Eleven: The Red Carpet

They put a bright red bustier top with matching stiletto pants on her, it really complimented the shape of her lean long legs. Her bosoms were slightly pressed and showed enough parts of her chest that made her look elegantly sexy. An extravagant looking diamond necklace around her neck, a loan, courtesy of Cartier, diamond earrings, and a bracelet to complete the whole set.

Jimmy Choo high heels were in fashion at the time and a blood-red one looked perfect for the outfit, with a gold Louis Vuitton clutch. Her make-up was soft and natural with a touch of red hot lipstick, her hair pulled back in a sleek up-do, she looked like something out of the Vogue magazine.

Tommy was dressed in a full Armani three-piece suit, matching shoes, and a loaned Rolex with a pair of gold cufflinks. His hair was trimmed and clean-shaven, his ice-blue eyes stood out, a good combination with his thick red lips, a toothpick in its corner like he always does when he's nervous.

Benji was happy with the result, "You two are by far my favorite faces ... and those bodies ..." he exhaled deeply, "To die for!" he made a pinching gesture with his fingers.

"He's right, you know?" Charlie said to Tommy when they waited for the limo at the front porch of Maxine's house. "We look really good like this."

Tommy smiled, he felt like Cinderella. All the things that were put on his body worth more than his car and a whole year rent of his flat. Charlie was more familiar with the lifestyle, but it was all too new for him, he wasn't even sure he liked it. They were given the taste of what life would be like at the end of their contract.

Maxine was already in the car, glee was all over her face the soonest they stepped inside the limo. She enjoyed the view and was very pleased with what she had predicted, these two were a sight for sore eyes, potential starlets, her new discovery. She offered them champagne for the trip to The Red Room.

"Have you signed the contract yet?" Maxine asked.

Charlie smiled, she was going to let Tommy answer the question.

"We haven't decided yet ... since there was an additional requirement that we needed to agree upon," Tommy said.

Maxine sipped on her champagne, "Well ... I have organized another dinner tonight at my house ... after the screening, we'll mingle with the guests for cocktails, and then we'll have dinner at my place so I can show you how it works ... I'm sure you'll agree upon it before the day ends," she was confident.

Charlie smiled again and squeezed Tommy's hand.

When they arrived at The Red Room, the place was packed with journalists and photographers. When they stepped out of the car, flashlights were blinding them, people were shouting. The crowd didn't recognize who they were, but coming out of a limo was enough reason for them to take pictures. When Maxine followed behind them, the shutters were even louder and constant, they couldn't see past them.

The photographers requested them to pose in front of the backdrop. Maxine stretched out her arms with Tom and Charlie on either side. They posed for hundreds, if not thousands of pictures. They put on their best faces, didn't know what to make of it. The experience was surreal, just days before, they were just two young people from a small town where nothing ever happens.

"See? They love you ... and they don't even know who you are ... yet," Maxine whispered in Tommy's ear. "Wait until you read the newspaper tomorrow," she added.

They walked along the red carpet and saw faces they've only seen in the movies. They smiled at them as if they knew each other. Nods were exchanged. They heard people asking Maxine of who they were, and simply said, "You'll soon find out."

Maxine was definitely the star of the day. Everyone was there to honor her by watching her three upcoming movies that will soon be released to the public. They escorted her to a special seat. Tommy and Charlie had the privilege to sit next to her. Everyone's eyes were gazing at them, they whispered and wondered who they were. Maxine's business associates knew that she always brought her newfound discoveries wherever she went. Maxine's 'new pet' was the term they used, and they usually shot to instant stardom if they comply with her wishes.

After the screening, they went to a special hall that was decorated in red. Tables were set, a simple stage, long tables for cocktails, and hors d'oeuvres. Everyone who was somebody in Goldstone was there. They finally see the faces in close range, the people who seemed to be out of reach before were within their grasps. Charlie knew almost every face in there, she tried to hide her excitement knowing it wasn't a place to be starstruck like a small town girl that she was.

"Oh my God, Tommy! This is the best day ever! I wish I could tell Kyla and Mandy about this ... and my mom and Charlotte, they would never believe it!" she held his hand tightly as she scanned the room intently. Tommy was enjoying the drinks and snacks by the table, nodding along to his girlfriend.

A few people came over to introduce themselves. Young directors, talent agencies, casting managers, and so on. They were intrigued by their appearance and the fact that no one knew who they were. They left their business cards and asked for meetings.

Maxine was busy with interviews and business partners, she left them on purpose so they can learn their way around in those kinds of situations. She wanted them to be in the zone. By the time they went back to Maxine's house for dinner, their minds had slightly shifted to where Maxine wanted it to be.

It was just the three of them that night because Maxine wanted to show them her private studio where she kept all her private collections. It was through her study, a secret door behind her desk. They went through a narrow corridor that was lit up by tiny yellow lights, at the end of the corridor was a sliding door, operated with an electronic pad. Maxine punched in the codes, the door slid open.

The room was vast, surrounded by black walls. It was dark and cold, in the middle of the room was a broad white canvas hanging from the ceiling all the way to the floor, it lined up the floor like a sheet. It was wide enough to line a large king-size bed, a rectangle metal table beside it, a Cleopatra sofa, and two single chairs. It was an odd set of furniture.

Around that area, of what seemed to be the background set of the photoshoot, were standing lights, photography equipment. It was too dark to really see, but from what they can observe in the room, there was nothing else there. They passed the room briefly towards another door at the back which opened to a brighter room, furnished like a comfortable living room. The walls were decorated with photos resembling the one Tommy had seen in Maxine's office.

There was a glass cabinet display of smaller size photographs of the same theme. A black cabinet with photo albums where she stored all the rest of her collections. She had done this for years, that room was where she go to when she wanted to enjoy the result of her work. She showed them the pictures. Charlie looked at them in amazement, they were provocative, mysterious, sexy yet they were artistic.

"This is where all your pictures will be saved for my personal collections, I don't really bring people back here ... except for those in the pictures and some of my very intimate lovers," she said.

They flipped through the albums, Charlie was in awe, she was intrigued. Maxine pulled out her drawer, took out a thin folder from it. She opened the folder on the desk. "Read it ... this is the agreement for the photo session, it's legally binding us to be discreet about the whole process, none of these pictures will ever be exposed publicly other than my private use of it in my properties ... there will be no disclosure of the models," she explained.

Charlie picked up the folder and read it, Tommy seemed hesitant.

"I'm gonna leave you with it for a while ... maybe you'll decide to sign for it when I get back," Maxine said with a smile and left the room.

They looked at each other. He knew that look in her eyes, the look he couldn't possibly say 'no' to. She wanted this more than he did, but he wanted her to have her way. She belonged in that world, the red carpet, the limelight, the limousine, the whole lot. She belonged in college pursuing her dreams, and if he could be part of what makes her dreams come true, he would do it. He will be able to pay for her tuition, support the kind of life she deserves. She didn't have to say anything.

"I would never do something like this for myself, Charlie," he finally spoke.

She bit one side of her lower lip with a playful smile.

"Are you absolutely sure about this?" he asked her.

She lifted her eyebrows and shook her feet in excitement. Tommy looked away for a brief moment, tried to grasp at what they were about to do. "Once we sign, there's no turning back," he said to convince them both.

"This will turn our lives around, Tommy, this will be the start of everything." And how right she was with that statement, more than she could have imagined.

He stroked her cheek with the back of his hand, "I'm only doing this for you," he said with loving eyes.

She leaned over to kiss him, "I love you, " she said.

"You have no idea how much I love you," he said.

Maxine walked into the room just in time for the good news.