Paris: where it all began
Paris: That's where it all began and sadly that's where it would all end. It was Paris fashion week and Daniel finally managed to score an invite. His father always invited Alex who, according to him was interested in fashion and the clothes rather than the models wearing them. Daniel spent most of his time in the events hitting on the models who weren't the least bit interested. He sat next to his brother in the third row and watched as the supermodels walked the runway. He felt like a kid in a toy store as he watched the 'big five' take turns walking the runway. The 'big five' (Naomi Campbell, Christy Turlington, Linda Evangelista, Cindy Crawford and Wilhelmina Slater) were the most demanded supermodels in the industry, signing multimillion dollar contracts and when they were in the room, people took notice. But the one who really did it for him was Wilhelmina Slater, the one whose posters hung in his dorm room when he was still in college, the one he was seriously crushing on. The girl had it going on, she was not just a pretty face with a slamming body, she was supposed to be a genius which wasn't hard to believe as she was Fey Sommers' apprentice /protégé and was rumored to be a future Editor-In-Chief of Mode. Even though the girl was his brother's friend he's never been formally introduced to her. He also didn't believe that Wilhelmina and Alex were friends. 'How can a guy and a girl that pretty be just friends? He's lying he's tapping that.' He thought.
After the show, he decided to go back to the hotel and get some sleep as it had been a long day, a long week to be precise as fashion week seemed to take longer than a week. However, when he got to the hotel he decided to take little trip to the bar before going to bed. As he went into the bar, he spotted a familiar figure and as he got closer the figure became too familiar, the long brown hair, the sun tan and the posture… Wilhelmina Slater? He walked over to the bar and chose a bar stool right next to the girl. He was nervous as hell, as he's never been formally introduced to her before.
"Excusez-moi, ce…siège est…pris?"
"Non" She replied without even looking at him before taking a sip from her glass. Daniel hopped on the bar stool right next to hers.
"Tu…est belle." She chuckled softly at his pronunciation and finally faced the stranger that was beginning annoy her and recognized him immediately.
"Ou as-tu appris le Français?"
"Oui Oui" She couldn't stop herself from laughing at him and he knew he was caught and his face washed with embarrassment.
"Est-ce que c'est ta première fois en France?"
"Huh?...Uh…What?"
"You don't speak any French, do you?"
"Uh…no. I thought…I was just…"
"You were just trying to impress me." She smiled and Daniel began to relax a little. "Hoping you might get laid…" He chuckled nervously
"Uh no. You are just…you're very beautiful." She rolled her eyes but didn't want to be rude.
"Thank you." She downed her liquor and spoke to the bartender in French. Daniel assumed that she was ordering another drink. "So are those the only French phrases you know?" She questioned while grinning at him.
"Well, I know a few but I suck, though. You seem to be good in French."
"Well I attended school here for a number of years, plus I've studied French from kindergarten."
"That's impressive. I'm Daniel, by the way." He extended his hand and she did the same and they shook hands.
"Wilhelmina Sl-…"
"Slater" Daniel finished for her "Wow, your hand is so soft…I…I mean of course I know who you are. How could I not know the most beautiful supermodel to ever walk the earth?" Wilhelmina rolled eyes
"That's so corny, it's wrong."
"No it isn't, it's the truth."
"No, you're just saying that."
"No I'm not, I'm serious but you don't have to believe me. You know I never thought in a million years that I will ever have a conversation with Wilhelmina Slater in a bar, of all places."
"This isn't just a bar, Daniel. This is the Ritz."
"Touché. So the question that's been on my mind since I spotted you here is…What is Wilhelmina Slater doing in a bar alone after such a great show? Didn't you have an after party to go to?"
"I always have a party to go to but tonight is just…one of those nights, you know. I'm not in the mood. Wait you were there? You saw the show?"
"Yeah and I thought you were amazing, as always."
"It's nothing, really. Just walk straight ahead with your head held high, stop, pose, turn, walk back up the runway."
