Camera Shy

Through the doors at the end of the long weaving path through the hallways and the kitchen, the pair came out upon the main dance floor. It too looked much different with all the lights turned up, but much more so because of the large screen that had been erected at one side, opposite several large umbrella lamps and reflectors. Behind those were many racks of expensive looking clothes, all brand new. A table had been set up nearby with a laptop, though from their position neither Chloe nor Brandon could see what was displayed., but another table had also been positioned much closer. Its top was covered with all manner of food and drink, such as sliced ham and tossed salads, everything cold even if it wasn’t intended to be. And amongst all of this, many people ran back and forth making the once open, spacious area cluttered and busy as it buzzed with the noise of working, rather than a thumping bass line.

“Is this…some kind of photo shoot?” Chloe guessed with a loud whisper.

The hair on her neck prickled, as if she was being watched. She thought they’d successfully went undetected, but as her head turned back to the craft-table her eyes locked with a tall brunette, her hazel eyes widening as she realized they were sneaking in. Incredibly pretty, with a slender, toned figure that accentuated her medium sized breasts and tight ass as they filled out the rich, elegant clothes she wore, the woman was very obviously a model. Looking around to see if anyone else had caught them, the girl glanced again at Chloe and Brandon, this time bringing a finger to her mouth.

But while Chloe could remain quiet, Brandon couldn’t. He gasped loudly beside her, and said, “that…that’s…” he stammered as excitement overloaded his brain. “P-Pietra Smith!”

Brandon’s SQUEEE attracted the attention of a number of the staff, including a middle-aged woman with a clipboard and a lanyard with a name tag, signifying her importance above the other runners and assistants. Seeing the teens and instantly identifying them as crashers, the supervisor immediately began organizing their removal.

“Edward, get security,” she instructed a nearby staff member. “I want these two escorted off the premises immediately.”

Chloe and Brandon froze up. It was plainly obvious that Victoria hadn’t come to this place, and yet neither could find the words to explain even that. Brandon was too starstruck, and Chloe’s brain simply drew a blank. She wanted to tell the woman that they would leave, willingly, but her tongue, much like the legs and her brain was rendered immobile by the suddenness of their discovery.

“Wait, Karin” Pietra came to their rescue. “Didn’t my agent tell you? These two are with me. They won a competition to attend a photo shoot.”

“What? How am I supposed to do my job when no one tells me anything?” Karin complained, though her entire demeanor had become more relaxed, resigned. Chloe and Brandon were already safe, this was just barking to make herself feel better about the change. “How long are they supposed to be here?”

“Just a short time, isn’t that right guys?” She gave them a pointed look that made it very clear that the answer was ‘yes’. Words still failing them, they nodded, Brandon bobbing his head like a dopey dog. “Just for a few photos”

“Fine,” Karin looked at them now too, conveying all her irritation in a stare. “Just stay out of the way.”

The supervisor sulked off. It was disappointing to be a position where she told herself she had some power, only for it to be overturned on a dime. She soothed herself by finding a couple other members of staff and shouting at them for some minor infraction.

“Wow, thank you, you really didn’t have to do that,” Chloe said as she took a sweeping look around the room, confirming that Victoria was nowhere to be seen. “Really though, we really should just go. We don’t want to cause any more trouble.”

“Shut up.” Brandon nudged her in the side, demure as he glanced repeatedly at Pietra, like trying to look at the sun. “How can we pass up a chance like this, to see her working, in the flesh…”

His words trailed off, his reddened cheeks deepening, embarrassed to admit he wanted to gaze upon her body. Despite it being her profession, to make people want to look at her to notice what she was wearing or holding, if felt like a dirty confession to just come out and say it to her face. To counter his shame, he clamped his mouth shut and tried not to look her at all.

Taking in good humor, Pietra chuckled. “Seems like I’ve got a least one fan among the pair of you. Come on, you can’t dash the poor boy’s dreams like that.”

