Warlock Fashions
Friday was a great day. At least it started off that way, Magnus and I spent all of English talking in hushed tones about "work" and I ditched lunch to hang with him in the library where he explained where we would be going to practice for the fashion show that would be happening in three weeks. All day Magnus secretly answered phone calls and sent texts to people in a variety of different languages, all involving a lot of hand gestures and exclamation points.
As we made our way out of the school after class we met up with Maia Roberts and Jordan Kyle, a cute couple holding hands and blushing at one another. Nothing like Jace and Clary all over each other one moment and seething the next. Magnus led the three of us to a black, tinted window, and expensive looking Mercedes. He took the front passenger's seat while the rest of us piled into the back, Maia squashed between Jordan and I. The driver of the car was dress in dark clothes and had a cave like hood pulled up hiding his face, the only reason I know it was a guy was because Magnus introduced him as Zachariah.
The car ride to the busy part of the city was filled with friendly chit-chat. Zachariah didn't participate though, maybe he's Magnus' bodyguard. But why would Magnus need a bodyguard? He's just helping out with the fashion show.
"So how did you two get involved in this?" I asked the two beside me. They smiled at each other while Magnus turned around in his seat -a smirk on his perfect mouth- joining the conversation.
"Well," Jordan began. "My family has been friends with the Scotts for generations, it was Woolsey's nephew that saw me and then told him who told Magnus." He explained honestly.
"I just tagged along to the meeting and was asked to join. It was unexpected, but really awesome." Maia smiled towards Magnus who winked back. I feel like there's something I'm missing, some important piece of the puzzle.
"Wow." I said impressed. They made it by their looks. But not me, I'm being blackmailed.
"What about you Alec?" Maia asked sweetly.
"I found him myself." Magnus said proudly. "Hand picked and chosen."
"Really?" Jordan said his blue eyes widening slightly. Was it really that impressive? It wouldn't if they knew the real reason behind it.
"Yeah." I answered with a small nod.
"It's good to see that not everyone is hung up on just your siblings looks. You've got great features too." Maia said and Jordan went ridged but then relaxed after she kissed his cheek. I flushed as she continued to speak. "High cheekbones, pale skin, shiny black hair, and really pretty blue eyes." When she finished I could hear her say to Jordan "But nothing like your's babe."
"She's quite right, you know." Magnus said leaning around his seat. He was smiling just like the Chester Cat from Alice, his eyes didn't help the look of a cat he gave off.
"Huh?" I said under my breath as my heart rate increased. That smile was bad for my heart, but in a good way. Such a good way that it could only end badly.
"You're hot man." Jordan stated. "And I say that in the most heterosexual way, one dude to another. I said that to some other guy during practice and he grabbed my ass and made a move for my zipper when we were alone in the changing room." He shuddered at the memory. I take no offense to it, I would probably react the same way -unless it was Magnus.
"No worries about that duche, he's been fired. Alec is, in fact, replacing him." Magnus informed pleasantly.
"Sir, we have arrived." Zachariah suddenly spoke and it startled me. I don't know what I was expecting him to sound like, but a light almost kind male voice was not it.
"Thanks BZ. See ya later." Magnus said opening his door and jumped out of the car with such grace that I was instantly jealous. His limbs were just as long as mine but I stumble and lack the grace of simply walking across flat surfaces unlike Isabelle and Jace. When I was thirteen I fell walking across the kitchen floor, there was nothing to trip on, I just face-planted like an idiot. Broke my arm and was in a cast for months having to miss baseball that year. It was so humiliating having to explain it to the doctor.
"BZ?" I asked as we gathered in front of a huge building, a skyscraper really, made of sleek black and gray metal and glass. It was new, dad had complained about this building, that the guy who wanted it built had to knock down a perfectly good building, it had been under construction over the last couple of years.
"Yeah, Zachariah is apart of some religious thing and they call him Brother Zachariah, I like BZ better though." Magnus replied as he led the way through the front doors -basically sheets of glass with hinges- and into a grand lobby. Marble floors, multicolored walls, and the people that walked around working were dressed either like Magnus or in professional suits. What have I agreed to?
"Good afternoon, Mr. Bane."
"Sir, it's good to see you."
"Everything is going as planned."
"Do you like this or this better for this design?"
Magnus was swarmed as we walked in and moved towards silver elevators across the room. People holding swatches of fabric, others with sketch pads, and some handing him pens to sign papers that looked too official for an eighteen year old to deal with. Then suddenly like kicking a door down, it hit me hard and fast.
"You're the hugely famous yet secretive designer the world's been buzzing about?" I exclaimed over the milling voices around Magnus. Maia and Jordan next to me laughed to themselves, while the people surrounding Magnus turned to look at me like I spoke forbidden words. Magnus, himself stood taller than most his workers and smirked at me.
"Oh does that surprise you?" He inquired rhetorically as he pushed his way towards me. Breaking free of the mob he grabbed my arm and pulled me to the elevators, Maia and Jordan right behind us.
I opened my mouth to reply but then shut it rethinking my answer. He lived in Paris, yells at people over his phone like a superior, has random clothes stuffed into his locker. Magnus Bane being a world famous fashion designer made so much sense, and explains his love of keeping secrets.
