First things first…..
Disclaimer: Okay, so I'm not delusional. I know that "Twilight" and "Funny Face" do not belong to me and so do all of you. Moving on……
BONJOUR, my lovely readers!! First off, I am so very, very, very, very sorry that I have taken so long to update. Work has kept me in a constant state of chaos and I have been absolutely uninspired. Here I am though! Chapter 12. Everybody say YAY!!!! Anyway….three of my wonderful readers/reviewers got the answer to my question correct. The line "I'm a good girl I am," came from the movie "My Fair Lady." The first one to give me that answer was Jayme (spritegirl24), so she will be featured a little more prominently than my other two winners, Sarah (sakurarwr) and Elizabeth (paper0clip). You two are in this chapter also though and I hope all of you like how I've written you into the story. I want everyone to keep in mind, for the sake of adding my readers in as characters, that my Laurent is the opposite, in his overall physical image, of the Laurent in the movie. Anyway….hope no one is offended by my changing that. Okay, moving on. I've decided Paris will be in four parts instead of three. The next will be photo shoot day which will still consist of Bella and Edward being alone but they will be mostly working. Then we'll move on to fun vacation time. Hope all of you will like this chapter. I enjoyed writing it. Okay, enough of my rambling, right? RIGHT!!!
READ ON!!!
BPOV
I was surprised to find myself so excited as the driver stopped in front of Laurent's building. I couldn't believe this very well known, European designer wanted me to be the one to model his designs. Laurent was highly sought after by all of the fashion magazines. They all wanted him to choose them to showcase his talent but he had chosen Cullen Designs and me for that honor. We made our way into the building and Laurent immediately came running from the back, his arms thrown open wide in greeting.
"Ah, if it isn't my friends from Cullen Designs and their lovely Bella," he said in his thick, French accent.
"Alice dear, I was so pleased when you called me. I have always wanted to work with Cullen Designs and even more so now since you have Bella as your model. No offense my dears, but I would have never let that awful Tanya anywhere near my designs. And where is your sister, Rose? I thought she would be coming with you."
"Oh, no," Alice said, "she decided to stay and make sure everything continued running smoothly at the office. We have another issue coming out soon and she felt like someone should be there if something went wrong."
Alice smirked as she fed Laurent her lie. We all knew the real reason Rose stayed behind was because Emmett couldn't come on the trip with us. Since my party the two of them had been inseparable. It wouldn't surprise me a bit if they came up to us one day soon saying they had run off to Vegas and gotten married. I was happy for them though. I had never seen Emmett so happy and so in love. He'd had a toxic relationship a few years back and had been skittish of relationships since then. He was a goner though when Rose walked into his life.
"Ah well, we shall make it without her, no? She must come the next time you visit and I will want you to visit again and again and again."
"I'm sure she will Laurent. Now what have you got to show us today?"
"Yes, I have some wonderful, beautiful things to show you today. We have been working tirelessly to get them all done. I'm sure my assistant will need a long vacation after this. I'm afraid I have worked her poor fingers to the bone. Jayme?!," he yelled.
"Yes Laurent," the girl said as she came from the back.
"Ah, Jayme dear. Please come and meet my friends from Cullen Designs."
Jayme stepped toward us and smiled.
"This is Alice Cullen, Edward Cullen and Bella Swan, the young lady we have been preparing the designs for."
"Oh," her face lit up in excitement, "it is a pleasure to meet you all and especially you Bella. Laurent has raved about you since he came back from your party."
"Ah, she exaggerates."
"Now Laurent," she said raising her eyebrow at him, "I do not exaggerate. You know I'm telling the truth."
He blushed and bowed his head.
"She speaks the truth. I'm sorry, I am just very excited. Anyway, Jayme, please show our friends to the backroom so we can get started."
"Right this way," she said as she led us to the door they had both entered from.
The backroom was lovely, with a small catwalk and a vast array of photographs hanging everywhere that must have been Laurent's many clever designs.
"Please, have a seat. We will be ready in a moment."
She turned and headed to yet another backroom to help Laurent get started. A few moments later they both re-emerged with huge smiles plastered on their faces.
"Friends, we are ready to begin. I have selected six designs to be modeled for you today. If you like them, we will go from there and see what you would like me to do for your magazine. Okay? Let's get started. Jayme, please send out our first model."
Jayme went to the curtain at the end of the catwalk, opened it and gestured for the first girl to walk out and show us the first of Laurent's designs. By the time we had seen them all, I was amazed. Laurent was more talented than I had imagined and I found myself hoping that Alice would give him the green light to be the principle designer for Cullen Designs and for me. Edward and I looked over at Alice who had a mask of calm over her face. I couldn't tell whether she was impressed or disappointed. Poor Laurent was staring at us and wringing his hands in anticipation. Even his Jayme looked like she might pass out if Alice didn't say something soon. I looked over at Alice once more and saw her face break out in a huge grin.
"I loved them," she practically squealed.
"Oh my God, Laurent, I knew you were good but that was amazing. I would like for you to take pictures of each design and have them sent to my hotel. I will then get them to Rosalie and see what she thinks. She is just as much a part of this decision as I am. I'm positive she will see just how brilliantly talented you are as well. Bella? What do you think?"
"I think they are wonderful. I would definitely be proud to wear such beautiful things."
Laurent looked as if he would burst with happiness.
"Thank you so much my friends. I am so happy."
Alice smiled at him and patted his arm before turning back to Edward and me.
"Well, I guess we should all head back to the hotel. Please send those pictures as soon as possible Laurent," she said as she started walking towards the door.