“But Victoria…” Chloe tried to argue but Brandon’s unintentional puppy dog face did make her feel like a horrible person. “Fine, I guess we can stay for one…”

“Darling, have you gone from talent to talent scout?”

The voice interjected upon the conversation, uncaring who it had interrupted. The three turned to see an older man approach, in his forties, nearing fifty, impeccably dressed in an open collared silk shirt and hand stitched jeans, all accentuated with rings and necklaces of silver and gold. Even his shoulder length mane of curly brown hair seemed purposely styled to compliment his outfit. In his hand was a camera, indicating that he was the photographer for this shoot.

“Guys, this is D’ Angelo Santori,” she introduced him after kissing on both cheeks. “I’m not scouting. These are just two fans who came to see what’s like on the other side of the lens.”

“And yet, it seems that talent has found you.” He took a step back as he gazed upon the two teens. Chloe had seen that look a thousand times but boys around school and girls who would whisper when she passed, judging her, scrutinizing her. “The boy…is a boy. Strapping and handsome, yes, but you know I never work well with other men. I find them so much needier than the women, and I prefer to be the only needy man in the room.” He let out a breathy chuckle as he turned his eyes fully upon Chloe, so intense she thought it might melt her face. “No, it is this girl who is the true beauty.”

Though she had heard him quite clearly, since his voice was as lustrous and bountiful as his attire, she knew it had to be some mistake. Even after all the confidence building of the last week, the encouragement and assurances from Kurt and Hannah, Chloe couldn’t accept that this photographer, who took photos of millions of women for a living thought that there was anything special about her. While she might have been willing to concede that she had some good looks to her name, and she wasn’t ashamed of her body anymore, there was no way she could be considered model tier.

Even more shockingly, D’Angelo read it all in her silence. “Ah, the girl does not believe it. But she should know that I never jest. Tell her, darling.”

“There was that one time, in Japan, when you’d had too much sake,” Pietra noted, teasing the photographer.

“Of beauty and my job, I never joke,” he added the caveat. “May I ask the red-headed little bird to give me a twirl?”

Chloe looked to Pietra for help, but she simply gestured, suggesting that Chloe should do so, if she felt comfortable. Nervousness tying knots in her stomach, she turned on the spot, slow, not because she wanted them to see, but her tightening muscles restricting her movement. A slap drew her attention over her shoulder, shocked to see D’Angelo literally applauding her ass.

“That ass,” he mused with awe, almost close to tears. “That ass was made to sell jeans. I hear Luciano is looking for a youthful personality to spearhead their denim revival. With my camera and that ass, and of course, your fire kissed hair, it’d be more of a reformation than a revival.”

“Easy, Angel. You’ll scare the girl,” Pietra cooed while flashing a winning smile. “Then you’ll have to rely on my flat ass to sell jeans.”

“Ah, indeed. I get ahead of myself. I see the future and I so simply want to reach out and grab it, don’t you feel the same?” He asked, but Chloe’s mouth was too agape to form a response. It seemed rhetorical anyway, since he quickly moved on to his next, real question. “Tell me, what is your name?”

“C-Chloe McRose,” she stammered, her voice coming out in a squeak.

“McRose. Even a name that will sell. A beautiful rose of fire,” He took her hand and kissed her knuckles, then he turned her hand over and pressed a card into her palm. “When you are ready, call me.”

As quick as he had appeared, he vanished, disappearing to prepare for the next shoot. The experience had been so surreal for Chloe. She had never once thought of herself as being worthy of being a model, that anyone would buy anything simply because she wore it. She couldn’t even get people at school to take notice of her, and now she was supposed to set trends? It seemed ludicrous to her. The most modelling she’d ever done was to undress in front of Kurt and Hannah, permitting them to see her whole body.

“Is he serious?” she asked Pietra, still expecting this to be some cruel joke.

