"Did you just say...Arlong?" Nami turns and looks at Chiffon.
She nods her head nervously, "d-don't worry about this, I'll get down to the bottom of this, we have a show to put on."
"That son of a-" Nami grits her teeth. Someone was clearly working for Arlong on the inside. Although he's not here, physically he still has someone on the inside to mess with her.
"Find out who all were inside Luffy's trailer and who styled him. Make sure you don't miss a single person." Nami orders. Chiffon leaves immediately in search of who could be the rat.
Nami balls her fists in anger, she could already hear his annoying laugh inside her head. Why would he have someone style Luffy in something he designed? He clearly was a smart man if he was going to turn the situation around
"Ladies, I need you to be as quick as possible so I can get inside." She tells the hair and makeup stylist.
She clenched her teeth and stared at her reflection in the mirror. She wasn't going to let Arlong ruin her very first fashion show. She and her employees worked too hard on today's occasion.
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Elsewhere inside the Zou dome, a group of invited guests stood by the door. The group consists of Zoro, Usopp, Sanji, Jimbe, and their respective partners. Luffy had invited themselves thanks to Nami's suggestion. They were dressed in suits and ties while their partners wore beautiful formal dresses for today's occasion.
They took turns getting checked in and being given their seat numbers.
"This is so exciting, first we all were chauffeured and now we're standing here at a fashion show….IS THAT THE BOA SISTERS?!" Usopp asks in shock, seeing the famous Boa sisters talking amongst themselves.
"Huh? Where? Where?!" Sanji looks around frantically with heart eyes.
"Behave!" Pudding steps on Sanji's foot. Correcting him from his behavior.
"Owie, I'm sorry my sweet Pudding." Sanji apologizes.
Zoro holds back a chuckle and Tashigi nudges him in his side. Pudding takes hold of Sanji's hand. "I see there's a line for refreshments, let's go check it out before the show starts."
Once the two left, Zoro rubs his side where Tashigi had elbowed him earlier. "Poor girl, she married that horn dog."
"Well, at least they're married!" Tashigi remarks and crosses her arms.
"Oh, come on, we're not doing this here…"
The two start bickering amongst themselves. Jimbei chuckles and backs away from the two to find something or rather someone to keep him busy.
"Do you think the Boa sisters would give you an autograph?" Kaya asks Usopp, holding onto his arm.
"L-let's go ask."
The couple leaves Zoro and Tashigi to themselves.
"You're hopeless, let's just find our seats. Stay close to me, you seem to wander off pretty easily." Tashigi suggests.
"I'm not a child, I can find our seats easily."
"Oh really? I'm going to the bathroom to freshen up, if you're not in our seats by the time I'm back, I get to swap shifts with you next Friday."
"And what do I get? To keep my shift?"
"And a little something extra." Tashigi winks at him walking backward slowly before turning to find the female bathroom.
A blush crept onto Zoro's face and he looked at his ticket to find his seat number.
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Luffy who was backstage was getting into hair and makeup, backstage was completely busy, there were models running around getting their clothes on and directors yelling out directions for the staff. All of this commotion made Luffy nervous. He hoped his friends were able to make it on time, Sunny had chauffeured them all here for this special occasion.
"Chin up." The makeup artist directs.
Luffy follows her lead and lets her tamper with his face. This was really happening, he could feel butterflies in his stomach.
The hairstylist re pressed his hair again and brushes it downwards to give him a bowl cut. He kind of hated the look, but what could he do? He's the model and this was a part of the look.
"Alright everyone, showtime in ten minutes!" The stage director yells.
The frenzy behind the scenes got even more chaotic. Everyone had seemed to pick up their pace, women were hustling around in high heels and men were walking around shirtless. Finally, Luffy was done with makeup and hair and went to put on his first outfit.
He was assisted with his outfit and wore a velvet suit with cream leather shoes. Not something he'd typically wear, but it was a fashion statement….he supposed. The models started getting their last-minute touch-ups and started being escorted to their lineup.
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Walking with the event's security team surrounding her, Nami wore a long-sleeved silver sequin floor-length dress with red lips and red polished nails. She wore diamond drop earrings and her straightened hair behind her ears. Silver strappy heels to compliment her dress and red toes to match her fingers and lips. She takes a deep breath before entering the dome.
The dome was beautifully lit with dark lights in the ceiling and flowers along the pillars of the entrance. It was absolutely breathtaking, her vision was coming to life. The stage turned out to be the most eye-catching piece of the entire show. Seats surrounded the glass stage decorated with rose petals and a raised level with Soul King's grand Piano unoccupied. The soft music from the sound system played throughout the dome as people were starting to take their seats.
A few cheers can be heard from the crowd as Nami walks further into the dome. She noticed all her V.I.P being seated in their assigned front row seats and familiar faces she's seen in the business. Her staff workers worked hard quietly behind the scenes and she will forever be grateful to them.
A purple-haired woman dressed in a pantsuit walks past Nami giving her a thumbs up. Nojiko. She and Ace gave her a smile of encouragement before heading for their seats.