"Actually no, not really." I said as he pressed the call button. He looked over his shoulder at me, releasing my arm and crossing his over his chest.
"And here I was expecting you to have a dumbfounded reaction so I could have a good laugh. Alexander you confuse me." He smirked amused while the elevator doors opened.
We all stepped inside, Jordan whispering something to Maia.
"You two both knew?" I asked raising a brow. Now I feel like an idiot for not realizing sooner. Magnus asking me to model, his wink at Maia in the car, probably all those conversations I over heard. Mental note: learn French and Indonesian so I can understand Magnus better.
"Yeah, after Woolsey's meeting. But part of the contract we signed states we're not allowed to talk about our employer; Magnus Bane, to anyone outside his company." Jordan explained with a half smile. Everyone was really enjoying my ignorance.
I looked to Magnus and he was practically beaming with amusement. "I go the distance to keep my personal life personal. I have enough connections and contracts in place that if anyone tried to leak secrets about Warlock Fashions that that person would find themselves in a third world country before they finished their sentence." He said proudly.
"Wow." Was all I could say. Magnus has power. I know that it should scare or even intimidate me, but it doesn't. It's just another thing to add to his long long list of attractive qualities. Besides kissing me without real intentions, I can't see a reason not to continue liking him.
The elevator soon stopped at the twelfth floor and the doors opened revealing a wide spacious room with columns and people strutting across a platform. Some criticized the strutters, while others handed them brilliantly colored clothes that they changed into behind a set of doors at one end of the room.
"Welcome to training, fitting, and practice." Magnus said clapping me on the shoulder and pushed me out of the elevator with Maia and Jordan. "This'll be your bootcamp every day after school and three hours on the weekends until my show. Have fun." He waved with his fingers as the doors closed between us. I was left staring at my blurred reflection in the polished metal of the elevator, now I looked scared.
"You'll have fun." Maia encouraged. She was already making her way towards a group of girls that were receiving clothes to try on.
"In about a week it'll be fun." Jordan corrected leading me towards a blond haired man that wore an out-dated monocle perched in front of his right eye. Then again I'm not a designer so what do I know what's out dated, I'm just a runway lackey. "For now Woolsey Scott here will put you through walking drills and point out every flaw you have until you fix them. It sucks." He said with a sarcastic half smile while the older man removed his eyewear and gave me that awkwardly intense once over with his eyes.
"Oh boy, what has my pup brought me now?" The man named Woolsey Scott said dropping his monocle into the breast pocket of his teal colored dress shirt.
"Alec Lightwood." Jordan introduced for me. He gave me an almost apologetic look before he joined a group of extremely attractive guys that looked to be practicing smiling in a mirror that engulfed an entire wall.
"Oh you're that boy." Woolsey said running a hand through his hair before circling me slowly like a wolf intimidating its prey. And it was working, he was freaking me out.
"Y-Yeah." I stuttered shoving my hands into the pockets of my jeans hiding the fact that they were shaking slightly.
"Nervous, how cute." He chuckled coming to a stop in front of me. "Ooh." His eyes widened then he was in my face. No on my face was a better description. One hand gripped my chin holding it in place while the other pulled my fringe aside exposing my eyes which seemed to be his main focus. His eyes widened as they stared at mine. He was much too close, popping my personal bubble as it were. I could smell the thick scent of something sweet coming off of him and the subtle smell of dog. "You're that boy." He ogled as I pulled free from his strange grip.
"I think we've established I'm the boy." I muttered shaking my hair back over my face. Enjoying the small curtain between my emotions and the outside world.
Woolsey laughed again. A full head thrown back gut grabbing laughter that caused several sets of eyes to turn and look at us. Of course I blushed, but he didn't seem to care that he was being looked at like a crazy person.
"Oh this is going to be so entertaining." He said pulling his monocle out of his pocket and placing it back in front of his eye.
Am I at the mercy of everyone's amusement? I yelled inside my head.
"Now turn and walk a couple yards so I can see what needs improving other than your posture." He ordered using his fingers to demonstrate what he wanted.
"What's wrong with my posture?" I complained narrowing my eyes at the blond.
"You slouch and bow your head. Keep that up and you'll be a hunched grandpa." He said locking his hands behind his back. "Now get walking Boy."
I groaned under my breath as I straightened my back as casually as possible with the monopoly man's son watching me. Pulling my hands out of my pockets I turned and began walking like the models Isabelle is always watching on TV. Or at least I tried to.
"Oh Dieu, nous avons un long chemin à parcourir." Woolsey muttered shaking his head. I've been around Magnus long enough to know that when someone slips into another language it's probably not a good thing they're saying. "Get back over here." He ordered in a firm tone, all playfulness gone. I did and was darkly told every little thing I had to change if I wanted to be a model.
My posture was still slouched. My movements stiff. The nervous look on my face had to go. I needed a hair cut or change the style so others could see my face better. I was given a list of skin products to start using from cleansers to moisturizers. I was also told to not lose or put on any weight once I've been measured. And there was so much more that by the end of the day I felt like I learned more within those three hours than my entire high school career.
Dear Guardian Angel don't let this Woolsey Scott guy kill me with his training before I get my date with Magnus. That's my one wish. Please help my survive Tight-Pants-and-Sparkles-Galore Bootcamp!