I stared at Francesca for longer than necessary before realizing why she might be so early? My eyes trailed down her body, assessing her outfit. I thought she hated being seen? Isn't this crying out for attention? No. I shouldn't be worrying about her private life. It's time I taught her how beautiful she was and make sure she believes it. I can't have her walking the runway and not think she was beautiful in any way.
But shouldn't she be with Byeong-ho or Young-ho? I had clients who couldn't wait and if I left them for her, they would surely complain. Then again, she's my boss's daughter. I should prioritize her over everyone else. She is going to be the one modeling his clothing. It's best I tell her everything she should know before leaving her to herself.
"Why didn't you go to the others first?" I asked.
Francesca shrugged and looked around. The room was bigger than our showrooms back home, so there was a lot that could be interesting here. She was distracting me. Taking her time to answer my question.
"...I wanted to see the place where I would be walking first," she said. "Can I not do that?"
"You can, but it's wasting precious time."
"True. I don't have much time to learn what I need to learn, but wasted time isn't always a bad thing."
Was she really talking to me like this? Does she know how old I am? I don't care if you're my sister. No one is allowed to talk to me in any kind of way. I know she noticed the look on my face because she turned on her pretty little heels and began walking away. That's right, babe, you know who's boss.
"Francesca!" I called out. She stopped walking. "Do you want to learn the walk? Maybe you could learn, then get tailored."
"I thought you wanted me to get out of your way." Francesca seemed to be laughing by the way her shoulders were shaking. What was so funny?
"...Just a thought. You don't have to if you don't want to."
"I never said I didn't want to. I never said I wanted to." She turned around and smiled at me. If I actually cared for her features, I would have been melting from her beauty. "Of course, I'm going to want to know. Where do we start?"
I didn't realize how long it took her to learn how to walk the catwalk. I continued to watch her almost fall on multiple accounts. I watched her forget a step and just end up looking stupid. I even witnessed her talking crap about my training. If it were up to me, I would have just left her to herself. It was easier to pretend she never existed.
"Francesca, back straight!" I scolded. "You're too slouched!"
"How about you try it?" she snapped back.
"It's going to be much easier for me. I've been walking since I was a--"
"Baby? Stop lying. It's hard if you don't walk like this everyday."
"That's why it's called learning and practicing. I'm not the one that's going to disappoint Mr. Délon. I tried my best with you, Francesca. You're a lost cause. Hopeless."
"I'm not hopeless!"
Just as I was about to argue back, we got a visitor. Francesca suddenly started fake crying and ran off the catwalk. I knew who it was and prepared to defend myself. But when I turned around it wasn't who I thought it was. Young-ho was staring at me like I'd yelled at him. He was drowning in offense and I knew I was in trouble.
"Nan amu jisdo anhaess-eo!" I exclaimed.
"Geunyeoneun wae uneunga?" Young-ho demanded gently.
"Geunyeoneun dangsin-eul yeongihago issseubnida. Geunyeoneun dangsin-i geunyeowa hamkke meosjidaneun geos-eul algo issseubnida."
Young-ho sighed and took a look at Francesca who was now wiping her mascara that had smeared under her eyes. To be honest, I really wanted to tell her she looked like a racoon. I legit wanted to say, once again, that she was a lost cause. I couldn't help her with her modeling.
"Geunyeoleul deligo gasibsio. Naneun geunyeowa hamkke kkeutnassda." I yawned, pretending I was tired. In truth, I could sleep right now. If I didn't have to work with the models backstage, I'd be taking a much needed nap.
"...Chamgolo, daejung ssi, yeojaga sog-ineun ttaeleul abnida," Young-ho argued. "Naneun dangsin-i saeng-gaghaneun geosman keum eoliseogji anhseubnida."
"Geulaeseo dangsin-i jogeum meongcheonghadago injeonghabnikka?" I asked with a grin.
"We're going. Come along, Francesca. We have much to do."
Ha. I bet you won't say anything else.
⚜⚜⚜⚜⚜
My lunch break wasn't as long as I wanted it to be. Francesca was following me again to the show room and her complaining wasn't helping. She kept muttering about how I was a bad and impatient teacher. What was I supposed to do? She couldn't do a perfect model walk. The kids who trained him from time to time did better than her. My older models weren't this slow. They practiced at home. They asked for pointers.
I have no choice but to take out The Stick.
We got into the showroom and I asked her to ask the other women to get her something walk worthy. Of course, she complained about what she was wearing and said I didn't know fashion. Okay, look here! First of all, I'm a respected fashion designer in Asia and most of Europe. Second, I didn't study fashion for almost four years to have that said to me. Does she not know I can ruin her before she even starts her career?
"Just go, Francesca. I want to actually train you this time. If your father comes in here and asks what we've done, I'm going to proudly say I tried to teach you."
"Tried to?"
"Yes, I tried to. You aren't cooperating with me. I told you to go get dressed and you're complaining about how your outfit already looks good. It's not about looking good, Francesca. It's distracting to me and will be distracting to anyone who walks into the room to watch you."
"What if I want them to be distracted?"
I paused to collect my thoughts. This woman was really about to get a fist to her perfect face. I swear Mr. Délon should have kept her in the house. Let her go back to school somewhere to be a housemaid or some crap. Instead of giving her the look of disappointment I give to all the women who talk back, I smiled and guided her backstage. The models there saw my face and took her from me.
"Change," I demanded.
"You can't make me!" Francesca snapped.
"...You're right. I can't make you, but they can."
I gave the girls a nod and left. Francesca began protesting about her hair and clothes, but soon enough she was out on the catwalk again. The room was littered with cameramen when she finally stumbled out. I could see pure terror creep onto her face as she took it all in. What was so scary about a few cameras?
"What are you doing?"
"What are they doing here?"
"Working like you should be. All they're going to do is take pictures of the models and interview some of them. None of your concern, Francesca."
She seemed to visibly relax, but I could see that Francesca really wanted to run offstage again. From the information I'd gathered from my hyungs, she didn't take cameras as a good sign. She's been hiding from them for so long, keeping her title as the Secret Daughter was one she was willing to fight now. Still, seeing how she'd come here after accepting us as her mentors, I don't see the problem with a little publicity every now and then.
I walked over to her and gently took her arm. We weren't going to get through the first half of her lesson if she kept worrying about the cameras. It's not like they were going to come up to us and ask a ton of questions. I'd made it clear to them that I wasn't part of their little interview. Francesca was up for grabs, but if I was working with her, they'd have to find someone else to nab.
"We're going to start with your walk, Cesca. You see this?" I picked up a faded, brown baton and pushed it in her face. "Every single time you get a step wrong...I bang your head in with this stick."
"You wouldn't dare." Francesca narrowed her eyes. "My father would murder you."
"I'd rather be murdered by your father than have a student who doesn't want to learn properly."
"I'm trying my best, Monsieur Park."
"Not hard enough. I'll give you five tries to get it right. Every time you miss a step...I'll come behind you and fix it."
"F-fix it?"
I chuckled slyly and walked away from her. I really hope I get to fix her.