Chapter thirty-one – oh yeah, gonna be the super duper model

"Salima, Salima!" Ray jumped up and down excitedly like a teenage girl "Guess what?"

"You're going to be in one of the biggest modelling events of the decades with Versace?" she said through the receiver.

Ray frowned at the phone suddenly forlorn "How do you know?"

"I just got off the phone to Tyson" she said innocently.

"Oh" Ray twitched his jaw "so-"

"Tyson's so nervous, his first ever big shoot…"

Ray sighed and sat down on one of the barstools near the breakfast counter in his kitchen and growled.

"Something wrong Ray"

"No offence Salima, but I want to talk about me and you…without Tyson"

"Oh" Salima sat down on the pink 'Playboy' emboldened sofa "Sorry…I understand, I mean you must be trying to you know, trying to get with me" she said seductively.

Ray sat down, this was better "Well, I dunno" he grinned even though she couldn't see him "I just thought you know after the party…."

"Oh well, I was rather star struck…Ray do you want to go out some time?"

"Huh?" Ray stuttered "I mean, yeah sure! I'll pick you up!"

"How about Saturday?"

"Erm" Ray remembered the contract but he would have had it done before then "Sure Yeah!"

XxXxXxXxXx

Tala opened the door, fuckin' hell it had taken Kai a long time to let him up. He opened one of the double doors and Tala blinked this place smelled familiar…it smelled like cigarettes.

He walked in and saw Kai reading and a cigarette in his hand looking very casual…and about a million cigarette butts stuffed into an expensive Swarovski ash tray.

"Tala" Kai said pretty much sounding his old self. His voice was its usual low, mumble full of confidence and slight bitterness…Tala rejoiced inside.

"I didn't know you smoke"

"I can do whatever I fuckin' want" Kai said without a trace of emotion.

Tala watched him drag for a few moments...

"I had some Fuckin' navy marine gym coach"

"Oh he was hard on you…what did you do?"

"I fuckin' punched him and got another" Kai said calmly.

Tala saw Kai's right knuckles were rather red and decided not to question this "ah, could it be something to do with a…pregnant brunette"

"Why must you always bring HER up"

"Because she's having your children?" Tala asked innocently.

"Well, I'm over her" Kai said in a strained voice taking a sexy drag.

"Well, whatever" Tala replied in a Kai tone "…so what do you think of this new contract?"

"Whatever, it's a job" Kai stubbed out the cigarette calmly and closed his book.

Tala stared at his friend…not really convinced at all. Kai was turning into a, very gorgeous, walking time bomb…all he needed saw a little prod one time…and BOOM! He would flip. When that would happen…was a mystery.

"Mmm…I dunno Brooklyn will be there…" Tala scratched his chin "I dunno, is it worth the millions? Well not that you need it"

Kai raised an eyebrow and shrugged "Well, better than sitting at home doing…nothing"

"Hilary will be on set" Tala chimed in "and Brooklyn are you sure the blood pressure can take such strain"

"My blood pressure is doing fine"

"Says the guy whose smoking" Tala corrected.

"its fine" Kai pressed "Honestly Tala since when did you adopting a motherly nagging quality"

"Since, I became godfather…oops" Tala sucked in his lips and twisted them to one side.

"…She, erm, made you a godfather?" Kai said in a small tone.

"She was probably drunk at that time" Tala supplied easily.

"You're a crap liar" Kai snapped bitterly "well congratulations" he said finally looking out the large window and into the sun. He stood up and walked across his living room and stared out the window rather hazily.

"What's up friend?" Tala asked in Russian.

Kai let out a low growl and started to rub his temples "NYET!" he sighed and continued in Russian "Why is this happening to me Tala? Before it used to be so easy and now I'm fuckin' falling apart and I hate it! Do you know why it pisses me off?"

