's issue of Monique.
Didn't Mina know that blonde models were the latest rage among fashion
designers??
He sighed out loudly.
A face of a woman swam before his eyes. Eyes like wet jade filled with
trusting love. Chestnut strands of hair that was cut so the sides touched
her collarbone while the back was short and cooling.
"Maddie..."
His fiancée.
She loved him beyond words. She told him that many times. But everytime
he wanted to say the same words to her, they got stuck in his throat and
a heavy feeling settled in his stomach.
Like today, she'd said she loved him. But he hadn't returned the gesture.
He had only been able to smile. What was wrong??
He adored his fiancée. She was sweet, beautiful and kind-hearted. He
was attracted to her, sure. But was that enough to make a marriage work??
"I love her." said Darien firmly. But somewhere in the recesses of his
mind, a tiny voice sneered at him.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Lita trudged heavily to the phone. It was 1 in the morning and whoever
was calling had to have a VERY good excuse. She was tired and cranky and
wanted her beauty sleep.
Picking up the phone, Lita mumbled something about a painful death.
"Whoever this is, it better be good. It's 1 am, I've had a busy day and
I'm VERY cranky right now!!" she snapped into the phone as she put the
receiver to her ear.
"Lita!! It's Mina! I found my cousin." came a perky voice over the phone.
"Mina?? Really??" asked Lita as she sat up straighter, eager to hear the
good news.
"Oui, oh Lita, I'm so very happy." exclaimed Mina over the phone.
"I'm happy for you too. But, next time...don't call so late or early.
Just because you don't have work doesn't mean I don't." reprimanded Lita
sternly.
"Oui, oui...my pardons, peiné Camalita." giggled Mina. "I got carried
away talking with Serena."
Lita humphed. "So, when are you coming back. Beryl and I have to put up
with Darien's little moods and quirks about wanting his star blonde model
back. Along with his co-worker."
"Ah, Raye has already chosen my cousin to be her new star blonde model,
Lita.
"Your cousin??"
"Well, I asked her to be a temporary model. I know one of our models just
quit to get married to that artist."
"Oui...Monique is still angry and frustrated. She couldn't find a
replacement for the model." agreed Lita.
"Oui, so when I get back to Paris in two days, I'll bring my cousin to
see her and see if Monique gives her the thumbs up."
"Hah, if Raye has already given her thumbs up, I don't see why Monique
shouldn't."
"Ah...but you're forgetting Darien. His tastes and Raye's don't always
coincide." reminded Mina.
Lita yawned. "Right. Now, I need sleep. I have another shoot in the
morning at 5.30am. I'd like to get some shut eye now. I'll see you in two
days??"
"Oui. Good night Lita."
"Bye.."
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
"Lita, you look tired, are you well??" asked Beryl as she stared at Lita.
"Oui, Beryl. Mina called last night. She said she found her cousin."
"That's wonderful! When's she coming back??" asked Beryl.
"Who's coming back??" came a deep voice.
"Who else but Mina and Raye??" said Lita as she turned to look at Darien's
inquisitive face and bright questioning eyes.
"Well?? When then??"
"Two days time."
"Is her cousin coming??" questioned Beryl curiously.
"Oui."
Darien merely nodded and turned his back and gave orders to the crew.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Serena had packed all her bags and were now loading them into the taxi.
Mina had asked if Serena was going to pack her furniture. Serena had
laughingly told her it was rented and only a few items were hers.
"So, we'll have people send it to my home in Paris??" asked Mina.
"Whatever. It doesn't really mater. I'll have to come back to Marseille
for my graduation and my results anyway.." stated Serena as she absently
picked up some CD's from a rack.
"Well, we better get going or we won't arrive at our estimated time."
said Raye as placed her fists on her hips.
"Yes, Mademoiselle Deveraux." mumbled Mina sarcastically.
"What was that, Reynaud??"
"Nothing." muttered Mina.
Serena laughed.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
It was evening when they finally arrived. Serena stared at the hustle and
bustle of the bright lively city. This was the first time she'd set foot
in Paris....