“He’s a little over the top, but, yes, he means every word.” Pietra raised an eyebrow. “You mean to tell me; you don’t think you’re pretty?”

“Sure, I guess, pretty, but not like you. I’m not model material,” Chloe insisted, feeling her old insecurities creeping in. “There are hotter girls out there, who like the attention. I’m just not that…”

‘Vain’ was the word that hung on her tongue, but she paused herself, realizing how insulting it might sound to Pietra, especially after she’d kept them from getting into trouble. Pietra didn’t seem to take offense, even after she guessed what Chloe had been intending to say.

“I haven’t been in this profession too long, and even less since I took off and became popular but, in my time, I can tell you that you’re right. Hundreds of girls come through the doors every week, wanting to be in front of that camera, and they never last. The attention they seek, the fame, it doesn’t come easy. It’s a lot of hard work. You have no idea how many shoots I had to do, how many failed promotions or got looked over before I stuck the landing.”

“So, why do you do it?” Chloe asked, still unsure, but she still had no idea what exactly she wanted to do with her life.

“I’ll admit, I do enjoy being watched. There is a high you get when you think about all the people who will pick up a magazine or open up a website and see you and think ‘wow, she’s hot’. The clothes they buy, they buy because they look good on the models. A part of them wants to look even half as good as the model does, so they use the clothes to cover the difference,” Pietra confessed, blushing slightly for the first time. “It is a very self-obsessed business, but you also need to work well with others. With agents, with photographers, marketing managers and businesses, if you can’t work with them, you’ll quickly find yourself without work. Though the biggest problem is usually other girls.”

“I play soccer so I’m familiar with how competitive and bitchy girls can get in the locker room,” Chloe assured her as she gradually began to come around to the idea. Being exposed was certainly something she'd grown to enjoy recently.

When she thought of being watched, she thought of flashing her tits in the car park earlier today, of blowing Gavin outside this building just two nights ago, how exhilarating Hannah had told her it was to strip and pole-dance on stage to a whole room full of onlookers. A shiver ran down her spine. Just thinking about it, standing in a room, all eyes on her sent a tingle running through her body, tapping into the lust and courage she so often buried.

“Wow, are you actually thinking about this?” Brandon asked, noticing the change, as if the red-head had simply flicked a switch and began radiating confidence.

“You don’t think I could do it?” She pivoted towards Brandon. Slouching one shoulder and putting another hand on her hip, she posed, pushing out her chest and ass simultaneous while giving him a smoldering glower. A terrified expression washed over his face, like she’d turned a gun on him.

“No, no, honestly, I’d buy anything you were wearing,” Brandon blabbered, embarrassing himself again.

“Listen, if you ever decide you want to give it a shot, call me,” Pietra suggested and took the card from Chloe’s hand. She wrote her number on the back and returned it. “But there’s no pressure. Just think about it, okay?”

Offering a soft grunt as affirmation, as well as a nod, Chloe pocketed the card, and tried to picture herself as a model. The idea still seemed so ludicrous to her, but her doubts were beginning to evaporate as horniness began to course through her veins. That feeling, to be desired, and to elicit that stupefying desire in others, was powerfully arousing to the young redhead. In the heightened state of lust, all things began to seem possible.

Karin returned, with a contemptuous glance at the teens, and told Pietra, “You’re needed.”

“We really should be going,” Chloe said, thinking again of Victoria. “Our friends-”

“Aw, but we haven’t even got to see anything yet,” Brandon groaned like a child.

“Yeah, besides, you’ll blow my cover for you if you leave before you see any photos being taken,” Petra reasoned, adding, “And I’m just about to begin the bikini set.”

Brandon looked at Chloe with his jaw loose, practically daring her to try and drag him away now. Seeing that there was no way she would be able to tear the young man away from his idol, Chloe had **** but to relent. Worrying for Victoria, she could only hope that someone else had already found her. Yet, even she had to admit, she was interested in seeing the hot model pose in nothing but her swimwear.