CH 10: Polished Beauty of a Gemstone

Eve clutched the wig in two fists. Long luscious waves of scarlet flowed down to her waist. Cale lived up to his claim. The strands were real human hair. She felt it under her touch. She could almost pretend that it was her old hair.

Except, the color was a bit more vibrant than her natural one.

A knock came from the door. "Eve? Are you ready?"

"Almost," she replied, letting go of the wig.

She looked down.

The toga hugged her figure. It emphasized her small waist and draped down to her feet. The fabric spread around her, covering most of the changing room's floor. Two thin straps held the dress up and formed a square neckline. It had no belt. It had no embellishments.

She almost mistook it for a pile of bedsheets.

Eve bent down and gathered the hem. It wouldn't be good to walk around with it scraping the floor. It would dirty the bone white color easily. She reached for the door knob and turned it. The wooden flooring felt cold under her bare feet.

Cale and Avery stood outside, chatting with another. Their heads turned when Eve walked out of the changing room. Soft gasps escaped their lips. The dress rippled in several areas, giving the illusion that she wore a blanket. It exposed her elegant shoulders and slim arms.

Avery was stunned speechless! Pure awe warmed her heart. How could such a beautiful girl work as a secretary? One that hid her beauty no less. No wonder the staff told Eve to change her style of appearance.

Her son's dates would have given her an even harder time!

"Oh my goodness!" Cale squealed, taking a step forward. "You look so good. Do you want to see yourself now? Be warned. You're going to be in shock. Close your eyes for a bit."

Eve did as she was told.

Now, she truly felt nervous. Her lips became cold. Her breathing shallowed. Would it really work? Would she look different? Cale worked on her makeup with light touches. She wondered if he even put anything on.

Cale skipped over to the full length mirror near the racks of clothes. He pulled it closer to Eve. Nothing could stop the wide grin on his lips. His tank of energy was overfilled. He felt like he was part of something truly incredible,

The making of a new star.

He checked on the mirror's position one last time before he gave his approval. "Alright! You can look now."

Eve opened her eyes slowly.

Hazel contact lenses stared back at her. She breathed in a gasp. She almost didn't recognize herself. She stepped forward, getting a closer look. Cale had used minimal makeup like he said.

False lashes and cateye liner framed her eyes. Soft-arched eyebrows hovered above them. High cheekbones appeared on either side of a cute button nose. Cherry red lips glistened with gloss and glitter. Full scarlet bangs covered her forehead, thin strands lining on either side of her face.

'Were my lips always this plump?' Eve thought.

What she marveled the most was the wig.

Under the lights, golden highlights shined through. The waves almost matched the toga's. It seemed more crimson than scarlet now that she had a better look. She still thought it was close to her real hair color.

"This is amazing," Eve said, still admiring the handiwork. "You truly are a fairy godmother, Cale."

Cale flipped his invisible long hair. "I can't take all the credit. I only brought out what was already there. You have been gifted by the heavens with such an aesthetic beauty. Only people who know how to look can see it unless we show it to them."

Eve shifted her gaze towards him. A genuine smile stretched her lips. "Then, I have to say that a person can only say another is beautiful because they can see themselves reflected in that person."

"That I accept." Cale nodded, snapping his fingers. By this time, Eve noticed that he always wore a happy face. It never faltered.

"I wonder when will Luna get here?" He wondered suddenly. Everything was ready for the shoot. They only needed some second advice and guidance. With the owner of an empire, Eve would learn and understand what was expected of her photos.

It was a good start for other projects to come.

Cale had full confidence that Eve could rise above it all.

"Did someone call my name?"

Three pairs of eyes flickered to the door.

Skin-tone stilettos tapped on the floor. Long legs wore a pair of olive green slacks. Tucked in its high waistband was an obsidian fitted blouse. An Athon sling bag hung on one shoulder. Its color matched the shoes. Dark brown hair swayed from a high ponytail.