"Yes" Tala sat back comfortably "Because you know you will feel helpless until she forgives you…or talks to you or take you back. Believe it or not I, the love man myself, have been there"

"Are you talking about Spencer?"

"Mmm…maybe"

"Does Mathilda know you're bi?" Kai returned to grunting in English.

"No, but I love her so I don't think that matters"

Kai blinked and Tala blinked.

"I just said I love Mathilda"

"Erm, yeah you did"

"Whoa..." Tala sat up and swayed a little "We're both pussywhipped!"

Kai snorted out a laugh "You think she'll ever talk to me again?"

"I really don't know…I really don't"

XxXxXxXxXx

Mariam sat and ate her food quietly. Her, Max, Judy and Michael were seated on the patio enjoying lunch in the beautiful sun. Well, Judy and Michael were. Mariam squirmed if they 'snuggled' once more she would have a freak (on the inside) and make up an excuse to go inside. She glanced at Max. He seemed nonplussed, in fact he seemed…rather carefree. He sat back in his chair. His arm bent at the elbow resting on the armrest and his hand propping up his chin. Very suave pose.

He blinked and his ocean-like orbs focused on Mariam and he smiled a small smile. He looked to his mother rolled his eyes and coughed "Do you two mind?"

"No" Michael gave Judy an Eskimo kiss and planted a kiss on her lips "I have an announcement"

"Oh joyous of joys" Max mumbled.

Michael sat up and cleared his throat "As you know I will graduate from med school in a few months…well two"

"Whoop" Max circled his finger in the air.

Mariam held a giggle and focused on Michael…she had a feeling this was going to be funny.

"I have an offer to start working in O'Neill Hospital this fall"

O'Neill hospital was the largest private hospital in the city. Not only was it a regular hospital it also had a cosmetic surgery section. It was naturally a popular ground for celebrities. But Max doubted very much Michael cared about cosmetic surgery.

"And also, I'm marrying Judy Tate"

Mariam who was sipping water snorted it out over her salad, Max started to choke and Mariam had to rush over to pat him on the back.

"What?" Max said incredulously.

"What Michael?" Judy said dreamily standing.

"I want you" Michael went down on one athletic knee "to marry me" he smiled, revealing a handsome face "Please milady"

Judy held her hand to her chest, her salon done blonde hair glinting in the sunlight, she started to heave "Of course! Of course!" she squealed and jumped like a teenage girl and jumped into Michael's arms.

Mariam's face twitched the situation was very awkward, but sweet at the same time you wanted to laugh.

"NO! NO! NO!" Max slammed on the table his blue eyes flaming.

"Max, dude, come on" Michael looked to him for support.

Max let out a growl –slash- scream "What you can't come up in here and suddenly make yourself comfortable!"

"I though I'd already done that?" Michael blinked.

Max stood up and kicked his chair and it collapsed into it's folded state "Fuckin' hell"

"Max please, can't you be happy for me?"

Max narrowed his eyes at her, took his plate of food and glared at Michael before turning and leaving. Michael went to go after him, but Mariam stood up and blocked him "No, let me go"

Michael stared at her seriously and eventually nodded. Mariam jogged away and went into the house.

"Max?"

Max sat in the reception room, chewing ferociously on his low-cal burger. He looked at her and then whipped his head back to staring at him.

She crossed the Persian rug and sat on it in front of him. For a few seconds his eyes remained looking over his head until they looked down at him.

"Why so mad?"

"She can't marry him!" Max snapped.

"Oh" Mariam nodded "Well, personally, I don't see what the problem is"

"What do you mean?"

"Well, they certainly…love each other. You and Michael have been getting along quite well over the past few weeks"

"He's trying to take her away…from me…from dad!"

"Max, your parents are divorced"

Max adopted a sulky face and turned away "Well, I don't like it…I'd wish they had told me"

Mariam let out a laugh "You are a spoilt brat…they just did!" she reached up and ruffled his soft, silky hair "If you really feel strongly Max…well…I don't know…but I will leave you to think of the idea of Michael…being your step dad" She got up and left the room and shut the door gently.

