Julian Penn

Paris, France.

Julian jotted down the dates of his upcoming photoshoots, walk practices, and meetings onto his calendar. He muttered to himself, trying to remember everything. Most of Romantique's staff had already gone home, only a handful stayed behind. "Still here?" Parker Garcia said, rearranging the clothing racks. Suddenly, it just occurred to Julian that he was backstage and definitely not where he should be. "Go home, espèce d'idiot, it's so late out. I don't want to spend the rest of the tomorrow's morning concealing those eyebags."

"You're still here," he said pointedly.

"Guess we're both workaholics then. Besides, I need to clean up," Parker said, gesturing to the mess on the work table next to Julian's desk, there was glitter and makeup scattered. Looked like some makeup unicorn just threw up. "You're just a runway model, why do you have so many photosheets?" he asked, squinting at Julian's calendar.

Julian scowled. "Because some of the editorial models' schedules are backing up."

"So you volunteered? Aye, don't you have shoots lined up from eight to nine tomorrow?" Parker asked suspiciously, and he would know because he was Julian's occasional stylist. He leaned against the rack of clothes boredly, fair-skinned and tired-eyed. "Then you'll have to do overtime again tomorrow."

"I don't mind it."

"Espèce d'idiot. God, I'm going to be stuck in Romantique forever if I don't clean that shit up," Parker said distastefully, eyeing the mess on the table. He chugged a cup of coffee before continuing with his work. Julian finished his scheduling, eventually deciding to clean up the makeup mess. He often did odd jobs around Romantique when he wasn't satisfied with the hours he put in. "Oh, thanks, Julian."

"Don't mention it," he muttered.

"Did you hear of our new hire that Romantique is getting?"

"Parker, there's so many new hires. Be more specific."

"Fleurette Lavigne."

Julian shrugged. "Never heard of her, probably an amateur model."

"No, but she's Fleurette, an ex of Hugo de Valois. Hug de Valois, the biggest male editorial model in France!" Parker said with disdain. Julian had seen Hugo once or twice, he seemed like a cocky bastard. "Fleurette landing a job here is a huge social media boost. It'll give Romantique a leg up for Paris Fashion Week, that's all Ms. Laurent cares about. Maybe it'll end the company rivalry, that crap has been going on for decades."

Parker placed a top back on the rack. "Fleurette seems nice from what I heard from Felix and Hiro, the three are all boarding a plane back to Paris. I'd love to befriend her. We should all go out to Café des Fables, it's out in Saint-Denis."

"You befriend everyone, Parker." Julian shook his head. "If Fleurette is walking for Paris Fashion Week as a newbie, then I'm sure Ms Laurent has lost her damn mind. No one can be trained and work like a professional that quickly. Fleurette is going to be a fad that eventually fades to the background. She isn't even well-named in the fashion world, what effect will she have on Romantique?" That sounded more harsh than he intended for it to be.

"Ouch, Julian, you haven't even met her yet."

"It's the truth. Some of us have to earn our keep."

"Who knows, maybe you'll change your opinion about her once she arrives, Jules."

I doubt that, Julian thought to himself.

꧁°❀⋆.ೃ࿔.*:･･:*.ೃ࿔.⋆❀°꧂

Lucille Blanchard

Paris, France.

Lucille loved wearing high heels, it made her seem taller than she actually was. Still, she stood on her tippy-toes and struck an overly dramatic pose as a photographer—Alexander, she believed—snapped photos of her. "Move to the side, tilt your head," he instructed as he adjusted the lights that blared at her. "Better?"

"You're the photographer, you tell me," Lucille teased, fluffing up her blond hair. It was tied up in a messy-but-hot bun, something her stylist claimed they achieved with her. She tugged down her hot pink mini skirt, annoyed that most of the outfits Flore & Faune now put her in were the most revealing and uncomfortable clothes. Currently, she wore a pink-and-white top with baby pink pumps.

