“Please, my friends call me Nicco.” Finally releasing his grip from my arms, he takes a step back. “You’re going to help us, yes?”
“Huh?” Ever since I saw him in Don Matteo, I’ve been fantasizing about him and Candi knows it. Now she wants me to pose with him? I can’t believe she didn’t tell me he’s one of the models she’s shooting today. Not that she had to, but a little heads up would’ve been nice. I could’ve prepared myself to not be in shock and behaving like a weirdo.
“Until Gigi arrives, you’re going to help us, yes?”
“Oh, yes.” I nod, further processing the situation. “No.” I stammer as I shake my head and wiggle my finger back and forth.
“No? You’re not going to help us?” With a furrow etched in his forehead, he looks over at Candi, then returns his gaze to me.
“Well, your model…”
“Gigi. And not mine.” He smiles.
The sexiest man in the on earth is smiling at me. I think I may pass out. “Right, yes, Gigi.” I clap my hands together, so nervous I think I’m going to pee my pants. “She’s on her way. I’m sure she’ll be here soon.” My tongue behaves like it’s never been used before and my embarrassment continues to burn in my cheeks. “And you’ll be all set.” I try to plaster a polite smile on my face.
“Okay.” The pitch of his voice slides from low to high as he says it. He shifts away from me and looks at Candi, who gives him a nod. Pivoting, he walks out of her office.
As though detached from my body, my feet propel my body toward Candi. Her head is jetted forward and her arms shoot out to her sides, hands waving as if to shout, “What the fuck?”
“No.” I sharply whisper.
“Destiny.” Her voice is just as sharp, but she’s not whispering.
“Candi. No.” I cock my head to the side and wiggle my finger at her.
“Des. You said you’d help me. Ineedyou.” Her pleading eyes are too much for me.
“Candice Alessandra Gamal.” A shit-eating grin spreads across her face as I use her full name. “You owe me.”
“I do.” She squeals and squeezes me.
When she lets go, I look her dead in the eyes. “Big time.”
“I do. I do.” She waggles her head as she holds my hands.
“How am I supposed to get through this?” The shy little girl inside me wants to hide in a corner right now.
“Mmm, I’ve got just the thing.” She opens the freezer on her mini fridge and pulls out a bottle of Patrón tequila, her favorite. Opening the glass door on the small fuchsia cabinet on top of the mini fridge, she takes out a shot glass, fills it to the top, and hands it to me. “What better way to start your birthday?” Her smile is playfully evil.
Though I know I’m going to regret it, I down the shot because I also know it’s the only way I’m going to get through a mock photo shoot with Niccolo Mancini. As the smooth liquid slides down my throat, my neck and face instinctively tighten and grimace as my tongue darts out of my mouth.
“Attractive.” Candi laughs. “Just don’t do that out there, okay?”
“Deal.”
“Tina will get you set up with an outfit. She always brings extra sizes and outfits so I’m sure she’ll have something that fits you.” She cages me in her arms and breathes a sigh. “Thank you.” Releasing me, she squeals. “Happy birthday.”
As I walk over to Tina, I catch Nicco’s gaze on me. I feel a little bad for being such a bumbling oaf and then telling him I wouldn’t help them. Candi heads toward him and I’m sure she’ll let him know I’ll be helping out after all.
Tina’s flipping through a bunch of dresses and jumpsuits on a clothing rack when I reach her. Candi must’ve already shared the plan with her about me standing in for the female model. She’s been with Candi for years and is a perfectionist at her job. I haven’t seen her in a year or two and spot a few gray hairs swirling through her tidy bun that’s secured with an eyeshadow brush.
“Still a size two?” she asks, briefly turning toward me to smile, then continuing to flip through the rack as her glasses slide a few centimeters farther down the slope of her pug nose.
“Yup.” Still as scrawny as ever.
“Oh this. This will beperfect.” Pulling a silky white jumpsuit from the rack, she holds it up to me and looks me up and down over the top of her glasses. “I’m going to put a little more makeup on you and grab some heels. Seven and a half?”
“Um, yes, but I don’t think I need the makeup. I’m just standing in.”
