Fake Little Doll

Auri sat on the couch in her living room as Sharon went through the list of events and contract offers she could consider. Most contracts were clashing with her schedule with French Red so they were easy to cross off. Auri looked over at the events. She had never been to one. But her father had attended many. She remembered how he had gone to many of those with her mother when they had been married. Before her mother had decided that she did not want to be a parent anymore.

Auri remembered how they had smiled at her and told her and Mara to go to bed before they left. She remembered her mother coming to her room to give her a goodnight kiss. How her hair had spilt over and tickled her skin. How she had smelled like roses. She remembered her father brushing his lips on her forehead before he left. If her mother was not looking, he would leave her a piece of chocolate after making her promise to brush her teeth after. He had always smelt like cinnamon to her. The four of them, they were happy. Until they were not.

"Are you listening, Auri?" Sharon's voice startled Auri out of her memories.

Auri looked up at Sharon and nodded her head vigorously.

Sharon narrowed her eyes and pursed her lips at her. She looked like a class teacher who had just caught a student sleeping in class. Auri felt like the student. It did not help that while Sharon was dressed in a grey pencil skirt and a matching jacket over a white blouse, Auri was in her pyjamas. Her hair was in a messy bun that sat at the top of her head. She was in a simple tank top and shorts.

"Never mind," Sharon said with a sigh and continued pacing in front of Auri, "You will go to the diamond charity. Interestingly, you got invited. They usually stick with people of wealth."

Auri wondered if she should let Sharon know that she had inherited the majority of Michael Engel's estate. Thanks to a stepfather who had loved her as if she were his blood, she had wealth. She wondered if the people who had invited her knew that or if they had another motive. It did not matter. Even if Sharon had not suggested it, she would have marked it as an event to go to. If Nicolas would not go, the Dubois sisters would go. She would go either way.

"When is it?" Auri barely managed to hide her eagerness.

"This weekend," Sharon replied with her gaze on her tablet, "This invite was very much last minute. I wonder why."

Auri did too but Sharon's wondering was not worth more than a second.

"Ander Peters wants you for his music video the first meeting would be negotiable between now and the Monday after next week," Sharon sounded impressed and excited.

"If you can get into that video," Sharon said her excitement growing, "Everyone, including those outside the fashion industry, will know your face."

Auri forced an excited smile onto her face.

She did not care about Ander Peters or his music video. What was a music video to her aim anyway? Her mind was running over what she was going to need for the diamond charity award. What would capture Nicolas Leroux's attention the most? A French Red dress would need to be ordered. But which one? Which one would be not too slutty and not too demure? Which one would get him thinking? She would pair that with her custom jewellery. She had to have him wondering about her. She hoped she would find comfortable shoes but she had her doubts. She would most likely be on for another foot blistering experience.

"Don't you Auri?" Sharon brought Auri out of her thoughts.

"Yes," Aurelie was not quite sure what she was agreeing to.

"Good," Sharon said primly, "We will see him Sunday. Scout if he's agreeable."

Who? Auri wanted to ask but she did not dare.

"Let's not plan beyond the next two weeks," Sharon said with a frown, "There's a fashion week and French Red models are required to be available for the selection."

Auri was listening now. The fashion week would be her next opportunity to make waves. She folded her legs underneath her in a cris cross pattern, planted her elbows onto her thighs and rested her head on her hands.

"Usually, they all go," Sharon said, "After all, the French Red fashion house needs to use its own players."

Auri nodded and then a frown marred her face as she thought.

"Which city are we going to?" She asked as she looked up at her agent.

"French Red usually does multiple," Sharon said, "They don't pick the same. They try to do as many as possible. It will be exhausting so we will not do too much before then."

Sharon turned on her heel and smiled reassuringly at Auri.

"So, we'll only do the fun ones until then!" She waved her hands as if she was announcing something grand.

Auri smiled back hesitantly. How many of the fun ones did Sharon have in mind? And which ones did she classify as the fun ones?

"Not too many… right?" she asked.

"Not too many," Sharon promised.

"We will do a couple of more interviews," Sharon turned again.

"How many?" Auri asked suspiciously.

She also wanted time to visit Mara at the hospital.

"Just two or three," Sharon's words were not reassuring.

Auri knew that "two or three" translated to not knowing.

"Not more than two," Auri told Sharon who grinned.

"Promise," the older woman raised three fingers in salute.

Sharon's phone pinged and she picked it up from the coffee table and looked at the notification. She swore under her breath as she rushed to pick up her purse from the other couch.

"I have to go," she told Auri as she put her tablet in the purse.

Auri nodded as she sat up straight and unfolded her legs.

"Prepare for the diamond charity after that, we have a meeting with Ander's manager about that music video. Call me if you need help."

Auri got up and followed Sharon as she rushed to the door. Sharon turned to Auri when she reached the apartment's exit and she gave her a brief hug before opening the door and rushing out of it.

"Oh," she said before she shut the door, "The interview you had with Lynne Hanish is airing tonight."

And then the door was closed.

"I won't miss it," Auri said to the closed door.

She padded back to her spot on the living room couch and made herself comfortable. She fished out her phone and began googling the diamond charity. She would need every little bit of information she got.

***

Valentina watched Auri's interview with Lynne Hanish. She studied the young woman. Only nineteen. Yet she carried herself so well. She had an air around her, a glint in her eye. She was crafty, Val could tell. She was also beautiful. She made the simple clothes she was wearing look more stylish than they were.

She watched the girl giggle as she spoke and put her hands to her cheeks as if trying to steady herself. Was this what was drawing Nicolas in? This well-crafted image of innocence? Was this what would take him from her? What would make him walk away?

Valentina felt her hand tighten into a fist. She would not let that happen. Nicolas would stay by her side as he had promised. He might not have meant the words but she would make sure he went by them. She would do everything and anything. No one would take what was hers. Not a fake little doll from nowhere. She watched as Aurelie frowned in confusion. She somehow looked endearing doing that too.

Whatever tricks this girl was using to enhance her image, she was not better than a Dubois. No one could ever be.