Renna and Aria both simultaneously rolled down their tinted windows. The photoshoot wasn't in a studio as they originally thought but was against a street backdrop.
"This is so cool," Renna blurted, looking at the lighting set-up, and the season looks
The backdrop was on top of a small hill, so they could look down at the autumn scenery below. Lines of wardrobe stretched out as far as her eyes could see. Different compartments of the glam team scurried up and about. A pageboy took her handbag and led her to a high chair where the make-up team would start working on her face.
"Hey Aria." Livia called out to her. "I didn't see when you came."
"Yeah, and um… I want you to meet somebody." Aria gently pulled Renna into her line of sight. "She's my preferred make-up artist" she saw the scrunched up look on her face. "Yes I know that the creative director has already planned it all out, but I'd like her to join the team if possible."
Livia surveyed Renna from head to toe. "Fine, I'll communicate to the creative director about your choice, and we'll see what he says." Renna beamed warmly at her as Livia walked away.
"Luckily for you, our creative director usually has no problems. He's a nice and sweet man."
A towering tight-lipped woman walked in whilst the make-up session was going on. "Add more foundation." She spoke. "She's supposed to look as radiant as the sunset since it's the summer season we're first going for. Besides," she looked at Aria with a disapproving smirk. "Was this the model they chose? Whatever happened to Muriel?"
None of the make-up artists could answer, so she called out for Livia instead. "Is this your model?"
"Yes, I thought that the creative director had already shown you the photo of the model that was finally chosen."
The woman who Aria later knew to be the brand manager crossed her arms perplexed. "I didn't bother asking. I immediately thought it was going to be Muriel."
On hearing that, Aria felt a sharp pang of anger in her belly. She was going to prove to them all that she was even better than Muriel.
"Well, I hope she won't disappoint. We have already put a lot into this campaign." The woman said with a condescending tone, as if she wasn't there and listening. Livia cocked her eyebrows. "Except you've begun to question Sir Bordini's taste and decisions, you should have no problem with this model."
The creative director dismissed her with a tut. "Even at that, you should have put Muriel on standby." She scowled down at Aria, and strutted away.
"Wow, I've not even started and I've made my first enemy." Aria murmured under her breath. Livia overhead her. "Oh, don't worry about her, she won't be a problem. Most brands just prefer working with Muriel, claiming that she's easier."
"She seems feisty though." Renna chuckled in her ear after Livia was gone.
"I just hate the bar that Muriel has over me. I try to do the best that I can and somehow, I'm always being compared to the insufferable being." Aria breathed in reply. "it's always 'ah, Muriel would have known how to take this pose to catch the lighting better,' 'her technique would have fit the portfolio.'"
Renna stopped brushing her nose and looked directly into her eyes. "we're hoping that with this campaign you can prove to them that you can exist independently without Muriel. Hopefully Livia wouldn't let them put her on standby."
Aria huffed. "But that's the thing, don't you see? I want to just do my thing without some competition involved."
Renna was lining her eyebrows now. "I guess that's what it is. In such a competitive industry like this, you have to fight to stay relevant. Show why you're worth this above the other person. If not, no gigs for you."
"At least yours is better," she leaned back to admire her handwork. "You have only one major competition and that is Muriel. And with this brand collabo it's a 1-0."
"Alright." Livia clapped her hands together. "it's time for the next set of action."
Renna released Aria, giving her a thumbs up. Aria smiled warmly back, and she disappeared between the rows of clothes, wardrobe stylist in tow. Renna's phone rang. She smiled as she picked it up. 'Hey love."
"Is it ready yet?" the voice spoke harshly into the phone ignoring her warm greetings.
"Not at all." Renna cheerfully sang back. "but it'll be done before she climbs the dais." The caller hummed satisfactorily. And oh---there has been a change of plans. I can't ruin her dress since there are way too many wardrobe stylists than we anticipated. So, I'll target her drinks or food."
"There are many ways to kill a bird. I don't care, as long as you kill the bird."
