What there isn’t is . . . a toilet. Uhm, that’s a bare necessity too. Monica looks around again, as though a door to a water closet will have magically appeared in the last five seconds, which it hasn’t, nor has a toilet manifested in the corner. Confused, she looks at theapartment door. She pockets her key and step out into the hallway. There are New York studio apartments that have shared facilities. She has been fortunate enough to not live in one . . . until now, she guess. She glances at the handful of other doors, seeing similar locks and deducing that they likely have skeleton keys too. At the end of the hall, there’s a door with a different type of knob. She knocks twice. “Pardon?” Hearing nothing, she slowly turns the knob, hoping she is not about to walk into her new neighbor’s private space. Nothing likebarging in uninvited to mark herself as a stupid tourist with no boundaries, common sense, or manners. Thankfully, all she reveals is an equally small bathroom with a sink
She looks great, her hair cut in a shaggy bob with a few braids woven through and peeking out the bottom, the same dimples framing her mischievous smile, and eyes that glitter with intelligence and bad ideas. She does a Mariah Carey impersonation with one hand to her ear and one waving through the air as she closes her eyes and sings, “Teaching these girls some karaokeeee favorites.” “That no one asked for,” a dry voice answers. Monica looks over to see a towering slender beauty with a domineering look and harsh, almost sharp features to both her face and her dress. She looks like she’s here to kick ass, take names, and spit out our corpses when she’s done with them, without giving a single fuck the entire time. She looks Russian, or something similar. “She is Molly, you are apparently Monica. I am Katarina. We are finalists in this contest.” “Nice to meet you," Monica greets her, still looking at the phone waiting for Julien to make calls. If he heard from his mom that she was in Ne
Molly goes back to her karaoke, wailing out, “I’m a bitch, I’m a lover, I’m a child, I’m a mothahhh—” “Ah, I'm afraid I’m not familiar with that tune. Perhaps you could introduce me to it,” he requests of Molly, who agrees with a wink. “To that end, I would suggest that we all attempt to speak English to one another, as it is the one language the five of you have in common. I understand that sometimes there are difficulties, and I’m happy to assist with any forgotten words. I speak French, English, both dialects of Japanese, Cantonese, Mandarin, Russian, Spanish, Italian, and a little of a few others. I’m a bit of a polyglot.” “What does sexing lots of people have to do with languages?” Molly hisses. “That’s polyamorous, and only with the consent of all involved parties,” Monica inform her quietly, her attention trained on Tobias. “As I was saying before I began bragging about my linguistic prowess” —he grins, not the least bit chagrined at his boasting— “I am here to introduce you
Monica rips along the bottom seam for a frayed effect that barely covers her ass, and over the knee boots with tall platforms and spiky heels. She adds another scarf asa train, tying it to the waist chain too. A few more bits and baubles, and she was ready. Just in time, too, because she realised that everyone else has already completed their outfits and left the room. “Shit! C’mon, Monica. Get it together." She hurries down the hallway, realizing that she was not entirely sure which door they xame out of. They all looked the same, and time was ticking. She grabbed the door handle she thinks is the correct one and takes a steadying breath to get into character for the razzle dazzle Tobias said Madame Corbin wants. Monica bursts inside and twirl, giving the room her back, dropping it down low to twerk and singing, “There’s some hoes in this house, there’s some hoes in this house! Yeah, yeah, yeah you fucking with some wet ass pussy! Give me everything you GOT! With this wet ass—” A d
Once, he would have been correct. Jackson was nothing more than a pretty face, literally serving as the male face for House Corbin at his aunt’s behest. With age came the desire to be more and do more. He began by taking adeeper interest in the photography and representation of the brand during his model shoots. His interest quickly grew into learning the business side, and he immersed himself in every department, wanting to know as much as possible..Despite hid last name, not because of it. He had earned his position as an executive director. “Do you know what the word on the street is about House Corbin?” he asks him darkly. To his credit, he frowns but doesn’t speak. “Stale. Repetitive. Elitist. That is what I’ve communicated to Jacqueline time and time again. It’s what got her on board with this competition.” Using his own verbal habits, Jackson drives the point home that this is happening whether he’s happy about it or not. “Bourgeois,” he mutters. “Pardon?” Jackson snaps, glar
“Ladies,” Tobias says, “this is Jackson Corbin, executive director of House Corbin, and as I’m sure you know, the face of our brand. He is the one who came up with the Fashion Females Under 25 competition.” He makes theannouncement with a small golf clap that Jackson is sure he will give him shit over later. “Thank you. I am wondering why our guests are dressed so . . .” he trails off, not sure how to describe the variety of craziness in front of him. Tobias laughs easily. “It was a brilliant idea your aunt had. Have them dress up amusingly in a style to be in opposition to their usual. And voila.” “Interesting,” Jackson allows, though he doesn't like it. The competitors Jacqueline and Jackson selected are all talented, innovative designers. They should not be reduced to dramatic antics, despite the tempting sexiness of the frayed strings adorning Monica’s upper thighs. An image of the same frayed bits hanging over her ass while she twerked forms in his mind, resulting in a tighten
