Murmurs could be heard as the melodic music played softly in the background. All the lights had dimmed on audience seating on both sides of the long catwalk, exposing a stark white runway. Suddenly the bright lights were extinguished completely and the sound of rainfall filled the room. The stage backdrop flickered with a special effect of water falling as the first male model took the stage. The music increased from a soft blend to a more upbeat mix as the rainfall dwindled and the stage and catwalk were once again bright white.
As the first young man walked down the center of the walkway, it was apparent that plaids would be the fashion of the day, as he mechanically walked in his mustard and black plaid coat. Each young man that followed were Ashton Kutcher look-a-likes, with high cheek bones, narrow noses, long legs, and a serious-business face that belied their age. Taec sat in front of a large mirrored dressing table as the dressing assistant placed the black fur hat on his head.
He glanced around the room and smirked. Some things never change. Paris Fashion Week was filled with the same generic looking white male models, with brooding faces and vacant eyes. Whether he modeled for Louis Vitton, Prada, Dior, or in the case of today, Burberry, it still didn't change the cookie-cutter mold that defined today's male model. They called it Paris Week because the designer shows would start in New York, then travel to London, Milan and finally end in Paris all in one week. It occurred twice a year, and most male models had a hard time distinguishing themselves, and making a mark.
Ok Taecyeon, known in the industry as "Taec," was the exception.
He was able to not only compete with these young men in height, build, and stature, outshining them in each of these areas with the addition of charisma and popularity that eluded the others.
"Orange is the new black," he observed aloud as he looked at the line of mid thigh overcoats.
The designer immediately perked up while tilting the hat slightly to one side, "Oh yes, absolutely! But those coats cannot compare to the masterpiece you have on!"
Taec stood and nodded in affirmation to the comment. Of course not, afterall, I always have the best.
The music changed gears along with the models outwear, migrating from overcoats to cable knit sweaters, and finally on to suits, which was Taec's specialty.
As one of the models would reach the end of the catwalk, another would take the stage and head down, walking in the center as the former would exit on the left of the walk, heading back up to the stage and then exit stage left.
This routine ended with the rank and file of the white male models. When Taec took the stage, he dominated it, alone, without any one else on the floor. He began a steady, slow strut down the catwalk, head held high, black fur hat matching his extremely pitch black suit. His tailored jacket was also a mid thigh, with six buttons down the front, double breasted, three on either side. The room was filled with the sound of shutters clicking madly as he strode to the midway mark and paused.
The music drummed powerfully with the audience's captive attention and hearts drumming equally as strong.
None of the other models paused down the center of the catwalk. Not even at the end of the catwalk. But Taec was not like any of the others.
The collar on his long dark jacket was a soft white and black fur, with markings similar to a black and white Holstein cow. He flipped the collar up, using his taunt black leather gloves, and smiled as he continued to the end of the runway.
Cameras competed for the winning shot and reporters that were supposed to be taking notes were silenced by the sight of this extremely handsome, perfectly built young Asian man.
"Wait for it…" he teased silently as he turned, and while turning quickly unbuttoned the three large buttons that clasped the jacket closed. He was shirtless underneath the jacket, revealing his perfectly defined pectoral and abdominal muscles. Nobody in the business had his body, although they tried. Either they came off as too bulky and overgrown, or too scrawny. The fact that his chest was completely hairless, and glistened in the bright reflection of the lights only added to his male magnificence.
While lifting one side of his jacket open, he turned yet again, and headed back up the walkway.
The roar of applause filled the room, drowning out the music as he reached the top of the stage and turned, pausing, and flashing one of his famous and almost deadly smiles.
He had pillaged every heart in the room, leaving the crowd begging for more.
The lights completely turned off again, and the sound of rainfall filled the room yet again. This time as the lights gradually came back on, the center of the catwalk was actually being drenched with rain falling from the ceiling. The male models took the stage yet again, this time with transparent, plastic raincoats over their heavy, woolen winter coats.
As they paraded down the runway in the rain, the dressing assistant ran up to Taec, holding open his own plastic raincoat. Taec wagged his finger at the designer, and first removed the beautiful Burberry black jacket, then placed the plastic raincoat on.
