Slow Release (Ebony and Ivory Book 1) (17 page)

Skye

It wasn’t hard to get up the next morning; I was so excited about the day I had ahead of me. I jumped up and quickly took a shower. Luckily, I didn’t have to worry about getting dressed up or putting on make-up because all of that would be done for me at the show. This was going to be my first runway walk, and I suddenly understood the common fear all models shared. I’ve heard all the horror stories of how models worried about falling down in front of an audience and a host of cameras. Now, I understood that paranoia first hand. I pushed the thoughts away and prepared to leave.

I had already packed a bag the night before and, of course, there was also my standard fishing tackle box that I used to carry all my make-up. A knock at the door caught my attention, and I turned in time to see Ms. Stratton carrying in a tray with coffee and a Danish.

“Don’t even think about telling me you’re not eating.” She beat me to the punch before I could tell her I wasn’t hungry. “The last thing you want to do on a runway is faint because you haven’t eaten.”

It was sound advice, so I took a moment to sit down and grab the pastry, shoving a big bite in my mouth.

“I don’t need to ask if you’re excited. I can tell you are by the way you’re rushing around.”

I nodded my head in agreement, my mouth still too full to reply. I guess she could tell I wasn’t in the mood for a pep talk because she patted my hand and turned to leave. “You’ll do fine; I just know you will.”

I jumped up and ran to the door to give her a hug before she could leave. “Ms. Stratton, thank you for your support. It means a lot to me.”

“I’m proud of you, child. You’re a hard worker, and that is the ticket to success.” She turned to leave. I’m certain she had enough intuition to know I only had one thing on my mind today and that was getting to the runway show. The quicker I got this first show under my belt, the more likely it would be I could make modeling the full time career I always dreamed about.

“Are you ready?” Jerome’s voice called out to me.

“Yes,” I answered as I turned and pointed him towards the bag I packed. “Would you mind grabbing that for me, please?” He nodded, and I grabbed my fishing tackle box full of make-up before I followed him to the car. He grabbed my box and placed it in the trunk with my bag before he got in the driver’s seat. I took a couple of deep breaths and settled in for the ride down to the large center where the event was taking place.

“You okay back there?”

I looked up into the rearview mirror to see Jerome’s eyes smiling back at me.

“As okay as can be expected, considering the circumstances.”

“You’ll do fine, Skye. You were born for this. Damon said he’d be there by the time the show got underway. Even he has enough sense to stay out of your hair when you’re backstage at a runway event.”

“That crazy, huh?”

“You have no idea until you experience it, but the girls all agree on one thing; the energy at a runway show is amazing. They say there is nothing else like it. I’ve even heard girls say it’s like a high, a surge of adrenaline that’s like nothing they’ve ever experienced.

“Maybe that’s what I need—an adrenaline high to get me through today.”

“Have fun with it, girl. This is a day you’ll remember for the rest of your life.”

Skye

Any nervousness I might have felt was lost in the chaos of the moment as soon as I was ushered inside. The minute I exited the car, a woman with a speaker device in her ear and a tablet in her hand took me by the arm and marched me backstage. The dressing room was a mob of women, all running around, either yelling out mandates or trying to follow them. It was the most organized chaos I’d ever witnessed.

The woman who ushered me inside pulled me over to a make-up table as she spoke.

“Damon got caught up with some business, but he said he’d be here by the time the show started.” I just nodded; right now, I didn’t see anywhere he’d be able to fit his large frame in the dressing room madness anyway. Jerome was right when he informed me that a runway show’s backstage was no place for a boyfriend, even if he was the boss. The safest thing for Damon to do was get out of the way, and let his staff do their jobs.

Okay, this is your make-up guru, Connie, and she’s going to make you look like the star you are, darling.” After the short introduction, the woman with the headset disappeared. She was gone so quickly that it actually startled me.

I looked into the mirror at the woman who’d be helping me out and immediately felt at ease when she started talking a mile a minute. To be honest, it was extremely hard for me to show this much trust, especially now with everything that was happening. The runway event was so important to me, but complete strangers were doing my hair and make-up, and that was frightening. Her bubbly personality went a long way towards relaxing me, and I was grateful for that. The theme was
fae
,
and I was certain she would be able to work her magic and make me over the top beautiful. Her voice interrupted my musings.

“I’m so glad to see some curves up in here, girl. I’m all about diversity.” The next thirty minutes were spent chattering with my new friend and watching the chaotic events going on around me in a mixture of shock and awe. One good thing about it was the frantic pace was keeping me from feeling any anxiety about the show. With twenty-five or thirty other women scheduled to walk the runway, I doubted anyone was going to be overly concerned with me.

“Five minutes people, come on.” I recognized the voice of the woman who put me in my make-up artist’s care. I took a moment to look in the mirror, and the woman staring back at me looked like something straight out of the fairytale I felt like I’d been living lately. They’d chosen to do the show in a fantasy type of fairy or fae fiction theme, and I definitely looked the part. I had glitter eyeshadow and long, sparkly, fake eyelashes that curled up so long they hit my eyebrows.

Connie’s voice stopped my inspection. “Come on, beautiful. You need your wings, girl.”

I stood obediently, just like I had for all the other people who’d been directing me from the time I’d arrived. Wings were attached to my ensemble, and last but not least, I slipped into the five inch heels they provided.

All the models were herded together at the mouth of the backstage entrance that would lead us down to the long runway. Women maneuvered delicately in an effort to not knock their huge wings into each other or, worse yet, off each other.

The music started and, one by one, we strutted from backstage out into the bright lights. The audience waited in anticipation for us to show them what the new year would bring in terms of fashion.

With one foot in front of the other, like I was born for this moment, I made my way out. My gait was my own signature runway walk as I stepped high, placing heel before toe and one foot in front of the other. I never looked at any one face but, instead, focused on the end of the runway. Everything was blocked out but my stride and the sound of the music pumping through the airwaves. I felt the beat like it carried me on its melody. I was in my element, where I belonged, and finally answering the call of a dream that had beckoned me since childhood. I was born for this.

The Stalker

Watching her walk that runway and knowing she would be mine in a matter of moments was almost more excitement than I could stand. She looked so confident as she high stepped her way down that aisle, heel in front of toe in perfect succession. She reminded me of a thoroughbred, walking with her head held high and her shoulders back. It was evident to anyone who watched her that she had an innate gift for modeling. Damon was smart enough to see that, but would he be intelligent enough to find her once I had her in my possession?

As if fate were trying to intervene on my behalf, when she rushed from the stage to make her way down the steps, one of her heels broke off, and she twisted her ankle. I grabbed her right as she started to fall and, in one fluid motion, stabbed the syringe filled with the concoction that would make her mine into her neck.

The fact that the girls entered on one side of the stage and exited on the other worked to my benefit because the majority of the employees were on the other side to make sure everything went smoothly. Once their runway walks were completed successfully, no one cared about their exit. I was able to carry her to the back alley where my van was parked, ready and waiting to take my girl to her new life. Yes, my plan was working out flawlessly. I had no doubt this was destiny.