Angelo walked in when they were fitting her a long sundress the color of sunset.
He smiled satisfactorily, taking in the outfit from head to toe. "Let this be the premier. Come it's time for practice."
Aria inwardly groaned. She's heard of the man's reputation. How he was so hard to please. Insatiable. They practiced poses, shots, angles, light spectrums, all in all he was satisfied, and she could finally take a deep breath when it was all over.
"Water," she croaked when she descended from the dais, and bumped into Muriel. "What the fuck," she swore, glaring daggers at the arrogant model.
Muriel beamed at the irritation clearly written all over her face. She threaded her fingers through her silk hair gently. "If you're wondering why I am here, it's because I am the lead model, and I have exclusivity to all campaigns hosted by Bordini." Her smooth fingers ran down Aria's chin and lifted it up. She was a bit taller than Aria. "Stop looking so scared. I'm not here to bite you, I am only here to watch."
Aria flung her hands away from her face, and pushed through the crowd towards the small stand where they were serving lemonade. Inwardly she seethed. She bumped into Renna halfway. Some of the frothy lemonade she was holding splashed on her sunset gown. "Shet," Renna swore, attempting to dry it off her.
"Hell no, you're only going to make it worse. Don't bother, it will dry off by the time the actual photoshoot starts."
Renna expertly slipped a cup of the lemonade in her hands. "I figured you were thirsty."
"Well yeah," Aria swallowed it in one gulp, without blinking twice. "Thank you." She muttered, handing her back the cup.
"Are you hungry?" Renna asked eagerly, Aria failed to see the malicious shine in her eyes.
"No. Not yet." She rolled her gaze around. "Lunch break is not until after the first shot."
"Alright people," The art director clapped his hands. "it's time for the first shot."
Some music boomed through the speakers. A playlist of Lizzo and lo-fi beats. "Probably to set the mood." Renna whispered into her ear.
Livia came around. "Touch her up a little bit." A stylist studded her neck with diamond jewelry; to bring out the lights. Then Renna had to touch up her face, and hair.
'we're set." Livia called back.
"Light. Camera. Action." The director called out.
Angelo had her switch poses every few clicks. She leaned against a lampstand, paced across a graffiti-colored wall, crouched on a street curb. After some clicks, they would dissect some shots, check which angle the lighting was particularly good, so that they could try it out again. Livia walked up to her with a bottle of water. "I don't like the sudden pale color on your face. Are you okay?"
Aria rested on her breathing heavily. "I don't feel too good."
She swayed and Livia caught her. "Yeah, you look faint."
"Should you take a break?"
Aria raised her gaze to where the band manager was frowning at her. "I don't know, the manager doesn't look so proud of me right now. Plus I'm scared of Angelo."
"I can just tell them that you are not feeling so well."
Aria hissed venomously. "So that they would tell Muriel to take my place?"
"They've already started with you, and also they can't do that. It's like undermining Bordini's authority." Livia led her to a chair. "You'll have to be able to handle the next set of poses though. Angelo was taking it easy on you the first time. He was just prepping you up. We are about to enter the real deal."
"---and I just can't tell him that I am tired." Aria weakly stuttered. "What would that make of me? Highly unserious. And they are so many people disbelieving in mw right now. I have to prove them wrong."
Her forehead felt sweaty. She couldn't understand this sudden fever that had taken over her. The creative director, photographer and Angelo was hunched up in a corner, talking in low voices.
Her belly made a growling sound. "Lord, I know I do not ask for guidance or help," Aria muttered under her breath. "But this is my first solo gig nad you have to help me pull this through."
Fortunately for her, the next few poses were relatively easy. Simple product application shots at angles where the light would catch the warm colors of her eyes. Close-up of her cheeks or jaw-line. Then there was a slight interview.
"Meet Marcia, the social media manager of the brand," Livia introduced, "you'll be working very close to her as you two will agree on what content is suitable for campaign billboards and social media."