"Uh, Mr. Brown said the theme we're going for is 'dumb blonde' and cartoon-style. So more animated poses, sort of like a Hollywood or Marilyn Monroe vibe."

"Dumb blond? Excuse me?" God, what was wrong with that stereotype?

"Don't hate the messenger."

"Ugh, whatever, let's just get this over with." Lucille rolled her eyes, crossing her arms as Alexander adjusted the lens. Just give Flore & Faune what they want, Luci, her mind convinced her. Lucille pretended to pout, controlling her 'dramatic' facial expression until the shoot was done. "That's a wrap?" Luci asked.

"Yup, I'm sending these images to Vincent and Beatrice."

"What's my next shoot?"

"Oh, actually, it's with your boyfriend. Hugo should be here soon, just take a break right now." Alexander wandered off while Lucille sat on a chair. She pulled out her phone, checking herself while taking selfies, making sure she looked presentable and her makeup hadn't smudged. She hoped Hugo would get here soon, Lucille had to talk to him about what was happening with their relationship.

Finally, the door opened and revealed Hugo de Valois. "I hope I'm not late," he said, shrugging off his jacket. His makeup and hair had already been done, Lucille noted. She smiled at him and leaned closer to him, pecking him on the cheek. "You're right on time," Lucille told him. "I've been meaning to ask you something."

"Sounds like I'm in trouble," Hugo said, eyeing her carefully. Recently, it felt as if Lucille had to walk around eggshells with their relationship. She widened her smile, hoping to ease the burden.

"I think everyone has heard the news of your past girlfriend by now, her name's Fleurette, no?" Lucille said, watching Hugo carefully. He merely scoffed, leaning against the work table. Okay, not starting off super strong. "I mean, this doesn't impact us, right? Because there's a lot of media about the three of us right now. Especially about your relationship with her."

"Fleurette isn't anything special, the journalists will forget all about her soon enough," Hugo said, picking up a glass of water and chugging it. But Lucille knew better, seeing the beads of sweat on his forehead. "She's in the past, I'm all about you now, Luci."

Lucille tried to smile. "I know, but word on the street is that Fleurette's joining Romantique to walk for Paris Fashion Week."

Hugo spat out his water, shocked. "What?" he yelled, outraged. He slammed the glass cup onto the desk, hastily shoving it aside to pace, causing it to drop. Lucille shrieked, startled, as glass shards scattered across the room. She glanced at Hugo, who was pacing around the room, ignoring the shards. "What the hell is Romantique trying to do? Run me out of business? They better keep their damn mouths shut."

Lucille sighed. "Babe, the glass is all over the floor, and we have to shoot in five minutes. Babe? God, Hugo, can you listen to me—"

He silenced her with a glare. "This isn't the time to pick a fight, Lucille," he spat.

Her mouth was ajar. "Picking a fight? I'm not trying to argue with you!"

"Really? Goddamnit, Luci, can't you see I'm stressed out? Fleurette joining Romantique will cause everything to go shit, the people will go feral once they realize an ex of mine is a part of our rival company! I need to protect my image," he snapped, pinching the bridge of his nose.

"Your image?" Lucille gasped, abashed and revolted. God, putting up with Hugo could be so exhausting, mentally and physically. He kept pacing around the room, making her feel dreadful. Like this was somehow her fault. "What about mine? The media is completely dragging me for dating you now that they discovered Fleurette, people give me dirty looks and I've received death threats in my emails!" she cried out.

"Just forget about it, you're impossible today," he grumbled.

"No, I don't want to forget about it, Hugo!" Lucille said angrily, the rage growing inside of her. How come Hugo never cared about her unless it benefited him? They've been dating for a year, yet she never once felt appreciated. She pointed her finger at herself, fuming as Alexander arrived with the whole crew. "You always act as if you don't care!"

Alexander's eyes were wide. "Whoa, uh, is this a bad time?"

Jade, a stylist, rolled her eyes. "Don't even fight it, Alex."

