Chapter 1

2 years later.

"What on planet Earth is this?" Eloise scolded no one in particular. "Because I said 'something colorful' doesn't necessarily mean I required a rainbow," she gripped a piece of fabric from a dress already fitted on a mannequin doll.

"Look at this, where the hell is this cheap fabric from? I can't remember purchasing this. Jesus," She facepalmed. "Unstitch this. It makes no sense to the design and please be snappy about it girls."

"You need to calm down Eloise." Her mum muttered from behind her in her usual soothing voice. 

Her dyed honey brown hair carefully knitted into a single French braid. She had on her warm smile-the smile which often interpreted her words-pasted on an ever-young-looking exquisite chocolate visage.

Her mum was an independent and strong lady whom she had grown up to admire. She possessed a love which couldn't be extinguished.

"Mum, you know I can't calm down," she scowled, making sure to pull the latter words. "The SS20 Fashion Show will be due next week and we aren't even closed to prepared for it; Shoshana and Adele suddenly decided to take matters into their own hands, only thirty out of forty-five outfits are ready, Rodriguez is yet to get the technical issues taken care of, we still haven't found the perfect male model to replace Ace and mum, you tell me to call down?" she exhaled. 

"I already have everything under control Eloise," Zaphrina smiled then sauntered to her brand new Ombre green Channel handbag.

"Shoshana informed me about her leaving the state to the countryside; her mum isn't feeling too well. She knows not exactly for long she'll be gone, whilst Adele is currently recovering from a broken ankle, don't exactly know the cause,"

"What? Why didn't they inform me about this too?"

"The latter tried reaching you to no avail. Perhaps that was when you were preparing for exams. Here," she opened her iPad before Eloise, punching on applications and opening to new web pages. 

"I had Carl hunt for required models from Annie's and thanks to our friendship and collaborations, she gave us two of her exclusives to perform. Look at these," she punched play on the screen which later on exhibited two extremely tall Irish models basking in graciousness and flamboyant beauty as they catwalked down the runway of the familiar AW19 fashion show auditorium.

"Impressive. Very impressive. Ok, considering we have that solved, what about the remainder of fifteen outfits, and Rodriguez, and the male model?"

Her mum discarded her tablet, "Listen, Elly, a panicked head doesn't think straight. Chill and believe me, we'll sort everything out in due time. Get ready for the modeling auditions, it's in about half an hour."

"Is in times like these that I wish Ace was with us."

Zaphrina's phone chimed, "Oh, what a coincidence. Here calls Rodriguez, give me a minute please."

Truth be heard, Ace would have saved her the stress of viewing a variety of faces and not-so-enticing catwalks, Hilarious poses, and amoebic contours. Some even showed up in fancy outfits and sophisticated layered makeup.

At the final analysis, some auditors only showed up for pleasure. Others, tried their luck because someone told them they were fit for it but they in person weren't interested in it or are skeptical about it. Some came for it because they were serious about it and could do whatever it takes to make it to the top. Those, are the people she yearned for. Those are the people she lived for.

"He's got a replacement," her mum began. "Who will make sure there isn't any technical drawback before and on the fashion day, hope you're eased now?"

"We can't be so sure about this replacement mum."

"Elly hun, like I always say; Always be optimistic and never ever pessimistic. That should be your motto as an up coming designer."

"Fine, fine," she picked up her mule overcoat from the crimson velvety two-seaters. "I'm off to the audition room," she kissed her mum goodbye.

-

"Edward stewards; Twenty-one, six feet, graduated from Milton high three years ago and started his modeling career seven months after. Modeling as described by him is both a physical and mental art. He strives for nothing but perfection," Felicia read out from a notebook.

"I love his personality, but I feel like something's missing. I can't place a hand on it. I'm not really sure about him so I'll give it a pass."

"What about this one, Jesse Frame? For your information, that's the last photo of confirmed models. If he doesn't please you then I'm afraid," Dani shook her head as she adjusted her thick-rimmed glasses.