It was magnificent.
Serena could only gape in wonder at the beautiful sights. Paris was
getting ready for the night to come...
Mina smiled at her cousin's expression of awe.
"Beautiful sights, non??" asked Raye.
"Oui...it's lovely.." sighed Serena.
"We'll take you shopping and see some of the nightlife tonight, Serena.
Think you're up to it??" asked Mina with a twinkle in her eye.
"Are you??" challenged Serena.
"Mais oui, of course."
"Alright, I'll do it." exclaimed Serena.
Mina and Raye smiled...
"Welcome to Paris, Serena. We think you'll fit right in here." said Raye.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
AN: Raquel is pronounced Ray-kel
Camalita is pronounced Ka-ma-lita
Margot is prounounced Mar-go
To be continued...
Next Up: ~ Chapter 2: City of Lights ~
Well??? Email me and comment please. :)) I think I'm really going to like
writing this story!! :)
Author:Tapestry
Rating:PG13
Email:Shaddow_Cat@hotmail.com
Standard Disclamer Apply
*denotes thought
8/7/01
"Woman was created from the ribs of man
Not from his head to top him
Nor from his feet to be walked upon
She was made from his side to be his equal
From beneath his arms to be protected
From very near his heart to be loved."
--Anonymous--
oui - yes
bonjour - good morning
bonsoir - good evening
je t'aimé - I love you
beauté - beauty
peiné - sorry
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
~ Chapter 1: Off to Paris!! ~
Serena Duval. A 23 year-old sapphire-eyed blonde waiteress in Marseille,
France. She had pale porcelain skin, and long golden silver hair that
was at the moment, secured in a neat knot behind her head. She knew her
job and hated it. Her boss was a fat greasy little man who had the arms
of an octopus. In fact, if she hadn't needed the money for her studies, she
would have been long gone by now from the tiny greasy little diner.
It was a slow day. Sitting down by the counter, Serena flipped through
a fashion magazine that was displaying Pierre LaConte's latest designs.
She stared at the model on the cover, Minalle Reynaud.
Serena sighed and shook her head. Tossing, the magazine as a rowdy bunch
came into the diner. Pasting on a smile, Serena looked at the customers.
She wanted to roll her eyes when she saw who it was.
Henri du Clerc and his little gang. Henri had been pestering her for
the last month and it was obvious he wasn't going to stop anythime soon.
"Bonjour, ma petite." came his voice.
"Bonjour monsieur, what can I get you today??" she sighed.
"You break my heart, chérie. After courting you for so long, I would have
thought you'd known by now." said Henri feigning a hurtful look.
"Your pardon, Monsieur du Clerc, I cannot remember it. You must tell me,
non??" replied Serena sarcastically.
Henri gave an exaggerated act of weeping as his gang laughed. After that,
he ordered his food and contented himself to watching.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
"Tell me, chérie. Why do you reject my heart so?? I really love you, ma
chérie." asked Henri as Serena was locking up the diner, later that night.
Serena rolled her eyes this time.
"Love, Henri??? You mean lust." replied Serena as she stuffed the key
into her purse. "You do not love anyone but yourself, monsieur."
"How can you say that, chérie?? Sacré Dieu, I do more for you than any
other demoiselles I've ever been with!!"
"Bonsoir, monsieur." said Serena as she walked away down the pavement,
moonlight lighting the way.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Paris, France.
Minalle Reynaud. A 23 year-old fashion model in Paris, France. She stared
up at the ceiling of her living room, her sky blue eyes livid and golden
blonde hair touching the floor. It had been months and those private
investigator agencies still couldn't find one trace of any of her family.
Anybody even related to her.
Minalle Reynaud had been raised in an orphanage and when she'd turned
18 years-old, she'd gone to work as a tour guide where she'd promptly been
'discovered' and became a model.
"Madame, telephone call for you on line 2. It is the private
investigators." said a man who had just entered the living room.
"Merci, Julian." answered Minalle as she picked up the phone by her side
and pressed the second button.
"Oui?"
