A Supermodel?

Auri stepped into the room and she looked around the room. It was bathed in sunlight from a floor-to-ceiling window. The walls were an ivory colour. There were brightly coloured large framed images hanging on the wall. The floor was a pearly-white marble. On the wall opposite the door was a large wooden mahogany desk. It was neat. There were three trays of files on that desk and an open laptop at the centre of the desk.

Auri moved further into the room and saw the sitting area tucked around the door. There were two cream-coloured loveseats and a sofa chair around a coffee table. Nicolas Leroux stood in the middle of that setting next to the coffee table. He smiled at them and moved towards them. Auri felt her pulse flutter more intensely at the base of her neck.

"Good morning," he said as he extended his hand to Sharon.

She took the hand and pumped it twice before letting go.

Auri's eyes just drank him in. He was clothed in a man's dress shirt which was tucked into tight leather pants that did well for his long limbs. Auri's eyes were drawn to his form as if they were metal and he was a magnet. She did her best not to look too closely at him below the belt. She was afraid she'd be caught drooling. But even then, who knew shoulders could be so sexy?

"Aurelie," he said as he extended his hand to her.

She jerked up to meet his gaze. He had caught her staring. There was humour in his gaze. She felt her face heat up as that realisation sank into her body. She wanted to hide. She could not. She had a role to play. An image to give him. A web to weave. So, she settled for bravado. She looked him in the eye and put her hand in his.

When their palms she felt the energy run up her arm. She felt her heart beat a little faster and her lungs work a little harder. She felt like she could use some cool air on her skin. She drew her hand from his hoping that he could see how breathless she was and how rapid her pulse was at the base of her neck. She wanted to wipe her hand on the thighs of her jeans. She resisted. She could see that his eyes were dilated and his breaths were a little shallow. Good. Her noose was around him. He closed his eyes for a second and took a deep breath as if he was composing himself.

"Take a seat," he gruffly said and cleared his throat, "Excuse me."

"Thank you," Sharon said as she perched on a loveseat.

Auri went to sit next to her and Nicolas walked to his desk. He picked up a file folder and then walked back to the women. He sat down and handed the folder to Sharon. She cast him an inquisitive look and then she opened it.

"I would like Miss Engel to be signed exclusively with me," he looked at Auri as he spoke.

"Aurelie's career would be bound by the jobs you give her," Sharon said her gaze on the file.

"She would shine with French Red," Nicolas' voice was certain.

As if he was stating a fact. He was stating a fact. He had the power to make or break her. He also had an eye that could spot gold in a model.

"I do not doubt that," Sharon's voice was firm, sure, and professional.

She lowered the file down, looked over it at Nicolas and asked, "But what guarantee do we have that you would not stifle her?"

"Why would I do that?" He was puzzled.

Because you can, Auri inwardly voiced.

"What guarantees that you would not do that?" Sharon challenged.

Auri was looking between them like she was watching a tennis match. She wondered what her agent was aiming for. Was it possible for her to push too hard and lose a chance at her big break? Whatever it was, Auri would not interfere. Sharon was the best agent anywhere. She knew what she was doing. Auri had promised to trust her when they first met.

"I believe we can be the best for Aurelie," Nicolas said his eyes meeting Auri.

He was talking to her. Although his words were directly meant for Sharon, he was speaking to Auri. He was looking directly into her eyes. Auri felt a thrill run up her spine. She suppressed a shudder, sent him a shy smile, and looked down at her hands in her lap.

"Well," Sharon said as she leaned back her gaze sharp and on Nicolas, "I believe Aurelie can go higher than just French Red."

Nicolas smiled at Sharon. His smile held understanding. Auri did not understand anything. What was higher than French Red? French Red was at the top of the fashion industry. It was the ceiling that most models could only hope to touch.

"You want her to be able to take other jobs outside French Red," he said not without humour in his eyes.

"A supermodel can't be limited to one stage," Sharon's voice was assertive.