"Wait, Alice! I wish to invite all of you to come to my chateaux now and have lunch with my sisters and me. I would be most honored and my sisters would be thrilled to meet all of you."
"Oh, that would be lovely Laurent," Alice replied. "You're sure that would be alright with your sister?. We would never want to intrude."
"Oh, they would be happy to have your company. Please, let me finish up a few things here and we will go. Okay?"
We all nodded in agreement.
"Wonderful," he said clapping his hands together before disappearing into the back.
Within a few minutes he was back and ready to leave. We said our goodbyes to Jayme and headed out of the building. Laurent's driver was waiting out front for us and we were soon speeding through the streets of Paris. I thought Edward drove like a maniac, these people made him seem like a granny driving twenty down the interstate. I was gripping Edward for dear life which Laurent found completely hilarious.
"Relax dear Bella. Jerome is a very good driver. He will make sure we arrive safely," he said laughing heartily as I continued to hold Edward in a death grip.
I was relieved when we finally arrived at the chateaux and made my way out of the car as quickly as possible. I was not looking forward to having to ride back to the hotel in it later but I decided to push those thoughts straight out of my mind for the time being.
"Welcome to my home. It has been in my family for five generations and was left to my sisters and myself when our parents passed a few years ago."
"It's beautiful," Alice said.
"Merci, merci! Come, you must meet my sisters."
We walked inside and were in just as much awe of our surroundings here as we had been with the outside. I couldn't imagine being able to call such a beautiful place, home. A very pretty young woman walked toward Laurent and he smiled gently at her while taking her hand.
"Mirabelle dear, would you please let my sisters know I am here for lunch and that I have brought a few guests I would like for them to meet."
"Yes sir," she replied blushing.
"Now Mirabelle, I told you to please call me Laurent. I am much to young to be a sir," he said laughing and she soon joined along with him before making her way upstairs.
Laurent turned back to us and smiled.
"Mirabelle is like the lady of our house. She oversees everything and does it beautifully. It is a job her mother once held. She has grown up here just as my sisters and I have."
There was a glow about him as he spoke of her. Edward, Alice and I all exchanged knowing looks. It didn't take a genius to see that he was in love with her. Soon, Mirabelle was ascending the stairs with two other women now accompanying her. They were absolutely lovely and looked excited as they ran past Mirabelle down the remaining stairs to stand next to their brother.
"Sarah, Elizabeth, this is Alice Cullen, Edward Cullen and Bella Swan."
"Oh my God! Laurent, we know who they are," Sarah shouted!
"We've only been going on and on about them for weeks now since we found out you were hoping to design for them," Elizabeth said punching her brother in the arm.
"Yes, yes, I know but it is proper to introduce them still. Right Mirabelle?"
"Yes, you are right, Laurent," she said smiling at him and I could see, by the look in her eyes, that she felt the same way he did. I could also see the wheels beginning to turn in Alice's mind and I knew she would probably play matchmaker before the day was over.
"Come my friends, let us have lunch."
Lunch was so much fun. Laurent and his sisters were charming. I knew they would all end up being permanent fixtures in our lives. I had been right when I assumed Alice would play matchmaker. She had insisted that Mirabelle join us for lunch and even arranged it so she and Laurent would have to sit next to each other. We, even his sisters, all watched in amusement as they blushed each time their hands brushed together when they would reach for things at the same time. Alice was a genius and I figured those two would be together before long. Our time at the chateaux passed by so quickly and it was soon time to leave. I reluctantly walked towards the car where Jerome was holding the door open for us and smirking in my direction. He thought my reactions were funny too. He would get along great with Emmett.
"Come on love," Edward whispered in my ear. "We'll be back at the hotel in no time."
"Yeah," I snorted. "No time is right, since this guy," I said pointing my thumb in Jerome's direction, "practically drives at warp speed."
Jerome snickered at that as we entered the car. The ride was a little easier this time. I guess I had just prepared myself so much for it that I was not so worried now. Poor Jerome seemed really disappointed by this as I saw him scowl a bit through the rearview mirror. We dropped by Laurent's studio to pick up the pictures and parted ways with him there before heading back to the hotel.
"Goodbye my friends. We will be in touch soon. We will be working on more designs for our lovely Bella and I will bring them to you myself. I'm looking forward to spending time with you in your country."
"Thank you Laurent," Alice and I answered at the same time.
"It was a pleasure my friends. Please take care."
I was so happy to be back at the hotel. Between just flying in yesterday, and staying out all day, we were all pretty much ready to collapse into our beds and drift off into a deep sleep. Alice would be going home tomorrow but Edward and I would still be working. Tomorrow was photo shoot day and the next day would begin our vacation time together. I couldn't wait and I knew Edward was as excited about it as I was.
Alright, there you have it! Chapter 12 complete! Now, if I can just get Chapter 13 out soon. I hope you won't have to wait a week this time for an update. I'm going to give it a hell of a try anyway!! Jayme, Sarah, Elizabeth, I hope all of you liked how I wrote all of you into the story. I thought about it for so long and it seemed to work out best this way. Did everyone like Laurent's Mirabelle? Hey, Laurent needs a little love too right? I'm thinking after the Paris chapters are over that I will be wrapping this story up. I will probably end up with fifteen chapters in all unless inspiration tells me otherwise. Okay, review if you like. Thank you to all that left reviews for the last chapter and another thanks to those who added me to their alerts and favorites. They all make me smile lots and lots. Until next time……