Nami let a small smile form on her lips.
"We're ready for you ." one of the staff members with a headset on informs her.
Nami gracefully struts over to go behind the scenes while the employees usher everyone to their seats. Once backstage, Nami shares a hug with each model, holding Luffy a little longer than others before making her entrance.
As soon as she makes an entrance with a microphone in her hand, applause can be heard from the crowd, Nami smiles and waves as she is being cheered on. She remembered her first fashion show. She was a nervous wreck, years later, she still is a nervous wreck. The only difference is she's now the host.
She came to a stop at the end of the runway, photographers rushed to take photos of the beautiful women before them. The cheering seemed to seize as she raised the microphone to her lips.
"Good evening everyone. I want to thank you all for coming out to support me and the company on our hard work and dedication through the midst of losing a very important person to my sister and I, a legend in the fashion industry and the godmother of fabrics. Bellè-mere Karlsson." she begins. A few applause can be heard from the crowd. "As the new CEO of Grace By Belle, over the past month. I've learned what it truly takes to be a leader, it's a whole new level of responsibility and stress." a few chuckled in the crowd. "I do have big shoes to fill, but I'll do my best to bring this company back to the top. Before I welcome you I'd like to take a moment of silence in respect of my late mother." she lowers her microphone and closes her eyes saying a quick prayer to herself.
The audience went quiet. Everyone backstage had brought themselves to a complete hush. Nami raises the microphone to her lips and opens her eyes, "Thank you. Without further ado, on behalf of the entire staff of Graced By Belle and myself, I welcome you all to the first fashion show with a brand new collection designed by myself and my team. Dressrosa." Nami ends her speech with a clap. She turns and walks her way down the runway to head backstage again. Rounds of applause follow her as she makes her exit.
"Beautiful speech Ms. Karlsson."
"We'll make you proud!"
"Thank you for this opportunity!"
Models share their thoughts as Nami walks by them giving them a thumbs up. Nami stops in front of Luffy and leans in to whisper in his ear.
"If all goes well, I'll reward you at home." She plants a quick smooch next to his ear and smiles mischievously.
Luffy's goofy grin spreads on his face after hearing her speak so seductively to him. He watches as she walks away, leaving backstage.
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The audience applause again once Soul King makes his entrance on stage. Nami was now seated in the V.I.P section next to Doflomingo and Trafalgar Law, sitting in front of Nijiko and Ace. The lights go off completely and a spotlight is shone on Soul King.
Nami swallows the knot in her throat. She didn't know if it was her nerves or the baby inside her. The show is about to begin in the next three seconds.
A piano key sounds throughout the dome. The audience was silent with excitement. The music from the sound system grows louder and Soul King starts playing the piano in an upbeat tone. He leans forward to sing into the microphone as he multitasks on the Piano. After a few seconds the first model makes her entrance, three seconds later a second model appears. Photographers went ahead and started taking photos of the model as they made their way down the runway. A few people ooh and aah at the designs that were being shown off.
Nami's smile to herself is satisfactory. Nojiko leans over to whisper in her sister's ear. "Here's the best part."
Nami smiles as she sees Luffy make his entrance, gasps can be heard in the audience, cameras are snapping away as Luffy makes his way down the runway. His face was serious as if he was at a funeral. The television networks got close-ups of him as he came to a stop at the runway.
"Who is that?" Nami can hear Hancock asking her sisters.
"Yeah, Luffy!" can be heard from the audience.
Luffy's serious face didn't last long, his serious expression turned into his big bright smile, showing all his teeth and his eye smile. He turns and walks back down the runway trying to keep a serious smile, but fails to do so.
Nami rolls her eyes and smiles at her goofy boyfriend. He's definitely gonna have to make it up to her tonight.
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Elsewhere in Manhattan, Arlong scowls at the television as he watches the fashion show. It was definitely a grand one, but he'll never admit that out loud. He studies the designs of the outfit until his eyes go wide at a certain someone on the runway. He was certain it was the man Nami is always seen with.
"So he's in the show huh?" Arlong smirks to himself.
He picks up his phone and dials a number.
"Hello?"
"Hordy! I thought everything was taken care of? Why is your tenant on my television walking in my rival's fashion show?"
"Oh uh, I tried my best, I let those cops in, and they completely wrecked the place. It did get under his skin, but he's not my tenant anymore, shit, I'm not even a landlord anymore. Those buildings don't belong to me anymore." Hordy informs Arlong.
"What bullshit are you spewing?"
"Someone bought me out my property a few days ago, listen I'm in the airport right now, I got a flight to catch soon. It's been nice working with you, but this is where I cut my ties." Hordy hangs up the phone.
"Who the hell?..." Arlong thinks for a split second about who could possibly buy out those rundown apartments in the ghetto.
The camera pans to Nami sitting in the audience, clapping and looking satisfied with the show. Arlong eyes widen at the sudden realization. "So, you're protecting him huh?... Let's see you protect him against this."
He dials a new number on his phone. "It's me. Do it now. No, I don't care about tomorrow. Shut it down right now."