"Come on that can't be all. I mean you get to travel the world for photo shoots; grace the covers of magazines in the country; you get invited to some of the most important events. You get paid several millions of dollars, it's gotta be great. I mean you get to explore cultures around world." She snorted and let out a small chuckle "What?"
"I don't get to explore anything. I get off the plane and head to the hotel for 30 minutes, an hour if I'm lucky; head off to the shoot ;back to the hotel or head for the airport because I have to be early for another shoot in another country or report to work."
"Wow..."
"It's glamorous but it's not that great."
"You don't even go shopping? You ladies love shopping."
"It all depends on how much time I have. Most of the time after a shoot, models are allowed to take the clothes with them. The ones which won't be used on major publications, of course." Daniel chuckled
"What? What is so funny?"
"No, it's just…you. You are not what I imagined you'd be like."
"How did you think I'd be like?"
"I don't…I…I mean…you seem…"
"What, cat got your tongue, Daniel? Let me help you. You assumed I'd be stuck up, bitchy, uptight, should I go on?"
"Well, sort of. No offence."
"None taken. I know the media will have you believe that supermodels are ditzy, stuck up bitches who throw tantrums and do not converse with normal people."
"But not you, Ms Slater, you are one in a million. Uh…would you…like to go out with me…sometime?" She let out a hysterical laugh and watched him carefully
"Oh, my God you are serious. I'm so sorry."
"I am…serious. You seem like a lovely person."
"You don't even know me."
"Well…"
"And jerking off on magazine covers of me doesn't count." He let out a nervous chuckle "Ah, guilty." She laughed along with him.
"As charged.
"So he's honest. That's a rare quality in men."
"Thank you, Ms. Slater. And to reply to the statement you made earlier; I do know you. I've seen you numerous times at the Meade studio during photo shoots."
"I was wondering just when were you planning on owning up to that."
"You've seen me?"
"A few times at shoots, standing shyly and creepily in the back, looking at models like some pieces of meat with a bulge in your pants. Yes, I've seen you." Now he was embarrassed
"Oh"
"I'm sorry about before, I didn't mean to laugh in your face like that. Now before I even consider going out with you I have to ask, how old are you?"
"21"
"Oh, so how about tomorrow night?"
"What?"
"The date, Daniel. The one you just asked me out on."
"So that's a…yes?"
"Yes."
"Why?"
"What do you mean why?"
"I mean why'd you say yes?"
"You need a reason? From me?"
"I don't mean to be…you know, an asshole. But I'm interested in knowing why you said yes, I mean I'm a nobody and you're Wilhelmina freakin' Slater…I mean…" She moved closer and looked him in the eye.
"Let's just say I want to see how hard you'll try to impress me."
"Really? Wait…are you serious?"
"As a heart attack." She got off the bar stool and opened her clutch, looking for something. He watched her with curiosity when she retrieved an eyebrow pencil.
"Okay, uh…so should we go for drinks? Dinner…maybe? Should I pick the place?" Now she leaned in more and moved closer with her mouth dangerously close to his ear
"Why don't you surprise me?" She whispered and gently grabbed his arm and rolled up his sleeve. Her warm soft hands were driving him crazy and Daniel suddenly felt the blood rushing down to his…special place. She wrote her cell phone number on his arm with the eyebrow pencil, every stroke and every touch making him want to do her right then and there. The very scent of her that was now etched in his memory drove him wild.
"But remember…whichever place or romance style you choose will determine the outcome of the evening." His heart skipped a beat and he swallowed hard.
"Uh…" He lost his words and his face was no longer pasty but a light shade of red as their blue eyes met.
"Sweet dreams." She winked and then walked away with an exaggerated sway of her hips
"B-…b-…bye..Miss Slat-…Wilhelmina." He let out a shaky sigh and took a swig of his beer. He knew he had to pull out all the stops for this girl. He let out another heavy sigh "God, I'm in trouble."
