The stage lights slowly began glow.?The heavy velvet curtains opened slowly, then out strolled Mishka Strova.?Her beauty is breath taking.?The crowd watched in awe as she strutted out in synchronized steps of Andre Bocelli wearing "Red Diamonds", an exclusive couture design of Paul LaGassi.
She walked with elegance wrapped in grace.?I took what seemed like endless frames of pictures.?She turned on a dime at the end of the stage then stopped.?Turned again and posed for the hundreds of photographers and the attending guest.?The crowd burst into the loudest applause I have ever heard.?She stood in all of her elegance posing like a Greek Goddess frozen in time.?The flashes from the photographers kissed her image like a dozen tinker bell ferries with magic wands.?Jeffery was clapping his hands so hard I thought he would break his wrist.?Victor is smiling from check to cheek as he knew he had the number one model that had captured the world.
She broke her posed and walked a third of the way down the stage and stopped again right at my waiting camera shot.?She smiled and winked at me then assumed her Greek Goddess pose again.?I took picture after, after picture as I smiled looking up at her.?There was no denying it, I was hooked even after she had left the stage I couldn't get her out of my mind.?The rest of the fashion show went without a hitch.?Victor is happy, Jennifer is smiling and I was looking forward to the after party and seeing Mishka.?
Chapter 6 ~ The After Party
The first day was coming to a end and what a day it was.?The show went off without a hitch.?The designers were writing orders and sketching new designs in a frenzy.?The crowd slowly strolled out gabbing about the pieces they liked sipping the last of their cocktails while valets were rounding up their Limos, Mercedes, Ferraris, and Rolls Royce's.?
"Well, was it as good for you as it was for me?" asked Jennifer sipping a Cosmo walking towards the valet with her ticket.?
"All that and then some, I got so many great shots of Mishka and Jeffery" I said toasting her glass.?
"Well, I'll drop you off so you can get ready for the after party and pick you up say around 8:30?" she said tipping the valet.?
"Works for me" I said slipping into the passenger seat.
My tux was waiting for me in my room when I arrived.?I hooked up my laptop and logged on to my email to check on messages and download the day's photos from my hand full of memory chips.?I poured myself a drink and casually watched the pictures download as I unwound.?Mishka's pictures began to pop on the screen one by one.?I took slow sips of my cocktail as I watched her pictures appear and slide into another.?She is as beautiful as the moments I spent taking them.?
After making sure all my pictures downloaded, I finished off my second Jack & Coke and got dressed.?Jennifer had just pulled up to the hotel when I got to the front door.?The night was perfect and calm.?
"Hubba, Hubba" said Jennifer smiling as I got into the car.?
"What? It's just a tux" I said putting the coat in the backseat smiling back.
"Just a tux, ha, looks like a Jack Victor "Estrato" to me. Am I right?" she asked waiting for the stop light to change.?
"Yeah, you're right.?You been in the business too long Jen" I said adjust my tie in the visor mirror.?
"That and I know when a man is dressing to impress a lady and not just any lady" she quickly answered back.?
"Well, I kinda have my eye on someone."?
"Let me guess, your secret admirer with the tulips?"?
"Yeah, you could say that."?
"And is her name Mishka by chance?"
"Good guess.?How you figured that?"
"Victor told me she wanted to make sure that you would be at the party."?
"Well, you're being ever the accommodating host" I laughed turning up the music.?
We drove through downtown to the Castille Paris hotel which is located in the rue Cambon nestled in the exclusive 1st arrondissement amidst the haute couture houses and boutiques of the Paris fashion district noted for having housed the couturier Channel since 1910.?The Castille is nothing short of fabulous.?The valet greeted us as we pulled up to the grand entrance.?
"We are here for the Victor Sheldon party" said Jennifer tipping the valet.?
"Yes Miss LaSalle, through the double doors and to your right, he's expecting you." The valet responded.? We went in as instructed.?Guest are lined up being greeted by Victor and Jeffery personally.?
"Ah, my friends, I am so pleased for to be seeing you" said Victor with a glass of Vodka and a cigarette in one hand while extended his other one to shake.?
"Victor, Jeffery" said Jennifer greeting them both with cheek kisses.?
"Look at you girl, turn around and let me see that Donna Karen. I am liking it!" said Jeffery fanning himself.?He is decked out in a Yves Saint Laurent black tux.?
"And you look at you Michael in your Jack Victor "Estrato" tux.?I am impressed" he continued with his review of us
"Thank you Jeffery.?Your first day was nothing short of spectacular." I said as we followed them both into the party.
People were everywhere with cocktails in hand gabbing about the show.?
"Let's have a toast" said Victor signaling over his personal waiter.?"For you Miss Jennifer and for you Michael" said Victor handing each of us shots of Vodka.?
"To this wonderful day and my friends" he said clinking our drinks and throwing back his first.?
"Here, here" we chanted back throwing back the shots.?
"Please, please, go mingle, I will be around" said Victor lighting up a cigarette nudging us towards the crowd.
"Well he's happy" said Jennifer as we headed for the bar.?
"Yeah and you've got one big client to add to your growing list".?
"I wouldn't be where I am today without my friend and best photographer on my team".?
"Well, like they say, it takes two and I got you babe".?
We laughed and talked about the show as we sipped cocktails and snacked on passing platters of delightful finger food.?Jennifer floated away to chat up her clients as I held up the bar for another round of Jack and Coke. I had just finished off my drink when I heard a sweet soft voice.