From afar off, Renna glared the upright, walking figure of Aria. "How is she still on her feet, and not on her back declared immobile? Was the stuff I put not enough?"
Her phone pinged in her pockets and she withdrew it. When she saw th e notification she sighed inwardly.
Unknown Sender: Obviously you have to try another way, cos this one isn't working.
Renna: you have to be a bit patient, she told me of a lunch break.
Unknown Sender: By then almost half of the shots will be done! I want some action, and I want it now.
"Are you okay?" Marcia asked, seeing her slightly sway. Aria feigned a tight smile. She gripped the hand of the couch tighter, as she lowered herself to seat, "yeah, I am. Don't worry about it."
Maria flicked open her tab, a look of disbelief amusement crossing her face. "If you're not okay, its no big deal honestly. We can just postpone the interview till another time."
"Nah," Aria managed to blurt even as her throat felt condtricted. "Her other hand clutched her belly, away from Marcia's view. She couldn't understand what exactly it is that was wrong with her. She just felt hot and cold at the same time. Sudden pain in some parts of her body, and general weakness in others. The growing urge to just collapse on the floor and sleep.
Just then Sir Bordini walked in. with the looks on his face, one could tell that he was immensely impressed by the whole set up.
A climbing hysteria bubbled up her throat. Hell, no. Aria tried to shove it down, swallowing gulps of saliva. "The first question," Marcia was saying, swiping up on her tab. She looked up to see her struggling for air. With panicked movements, she tapped the creative director who was deeply engrossed in conversations with the photographer.
When they reached out for Aria was when her throat decided that it could not contain the irritation. She belched out the contents of what she ate that morning; fragments of puke spewing on all four of them and the equipment close by.
It sparked a pandemonium, with everyone scurrying over to try and help the situation. When Aria looked up, she could see absolute disgust registered on Sir Bordini's face.
"What the hell?" Marcia screeched, shaking her arms erratically to splash away the goo that was on her upper body. The photographer and art director shook their heads at her, while moving to the toilet to change their clothes. Red heat rushed up Aria's neck and she wished the ground would just open up and she could disappear inside, far from everyone's upset gazes. It was Livia who hooked her up, and made her stand from the floor .
"Goddamit, this was my best shirt, my favourite shirt." Marcia was still complaining. "I could sue the brand for this."
Livia shot her an annoyed gaze. "C'mon Marcia. It has not gotten to that magnitude. We'll buy the exact same shirt for you. Freesia," she clicked her hands for her assistant who came running. "Show Marcia the way to the ladies room."
"I told you that if you are not okay, we could stop." She fiercely whispered to Aria, taking her to her private room. They made way for the cleaners to clean up the mess on the floor. "It's okay to stop at any point. They are not gonna replace you. It's your name on that contract, not Muriel."
"Sir Bordini probably hates me by now for causing a scene."
"Nothing ever new happens in this industry Aria. I just need to clean yourself up and we call in the makeup artist and wardrobe stylists."
Aria stared at her reflection in the mirror, once perfect face blotched by makeup and tears. She splashed water on her face, feeling very drained. So many things were going through her mind. Major. He hasn't called or texted, nor replied to her calls or texts. Why did it feel like he only called for her when he wanted her, and when he didn't, a freaking silent treatment then?" she closed her eyes. This was hard. All of this was hard. Everything just suddenly felt hard.
She slogged into Insta, where the celebrity side of the man took center stage. This evening he would be attending a red-carpet movie premier where he was the lead actor. She showed Livia the phone. "Any idea how to get invites into this event?"
"Well Sir Bordini is going to be there. And if you are brave you can offer to be his number two." Then she popped some pills. "To ease the queasiness in your stomach."
"Thank you," she swallowed it down.
"Are you okay now?" She asked her. "Imma call in the stylists now."
Aria heaved and shrugged. Livia then went out briefly to get her some new clothes. She turned to look at her bleak form in the mirror. The rom door opened again and she didn't bother checking thinking it was going to be Livia. Until a hard object connected to the back of her head and bashed it against the mirror.