Imperfectionist has resurrected and has a brand new chapter to her story Portrayal of the Beautiful!
Well I'm sorry if I have been away for such a long time but I'm doing my GCSE exams at the moment, in fact I got 2 more exams left.
I think everyone might have forgotten what this story is about so I shall remind you of it.
In a modern Tortall, Keladry of Mindelan isthe mostfamousphotographer (think Mario Testino) and she was one day employed by Jonathan who is theSenior Director of CorusModelling Agency. Jonathan wanted her to do an extensive photo shoot ofthe latest model who turns out to be Joren of Stone Mountain. He was an arrogant model andshe despised him,although she does her job and tries to put up with it. Next she goes to theRaven ArmaniWinterSeasoncatwalk and she fanciedthechauffeur Dom.It turned out to be a bad night for her (but male models in underwear!) and the next day shebumped into Dom again andhe asked her out. They went out on a date at the Ritz, and theysatat a tablenext to Joren and asupermodel. Kel finds out that Joren and Dom knew each other and in fact they both have mutual loathing as well. Then the story carries on from here.
If you asked me precisely what I have done in the next two months. To be honest I am not too sure. Since every day went in a certain pattern. I would work, and then I would meet up with Dom. It may seem boring to a lot of people, since everyone always like a bit of excitement. However when your career demand a busy lifestyle, it's a bliss to have a routine once in a while.
This day I have just done some shots for Rogue magazine. Now let me quickly explain the history of Rogue magazine. Before I was born, fashion was designed by men, and all high ranks in fashion were dominated by men. There was the problem that men designed clothes but it was for women. If any woman wanted to be at the top of the tree of fashion, it was near impossible since men were, shall we say unfair.
Just after I was born came Alanna Trebond. She came into the fashion market with her own style because she hated what men wanted women to wear and did not care what women wanted to wear. Since men dominated the fashion market; to get her ideas through, she had used a man's name and always had George Cooper as her representative.
Her designs and style has taken off, and soon all young women owned a garment by Alanna. However nobody knew her true identity for a few years which she has carefully concealed.
Now everything in this world has an opposite, light and dark, fashionable and unfashionable. Alanna had a rival label; its director was Roger C. It was on one day when Roger had done some spying, hoping to steal some of Alanna's ideas to fight off the competition. However what he had found out was far better. The next day he has had journalists outside Alanna's headquarters and had announced that Alanna had used a fraud name and was also a woman.
Since Alanna's company was an enormous label, the news have made front-page and have caused a ripple of debates and issues. In the end, the media have come to the conclusion that the Fashion business was generally 'a group of sexist old men, who do not understand anyone especially their wives'. Afterwards, the Tortallan government passed an Employment Sexual Discrimination Act which then gave the opportunity for all women to work in whatever career they wish to do.
Now Alanna's profits have soared and more women buy her brand simply because they want to make a statement in fashionable ways. When I was little, I looked up to Alanna as she showed me how a dream can be achieved and no dream is impossible. Today I am here working for her.
We worked till really late, most normal people would be out in the city, drinking lots of fancy cocktails, dancing and hoping to get lucky. However Alanna, my crew, the models and I were just finishing off today's work. When everyone was leaving and I was closing the doors, I found Dom waiting for me in the reception.
It sounds really silly to say this but Dom looks very sexy in his chauffeur uniform. A quote came into my head and I remember Yuki telling me this when we were walking past some handsomely dressed soldiers from the army. 'I like a man in uniform!'
"Sit down Kel, you look exhausted." He said; I could feel my heart beating steadily faster as I sat down beside him on the couch.
"You would be too if you have worked from eight this morning till now." I sprawled myself across the couch in exhaustion.
"Well baby, I'm sorry." He leant towards me and was kissing me ever so softly. It felt as if feathers were brushing against my lips, something so simple yet it could make one girl faint from heat.
"I guess you don't want to anything tonight." He said with a tone of disappointment.
"I still want to grab a cup of coffee if it is possible."
"I think you misunderstood what I said, when I said 'anything' I meant something active and something we could do in your room." He said sexily.
I blushed, I know I'm not an innocent little girl anymore, but it was the way Dom suggested such thing.
"I'm sorry, not tonight." I said; I hope it sounded polite. I don't want to push Dom away.
He gave me a swift kiss.
"I'll see you tomorrow then. Good night."
He jumped into the lift and he was gone. I then took the lift after him and went to the lower city for some coffee. I found a small cosy coffee shop which I knew was where everyone in the fashion business likes to go. I sat down in a comfortable red armchair, waiting for my coffee when a blonde male model sat opposite me.
"It's you." I said, not bothering to be polite. I rose to find another seat in the coffee shop, but he jumped up and held my wrist.
"Don't leave yet, we haven't had a little chat for a while."
"That is because I'm busy and I don't have time for the likes of you."
"Likes of me? Are you being prejudice to models? How ironic."
"That is not true, when I said likes of you, I meant arrogant men who thinks they are all that."
He let go of my wrist and brushed his hand through his white blonde hair.
"Well I'm going to prove you wrong, you would want to talk to me if I told you I have new clients and I want to talk business with you." He said in a boyish serious tone.
I thought about it, it would be nice to work with a new face right? I guess it won't be that bad as long as it all stays professional. I slumped into the armchair again and looked blankly at Joren, waiting for him to talk.
"Good, now you are seated and coffee is here." He took my coffee and placed it on the table in between us. "Let's talk about business. A week ago I was told by Jon that the media needs new faces for the new season. I know that I am the latest face in fashion but they say I need a 'counterpart'. So I have been searching all week and I have found what I would call my 'counterpart'."
He looked at me; I guess I was really tired but he looked attractive and hypnotising in the dim light of the coffee shop and his blue eyes were bright and captivating. I shouldn't even be thinking these thoughts! I quickly drank some coffee, which woke me up and got me out of those silly thoughts.
"Well no doubt your counterpart was an ex-page three girl then." I remarked. In my opinion Page Three girls are girls with huge breasts and want to become desperate models.
"Surprisingly no." He smiled and I guess it was the coffee because my heart paced faster. "In fact Zahir is my best friend since nursery. In personality and appearance he is my counterpart. Also he is photographable, does not have stage fright, cool-headed, and is what a model needs to be."
"So what has this got to do with me?"
"I was about to ask you, if you would have time to arrange a photo shoot for my friend."
I thought about it, I guess it would be alright. If it is Joren's counterpart male model then it means I may like him. Also it doesn't mean I would have to meet Joren Stone Mountain again for a conversation.
"Ring my studio tomorrow to arrange it and tell Lalasa I have spoken to you about it already."
"Great, that means a lot - for him." He quickly added. "I'll tell you something interesting."
"Go on then," I relaxed into the armchair.
"Zahir and I used to go to senior school with Dom. In fact we were best friends."
I frowned; surely no one can see that link coming!
"If you don't believe me ask your dear lover boy about it. I must go now. Good night Kel."
With that note he left the coffee shop quickly and he disappeared into the lower city streets. I sat there for a while, whilst drinking my coffee thinking. If Joren and Dom were best friends then what happened to that friendship? I bet Joren, for being his stuck up self, done something that broke the trust that Dom had for him. Maybe one day I would ask Dom about it. With that thought imprinted in my mind, I left the cosy place for my bed where I would sleep and wake up to another new day.
AN: Thanks for the reviews! This is breaking my record and I can only say YAY! You know, you can always make this a real success for me and that means it would give me an even biggerchallenge if I write more stories in the future. hint hint