Auri looked at her. A supermodel? Her career was not a brief one but she had never seen herself as supermodel material. She was only here to get at Nicolas. She was vain but not delusional. She wondered if she undervalued herself, if Sharon believed in her more than she did, or if Sharon was just saying that to get the best possible deal.

"Okay," Nicolas's voice pulled Auri out of her reverie, "But we want Priority."

"Priority means you pay more," Sharon had a triumphant gleam in her eyes.

She had won one part of the battle she was now in another.

"How much more?" Nicolas crossed one leg over the other and leaned back.

"Sixty percent," Sharon tried.

Nicolas Laughed. Auri liked his laugh. It was deep. Masculine. Sexy. She did not want to like his laugh. She wanted to hate everything about him. She hated how her body paid attention. He was her enemy. He just didn't know it yet.

"Of what?" He managed between chuckles.

"Of the pay befitting her rank," Sharon said.

"Rank?" Nicolas was amused.

What rank? Auri thought as she gaped at Sharon. When did I ever gain a rank? 

"Don't be obtuse," Sharon was not playing around.

"And how much is the value of her rank per month?" Nick asked.

Sharon uttered a figure that was three times what Mara had made in a month. Auri was sure if she had anything in her mouth, she would have choked on it. Mara had made a lot. The amount Sharon quoted was a killing.

"So, you want us to give her sixty percent of that on top of her pay?"

"That is what I said," Sharon replied to the man her voice full of confidence that Auri did not share.

"Forty-five percent for priority and exclusivity in the fashion industry," Nicolas said.

"Fifty-five percent," Sharon countered without missing a beat.

"Fifty percent no more than that," Nicolas returned.

"It's a deal if you cover all work expenses including and not limited to suitable accommodation, food and travel expenses," Sharon said with a smirk.

"That can be put in the contract," Nicolas' response made Sharon's eyes gleam with joy.

She had just won the second battle. Nicolas had a gleam in his eyes that simply said he too had won in his own way.

Auri felt like this was all a very intriguing dream. They were seriously talking about her working directly for Nicholas Leroux. Most of his models, like Mara, were contracted with his friend's company and they only came in for his shows. He wanted her to work exclusively with him. Maybe she had been undervaluing her worth. Maybe that's how much he desired her… Wanted her in his bed.

She knew the excited thrill that ran down her spine had nothing to do with revenge and everything to do with desire. She hated that.

There was a knock on the door and the three glanced at it as it opened. Daniella walked in with a tray balanced in her hands.

"I brought coffee," she said needlessly as she walked over to the table and put the tray on the coffee table. There were three mugs of steaming black coffee, a pitcher of cream and a handful of sugar sachets on that tray.

Nicolas extended his hand to Sharon and she handed him the file. He took out a pen from his breast pocket and he began furiously scribbling on it.

Daniella took the coffee cups off the tray and placed them on top of the coffee table. Each in front of its intended owner. Sharon nodded at her and Auri whispered a thanks.

Daniella gave her a stiff smile in return and straightened up. Auri wondered if she too was a conquest of Nicolas' charms. Most women with blood in their veins were.

Dani turned to leave but Nicolas stopped her by saying, "Wait a minute, Dani."

He finished scribbling snapped the folder shut and extended it to her.

"Take this and make the necessary adjustments," he said, "I want that done in thirty minutes."

"Yes sir," Daniella took the file and walked out of the office.

Dani walked out the door and Nicolas was left alone with the two women again.

"The coffee is best while it's hot," he told them as he took the pitcher and poured some cream in his cup.

"Cream?" he asked and Auri pushed her mug towards him.

She made sure to meet his eye and give a hint of a smile. He poured a healthy amount and set the pitcher back on the coffee table.

"Help yourself to sugar if you want any," he indicated to the sachets.

He sat back and watched Sharon and Auri pick up sachets and break them into their cups. Sharon lifted her mug to her lips but Auri just wrapped her hands around hers and waited.

"What other concerns did you have?" he asked and took a sip from his cup.

Sharon leaned forward, placed her mug on the coffee table and began haggling again.