A tiny pang of worry nestled in Aria's chest at the sight of the numerous ring-lights, stationed cameras and model artists. It wasn't that she was nervous, but she soon noticed that this wasn't a full body photo-shoot where she would be able to dazzle with them with her practiced poses that would flatter her body from various angled camera shots. Instead, this was a portrait photo-shoot and she frankly didn't know the set of poised stances she should take.
The 'try-out' models were ushered into a room and had their faces cleaned and dusted with new make-up from the deft hands of the skilled make-up artists. Normally there was an electrifying tension in the air as the 40 or so models each desired to be part of the new coveted Bordini brand catalogue and there were only 10 slots available, but the intensity rose up a full notch when Sir Bordini and Major Knight took seats among the lead models to judge them.
Instantly his eyes fell on her and she cursed inwardly. Don't you have somewhere to be, a business meeting or a corporate event perhaps? Why do you have to be here?
'Aria Velazquez' Muriel called, her name rolling of her tongue in a cultured honeyed tone. Anger crept up Aria's spine and she wondered why everything about her, including her voice had to be perfect.
Perspiration beaded at the back of her neck as she stepped forward. She felt the weight of scrutiny as all eyes were dug on her movements. Bettina was not allowed to enter the photo studio with her, and Aria strongly craved her presence for she was the emotional support that she desperately needed now. The photo studio was silent save for the clicks and shuttles of the cameras. Muriel tittered when she saw that it was her, and she directed her to the high-back chair in front of the white backdrop. No sooner had she sat down than the clicks and flashes of the cameras started off. Looking for something with to distract her anxiety, her eyes scanned the room and fell on Major's flawlessly sculpted face. You should have been a model, but you're not and that's a waste of such good looks. As if he knew what she was thinking, his aquamarine eyes lit up and he gave her a gentle smile that melted her insides to liquid butter. For some reason that settled the knotted tension that was twisting her insides.
'Look at me' a standing photographer instructed. She flipped her eyes to him. 'No, I prefer the angle when you stare away'.
And that's how her eyes spun back on the billionaire celebrity. Artificial lights filtering from the reflectors ahead made his hair shimmer like gold and his well-defined cheekbones glow like a crescent moon giving him a rugged aesthetic. She decided she liked the view.
'Alright, you're done' Muriel said. 'Guilia Rossi!'
'How was it? Bettina badgered her with questions, during the drive back home. Aria told her everything from her nerves down to the chemistry between her and Major Knight. 'He was looking at me the whole time Bettina.'
'The way you say it makes him sound like a creep' Bettina laughed, but Aria wasn't done fawning. 'His gaze was gentle as if he knew the battle of anxieties warring in my chest. After the photo shoot, we were told that we would be reached out to in the next three days.
'I hope you'll be among the ten, you'll move from the States and we'll stay here and−
Aria chewed on her lip, her mind drifting from Bettina's words. 'But seriously what do you think of me and Major?
Bettina succumbed to bursts of mirth 'Now who's the obsessed one? Don't be surprised with his sudden fascination with you. Major sees a woman he likes, crafts all manner of devices to fool her into his bed and she doesn't hear from him again. So don't think it's a good thing his attention on you'.
Aria shifted uneasily in her seat, Bettina's words stinging her to the core. She didn't like the festering emotions suddenly gnawing in her heart. Hell, all he did was to fix his killer smile on her and she was instantly addicted, fawning over him like a fan girl, someone who probably treated women the way they wanted and tossed them away when they were done, someone who didn't give a shit about women, someone who would treat them like objects, someone like Giorgio. An indignant Irritation burned her vision black for a moment, but then her mind laughed at her. Why are you so worked up over someone you just met today. Her line of thoughts was interrupted by a notification chime from her phone, and as her phone screen lit up a chill ran the length of her backbone.
'Major Bacuzzi is your newest follower on Ig' she read out loud. Bettina looked up from her phone screen, her mouth falling open as she stared at Aria's similar astonished face.
Oh my God! She peered into Aria's phone screen and looked up at her again, a flicker of elusive emotion skipping across her shocked face. 'How did that happen?
Three days
later, Aria was called back to Elicits photo studio. 'Congratulations, you have been chosen to be among the faces that would promote the new brand catalogue' Muriel told her. From her gruff voice, Aria guessed that she wasn't happy that she was chosen and that if it were up to her Aria would bite the dust. She and the other nine models were instructed on the next steps that would be taken afterwards, their brand deals, endorsement deals and the trips they would take across Venice. Inwardly Aria wished she would see the striking chiseled face of Major again; the three days of only stalking his social media and not seeing his gorgeous body in flesh was just pure torment. His last post on IG indicated that he was on a set in Toronto, and Aria missed him down to his exquisite Italian cologne that faintly filled the room with his presence.
One hour later, she stepped out into the cool October sun from the dimly lit halls of the Elicit, her hands tightly wrapped around the free make-up kit she was given, thinking that Bettina will be so pleased. A steady stream of pedestrians, some sauntering, others moving with purpose, brushed past her in different directions. Deeply breathing in the cool air, she glanced down to see a pretty café across the street, and she decided to head there for lunch. At the thought of lunch, her stomach started to growl in anticipation.
Once seated inside, the waiter attended to her and she ordered a cup of caramel colored coffee and burger sandwiches. She passed time waiting by scrolling through her social media. From the corner of her eye, she noticed a swift movement from her side. When she looked up an exceptionally lean figure had settled into the chair opposite her. She found herself staring into the aquamarine eyes of Major Bacuzzi. He was wearing a long overcoat but that couldn't hide his muscular frame, and she could recognize those charming eyes from afar. There was a hat drawn over his head and she realized that he was hiding from the glare of public eye.
'Major' Aria muttered under her breath. There was a wave of brief silence, she gawping at him in awe and he studying her as he might a specimen in a jar. Her blue eyes narrowed pensively. He broke the silence. 'I'm not supposed to be here.'
'you're not' she agreed, her heart fluttering wildly against her rib cage.
'I'm expected to be in Toronto but I stayed back. I had to see you before I go. I needed to know why images of you continually taunt my thoughts'
'Major' she purred again, for lack of a better way to respond. His well-carved mustache trembled in a slight smile as he observed her rose-petal lips. 'It's nice to hear you speak. I like the
way you call my name'.