French Red Inc.

Aurelie sat in the front passenger seat and tried to look casual. Sharon was a terrible driver and she had nearly rear-ended several cars. Car horns went off whenever she made a turn. She made turns so quickly that Auri felt the contents of her stomach want to go back up the way they'd gone in. She was green and she hoped she would not throw up before they reached their destination. In her mind's eye, she was slumped over the window toosh up, and green bubbles floating in the air.

If they did not die first, they were going to meet Nicolas Leroux. Auri hopped not to meet the man with vomit breath. She pressed herself against her seat and closed her eyes. Both her hands were on her belt. Her knuckles were white and pressed to her chest. She tried to focus on breathing in through her nose and out her mouth. She felt the car take a turn and heard wheels squeal and horns blaring.

"So dramatic everyone in this city," Sharon muttered as she hit the brakes.

The momentum caused Auri to lean forward and then back into her seat. She tentatively opened her eyes and noticed they were in a parking lot and Sharon was navigating the car to an empty parking space. Auri watched as Sharon got into the parking spot smoothly. As soon as the car was stationary, Aurelie unbuckled her seat belt. She picked up her purse from the floorboard and opened her door. She tumbled out of the vehicle and crouched next to it her head between her knees. She took shallow breaths and listened to Sharon move around in the car.

"You have to get your motion sickness under control," Sharon's voice carried over to her.

Sharon pulled out the keys from the ignition and got out of the car.

"It's not motion sickness," Auri muttered under her breath.

It was a fear of death and too many near-collision incidences in a short amount of time.

"What?" Sharon asked as she rounded the car.

"Nothing," Aurelie called out as Sharon closed her door.

Auri didn't blame Sharon. She blames herself. She should have gotten a taxi but she was too much of a people pleaser. She had not wanted to contradict Sharon's offer for a ride and had agreed. She regretted that now. She was going to get a taxi for the ride back. She was not going to get into that car willingly.

"Are you going to throw up?" Sharon asked after she clicked a button on her key and the car's lights flashed in response.

"I don't think so," Aurelie's voice was shaky and she took in a deep breath.

Focus on the sun on your skin, she told herself, if you focus on the nausea, it becomes stronger.

A small breeze brushed her bare arms. Auri could hear the cars in the streets, and the people walking as they got around their business. Businessmen on phones. A man shouting about a kid not watching where he was going. A woman shouting for someone to bring back her purse. She was also aware of Sharon standing over her. Aurelie did not want her to worry. She was not a bother. She did not want to be a bother.

She lifted her head braced her hands on her knees and stood up in one smooth motion. Dotts appeared in her vision and she closed her eyes.

"Are you okay?" Sharon was now concerned.

She put her hand on Auri's back and rubbed it gently.

"Yeah," Auri replied as she opened her eyes, "I just got up too quickly."

"You should see a doctor," Sharon drew back her comforting her hand.

You should not drive, Auri thought but said nothing.

She had a hard time letting what she saw as negative thoughts come out with people outside her close circle. Sharon was her agent and that relationship was just under a year old. She would not show Sharon her negative aspects. Their relationship was not that old. And she was saving that for Leroux.

"I'm fine," Auri repeated as she looked around at their surroundings.

They were in front of a towering building of glass and steel. It looked right at home with the rest of the city. Concrete, glass and steel were the themes. It reflected the sky at the top and the city at its base. There was a big sign at its apex which read "French Red Inc."

"Isn't it great you'll be working for the man himself?" Sharon asked as she followed Auri's gaze.

Auri smiled, she did not think it was great for a beautiful young model to meet Nicolas Leroux. Mara was a good example. She would be his last victim.

"Come on," Sharon said her face settling into a no-nonsense expression, "We have to go up there."

Auri nodded and the two women stopped and the two of them walked towards the building. With each step, she felt the butterflies in her stomach. She was nervous. She took in a breath and she let it out slowly.

They walked through the automated doors and as the doors closed, the city was muted behind them. Everyone was busy. Those walking around seemed to be going somewhere with purpose and confidence. Some had files in their hands, others were looking at their phones or talking into them. Most of these were wearing business formal or business casual attire. Auri saw models walking into an elevator in a group. How could they be anything else? The way they walked, their tall willowy builds and the way they were dressed and interacted with each other was evident enough. She knew her kind.

