5 First Meeting

Skylar walked into the Estelle building with Rivka by her side. They headed backstage to find the person in charge of the show.

The area behind the showing room and runway was bustling with activity. Models, assistants, designers and make-up artists were everywhere. The only models entitled to their own changing rooms was the opening and closing models. So at least she wouldn't have to share a room with others. Much more comfortable this way.

Rivka found their target and led Skylar to him. According to the file that Rivka compiled for her, this was Eric Kinley. The Head Designer of Estelle and the coordinator of tonight's fashion show. A man with average height and looks but with an imposing aura.

Rivka: "Eric, so sorry for the last-minute complications. This is Sky, the replacement model that SS has organized as the final model. She might be unknown but we would bet our reputation on her skills."

Eric looked at Rivka then turned his attention to Skylar. When his gaze fell on her hair, his eyes widened with a surprised look. He quickly looked up and down her whole body then asked excitedly. "is that your natural hair color?"

Sky: "Yes, Mr. Kinley. We have washable hair dye with us in case the color it doesn't fit with the clothes theme."

Eric: "Oh my dear, call me Eric. And absolutely no. No hair dye. This color is perfect. Absolutely perfect. It fits the theme to a T. This season's fashion show theme is 'Enchanted', with a lot of mystical and fantasy elements. You, my dear, were made for this role. Let me get one of my assistants to escort to your changing room. We will have the first rehearsal in two hours and a last one in the afternoon so you are free to go for lunch but we ask you to stay close. I will see you soon my dear, and those skills SS is betting on."

After calling over one of the many people hurrying around, he nodded at us and moved away. The assistant led us towards the back of the huge backstage room. Towards the end, there was a hallway with 4 doors.

Assistant: "First door on your right is the opening model's room. Yours will be the second door on your right. There is a makeup artist scheduled for your personal use only. It's not a huge room but at least it's better than backstage."

The assistant moved ahead of us to open the door, but came to a stop after walking in the room. Inside the room there was a girl sitting on front of the mirror with an older man doing her makeup. On the couch on the other side of the room, there was a young man in a grey suit, texting on his phone. All of them turned towards the door as it opened.

Assistant: "What is going on? Who gave you permission to use this room? Only the opening and closing models are entitled to their own rooms. It was stipulated in your contract. So, can you explain what you are doing here?"

The man in the grey suit got up from the couch and walked over to us. He gave us a fake smile and turned to the assistant. "Hello, I am Mark Collins, Yelena's agent. Yelena is the second to end model for the show today. After the sad news about Maria Harrison's death last night, I thought that the closing model's position will go to Yelena, since she was scheduled to appear right before Maria, so I recommended for her to come straight to this room, instead of waiting for the green light with all the rest of the models backstage. I apologize for my assumptions."

Assistant: "The closing model is not Yelena but another model from Shining Star Company. Please leave the room immediately and join the others backstage. I am sure the makeup artist and assistant in charge of your model will already have enough time wasted as is."

The man and the woman, who I guess should be Reanna, exchanged a glance then moved towards the door. The woman glared at me and Rivka, while the man maintained his fake smile. The assistant apologized and left to continue with his tasks. Rivka turned and looked at the older man standing in front of the makeup table organizing his kit.

Rivka: "I am so sorry Simon. I know you and Maria had a very close relationship, and asking you to come here today was really a difficult thing for you, but I can't trust anyone else. I am so sorry you had to cater to that girl before we got here. Please Simon, don't be mad at me."

The man turned around and this time the red rimmed eyes were easy to see. He must have had a really good relationship with that model and cried a lot since finding out about her death.

Simon: "You shouldn't have called me in, Rivka. You know I loved that girl as a daughter. Calling me in now to work on her replacement, can you imagine how I feel? Why did it have to be me?"

Rivka: "Because something is nagging me about Maria's death and you are one of the two makeup artists in our company that I absolutely trust. Your husband being the other. But he is working with Zi Xin on another fasion show. You were my only choice. I am sorry Simon."

The older man looked down and sighed. Probably understanding the situation and having nothing to respond with. He took a couple of big breaths then turned back around to look curiously at me. "So, who is this girl that is taking Maria's place? I know for a fact that SS has no other supermodel of Maria's caliber right now."

I took off my sunglasses and smiled warmly at him. "Hello Mr. Simon. My name is Skylar Aredhel, but I prefer using just Sky for now. I am sorry for your loss and thank you for being here today."

~In a corner table backstage~

Reanna glared at Mark with eyes full of malice. "You said that with Maria gone I would get to be the closing model. That it would be MY turn to shine. So why, is a total nobody showing up to take my spot? Find out who she is immediately. How dare she get in my way? I will show her what it means to destroy my plans."