01

Sun gradually rose out to bring brightness, which also woke up and brought some aspirants outside their cozy homes. One could see the early risers walk and jog happily, enjoying the hypnotic view of the early morning city with warm sunlight in New York City.

One of the tallest buildings in the city held the name MIXTURE. It was a photo studio. Inside the building was the light and dark props, models posing behind a desired theme in the background.

A loud shatter caught everyone’s attention. Liza, the in charge of the studio, turned to the photographer and tells him to continue with the shoot. She immediately walks to the dressing room of the studio where the sound came from.

Liza entered the room and looked around only to spot the glass pieces spread out on the floor. She left out a small sigh and turned to the model who was seated on the chair.

“What happened, Vanessa?” she asked softly.

“It is Ms. Wilson for you,” Vanessa spat out.

“Fine. What’s wrong Ms. Wilson?” Liza corrected.

“I want Ethan to take my photographs. Not some newbie!”

Ethan was also a newbie when he took your photographs in the beginning, Liza thought.

“Ms. Wilson, I am sorry but Ethan is not scheduled to come to the studio today.”

“Then schedule it!” Vanessa said in a rather authoritative tone, crossing her legs.

“I cannot do that. I am the studio manager, not Ethan’s,” Liza tried to explain the very well known information.

“Call him! Right now!” Vanessa shouted.

“I will try to get in touch with him,” Liza said and walked out of the dressing room.

Maintaining a healthy relationship with the models is difficult. But dealing with Vanessa was daunting for Liza. She did not understand how well to treat Vanessa. Vanessa is a supermodel, the top one at that. The lady had a tough personality to deal with. She was the modern-day princess.

Although being raised well by her parents, she had made some name for herself in the modeling industry. Every top fashion brand wanted to have her on board in their works. And she took every advantage from it to build her ego.

Liza sent a quick message to Ethan and got back to work. Despite that, she felt arduous during the rest of the photoshoot of other models.

After about 30 minutes, a tall figure enters the studio and Liza lets out an enormous sigh of relief. She walked towards him and gave him the How dare you! Look.

“Hey, there!” he said to her cheerfully smiling at her.

“It’s not funny, Ethan!”

“I know. I got your message,” he told her as he gave her a hug.

“I will warn her not to trouble you again.” With that, he walks towards the dressing room.

Ethan Francis is a professional photographer. He is good looking, tall, sharp-featured, well built, has a balanced weight, and intelligent. He was the man any woman would say yes to. And also the go-to man, for all the wannabe models and the supermodels to be.

Aspiring models who don’t live in the major modeling market of New York gets his appointment to their portfolios to be done. He was a judge in high profile fashion competitions. He had made a pretty big name for himself in the modeling, fashion, and photography world. The man who had everything kept rejecting every girl was throwing themselves at him. The reason was unknown to most of the people in the industry.

When Ethan walked inside the dressing room, all of Vanessa’s assistants excused themselves from there to give them some privacy.

Looking at him in the mirror, Vanessa said, “You are late!”

“I didn’t have any work here today, you must have known that by now.”

“You know I only want you to take my pictures.”

“That’s the problem,” he said to her as he walked near her chair and draping his hands on her shoulder, trying to comfort her.

“Why?” she questioned, trying her best not to melt at his touch.

“Another photographer is assigned for this project and you can’t keep throwing tantrums at every photoshoot and demand for me,” he tried to make her understand for the nth time.

“Then how will I ever see you? You don’t meet me outside of work!”

“You know why I don’t,”

“I don’t!”

“Not now, Vanessa,” he told her sternly.

“Promise me you will talk to me later. Then I’ll get this photoshoot done.”

Ethan sighed loudly and said, “Fine. Let’s talk later. Come out soon, they are all waiting for you.”

“Okay,” she says and gets back to retouch her makeup.

Vanessa came out after a few minutes and the photoshoot began. Ethan stood in front of the screen and monitored the pictures. Vanessa is a professional model and that reflected in her pictures. Ethan was proud of her work but definitely not her work ethics.

After the photoshoot, they sat in Ethan’s car. He had offered to drop her home and also he had promised to have the talk with her.

Vanessa gulped down the water and relaxed in her seat. Ethan drove past the bridge, without talking anything. They were silent for some time.

Vanessa turned to him and said, “My parents are hosting a party this weekend and you are invited.”

“You know, I don’t like these parties,” he said softly.

Vanessa pouted, “But, you always party with your friends.”

“That’s different, Vanessa.”

“Please, Ethan. I have already informed my parents you will be coming,” she pleaded.

Ethan sighed and spoke, “How can you do that without asking me? I could have had other plans.”

She didn’t reply anything. She just blinked her eyes and waited for him to continue talking.

“You are not doing this again. Or else I will have to offend by not working with you ever again,” he replied, eyes not moving from the road ahead.

She smiled and said, “I won’t.”

“You better not.”

Ethan momentarily parked his car when they reached her home. Vanessa picked her bag and unbuckled the seatbelt. She leaned into him and placed a kiss on his lips. Ethan backed away.

“What are you doing?” Ethan asked. He was aware of Vanessa’s liking for him. She constantly tried to get his attention and made some moves. But Ethan didn’t expect her to do this.

“You know what I am doing and why I am doing,” she said and left his car.