A cough came over the receiver. "Mademoiselle Reynaud?? This is Monsieur
Deverall speaking and-"
"Give me your report, monsieur. Do not waste time." snapped Minalle.
"Oui, oui. Our agency, has managed to locate a distant relative of yours.
On your mother's side we believe."
"And????" prompted Minalle as she gripped the receiver tightly.
"We believe she is your mother's second cousin's daughter. Your third
cousin, I think."
"What's her name??!!! Where does she live???" snapped Minalled impatiently
not wanting to listen to the investigator rattle off anymore on how the
woman was related to her.
"Her name is Serena Duval. She's 23 years-old, and works as a waitress in
a little diner is Marsielle." answered Deverall.
"Have the agency send me her address and picture. I want to see what she
looks like. Oh, and send your fee to my secretary. Oh, and merci beaucoup
Monsieur Deverall." said Minalle before she replace the reciever.
She was too excited to listen anymore. She had a family!! She had a
cousin!!!
This was the happiest day of her life.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Darien Clavélle. A 25 year-old fashion photographer in Paris, France for
the fashion magazine Monique, named after the founder and editor of the
magazine, Monique de Bour.
"Non!! Non!! Do not stand there like you're a statue or wood. Bend a
little bit...oui, oui...ah smile for me, chére. Okay, that's it!!" exclaimed
Darien as he took the last snap.
The model brushed past him on her way to the dressing room. Smiling coyly,
the model winked boldly, her blonde hair floating behind her.
Darien merely flashed one of his all devastating smiles, his ocean eyes
twinkling as a unruly lock of ebony hair fell into his eyes. The model
nearly tripped from staring at him.
"Darien, you should be ashamed of yourself. She could have tripped and
broken her leg you know." scolded another model walking up to him, her
mahogany hair held tight in a stylish twist, her emerald eyes sparkling
with amusement.
"I don't like working with all these green models, Lita. Where is my
Mina?? And where is Raye??" sighed Darien.
"Sorry, Mina's taken the week off to go relative hunting. Mina wheedled
Raye to go with her. For moral support." smiled Lita.
Darien gave an exaggerated groan.
"What is making my handsome photographer moan so??" came a laughing sweet
voice.
"Maddie. What are you doing here ma petite??" asked Darien his eyes
brightening.
"My boss gave me an early lunch." laughed the chestnut haired girl as
she wrapped her arms around Darien.
"Then we should adjourn and have lunch." announced Darien as he pressed
a kiss to her temple.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Camalita Margot. A 24 year-old fashion model in Paris, France. One hand
reached up to toy with her mahogany tresses while she watched Darien and
Madeline LeBeau walk off hand in hand with bright inquisitive emerald eyes.
"Lita??" came a voice.
"Oui?"
"What are you looking at?? Come on, we must change out of these clothes
or Elizabeth will have a fit." said a burgundy haired woman. Her hair was
almost black with burgundy highlights. Her amber eyes stared at Lita with
a curious gaze.
"Be there in a second, Beryl."
"Suit yourself. Don't say I didn't warn you about Elizabeth's temper."
called Beryl as she headed for the dressing room.
Lita continued to gaze thoughtfully even though Darien and Madeline were
already gone.
"Camalita Margot!! What do you think you're doing just standing there??"
exclaimed Elizabeth Laborteaux in a horrified voice.
"I was thinking Elizabeth."
"About Darien and Madeline again??"
"Oui."
"They make a lovely couple, Lita. What do you always look so hard for??
Problems or flaws in their relationship?? Darien's happy, leave it be."
"I know Madeline is a wonderful girl. But I just can't help feeling that
Darien will be making a mistake by marrying Madeline."
"You and your feelings. Always the romantic. Now, shoo!! Change out of
that expensive outfit, immediately!!" exclaimed Elizabeth.
"Oui, Madame Laborteaux!!" teased Lita as she rushed off into the dressing
room.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Beryl La Croix. A 24 year-old burgundy-haired fashion model with amber
eyes in Paris, France. She shook her head at Lita's behaviour. It seemed
she was still on that feeling Darien and Madeline marrying would be a
mistake. Beryl sighed. Sometimes, she just couldn't figure out her fellow
model.
