Page 42 of Only If You Dare

Desiree held her tongue before speaking again. “Sure,” she said again. “Maybe one day, maybe not.”

We held each other in a stare down for the better part of a minute. Desiree cleared her throat.

“So, um,” she fumbled looking for a way to change the subject. “It was a back burner idea,” she sailed back on topic with ease, “and the Prime Minister’s call gave you the opportunity to bring that idea to fruition.”

“Yes.”

More scribbling on her notepad. I found it interesting that she preferred pen and paper instead of a laptop.

“So are there different brands or designers that you’re using with this particular shoot?”

“The designers are all famously known in Dubai.” I gave Desiree a few names.

“That’s a short list,” she said.

“Making the brands exclusive to the designers makes the spread unique. It’s a respective way to show homage to the city of Dubai, as well.”

“That’s an excellent way to say thank you.”

I tilted my head in agreeance.

“How big is your—”

Desiree paused when she saw a smile spread across my face. Her face heated and her cheeks flamed.

“I, um, was asking… how big is your,” she fumbled, “spread!”

Desiree shouted the word like it held the weight of a brick. Her uncomfortableness was also interesting and comical at the same time.

“Are you alright, Bella?”

“I’m fine,” she quipped, but the flush over her face said otherwise.

I decided to cut her some slack, if only for a moment.

“It’s a ten-page double-sided spread; vertical and horizontal images. Usually, this type of spread could be done over a few days. But, because of the specialty of the shoot, we’re using actual locations with props instead of props only. So in essence, on the one hand, we could’ve brought Dubai to say, Houston Texas and cleared out a building to reconstruct the look we’re going for from the ground up. But being on location, we will shuffle from one real life scene to the next, and have a little fun as we work.”

Desiree was back to scribbling notes again, no doubt appreciative for the reprieve.

“Will you be using a real king in the shoot, or do you have a model set to become a king for two weeks?”

She asked the question with her head down focused on her notes. When I didn’t respond, she peeled her eyes away from the paper to check on me. I waited for the connection before speaking again.

“I will be portraying the king Bella. The spread is paying tribute, so a real king isn’t needed this time.”

Desiree swept an eye over me, and a hint of a blush fell over her face. “How many models make up your team?”

“There will be thirty-two on this trip. That doesn’t include about fifteen of Dubai’s top models.”

The jet rocked slightly hitting a patch of turbulence. Desiree’s hand flew to grip the armrest.

“You’re okay,” I promised. “If we need to jump, I have the perfect parachute for you.”

At the horrified expression on her face, I laughed. “Es todo diversión y juegos mi amor…”

Desiree’s eyes faltered, and she rubbed a hand against her neck breathing evenly.

“I don’t know what you said, but I think I’m all for it.”

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