"Michael? I am so pleased to see you are here".?
I turned to the delight of seeing Mishka standing with a slender fluted glass of sparkling Champagne in her hand smiling with bright beautiful eyes.?
"Mishka, you were stunning today on the runway" I said adjusting my bow tie.?
"You got many photographs of me today??Did I look good?" She said looking down at your glass then back up at me.??
"Miska, you were a goddess on the stage.?I looked at your pictures before I came to the party and they all were excellent.?Your poses were spot on and everything you wore fitted like a glove." I said looking at her begin to smile.?
"You really think so?"?
"I know it without doubt."?
"Please order another drink and celebrate with me" she asked.? We toasted our glasses and walked out to the patio over looking the city.
The night air is perfect, the stars shinning and the moons glow lit Mishka's face and smile.?
"So being surrounded by so many women you must be popular guy and have many girl friends, yes?" she asked leaning back pushing her hair away from her face.?I took a sip of my drink and looked up at the sky then back at her.?
"Surrounded yes, popular, I don't know about that, but there is no one special.?It's hard to find someone stable in the fashion business.?They either have drug problems, an eating disorder, or too full of themselves." Her smile faded.?
"Do you think I am these terrible things?"?she said in a low voice looking down.
"No Mishka.?I don't think you are any of those things.?Today on that stage I saw a beautiful confident woman.?I smiled as I watched your pictures float across my computer screen.?I couldn't take my eyes off you.?I was wondering what type of guy could win your heart and how lucky he would be if he ever did." I said looking intently into her eyes.?
Her smile came back.?She sat down her drink and moved so close to me I could
smell her perfume.?Our hands moved towards each other.?
"Ahhh, there you are!" said Victor taking a puff on his cigarette before putting it out.?"I have been looking for the two of you.?Dinner is being served in five minutes.?Come, come now and join me.?I have much to discuss with you for my little Mishka's photographs." ?
We broke our gaze as Victor hugged us both and walked us back to the party and to the dinning room.
Chapter 7 - "I can't get her out of my mind"?
Diner was awesome and the moments with Miska last night wasn't long enough I thought to myself as I sipped my latte while reading the reviews in the paper about the first day of fashion week.? They were all ten stars on the new designer collections and models.? The reviews about Mishika and Victor were very good.? The reporters were dead on about how beautiful and graceful she was in every since of the words. The phone rang breaking my trail of thoughts.?
"This is Michael" I said rubbing my eyes.?
"Good morning Michael this is Mishka Strova" she said in her sweet and potent voice.? My heart pounded as I prepared to answer.
"Hello Mishka, is everything alright?" I asked fearing something was wrong.? I couldn't figure out any reason why she would be calling.?
"Yes, everything is alright.? There is no problems.? I was calling for to ask if you are needing a ride this morning?? I could come pick you up." She said in a hopeful tone.? I broke into a big smile, did a fist pump before answering.
"That would be great.? What time are you coming by?" I asked.?
"In an hour if that is good for you" she asked.?
"I'll be ready and waiting outside."? I said doing another fist pump with excitement.?
"Okay, I will be seeing you then. Ciao"?
I went to the closet and franticly pulled out different outfits trying to figure out what to wear.? 'She's picking me up in an hour' I blurted out loud as I set aside a semi dressy casual outfit.? With five minutes left, I went downstairs and out to the street in front of the hotel.?
After a couple of minutes had passed I could see her driving down the block towards me in an awesome red Ferrari F430.? She looked hot as she pulled up stopping in front of me smiling with large black Gucci sun glasses, a simple black DKNY one piece mini dress, with a silk red and black polka dot scarf draped around her shoulders.? I opened the door and slipped into the luxurious butter soft leather seat.?
"Good morning Mishka" I said with a big smile looking at her glowing presence.?
"Good morning Michael.? Are you surprised for to be seeing me" she said pulling away shifting into second gear.?
"This is a very pleasant surprise Mishka.? I am glad I get to see you before the hectic day starts." I said bursting inside.?
"Well, I wanted to be the first girl you saw this morning.? We didn't get much time together last night to talk with all the peoples around and of course Victor was consuming you with all of his details." She said pulling up to the stop light.
"Well, seeing you now is the best way I can think of to start my day" I said wanting to lean over and kiss her cheek.?
"It is best way for me too."? She said looking at me in the moment then back at the road smiling.? We looked at each as we as if we both realized at the same time that our attraction to each other is becoming apparent to us.? I reached out for her hand.? She shifted gears then placed her soft delicate hand in mine.?
"I can't deny it Mishka, you are a beautiful woman and I am very attracted to you.? I have been thinking about you a lot and more so when we are apart.? When the fashion week is over I would like to spend more time with you."
I said not believing the words that were coming out of my mouth.? I was terrified of what she would say.? Did I reveal my feelings too early I asked myself?
She pulled her hand away, shifted gears again then put her hand back in mine.? My heart is pounding.? She looked at me smiling then back to the road.
"I would like that Michael. I would like very much for us to be spending time together. I was hoping that you would very much be feeling that way.? The truth is I was feeling somethings inside me for you when I was on the runway" She said smiling, spreading my fingers with hers and slipping them between mine.
From that moment on, I knew I was on my way to falling in love with a Runway girl named Mishka Strova.? The rest of the week went smoothly.? Day after day we were inseparable at the cocktail parties.? On the runway she would wink at me and every day I wore a pink tulip to let her know that of all the beautiful girls in world she was the girl for me.
The End
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