"Would you like me to wait for you, Lita??" asked Beryl.
"Non. I'll meet you at the cafe, Beryl."
Beryl shrugged and exited. On her way to the cafe, she caught sight of
Darien and Madeline in a deli diner eating spaghetti. Beryl smiled to
herself. They made a handsome couple but Lita was right in some ways. They
suited each other but there wwas still that something missing. It was
probably because Beryl could see Madeline loved Darien to death while
Darien's love wasn't as soul deep as his fiancée's. But...that was none
of her business. As long Darien was happy and it worked for them...who
was she to comment??
*I wonder if Lita wants me to order her a latté??*
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Madeline LeBeau. A 23 year-old chestnut-haired tour guide of the
Eiffel Tower sat in a diner across the man she loved. She stared at the
face of her fiancé. He was busily swallowing a mouthful of spaghetti.
Her eyes gazed at him with love. Her eyes like wet jade filled with
love and hope as she turned to look at her hand where her engagement ring,
a gold band with a briliant sparkling solitaire rested on her ring finger.
"What are you thinking about darling??" asked Darien as he looked up from
his meal and caught sight of her goofy smile and her intense stare at her
hand.
"I was thinking how much in love I am with you." smiled Madeline.
Darien looked up at her, surprise evident in his eyes. Slowly, his lips
curved into a smile.
"Oh chérie,"
Darien leaned over the table and kissed his fiancée in a deeply intimate
kiss.
There were murmurs of 'oohs' and 'aahs' over the handsome couple who
seemed oblivious to anything else except their kiss.
When they broke the kiss, Madeline smiled but something seemed to be
bothering her now....
"Je t'aimé, Darien." whispered Madeline as she stared into Darien's
ocean blue eyes.
Darien merely smiled.
Her unease grew....he hadn't returned the words.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Marseille, France.
Raquel Deveraux. A 24 year-old fashion photographer who worked in Paris,
France for the magazine, Monique. But right now, she was currently in
Marseille, France with a fashion model friend of hers who had come hunting
for a distant cousin whom she'd never met.
"Raye!! Hurry up, I think it's this road!!" called a voice.
Raye sighed. What had possessed her to agree to come to Marseille with
Minalle Reynaud???
"Yes...yes...that's what you said the LAST time, Mina."
"This time, I'm SURE of it, Raye." smiled Mina as she stared at the
address in her hand.
"Oh fine."
Raye groaned to herself. She should have been in Paris. Taking photos of
fashion models. Scenery. Landscape. Not trudging around in Marseille
following a friend to look for some long-lost relative.
"We're here!!!" smiled Mina as she pointed to the tiny diner.
Raye wrinkled her nose. Whoever this cousin was, she couldn't possibly
be a good influence if she worked in a tiny greasy place like this.
"Are you sure it's the right place, Mina?? It doesn't look...um....
savory."
"Of course I'm sure!! See??? Antoine's Bar and Diner." smiled Mina
enthusiastically as she pushed open the little diner.
Raye stared around at the surrounding walls. Old pictures and grease
spots covered the wall. The whole diner smelled of smoke and fried chicken.
She tried not to gag. The ambience sure wasn't that alluring. There were
plenty of men though, and one look behind the counter and Raye knew why.
Behind the counter, a beautiful young woman with silver-blonde hair was
wiping the counter. Her head was bent so she couldn't tell what colour her
eyes were.
Mina seemed to stop breathing....
The woman looked up and Raye saw her eyes were a brilliant sparkling
sapphire blue.
"Bonjour mademoiselles, may I help you??" asked the girl in a strange
tinkling voice that sounded like tiny bells.
Mina gasped.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Serena stared at the two strange women who had just entered. One blonde
and another raven haired. The blonde looked familiar, but she couldn't
place her. They looked too well-dressed to be here in this smelly tiny
yucky diner.
