"Pére, I don't want to go in there. What if someone sees me and posts my pictures online? What if everyone continues to stare, because of how I look? What if--"
"What if we just went in without any questions, my dear?"
"But, Pére--"
"No. I have a lot of work to do and your complaining isn't helping. Do you want to stay with me?"
"Of course. What do you want me to do while I'm sitting there doing nothing?"
"...Whatever you want, mon cheri."
Francesca and her father entered the tall building to a very chaotic scene. Designers and models were rushing around to get rooms and studios. Jacques shook his head and walked up to the desk.
"How is everything, Paulo?" he asked.
"Not really my cup of tea, but...it's going fairly well, sir." the receptionist smiled.
"Keep doing what you're doing. Oh, and are the designers in my office, oui?"
"Yes, sir."
"Have Monsieur Park come to the Sales department. I need to have a word with him."
Francesca wasn't worried about the unknown men in her father's office. Everyone who seemed to have time on their hands took the moment to stare at her. Most were wondering if she was Jacques's mistress. Some wondered if she was a new model. Others assumed she was the daughter none of them had never seen before. The wonder stopped at that.
"My office is on the top floor," Jacques told his daughter. "I'll meet you up there after I speak with someone."
"Ok." Francesca silently followed her father. "....Do you have a private elevator? I don't think I can stand having everyone stare at me."
"Of course, dear. Just around the corner. See you later."
Francesca watched her father get into the elevator in front of them. She quickly went around the corner and found her father's elevator. After struggling with the password to have it open for her, she was finally on her way to his office. As she was going up, it stopped and another woman got on. Weird.
"Hey hey, you must be Monsieur Délon's daughter?" She smiled and held out a hand for Francesca to shake.
"Yeah." She nodded her head slightly. "What's the rush today?"
"Oh, this month is fashion month. We have designers and models from all over the world here today. Are you going to model for us? It would be an honor to have you."
"Ah, no. I don't think I'm that beautiful to do that."
The woman stared open mouthed at Francesca in disbelief. There was no way this woman thought she wasn't that beautiful to model. How? She thought. How can someone so beautiful think they weren't that beautiful.
"Amour, I don't think you get it," the woman said. "Please, don't put yourself down like this. I saw on the cameras how people were looking at you. No one has ever seen you before in person. To see that you are this beautiful is a shock to us all."
"Thank you, but you don't have to lie to me," Francesca scoffed. "I'm used to the lies, but you're taking it too far."
"Fine. I'm Cece. Monsieur Délon's secretary."
The elevator doors opened and the two women stepped out. They conversed some more about fashion month. Cece continued to convince Francesca that she was more than model material. After getting to Jacques' office, Cece opened the door for Cesca and told her she could talk to her any time she felt alone or uncomfortable.
Byeong-ho and Young-ho were sitting at their desks again thinking of the woman they had just seen. Since Monsieur Délon was in the building, they knew they'd meet the mystery woman soon. Francesca walked in without making a sound. Both men were distracted by the calls they were getting, not knowing who had just walked into their lives.
"Oui. Oui. I can have everything ready by next week," Byeong-ho said. "Monsieur, it's great to have you in the show this year. See you tomorrow for your tailoring."
"Ah, no." Young-ho looked at his watch and sighed. "I have the whole night free if you want to talk over a dinner maybe...Of course, I'll drop everything to attend to your matters, mon amour."
Amour? Francesca thought. Even if I were interested in him, he had someone else on his mind. Someone else in his life.
After what seemed like forever, the two men looked up to a surprised Francesca. She looked away quickly and found a seat at her father's desk. Awkward. Byeong-ho looked at his colleague and gestured to Francesca. They both nodded in silent agreement and smiled. They finally had someone to really distract them from their work.
"So...you're Monsieur Délon's mystery daughter," Young-ho stated. "Shocking..."
"Young-ho, you're scaring the poor woman." Byeong-ho laughed.
"I'm Lee Young-ho. He's my colleague and friend, Kim Byeong-ho. We're fashion designers for the show. Mostly working on your father's secret fashion line."
"Secret?" Francesca asked. "How is it a secret?"
"No one else, but your father, us, and another colleague know about it. No information about it can be leaked about this fashion line."
"Oh...I'm Francesca, by the way."
Suddenly, Francesca sat up straight and stared at the two men. They weren't paying attention anymore due to the calls coming in again. She silently assessed them with care. Not at all subtle about her staring.
Hmm...She thought. I wonder if they'd help me out with something.
From countless relatives and so-called friends, Francesca heard about how some designers helped women with makeovers. Cesca hoped to become lucky this year, so she vowed by the end of the day, she'd have her chance at becoming their next model. Slowly and quietly, she made her way over to Young-ho. She was no longer nervous and uncomfortable. Only curious.
"Monsieur Lee." Francesca tapped his shoulder. Young-ho continued his call, giving Cesca the finger. She pursed her lips and waited. After his call was done, he turned to her and smiled.
"Oui, amour?" he asked.
"I heard...from my family that some designers help women with makeovers," she said shyly. "I know I may not be a woman who can be fixed, but...I was wondering if you'd help me out."
Young-ho had to stop himself from slapping Francesca silly. She wanted a makeover?! The thought of making an already gorgeous woman more beautiful sounded like vanity to him. Impossible. There was no way he'd be able to fix her. If any other designer or makeup artist saw her, they'd think the same thing. Francesca wasn't someone who needed to be fixed.
"I...I don't know what to say," Young-ho muttered. "I want to help you, but it wouldn't do you any good."
"I knew it!" Francesca exclaimed. "I knew you'd say no. I'm too ugly, aren't I?"
"No, nothing like that. it's just--"
"Is it my father? Are you afraid of him? Maybe you think I am too ugly!"
"Francesca, I don't think you're--"
"I'm hideous!" she wailed.
Byeong-ho looked up from the paperwork he was filling out and dropped the phone. It took him a minute to realize what he had done and immediately apologized to the caller. He hung up and walked over to his friend.
"Who said you're hideous?" he asked.
"Monsieur Lee thinks I'm hideous," she said. "He thinks I'm too ugly for a makeover!"
"But, you don't need a makeover. What made you think that?"
"Everyone. Please, help me."
Both men looked at each other and sighed. This woman was crazy. How the heck were they going to talk her out of getting a makeover? The situation was something they had always tried to avoid. How had Francesca come up with the idea of getting one? Someone had to have put the idea in her head that she wasn't beautiful enough.
"I want to be beautiful."