Jacqueline's superiority complex is impressive in its size.“It matters. We will be doing interviews, introductions, and presentations on the competition in the coming weeks. The marketing is centred on House Corbin supporting young female designers like you once were, ones who need exposure and opportunity.” The Fashion Females Under 25 competition might have been his idea, but Jacqueline is the public face of it. Jackson was suddenly worried that she will use and manipulate these women, perhaps take advantage of their creativity and leave them empty-handed. It’s an idea that he had not previously considered. Jacqueline is cold and austere, but honourable in her arrogance. But she is also proud, and the source of her pride is falling in a previouslyunforeseen way. It’s something to consider. “Fine. I take it you met the women, then?” she concedes. “Yes. In those ridiculous, HR-worthy costumes.” She smiles at the scolding. It’s a tiny lift of her lips, but it’s there. She didenjoy t
Tobias has been with Jacqueline for a few years now and became a surprisingly good friend despite his proximity to Jackson's aunt. “Didn’t have to. Beatrice did that for me. She’s French, so she knows the gossip and your reputation.” “Merde,” he growls. “What did she say?”“That the Eiffel Tower would dwarf your ego, you earned your position by name only, and you are a man whore who can take home any woman you’d like, but then you kick them out with nary a call for a taxi immediatelyafter bedding them.” He delivers all this with a straight face and zero emotion. Jackson's brows knit together, and he feels his face redden with fury, though it’s nothing that he hasn't heard before. But the other finalists haven’t. Monica hasn’t, or at least she hadn’t before Beatrice opened her mouth and spewed forth rumours as though they are the truth of his character. “How dare she?” Jackson was clenching the arms of his chair, but Tobias shrugs casually. “She’s not wrong, though I will add that y
As they both share a passionate time.“Princesse, please.” It’s a beg, Monica will admit, but it’s growled with deep hunger. She flips her hair over one shoulder, putting her weight onto one arm to take Jackson in hand. Standing him upright, she aligns herself with him. “I loveyou, husband,” she says sweetly. “I love you, wiiiiife.” Jackson means to return the sweet words, knowing it will get her off as much as it does him, but Monica sinks her bliss down onto him, taking all thought and word formation skills from his brain. Engulfing all of Jackson in her warmth and wetness, she begins to move, sliding up and down his shaft at an unhurried pace. Jackson murmurs to her in French as he pinchens and plucks her nipples, reaching between them to circle her clit with his thumb, and lay a sharp smack to the flesh of her hip. Tobias once told Monica that a man has three women—his wife, his mistress, and his whore. He was the lucky bastard who has found all three in onewoman. Monica was eve
The reception was full of laughter, dancing, and magic. It must be magic because nothing else could bring that big of a smile to his bright bride’s face. Monica was on the dance floor with her bridesmaids. They were swaying andmoving, lifting their hands in the air as they sing along with the music. “She’s beautiful,” Jamaica grunts from beside him. “Congratulations.” Jackson looks over at him, taking a slow sip of his scotch. “Watch it,” Jackson teases. They have made peace, with each other and their pasts, not letting them affect their precious futures. In fact, Jamiaca was doing much better now, working an apprenticeship in home construction with plans to become a project manager one day. He grins back. “What can you tell me about her?” Jackson follows his line of sight and chuckles and he sees Claire from the coffee shop that Monica prefers. Monica insisted that they fly Claire to France for the wedding. “Good luck. Just don’t fuck it up, or that one will eat you alive.” “That s
His expression was like he had too much on his head already. He grew beards and had an manly scent. Not that she was still attracted to him. But his expression told her that he was not happy with the life he was living. The knowledge of breaking the news of getting married with Jackson had filled Julien with false hope and accusations that she can always come back to him if she wanted to. She can still have a half portion of his heart and stay there for his and hers little boy's sake. “How do I look?” Monica asks her Mom, glancing down at her beautiful dress. “Gorgeous,” she says, on the verge of tears again. “Are you sure you are not going to be cold, though?” Hopefully, she holds up the lacy shawl she found online for her. Once upon a time, she would have heard that as a way to say she doesn’t like her dress or as a critique of the timing of the wedding, or even a question about whether she should be getting married in the first place. Now, Monica takes it for what it is. “I’m no