"But the jacket!" cried the assistant, "They won't see the jacket!"
"Trust me, its not just about the jacket!" Taec replied as he removed the fun hat, and covered his head with the plastic hoodie.
As the other models completed their walk and lined the stage, Taec took the stage and began the climatic walk down the runway in the rain, shirtless, with the exception of the sheet plastic raincoat. The room was roared with cat calls and whoops of celebration as he paused in the center. Instead of highlighting the gorgeous jacket, he drew attention to the perfectly tailored black slacks that he wore.
The cut of the slacks was emphasized by his taunt rear and generous bulge in the front. Taec extended his arms out, opening them wide and raising his head upwards so that the rain splattered and sprayed onto his face, running down his neck, and trickling onto his bare chest.
The room exploded with camera flashes and appreciative applause.
He was not just a example of sheer male perfection but also had a head on his shoulders, quick thinking, drawing such marketing genius as he did at this very moment, knowing that the Burberry show would be the talk of the industry now.
This is why he was so sought after. This is what made him so valuable and popular with all the designers, paparazzi, and glamour magazines. He was king in this world.
After bearing with the round of obligatory congratulations and praises from the designer, VIPs and staff behind the stage, he made his way to his dressing room.
The assistant ran behind him, "Mr. Taec, you have a call from Seoul."
Taec reached for the phone. He knew who it was without asking.
"Hyung, what's up?"
"You've outdone yourself yet again. I was watching a live stream. Did you catch any flack for not wearing the jacket?"
"Are you kidding? I was just handed a note while trying to peel the designer off me. He has a surprise for me in my dressing room."
Rain chuckled with knowing understanding.
"Well at least they know our standards. All the girls are given a medical checkup several consecutive days to ensure they are clean. Don't forget the usual protection, and just don't overdo it, I need you back in Korea in three days."
Taec opened the door to his dressing room, and as he expected there were not one but two very shapely European women, one blonde and one with striking auburn hair. Both had very short, tight mini dresses on, leaving almost nothing to the imagination of their hourglass, full-figured bodies.
"Hyung, I'm not sure I can make it in three days, I might be a bit tied up for awhile," Taec eyed both women appreciatively.
"Three days!" Rain said sharply into the phone, "No exception! We have women here in Korea too."
Taec sighed in defeat, "Yeah, but they don't speak French there!"
"Like you're going to doing much talking!"
"Touché!" Taec admitted.
"I don't care how well you rocked the Burberry over there in Paris, just get yourself in Seoul in three days, and I'll make it worth your while."
Taec reached up to touch the auburn hair of one of his awaiting women, "Hyung are you preparing a surprise for me?"
"You're such a kid sometimes," Rain said.
"Thank you!" Taec chuckled and promptly hung up the phone so he could render his attention on the women who had already begun removing the wet sheer plastic jacket.
"Ladies, ladies," he spoke to them in French, "No need to rush, we have all night!"
Back in Seoul Rain hung up the phone as Yoona was escorted into his office. He smiled at her and extended his palm out, in the direction of a large cushioned chair in front of his desk.
"Miss Yoona, is it?"
Yoona looked around his spacious office in awe and then back at the gentleman in front of her.
"Is this about the books," she asked, "Because I didn't bring them."
Rain shook his head and his smile broadened.
"This is about you and me."
Yoona tilted her head to the side and her brows furrowed in a questioning look.
Rain proceeded, "You seem like a relatively intelligent girl, and I am in need of someone that is quick thinking as well as fast on her feet. I liked the way you handled those young men back in the shop. It tells me that you won't stand to be pushed around, yet you remain calm in pressing situations."
Yoona still didn't speak, and began to bite her lower lip as he continued on.
"Most of all, you're modest and honest. I can't find that in my industry. It's imperative that I can trust you. You will be representing me. You will be my right hand man…. Err, person. You will be my personal assistant."
When she didn't respond he paused and looked directly into her large, clear eyes.
"I will pay you very well Miss Yoona, but believe me, you will earn every cent. You will have ungodly hours, and will need to travel on a moment's notice."
