He puts one final pin in my hair and orders me to close my eyes as he douses my hairdo withhairspray.
“Parfait! You look beautiful,MadameLauren.”
Ienter my photo shoot,on pins and needles. Not only because I’m still freaking out about theALLMecampaign, but holy crap, this is my first photo shoot, for a publication estimated to be seen bymillions.
“Here is your outfit, Lauren. Let me know if you need help getting into it. It’s gorgeous,” saysDaniella.
And I’d have to agree. The beautiful black dress is accented by a lush, fauxcollar.
Chic. Glamorous. Very Haute Couture-ish.
I step out from behind the privacy screen, and the photographer and Daniellagasp.
“You look beautiful,Lauren.”
“Yes, you certainly do,” says Miles, the photographer. “Come now, let’s get this partystarted.”
Two hours later,I’m starting to realize why I’m not a fashion model.Look to the left. Lower your head. Raise your chin. Make love to the camera.Okay, he didn’t saythat, but they do say that in the movies. It’s different sitting back and watching the actual shoot. But to be in the actual shoot is another story. My feet hurt from standing, and my mouth is sore from the smiling. All I want now is a bowl ofsoup.
AndJaxson.
I haven’t even been able to look at my phone to check on the status ofALLMe.
“Okay, just one more shot and then we will have several for you to choose from, Ms. Blake,” saysMiles.
“Sounds good, Miles. How do you want me for thisshot?”
With his zoom lens in hand, he holds the camera over one eye, squinting into the lens. He adjusts the lighting in the room and says, “Look like a sexymystery.”
What?
“Um,what?”
“Look sexy and mysterious. Don’t smile, just make love to thecamera.”
Well, I guess that’s not only in themovies.
I turn and face the camera, my eyes calm, my lips slightly pursed, my hands on my faux collar, then I think ofJaxson.
The camera goesclick, click, click, clickand Miles yells, “That’s it, that’s it, beautiful sexymysterious.”
After I change backinto my regular, non-model clothes, I gather my purse, and my laptop, then scan my phone for anyupdates.
Nothing.
“You did great, Lauren. The photos are going to look amazing. We should be able to choose the one you like best tomorrow morning,” saysDaniella.
“Thanks,” I say, feeling like it probably won’t matteranyway.
I open the door to make my way back to my office as Daniella makes her way to another photo session room. A call from André comes through my phone just as I reach theelevator.
“Hey, boss. You may want to head to photo room number three. We’ve got the face ofALLMehere ready to do theshoot.”
I end the call without even saying anything to André. I just run, down the hall, high heels slamming the tile floors past room one, then past room two, then…finally roomthree.
Shoving the door open, I breathe in and out, feeling like I ran a minimarathon.
André grins and Daniella smiles. And from behind the privacy screen steps Jaxson Malone, all dressed in nothing but a pair of blackALLMeunderwear and the luxurious gifts God gavehim.