Max stared at the crumbs on the plate. Mum married again…the idea was so preposterous yet it wasn't at the same time. Michael seemed to love her…what if he was just was gold-digging asshole? He couldn't let that happen to Mum. Yet Michael ever seemed to ask for anything. He would randomly come in with bags of shopping and Judy would jump and coo about how 'he shouldn't have'. Max sighed and pinched the bridge of his nose.

If they did go through with it…the wedding would obviously be in the tabloids…old school supermodel getting married was a big thing….especially to a younger man. Max would be harassed for weeks, maybe even months…ARGH! He stood up, he needed to get out.

XxXxXxXxXx

"Thanks for coming round Tyson" Hilary smiled.

"No problem…hey looking pretty big"

"Thanks" she said in a bland tone "I am having twins" she paused then she smiled "I'm having twins"

Tyson grinned "Warm feeling?"

"Oh yeah" she nodded "Portfolio?" she nodded at the black case under his arm.

"Yeah" he grinned sheepishly at her "I need help"

"No problem, sit down…tea? Coffee? Milkshake?"

"Milkshake please" Tyson sat down, he was always amazed how clean Hilary kept her place. He sat down on the 'Laura Ashley' sofa and he walked in with two glasses and a big bottle of thick liquid.

She sat down and poured the glasses tall and handed him one "Like old times!"

"Absolutely" Tyson removed his hat and opened the large case.

"Oh wow" Hilary sucked in her breath "These are so…I think this is the first time I would actually wear haute couture" that was the thing, most couture on the runways would be divine, amazing…but wearing one would be near impossible and not very cost effective…clothes you saw in the stores were often WAY toned down versions of the actual runway clothes.

Hilary skimmed her fingers over the sketches, corsets, not too frilly short and modern bell skirts. The man in suits, with waist coats. Colours were neutral, earthy…effective.

"I was think a parlour"

"Way too Victorian…people would think it's too old fashioned" Hilary sighed and sat back.

"Well" Tyson joined her "I've already got an idea…the background, setting has to be modern…it can't be done in a studio…else it will look too made up… too "fairy tale"" he did quote marks.

"The city" Hilary sat up.

"What?"

"Outside Saks or on the corner of boulevard and sixth" Hilary said.

"Yes! The busiest places in the city…okay!" Tyson jumped up on his feet and clapped "Assistant write this down!"

She shot him a warning look but grabbed a notebook and pen from the coffee table and opened it.

"Okay, the models have to be walking with like a crowd or something…if they pose it's too obvious…we get them to pose while they walk I guess" Tyson shrugged as he paced in front of the plasma TV.

"Pose while walk" Hilary said while she scribbled "Ooh, we highlight them"

"Yes, like a little glow around the edges to make them stand out a little you know?"

"I do" Hilary nodded, grinning at her friend.

Tyson scratched his head "Make up…natural, fresh…wait a little glam…we still want them to know Versace is one of the all-in-all"

"Gotcha"

"Can we get Pat McGrath on this, she always knows what to do"

"I believe she is already on board but I will check" Hilary sighed, the busyness of it all was exciting, the thought in a few she would be running (well not exactly) around model fussing…ah, it was almost orgasmic.

"What about these?" Hilary glanced at the other sketches "Oh wow"

"Yeah, the dinner wear" Tyson glanced over her shoulder at the flowing dresses.

"This is going to be awesome"

Phew three updates…argh! I have some grave news my friends…yes it is that time of the year again…EXAMS (cries). The brit schooling system is seriously messed up. Only seemed like weeks ago I had more exams…anyway, I'll try and update once more. But I can't promise anything. On the plus side these are the final school exams I will ever have…SCORE! So anyway please still send in your reviews to keep me motivated.

I promise I'll try and fit in an update! xxxx