Aurelie's gaze turned back to the podium just in time to see a very naked Pearl Grace standing on the podium. This time, Nicolas and Jean were also helping get her into the dress. It was a lot of draping as far as Auri was concerned. There seemed to be buttons and ribbons holding the dress in place. The dress was an off-white rose colour with a deep red colour on the trim and underside.
When the three people getting her in the dress took a step back, Auri held in a gasp. The two-piece dress was gorgeous. It consisted of a Piece of material climbing up her back, going over her shoulder, down towards her breast, over it, went a few inches down and made a U-turn towards the other boob, covering it and going over the shoulder and down her back to continue as a cape there. At her waist was a flowing dress of the same risky style. The skirt looked like it was just two loin cloths that covered her bum and her kitty. Long flowing loincloths that were attached to a rose-coloured braided string going around her hips and flowing to her ankles. As she moved the front piece shifted between her legs and her leg was completely bare from hip to deep red heels.
As Pearl moved, there seemed to be a slight risk of the dress shifting and showing a boob or a butt. Nicolas and Pearl had more trust in that dress than Auri would ever have the grace to muster.
There was a sudden blast of sound from the runway. Someone was using a mic and their voice carried to the back area where Auri and the rest of the models were waiting for the show to begin.
"Good evening, ladies and gentlemen!" an overly cheerful feminine voice called out, "Thank you for your patience. We at French Red are proud to present to you…"
There was a dramatic pause, "Our Fair Maiden collection!"
People clapped, and someone whistled. There was a change in music and Siena moved out of the room and around the corner to where Auri assumed was the runway. The show had begun.
Auri got up and removed her robe, draped it over the back of the chair. In her underwear, she sat back down. It was almost time for her turn to get draped in her runway attire. She opened the shoe box and she marvelled at the beautiful pair inside. They were a beautiful copper colour. She wondered about the dress she would be wearing with them. This was a hit of what she'd be wearing soon. Would it be the same colour? Would the dress be as provocative as the loincloth she had seen on Pearl Grace? Did it matter?
While still seated on the chair and bent at the waist, she put the shoes on. When she was done, she straightened up to be surprised to see Nicolas walking up to her. As he got closer, she got up from her seat and waited for him to finish closing the distance between them.
"Aurelie," he said as he came to a stop.
"Good evening, Nicolas," she said nervously.
"Are you ready?" he asked her.
Auri nodded her head, "Yes, I think so."
She wondered how he was oblivious to the people watching them. She was not complaining as it worked to her advantage. But she also felt a little uncomfortable. All those eyes looking at her. Scrutinising her. She regretted taking off her robe.
"Good," he said with a smile, "You are good at what you do, that's why I immediately hired you. Remember that."
Auri smiled at the compliment, "I will, thank you."
She then realised he was here instead of inspecting the last model get into his attire. Could she use this to measure the amount of sway she had on him? She tried not to meet the eyes looking at her. She did not doubt that there would be a little gossip in the company after that night. Things were going according to her plan. Far much better than she had anticipated. She wondered if she should be worried.
Nicolas looked over at the podium and noticed that the model who'd been occupying it was stepping off.
"It's your turn now," he said and offered her his hand.
Auri looked from his hand to his face. She slowly lifted her hand and slid it into his open one. She had to portray the right image. She had to be the girl he would fall for. The right blend of innocence and sensuality. She let him lead her to the podium. She could see the makeup artists hiding their facial expressions behind their brushes. She could feel the hush from the models.
Yes, she thought as she suppressed a triumphant grim, the gossip mill will be working at more than a hundred per cent capacity tomorrow.
She got on the podium and then let go of Nicolas' hand. He watched as the woman who'd been getting everyone into their clothes got the garment bag from the rail and carefully unzipped it.
Auri watched him. There was a look of pride in his eyes. Pride and excitement. She turned her gaze away from him as the woman slowly unzipped the garment bag. She gasped as the bag was unzipped. The colour alone told her the dress was something out of this world.
The fabric looked like liquid copper. It shimmered in the light as it was drawn out. It seemed to just flow. Nicolas extended an arm to the woman handling the dress and she gave it to him and then put away the garment bag. Auri looked at the dress in awe. It was beautiful.
"Lift your arms and bend forward at the hips, Aurelie," Nicolas instructed.
Auri raised her arms over her head as she bent forward. Nicolas slowly slid the dress over her arms over her head.
"Straighten up," he said as he let go of the dress.
Auri did as commanded and felt the cool material flow down the rest of her body. She looked down and she saw that the dress moulded perfectly to her shape. It had loose sleeves that stopped at Auri's wrists.
"Stretch out your hands in front of you," Nicolas ordered.
As she lifted her arms to comply, she noticed that the arms had slits that showed the skin of her arms as she moved.
Nicolas grasped her wrists and as he buttoned them, she discovered that the dress had buttons that he did and the sleeves were no longer flowing but rather a loose puff work.
"Now slowly turn," Nicolas instructed.
As Auri obeyed, she noticed that the same Peka-boo effect on the arms of the dress was at play on the skirt. Slits that joined into one band at the bottom showed off her legs from mid-thigh to ankle. It was an interesting design.
"Good," Nicolas said and she stopped turning.
There was a proud grin on his face. Jean was smiling too. The dress was the centre of attention.
Nicolas extended a hand to Auri and she took it. She carefully got off the podium and her hand was let out of his strong supporting grasp.
"Go on wait your turn," Jean told her with a smile.
Auri nodded and went to stand behind the other model. A few minutes and he took off onto the catwalk. She was left alone with her thoughts.
What if you trip? A little voice wormed itself into her head. What if you rip the dress? What if you just suck? You could get dismissed after tonight.
A cold sensation settled into her stomach but she was determined to chase it off.
You have done this before, she reminded herself. You have to do this again. You need to draw out the rest of the people who are responsible for Mara's condition. Tonight is the first taste they will have of you.
"You have got this," Nicolas' voice startled her out of her thoughts.
She looked up at him. He was wearing a reassuring smile. He believed in her. He had seen what she could do. She could do this. She smiled at him gratefully.
The music changed and she looked up.
"Go wow them," he said and stepped away from her.
She was hyper-aware now. Her cue was a second away. The beat slowed down. The lights dimmed. That was her cue. She took the first step and the dress shifted around her ankles. She took another and another. The dress shifted around her feet. Caresing her skin. She rounded the corner and she was now on the runway.
She was sure the audience could see her silhouette in the dimness She stood there, at the beginning of the runway. Her heart racing in her throat. She locked her knees as she felt them want to give out. She felt a chill go over her skin and she could bet that every hair stood on end. Her breath came out in gasps that she fought to slow down. Even with her goal in mind, even with Nicolas' words of reassurance, she was terrified.