“I already gave some to Simon. You got yourself a good one here.” Monica's mother's gives Jackson a smile of approval as she fans herself playfully. “I think I’m the fortunate one to have captured Monica's heart,” hereplies, looking deeply into her eyes. Monica thinks Mom flat-out swoons at his poetic words, French accent, andgrumbly voice. She was pretty sure she hears her whisper to Jacqueline, “I think we are going to be grandmas soon if he keeps saying things like that.” “Mom!” Monica exclaims aim, flushing brightly in an instant. “Oh, I’m only teasing,” she says. She turns to Jacqueline and Nora. “Has she told you how she struck out from our little town, with nothing but piss and vinegar in her blood and a dream in her heart? I was so worried, but this one . . . you can’t tell her a thing!” Monica's mother goes on to tell Nora and Jacqueline how she had worried about her being in the big city, had waited for her to come home with her tail between her slender legs, and how proud
Most of the models are local to NYC, but she had lamented that her Amour mourning dress was meant for Jeanette and that she was sad she would never get the chance to walk it. So Jackson secretly surprised her by flying Jeanette in to do it. She was not wishing the show away, but she truly can’t wait to see Jeanette strut in that gown. No one can do it justice the way she can. Monica swears, she blinks and the time flies past until she was standing backstage with Jeanette in the voluminous black gown. “Remember, slow. Eyes forward.” Monica demonstrated the defiant gaze she wants on Jeanette to have, tackling the future with strength after the loss of love. “Pose, small smile of hope. Then back like a queen.” “Slow. Strong. Hope. Queen,” she repeats clearly. Her English has gotten much better. Monica's French was improving daily, too, from listening to Jackson. “Tue cette piste, fille,” Monica tells her, snapping her fingers. Jeanette looks at her in surprise. “Oui, I will kill the run
Molly pushes Monica's shoulder. “You would bust ass to get as much done as possible, and then leave to ‘work at home’ or ‘visit the park for inspiration’ and come back the next day with barely anything else done since you left.And you would have a dreamy smile on your face.” Molly makes a vacant-eyed, open-mouthed smiling expression that Jackson thinks is supposed to be what Monica looked like. Jackson did that to her, he thinks cockily. Katarina nods, agreeing. “We thought you had found a French Romeo, and then we saw Jackson wearing the same necklace you had started wearing. It didn’t take much to put one and one together.” Beatrice adds quietly, “We were a bit worried for you, as he has quite the reputation. And it didn’t seem to be helping you in the competition. We weren’t concerned about that until . . .” She trails off, and he knows that his aunt turned that particular screw to get Beatrice to do her bidding. “Okay, so no hard feelings?” Monica asks them all. Molly leans over
“I should have told you,” she whispers back. Monica pushes at him, nearly shoving him out of his chair. “Get up and hug her, or I’m going to have to do it, and I’m not getting snot on her jacket. It’s too fabulous for that.” Jackson gets up to come around the table, and for the first time in he doens't know how long, he enfolds his aunt in a hug. Jackson knows it’s been long enough that he have forgotten how thin she truly is. And he doens't think he have hugged her when he have been taller than she is, even in her power heels. How long ago must it have been since they embraced? It must have beenwhen he was truly a child, before he was a teen growing inches seemingly overnight. “I’m sorry,” she murmurs into his chest. “Me too.” They sit back down, and he looks to Monica, silently asking what she thinks about his aunt’s request for a fashion showplace. They have a conversation consisting solely of raised and lowered eyebrows, pursed lips, and smiles. Finally, Monica turns back to J
She has let that go and is looking toward the future. With Jacqueline, Monica was only concern is him and his little feelings. He squeezes her hand tightly so she knows how much he appreciates her. “Yes, well . . . I guess . . . when I found out that you were gallivanting all over Paris together, I will admit that my first thought was that you’d seduced Jackson to improve your chances in the competition.” Monica points to her own ample chest. “Not a gold digger, just so that’s clear.” Jacqueline nods, accepting that fact now. “At the time, though, it made sense. It wasn’t the first time.” She looks to him for confirmation, and Jackson grunts in agreement. “There was that idea in my mind. But also, if the reverse were true, that Jackson had in fact pursued you” —she flicks her eyes to Monica this time— “I felt like it would be doing you a disservice. I didn’t want you to be distracted by him and miss out on your opportunity, because I know what something like this could mean to a youn
They sit in folding plastic chairs at Jackson's folding plastic table after he closes his laptop. In the awkward silence, Monica can hear the loud buzz of a drill every few seconds as the crew hangs new drywall. “What are you up to, Jacqueline?” Monica was not doing niceties or waiting for her to launch into a practised speech. She wants to throw her off, make sure she knows that they were not under her thumb and have no problem calling out her game play. She has come all the way here to talk about something, after all, so may as well not delay. She presses her lips together in response but gives in. “The reactions to the fashion shows have been quite exciting. Perhaps you have heard?” Monica doesn't look at him, but Jackson stays quiet, and something Jacqueline sees in his expression must give her pause because her nostrils flare. “Or maybe not. But the media buzz has been quite positive. For House Corbin and the designers themselves. Seeing as two of the designers are from America,