Luna smiled, her ebony eyes crinkling. "Is this my Ruby for the Rainbow Collection?"

"Luna!" Cale skipped over to her side and greeted her with an air-kiss. "You look fabulous… and younger! You look almost 18!"

"Oh, stop it, Cale." She chuckled, turning towards the other people in the room.

Avery reached out for a hug. "You don't know how much this means to me."

"It's not a problem." Luna laughed in her ear. They pulled away from each other after a few seconds. "Since you'll have her as a rookie model, there's no need to have high expectations. The collection has several models. She won't be the only Ruby. All of them would be displayed across the country."

"Nonsense!" Cale protested, "I bet Eve can outshine all of them. I have a good feeling about this girl. My gut tells me so. And you know how right my gut is."

Luna patted his shoulder. She chuckled lightly.

"Alright, I believe you. Now…" Her gaze shifted towards the last person she had yet to greet. "Where's my Ruby?"

Eve shuffled her feet, transferring her weight from foot to foot. She offered Luna a small smile. She felt slightly out of place among the group. They knew each other well while she didn't. She squashed that feeling like a bug under her foot.

They were for her and, so far, they were nothing but nice.

Not everyone received a chance like this. She should live in the moment and enjoy it while it lasts. After all, it wasn't everyday that a person cosplayed as a Greek statue.

"Are you ready for your first photoshoot?" Luna asked. She clasped her hands together and admired Eve's transformation. "There's no need to be nervous. I will guide you through the campaign. Do you have any idea on what the concept is?"

Eve receded to her mind. Her eyes flickered to the mirror. She noted the dress, the hair, the lip color… She only had one thought when she connected everything. "Does it have to do with Ancient Greek or Rome?"

"That's right!" Luna exclaimed. Giddiness bubbled in her chest. The project never failed to excite her. "Have you seen any of their statues?"

Eve nodded in reply.

"Then, you're on the right track." Luna winked. She grabbed Eve's wrist and led the way to the main event. A photographer stood up from a corner. He went into position, waiting for further instructions.

An ivory Cleopatra chaise stood in the middle. Its legs and frame matched the gray undertone of Eve's toga. The backrest dipped on one side. Its curved shape added a sultry ambiance to the furniture. A large canvas hung from the ceiling, harmonizing with the monotone palette.

It had no color.

Luna deemed it perfect.

She instructed Eve to sit down while Cale brought the first item. It was a tall satchel bag with two handles. The leather exterior gleamed like a juicy red apple. Golden rhinestones served as the locks. The pull of the zipper resembled the letter, 'A.'

"Here. Hold this." Luna handed the bag to Eve. "To give you some idea, I'll walk you through a pose. I want you to pull your feet up, lie your legs flat and bend your left knee."

Eve placed the bag on her stomach and lifted her legs up the chaise. Using her arms for support, she bent one knee. Her elbows dug into the cushion. The hem of her skirt draped to the floor. It created a sloping curtain over the side.

The excess fabric served as an extra accessory to the overall photo.

Luna moved to fixing her wig. She divided it into half. One went over Eve's shoulder. The other dangled to the seat. The tips pooled together at the bottom.

The bag tipped over. Eve seized it with her left hand. She used it to hold the item in place. After testing a few positions, she settled on holding the bag from under the handles. Her fingers clutched the flaps into a close.

"Let's have a test shot, shall we?" Luna perked up. She left the main scene and hid behind the camera. Avery and Cale stood on each side of her. The three of them anticipated in silence.

The photographer sneaked a peek. "Look up please."

A wide umbrella light blinded Eve from above. It stung her eyes. They squinted reflexively. With only one elbow for support, her upper arm began to tremble. Her back and her abdomen followed. She remained still despite the discomfort.

Then, a dull ache formed on her lower back.

Eve gritted her teeth, enduring it all.

The camera clicked and captured the first photo.