Are You In My Web?

The elevator's bell chimes and the doors slide open. Auri looked forward and watched as the two men who had entered earlier step out of the elevator. There was the sound of shifting fabric, breathing, and the two men walking away. Auri could also hear people talking beyond the elevator. The elevator's bell chimed and the doors slid shut. Cutting off all sound beyond them. Auri felt and heard the mechanism of the elevator work to lift them to another floor.

The elevator stopped. The bell chimed again. And the doors began to slide open. Nicolas put a hand to Auri's back and gently nudged her forward. She could feel the warmth and strength of his hand through the fabric of her top. Her abdominal and pelvic muscles twitched.

"This is our stop," he said as he took a step forward with her.

The four of them stepped out of the elevator and Nicolas kept his hand on the small of her back. Auri could feel it there. It did not shift. It was just guiding her. But it did more on her insides than just guide her. It made her heart race and her lungs work harder for air. It made her less focused on the world around her and all nerves seemed to migrate to that one spot. She could sense where his arm met his hand. She had the impulsive thought to stop moving so that she could be pressed against that arm. She squashed it down. She wondered if he knew what he was doing. But what did it matter?

It's good you're attracted to him, she told herself coldly. It will make things easier.

"Where are we going?" Sharon wanted to know.

"We're on the second to top floor," Nicolas said simply as he walked over to a door that had a digital lock.

He entered the code and the locks clicked open.

"Little will give you the codes to all the areas you can access," Nicolas said and the other man nodded.

They entered the space and inside was a well-equipped gym. Auri could see that the machines were well maintained if not new. She looked around and then looked at Nicolas.

"This space will be available for your use whenever you need it," he told her and then gestured out the door.

"You can explore it later," he watched her walk to him and out the door, "Let's show you the other areas."

He waited for everyone to walk out of the room and then stepped out after them.

"My private studio is over there," he said as he pointed to a room but made no move to go there.

He went in the opposite direction where a wooden spiral staircase was well hidden in a corner.

He began climbing up and Auri stalled behind him. She let Little go up next before she gave in to Sharon nudging her and carefully walked up the stairs. She was not afraid of heights. She just hated climbing stairs in heels. It was one of her irrational fears. She clung to the handrail as she made her way up and when she was at the top and off the staircase, she let herself breathe and loosen her tense muscles.

She did not notice that Nicolas was watching her keenly. He said nothing and walked across the hall they were in. He walked to a door and she followed behind him. He stopped in front of the door and he put in the code on the door.

"This is your apartment," he said as he pushed the door open, "Little will show you how to change the code to whatever you want. This space will be yours whenever you need it. It is fully furnished and housekeeping comes in every morning. You can change the schedule as per your requirements."

Auri nodded in understanding and followed him through the door. She was in a short hallway that led into a well-lit open area that had a living room overlooking a kitchen. There was a floor-to-ceiling window letting light stream through and showing the ivory walls and tiled floors. The white couch had big yellow and teal cushions on it. There was a large television on the wall adjacent to the window. A white coffee table had a vase of lavenders. Under the coffee table was a fuzzy red rug. She could hear her shoes clicking against the room as she walked across it and explored. She saw that there was another hallway and she followed it. 

There were two rooms with sliding doors opened. She peeked into each and saw that they were bedrooms.

"They are ensuites with walk-in closets," Nicolas said behind her and made her jump a little.

She had not realised he was that close. She could take a small step back and have her back flush against his chest. She felt every nerve stand on attention. A chill followed by a thrill tickles her spine. She could feel his breath on her skin. She suppressed the shudder that worked its way up and she took a step forward.

Not yet, she thought.

She would not fall into his arms just yet. She did not want his body. She wanted more. She knew the only way to get that was to show him she was more than a warm body. She took another step forward and continued to survey her surroundings.

A bathroom was in the back and a toilet was right next to it in the corner. She admired the sunken bathtub and glass shower space in the bathroom. The cream and ivory colours made the room look very clean.

"You can explore more on another day," Nicolas said as his footsteps retreated from behind her.

She turned around and began following him. She noticed that Sharon was looking at her phone intently. She looked up and smiled at her. She suppressed the urge to bounce like a teenager and smiled back. They walked to the elevator and it opened immediately after Nicolas pressed the call button.

"This elevator is private," he told her as they stepped in after him.

"You will get the code from Little," he pressed a button for the first floor.

"Now I must introduce you to the choreographer for your first show with us."

Auri looked up at him and noticed he was looking at her with a smile gracing his lips. She smiled back. Was he paying her more attention than he should? Her eyes shone with childlike excitement.

Are you in my web? She wondered.

She was surprised to find that she was actually excited. She had not expected to feel a lot of things when she devised her plan. She wondered what else she did not account for. Excited little tremors were in every muscle of her hands. She badly wanted to pinch herself. She refrained. She now understood a little of why Mara had loved this career.

Everything was glamour and excitement. Auri wanted to grasp Sharon's hand but she was not a child. She joined her hands together in front of her and resisted the urge to nervously play with them. The elevator door chimed and Nicolas walked out on the first floor. People saw him and then did a double-take when their eyes landed on Auri and Sharon. Nicolas acknowledged no one and Auri tried to do the same.

They walked to a set of double doors and Little opened them and let Nicolas and the two women walk in before closing them behind him. Auri could see that they were now in a hall with the runway in the centre. A few slender people were sitting on the chairs and talking. They were similarly dressed. The girls were mostly in black leggings or jeans, heels and tee shirts. The boys were in either slacks, shorts or jeans, sneakers and tee shirts. Auri rightly guessed they were models.

A few of them were walking on the runway with a woman in white a power suit pacing at the base of it watching them.

"Shoulders straight, Amanda!" she called out to one of the girls on the platform.

"Nikki! Watch your rhythm!"

Everyone noticed the newcomers and the energy suddenly changed. Those that were relaxing and talking among themselves were looking their way. When their eyes landed on Nicolas there was a hunger there. A need to impress. Relaxed stances were switched to seductive ones, nervous ones, or simply perfect postures. Auri felt the curious glances cast her way but she was not brave enough to meet them. She found a place on a wall and stared at it until her vision got blurry.

"Who told you to stop?!" The power suit woman bellowed and Auri jumped and looked at the runway.

The people on the runway looked flustered but they resumed making their way up and down the runway. Painstakingly making sure their bodies made perfect lines with each step.

"Watch your POSTURE!" the woman screamed and Auri felt herself straightening her shoulders and her chin going up.

The woman gave her back to the platform and the models strutting on it. She looked at Nicolas and her stern face softened into a smile.

"What have I done to deserve you gracing us with your presence?" she asked as she walked towards him.

Auri could not help but notice she had a graceful walk. She must have been a model once. She had the confidence that came with the job. Her chin-length dark hair was slicked back with a gel that made it look wet. It did not move as she did. Her dark eyes looked at Auri briefly before going back to Nicolas.

"I brought you the girl I talked about," Nicolas gestured to Auri and she took a step forward.

Her hands were clasped in front of her, her shoulders were straight and her chin was up. She did not see Sharon smile proudly behind her.

"This is Aurelie Engel," his voice had a hint of pride in it.

"Good to meet you," Auri said as she extended her hand to the woman.

The woman looked at the hand for a moment. Auri was afraid she was going to ignore it. She was about to retract her hand when the woman put her hand in hers shook it once and just as quickly dropped it.