"Lingerie is not equal to erotic or vulgarity; the other branch end of this road is called fashion," says Sebastian confidently, as if delivering a motivational speech.
"What do you mean by fashion?"
"Stripping to seduce is not fashion; that is considered vulgar."
"True fashion is when you can attract everyone's attention regardless of how much you cover up."
There is another pause. Above them, Sebastian Vanderbilt speaks with fervor, his confident demeanor making people easily ignore his age. Being articulate is, after all, one of the essential skills of a businessman.
Below him, Victoria's gaze is slightly unfocused. Unconsciously, she starts to see the term 'seduction' in a more elevated light.
Of course, she understands. Sebastian's point is that this show wouldn't require them to take off... At least not to the extent she expected.
At the same time, she finally remembers where that sense of familiarity comes from. That time at the celebration at Boston Arts High School...
With this thought, Victoria turns slightly to look at Charlotte, only to find her gaze sparkling, a slight smile playing on her lips as she watches Sebastian.
"So this is what he looks like at work?" Charlotte murmurs to herself, her fingers dancing at her chin. Spot on!
"The show I'm planning on isn't like the vulgar ones you might be thinking of, like Victoria's Secret or Crazy Horse Show. Those kinds of places, no matter how much they dress it up with exaggerated marketing tactics, can't hide their essentially salacious nature.
"We aspire to cultivate a refined taste among our audience..." Sebastian professes. "And think further, have you ever thought about why New York couldn't be the next Milan?" As Sebastian speaks, he looks down at the two who seem lost in thought, feeling a momentary kinship like a teacher standing at a lectern.
This view is crystal clear! By now, he knows there is no point in further discussion.
"Victoria?" "Vicky?"
"Ah... Yes?" Victoria snaps back to reality, quickly responding.
"Do you still think King Game is that sleazy place you imagined?" Sebastian asks, his smile as warm as any seasoned businessman's.
"Not anymore." Victoria shakes her head, a bit embarrassed, "I had the wrong idea before... thought it was, you know, a lowbrow spot..."
"Good that you've come around. Now, please stand up and take a walk around the meeting room," Sebastian says as he sits down. "Don't worry about the technique; we'll have someone train you on the catwalk later. Just walk like how you imagine a model would for now."
He isn't one to mince words. Since she'd agreed, it is time to get to the point.
"But..." Victoria is a bit flustered, her mind not keeping up.
"I believe hiring is a two-way street," Sebastian patiently explains. "I've laid out the essence of King Game, so now it's time for you to show us what you've got."
"This isn't too much to ask, right?" he adds with a soft chuckle.
Victoria instinctively looks to Charlotte for help.
"Give it a walk," Charlotte suggests. "If it still feels embarrassing, just pretend Sebastian is a fan in the audience..."
"In that case, do you need me to cheer you on with a fan chant?" Sebastian teases, sensing Victoria's nerves.
Of course, if Victoria needed it, he probably wouldn't mind. After all, in his previous life, he'd shouted all the fan chants for Pretty Generation in person, through their good times and bad times!
"No need for that," Victoria relaxes a bit. She stands up and walks to the far end of the room, takes a deep breath, and with a determined look in her bright eyes, hand on her waist, she steps forward as if she truly possesses a model's presence.
Sebastian can't help but nod in approval. Victoria's figure is slender and elegant, her limbs long, exuding a radiant, youthful charm. One could imagine that in the right outfit, just posing would be enough to dazzle onlookers.
However,... Watching Victoria approach, Sebastian suddenly realizes something very serious. His pre-rebirth memories are far too vivid. So much so, that he momentarily overlooks the fact that Victoria is only eighteen this time. Physically...
"Excuse me, ladies. I need to make a call," Sebastian apologizes with a smile and walks to the door to phone someone.
"Patrick Anchor, get over here now, right now, immediately..."
Twenty minutes later. Patrick Anchor walks into the meeting room, offering an apologetic smile, "Sorry, Vic, we might need to switch out a member of the collaboration."
"Ah?" Charlotte is taken aback.
"Huh?" Victoria is confused.
"Me?" Jessica, who had just been discussing how to rescue Victoria back in the practice room, is also stunned. She never expected to be suddenly caught in such an unfortunate situation.
Soon enough, the two return to the practice room. Charlotte, now assured that the fashion show is above board, is at ease.
Victoria, on the other hand, is a mix of confusion and slight frustration. She can't fathom why she had been replaced. Was it because her initial refusal had angered the president?
But... It made no sense to explain so much and then reject her... Could someone be that petty? The more Victoria thinks about it, the less she understands.
Of course, before Jessica can storm off in anger to confront the business department, they explain the nature of the show.
"So wait, you are telling me that it's a normal show?" Jessica blinks, her anger fading. They are more than happy to accept a standard performance.
"You'll see when you get there." Victoria says, then suddenly adds.
"Are you sure you are ok with this, Vic?"
"If possible, could you find out the reason for the switch?" Victoria's lips quiver, her doe-like eyes flashing with defiant frustration.
"Sure, no problem," Jessica says with a smile, agreeing to the request. She quickly goes downstairs to the meeting room. The door is inadvertently left slightly ajar, allowing the conversation inside to be heard clearly.
"Ah, you called me all the way over here just to deliver a refusal?" Patrick grumbles inwardly. Such an unenviable task! He had thought, upon hearing the serious tone on the phone, that the issue was about the price being leaked. What should have been a forty-minute journey, he made in fifteen.
"A good businessman never gets his own hands dirty with unpleasant tasks, get it?" Sebastian says with a smile, looking somewhat disdainfully at Patrick, "Besides, who else would come if not you? I asked you to pick a model, and what did you do?"
"How did I pick?" Patrick defends himself, "I think I made a pretty good choice!"
"Consider your own criteria: some fame, good looks, great figure..."
"These words might as well have been tailor-made for Victoria, don't you think?" Patrick argues.
"You sure about the 'great figure'?" Seb's eyes hold a strange glint, suddenly seeming a bit odd. He realizes, could this guy have some peculiar tastes?
"She's got the standard model's physique, what's the problem?" Patrick's brow furrows slightly. He is used to dealing with entertainment industry standards and has a good grasp on selection criteria.
With that comment, Sebastian suddenly understands, his expression becoming even more bizarre.
"Right, she does have a model's figure," he nods, his approval seemingly out of place.
"So then, why the need to switch?" Patrick asks, still puzzled.
After thinking it over, Sebastian gives a serious response. "I have an impossible mission for her, and Victoria's figure is just not capable enough of doing it. I need her to turn her whole back on the crowd!"