She followed Sharon to the reception desk where they were met by a friendly young man. Beneath his curly blue hair, there were grey eyes full of polite interest that turned to full-on interest when they landed on Auri. She did not notice. She was too busy looking around in awe to notice. Sharon smiled at the man.

"I'm Sharon Wilde for Mr Nicolas Leroux," she said and the receptionist's gaze switched to her.

"Do you have an appointment?" he asked.

"Yes," Sharon uttered strained smile.

"Okay," the blue-haired man said and picked up a telephone behind his desk.

He dialled a number and put the phone on his ear. He smiled at them as he waited. When he spoke, his voice was stilted.

"Good morning, Little," he paused and then said, "Yes, I know that."

He paused again his face blank as he listened to someone on the other side of the call. He rolled his eyes before he took in a breath to speak again.

"There's a Ms Sharon Wilde for Mr Leroux," he said with a glance at Sharon.

She smiled at him and he smiled back.

"Okay, thank you," he said and replaced the receiver.

He looked at the two women and there was a look of curiosity on his face.

"Follow me," he said as he walked out from around his desk.

He led them to an elevator and got in with them he held the door. Sharon and Auri followed him. They watched him as he put in a code and then stepped out.

"Mr Little will meet you at the top," he said as the doors began to slide close.

"Mr Little?" Auri couldn't keep in the question.

"That's Leroux's personal assistant," Sharon said as the doors slid shut.

"Oh," Auri muttered.

Her stomach sank to the bottom as the metal box began to ascend. She joined her two hands together and bounced on the heels of her ballet flats. Sharon turned her head and watched her with a small understanding smile on her face. Auri was watching the number of the floor they were on getting bigger and bigger.

"Nervous?" Sharon asked.

Her voice was slightly amused.

"Yes," Auri could not lie.

How could she not be nervous? She was going to meet Nicolas again. She had to give him the right image. If she made a wrong move, she could unravel everything she had done thus far. She felt Sharon's hand on her arm. Auri looked at her agent and smiled at her.

"I'm also too excited," she told the older woman and they both smiled at each other.

"You're a beautiful young woman," Sharon said with a proud smile, "I told you it'll be easy for you to rise to the top."

"You did," Auri said with a smile.

The elevator dinged and both women looked at the doors as they began to slide open. On the other side of those doors was a tall slender dark-haired man dressed in an immaculate suit. He smiled when he saw them.

"Ms Wilde and Miss Engel?" he said it like a question.

Both women looked at him expectantly. Auri mentally told herself to get in character.

"Follow me," he sharply turned on his heel and walked away expecting them to follow him.

They did. Auri could hear Sharon's heels against the marble. Her flats were more muffled as were Mr Little's sneakers.

Auri looked around the area. It was a large hall with a large reception area that had a pretty blonde woman behind the desk. All the walls were in white and warm cream tones. There were paintings on the walls that provided splashes of colour. The woman was another splash of colour in her bright red suit. She looked up as they walked past them and smiled. Her gaze met Auri's. Auri smiled back. It was not her model smile. It was a shy and hesitant smile.

They took a turn and Auri noticed they were now facing a glass wall with the blinds closed. On the side was a desk and a secretary sat there typing away. She had blonde hair that was trimmed to a sharp uneven bob without bangs. She looked up and her fingers did not stop moving. Her eyes met Mr Little and she did not smile.

"Daniella," Mr Little said as he stopped at the door, "Bring us some coffee and two bottles of water, please."

Auri saw Daniella's eyes flash before she stopped typing.

"Of course, Little," she said but there was an unmistakable weight to her tone.

She got up as Little lifted his hand and knocked at the door. He opened it and stepped aside.

"Go ahead," he told Auri and Sharon, "He is waiting for you."

"Thank you," Sharon said as she walked past him into the room.

Auri took a deep breath and walked into the room she smiled as she walked past Little. His face softened into a smile. Had he noticed how nervous she was? Did he see how her hands slightly trembled? She was about to see Nicolas Leroux again. She was about to resume the cat-and-mouse game she had started at the fashion show. It was time she slid back into character.