"Serena?? Serena Duval?" asked the blonde.
"Oui?? Do I know you, mademoiselle??" asked Serena politely.
"I-I'm Minalle Reynaud. You're my cousin..."
Serena stared at the blonde dumbly. "Minalle Reynaud?? The model?" asked
Serena.
"Oui."
"You're my cousin??"
"Oui."
Serena tilted her head slightly. Trying to discern if this was a joke.
"Um...I think you must be mistaken, Mademoiselle Reynaud. I have no
family. I was raised in an orphange when my parents died 15 years ago."
stated Serena in a confused tone.
"You're REALLY my cousin. Well, actually third cousin. But you're my
relation no less!!" said Mina.
"Uh-huh...I can see a slight resemblance, but that doesn't mean I'm your
cousin." reasoned Serena.
"I had a Private Investigator look for any trace of any family. Your
mother was my mother's second cousin. Take a look at this report yourself."
said Mina as she shoved papers into her hands.
Serena glanced at the papers. "So, you're not joking??" asked Serena
warily.
"Non."
"I'm related to you?"
"Oui." smiled Mina.
"Oh. I guess we could talk about this later when I get off from work."
"Great!!" chirped Mina. "I'll see you at 10pm at your house??"
"Um...sure." answered Serena. She was still reeling from the news that she
had a cousin and she was Minalle Reynaud.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Later, Mina and Raye were sitting in Serena's apartnent in front of a
fire. They were chatting away and Mina and Serena were asking questions
about one another. Raye had to smile to herself. The two cousins had plenty
of similarities between them. They could almost have been sisters.
"So what are you doing now?? Why do you work in that diner if you hate the
place??" asked Mina.
"I needed the money." sighed Serena. "For college. Luckily, I'll be
graduating once my exam results come out." she smiled brightly.
"Wonderful!! Then you can come with me to Paris!! Quit this horrible
job that you have!!" exclaimed Mina enthusiastically.
Serena gaped at her new found cousin.
"Paris?? But I cannot!! I wouldn't be able to find a job until I get my
college degree." said Serena sadly.
"Come be a temporary model!! I know blonde models are the latest rage in
Paris with the fashion designers. With hair like yours...and a face like
that...who knows??" grinned Mina.
"Moi??? Fashion model?? Mina, you may be my cousin, but I'm starting to
doubt that." commented Serena.
"Actually...I think Mina's right. She may just have hit on a bright idea
for once." mused Raye as she looked Serena over.
"Raquel-"
"Raye."
"Raye, be serious. I am no beauté."
"You are merely modest, chére. I am a photographer, I know beauty when I
see it. In fact, I believe you would be very photogenic." smiled Raye.
"But-"
"It is settled then." said Mina smugly.
Serena groaned...
They weren't even here for 24 hours and already her cousin was running
her life. *But it would be nice to be able to see Paris..* thought Serena
to herself.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Paris, France...
Darien Clavélle dropped his jacket to the floor of his apartment and
slumped onto the couch lazily. Today had been a busy day of photo shoots
for the latest fashion lines of Isben DePaolo, and Mina was no where to
be seen. The cover girl for this month's issue of Monique.
Didn't Mina know that blonde models were the latest rage among fashion
designers??
He sighed out loudly.
A face of a woman swam before his eyes. Eyes like wet jade filled with
trusting love. Chestnut strands of hair that was cut so the sides touched
her collarbone while the back was short and cooling.
"Maddie..."
His fiancée.
She loved him beyond words. She told him that many times. But everytime
he wanted to say the same words to her, they got stuck in his throat and
a heavy feeling settled in his stomach.
Like today, she'd said she loved him. But he hadn't returned the gesture.
He had only been able to smile. What was wrong??
He adored his fiancée. She was sweet, beautiful and kind-hearted. He
was attracted to her, sure. But was that enough to make a marriage work??
"I love her." said Darien firmly. But somewhere in the recesses of his
mind, a tiny voice sneered at him.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Lita trudged heavily to the phone. It was 1 in the morning and whoever
was calling had to have a VERY good excuse. She was tired and cranky and
wanted her beauty sleep.