The image on the huge screen before her was a sexy vicious-looking model. He was almost perfect with his small light blue eyes and full lips, the short mop on his head was a dark shade of faded blonde. If she hadn't seen him physically she sure would've validated him without a second thought even though modeling's got a reasonable percentage pinned on looks, there also were some on miscellaneous aspects.

"Nineteen. Five feet nine. Never attended high school, gave modeling a chance after completing middle school however, he's been a body model for as long as five months and wants to give the full tea a try. Has never portrayed it to anyone else besides his family, though."

Eloise bit her lower lip, "I don't really know about him, I mean, yes he's got the perfect skin and all but...you guys saw him yourselves right? he could barely even blink at the sight of us."

"He's the stage frightened kind of guy. His profile even confirms it," Larry pointed.

"Absolutely."

"So it's a pass?" Dani twisted her thin lips waiting for Eloise's conclusion.

Eloise raked her curls and exhaled in exasperation. "I'll sleep on it, guys."

"Take your time," Felicia said.

"Ok. Let's call this a day."

Once at the embrace of her cozy home, Eloise rushed to her room where she tidied up against dinner. It was going to be a little special because her best friends--Bennie and Marila were going to be present, for as long as two weeks, Yikes!

It's been a long time since she last saw them. After high school graduation, Marila left for California to follow up her dream on becoming a Hollywood Reporter, Bennie, on the other hand, left for Washington, D.C. to 'try her luck here and there' as heard from the horse's mouth.

After embedding her body into a simple apple green floral cotton dress, Eloise added to the human stains in the kitchen which comprised of her mum and Nathalie. An hour later, the long dining table was set for a continent and soon after, the doorbell rang.

The three girls, after eardrum piercing screams and contagious watering eyes sped to the dining table with her father at the head, her mum doubtlessly beside him, Beth, Nate, and Nathalie followed whilst the opposite side of them was dedicated to the girls.

Dinner had never been so lively: Eloise seemed to have a ton of questions to shoot at her friends but made sure to be selective and kept the best for privacy. But like a family, not just Eloise had questions to bombard.

"Thank you so much for your ever so flavorful meals Mrs. Woods and Nathalie, and of course for the hospitality too," Marila smiled as she dabbed the corners of her lip.

"Oh, it's nothing. You girls are family," Zaphrina said whilst getting rid of the dishes.

"Come with me, there's something I ought to show you, girls," out of excitement, Eloise pulled Bennie's arm.

"Hey, easy. Don't dislocate my bones."

"It's been two years," Said Marila. She stood still staring at something Eloise and Bennie couldn't see as they were already ahead of her.

"That what?" Eloise reversed her steps to peek at what Marila's eyes stayed glued on. Bennie mimicked.

"It's been fourteen years since that aquarium was installed in that wall, can't believe you're seeing it only now."

"I'm not talking about the aquarium," she said in a 'duh' tone. "I'm talking about that elephant tusk on the shelf next to the aquarium."

"Oh, yeah. Mum and Dad love it so much that they reimbursed for it and even added three times more money to the price. I wish I had the other you know."

"Unfortunately, Mr. Hopeless hoodlum reached for it before you did. Honestly, Eloise, I'm still mad at the act of charity you exhibited that day. You just covered up an unknown; a swindler for that matter," Marila sighed.

"Let this not spoil your mood tonight baby girl. There's a lot I want to tell you, hear from you and show you, and oh, there's a birthday to plan too," she pulled Marila upstairs. 

"Nine months of each other's absence isn't nine days. I still wonder why you guys didn't let me pick you up at the airport."

"We just didn't want to add up to your plate," Bennie said, "We know you must probably be stressed up with the upcoming fashion show and all, by the way, hope you got that as of tonight's gossip headlines,"

"Awww. But that isn't an excuse enough for not creating even thirty minutes of my time for you guys," she opened the door to her room, hung both arms on either of their shoulders, and said, "Welcome to my room girls. The old city of gossip observances. Oh my God, tonight smells epic."