Hugo was beyond mad. "I'm trying to deal with it right now, can't you see that? Or are you too selfish to realize that?" he shouted as Lucille felt repulsed. She was painfully aware that they were having a rather public fight in front of their co-workers. It embarrassed her, causing her cheeks to redden. "You never side with me!"

"Neither do you!" she huffed, feeling that her mascara was bleeding.

"Uh, we can always reschedule the photoshoot?" Alexander said anxiously, too scared to be caught in a fight between the two. Lucille and Hugo both glared at him, almost to say stay out of it, and the boy shrank back. "Okay..."

"I have hair and makeup coming in here in twenty," Jade protested, shaking her head. "There's no time to reschedule, let's just fix up your makeup and go on set in five—" Jade was shocked and rather offended as Hugo walked out the door while she was mid-sentence. Lucille hollered for Hugo to come back and that she wasn't done yet, stomping her foot like a child. Hell, she felt childish. Hugo always managed to exhaust her out.

"Oh dear God," Alexander muttered.

Jade snapped her fingers at him. "You, whatever your name is, go get our model tissues. I am not re-doing her makeup on such a tight schedule, or Mr. Brown will actually behead me." She seated Lucille in the makeup chair as Alexander got a box of tissues. Lucille felt ashamed as Jade dabbed away the clumps of wet mascara along with her tears. "You talk to him, alright, honey? Don't settle for less."

Lucille sniffled. "Don't worry, this happens often."

Jade rolled her eyes again. "Then perhaps that's a problem. Not a good one, though I doubt there's any good problems." She handed over the tissue to Lucille. "Babes, maybe that's a sign."

"A sign of what?"

"Your choice."

꧁°❀⋆.ೃ࿔.*:･･:*.ೃ࿔.⋆❀°꧂

Esme La Rue

Fontainebleau, France.

Esme pushed the buttons to her telephone with a perfectly manicured red fingernail. She sat in her hotel room, blotting her dark red lipstick with a tissue as the receiver picked up. "Good afternoon, Felix," she said, inspecting her nails as she flickered up to see herself in the mirror opposed to the nightstand. She was only dressed in her slip, but the curtains were drawn and she was only left alone with Felix's voice. "Yes, yes, I'm doing good, cut to the chase—am I walking for Paris Fashion Week or not? I heard you and Catherine discussing it."

"Yeah," Felix replied, sounding a bit annoyed. "Look, I'm busy with now."

"Another little rendezvous with your secret admirer, Felix? Gosh, I would have never pegged you for loosening up, oh, imagine the scandal?" Esme said dramatically, knowing it would bug Felix, it always did.

"You're only describing yourself, Esme," he drawled in his Texan accent.

"Oh, don't flatter me, you flirt!" She loved a good tease or two, especially to irritate Felix whilst he was working. Payback is a bitch called Esme La Rue was her motto. Esme hated Felix's guts for always involving himself in her love life like the prudent man he was. So persistent, ick. "Now, I hear news of this Fleurette Lavigne."

"Fleur accepted the deal, Esme."

"Fleur? Oooh, first name basis, she'll be another soft spoken and feeble one then." That wasn't much to worry about. Esme couldn't believe she had gotten paranoid at the mention of a new and viral model, she had nothing to get worked up about. Fleurette was a fad that would soon die. "I honestly think Catherine has lost her mind by hiring her," Esme said simply.

"Don't test Cathy's judgment," Felix snapped back, but his voice wavered. It was apparent that no one really approved of Fleurette's hire, she just got lucky. At least some work for their job, Esme thought.

"I need to go, you wasted five minutes of my time, Esme."

She let out a vicious laugh. "Five minutes of hell, hopefully." Esme hung up, rising from her chair. She stretched and cracked her neck, checking her planner for what was next tomorrow.

Hair & Makeup with Parker.

Meeting with Cathy.

Go over graphics with Cameron, double-check themes.

Run shoots with Serenity for two hours,

Date night at 5: 00, P. S. Don't be late for the date w/ Omaima, remember keys.