The word "travel" seemed to resound in her head and she smiled for the first time since she had entered the office.
"Travel?"
"Yes, London, Paris, New York, Milan, Japan, just to name a few. Next week I head to Romania." He paused when something occurred to him, "Do you have a passport?"
Yoona shook her head, "No, I never needed one."
"That's ok, we will put an emergency rush on it. I know some folks, they're used to us needing the process expedited."
She moved forward in her seat, and she asked, "What exactly do I have to do?"
"Whatever I ask you to do."
When he saw her eyes pop open in surprise, he assured her, "Don't worry. I will never ask you to do anything that you'd be ashamed of the next morning. But we work in a very worldly business. You will encounter the snooty prima donnas and most conceited, spoiled brats you've ever seen. And that's just the men!"
Yoona laughed at his candor and it caused him to chuckle too.
"I like you, Miss Yoona. But things will not always be about jet-setting and traveling the world. You'll be working… working very hard. I'm successful at what I do because I don't accept anything less than perfection. Can you accept those terms?"
When Yoona hesitated, she considered the pros and cons of what he had just said. "Travel the world, travel the world, travel the world!" The thought echoed back and forth in her head.
Rain jotted a figure on a piece of paper, and pushed it over to her.
She picked it up and looked back up at him.
"That's how much I will start you off with, and if you improve, I'll raise it on a quarterly basis."
Yoona couldn't believe her eyes. "Is this $50,000.00?"
"Most experienced assistants make double that. But you're young and inexperienced. I don't believe in inflating one's ego without them working and earning their worth. So what do you think?"
"Fifty thousand dollars," she repeated as she stared down at the paper incredulous of the amount.
"For starters, that doesn't include travel expenses or wardrobe. You don't have to worry about that, the Agency will cover all of that. You are expected to look the part as well. You may need to brush up on some foreign languages as well, do you have an issue with that?"
Yoona thought she was dreaming. This was just too wonderful to be true. No one in her family had ever even dreamed of earning this amount of money. No one had ever left Korea. Clothes? They all just wore what they could buy at the nearest market.
"I won't need to do anything illegal or immoral?" she asked innocently, trying to confirm that this was real.
Rain laughed out loud at her naïveté, "And THAT, Miss Yoona, is another reason why you're hired! Now listen, your first assignment is go over to the university near your bookstore and find me the photographer who shot this…" he passed her a photograph of a child, squatting down and gently touching a dandelion flower with her index finger, causing the dandelion seeds to fly upwards. The entire photograph was in black in white, except the dandelion. The dandelion was tinted a soft yellow with a green stem.
It was the most captivating photograph Yoona had ever seen. She stared at it and couldn't take her eyes off of it. The lighting, the expression on the child's face, and dandelion floating upwards was so symbolic to her. It represented the faith, and dreams of a child.
"Can I keep this?" she whispered in awe.
Rain grinned. He knew he had made the right choice. She also had the same instincts and appreciation that he had.
"I have several copies," he agreed. "Now bring that photographer to me as quickly as possible!"
"What his or her name?"
"If I had that, I wouldn't need you, now would I?" he said impatiently. "Off you go!"
Yoona walked out of the office and back down the long hallway that led to the elevator that would take her to the main lobby. The lobby was filled with huge framed photographs of male models but the largest and most prominent one was of a young man with very sharp, high cheek bones, smoldering eyes, laying on a couch in blue jeans, slightly unbuttoned and nothing else. She couldn't help but notice how well built he was, with perfectly carved chest and abs. She shook her head subconsciously. Could she really work in this world?
She looked back down at the photo in her hand and smiled. This opportunity was filled with promise. This was going to be interesting! She sensed that she was in for the change of her life. This was a fork in the road. If she didn't take it, she could forever regret it.
She glanced back at the alluring male model. He was gorgeous. He was sexy. He was like no other male she had ever seen. This was definitely going to be a new world for her.
She tightened her hold on the photo she held.
"Perspective, Yoona! It's all about perspective!"
With that she headed out of the lobby across the marble floor of the reception area.
"This is a chance to change your future!" she told herself, knowing that starting today, the charcoal lined clouds would be a thing of the past.