Picking up the phone, Lita mumbled something about a painful death.
"Whoever this is, it better be good. It's 1 am, I've had a busy day and
I'm VERY cranky right now!!" she snapped into the phone as she put the
receiver to her ear.
"Lita!! It's Mina! I found my cousin." came a perky voice over the phone.
"Mina?? Really??" asked Lita as she sat up straighter, eager to hear the
good news.
"Oui, oh Lita, I'm so very happy." exclaimed Mina over the phone.
"I'm happy for you too. But, next time...don't call so late or early.
Just because you don't have work doesn't mean I don't." reprimanded Lita
sternly.
"Oui, oui...my pardons, peiné Camalita." giggled Mina. "I got carried
away talking with Serena."
Lita humphed. "So, when are you coming back. Beryl and I have to put up
with Darien's little moods and quirks about wanting his star blonde model
back. Along with his co-worker."
"Ah, Raye has already chosen my cousin to be her new star blonde model,
Lita.
"Your cousin??"
"Well, I asked her to be a temporary model. I know one of our models just
quit to get married to that artist."
"Oui...Monique is still angry and frustrated. She couldn't find a
replacement for the model." agreed Lita.
"Oui, so when I get back to Paris in two days, I'll bring my cousin to
see her and see if Monique gives her the thumbs up."
"Hah, if Raye has already given her thumbs up, I don't see why Monique
shouldn't."
"Ah...but you're forgetting Darien. His tastes and Raye's don't always
coincide." reminded Mina.
Lita yawned. "Right. Now, I need sleep. I have another shoot in the
morning at 5.30am. I'd like to get some shut eye now. I'll see you in two
days??"
"Oui. Good night Lita."
"Bye.."
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
"Lita, you look tired, are you well??" asked Beryl as she stared at Lita.
"Oui, Beryl. Mina called last night. She said she found her cousin."
"That's wonderful! When's she coming back??" asked Beryl.
"Who's coming back??" came a deep voice.
"Who else but Mina and Raye??" said Lita as she turned to look at Darien's
inquisitive face and bright questioning eyes.
"Well?? When then??"
"Two days time."
"Is her cousin coming??" questioned Beryl curiously.
"Oui."
Darien merely nodded and turned his back and gave orders to the crew.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Serena had packed all her bags and were now loading them into the taxi.
Mina had asked if Serena was going to pack her furniture. Serena had
laughingly told her it was rented and only a few items were hers.
"So, we'll have people send it to my home in Paris??" asked Mina.
"Whatever. It doesn't really mater. I'll have to come back to Marseille
for my graduation and my results anyway.." stated Serena as she absently
picked up some CD's from a rack.
"Well, we better get going or we won't arrive at our estimated time."
said Raye as placed her fists on her hips.
"Yes, Mademoiselle Deveraux." mumbled Mina sarcastically.
"What was that, Reynaud??"
"Nothing." muttered Mina.
Serena laughed.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
It was evening when they finally arrived. Serena stared at the hustle and
bustle of the bright lively city. This was the first time she'd set foot
in Paris....
It was magnificent.
Serena could only gape in wonder at the beautiful sights. Paris was
getting ready for the night to come...
Mina smiled at her cousin's expression of awe.
"Beautiful sights, non??" asked Raye.
"Oui...it's lovely.." sighed Serena.
"We'll take you shopping and see some of the nightlife tonight, Serena.
Think you're up to it??" asked Mina with a twinkle in her eye.
"Are you??" challenged Serena.
"Mais oui, of course."
"Alright, I'll do it." exclaimed Serena.
Mina and Raye smiled...
"Welcome to Paris, Serena. We think you'll fit right in here." said Raye.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
AN: Raquel is pronounced Ray-kel
Camalita is pronounced Ka-ma-lita
Margot is prounounced Mar-go
To be continued...
Next Up: ~ Chapter 2: City of Lights ~
Well??? Email me and comment please. :)) I think I'm really going to like
writing this story!! :)