Title:Paris
Author:Tapestry
Email:Shaddow_Cat@hotmail.com
Standard Disclaimer Apply
*denotes thought
12/9/01

"Woman was created from the ribs of man
 Not from his head to top him
 Nor from his feet to be walked upon
 She was made from his side to be his equal
 From beneath his arms to be protected
 From very near his heart to be loved."
         --Anonymous--

French:
enchanté - enchanted
merde - shit!
damnez - damn

Italian:
ciao - hello
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

 ~ Chapter 3: Starlit Future ~


  Darien Clavélle was ready to tear his luxuriant silky ebony hair out. Of 
all the bad days, the most experienced models had to arrive late, didn't
they?? They were supposed to be at the site at 4.00am, sharp. he glanced at
his watch to see how much time had passed. It was almost 5.30am.
  A car horn made him turn as the girls waved and piled out of the car. He
could almost strangle them.

  "Where have you been?? You may be the best, but I don't like tardiness."
growled Darien.
  "Darien, Darien...relax. It's not as if you've started shooting. You know
how long it takes for Andrew and Amy to fuss over the settings." laughed
Lita.
  "Oui, chérie. You'll blow a vein." giggled Mina.

  Darien rolled his eyes. Then, his line of vision caught a petite looking
blonde hiding behind Lita and Mina with Beryl beside her.
  "Who's she??" he asked. He frowned. She looked vaguely familiar but he
couldn't place her.
  Mina's features brightened.

  "Oh! Almost forgot. This is my cousin, Serena Duval." she grinned proudly
as Mina stepped sideways, displaying her cousin. "The new model Monique 
hired?" prompted Mina.
  Darien frowned as he scrutinized every detail of her facial features and 
physique.
  Slowly, he extended his hand.

  "Bienvenir to Paris, Serena." his smile relaxed.
  "Merci, monsieur." she gave a shy smile.
  "My name is Darien Clavélle. I am the photographer and as you probably
know, Raye is my assistant."
  "Oui. I know, Monsieur Clavélle."
  "Just Darien. I've already taken the liberty of calling you Serena. I
insist you do the same. Now....head over to Elizabeth and then to Molly for
your make-up." he ordered, pointing in the direction of some cabanas.

  As the girls hurriedly rushed off, Andrew came up beside him.

  "So...that is Mina's cousin." mused Andrew as he scratched his chin in
thought.
  "Oui. You shouldn't eye her so. You're already spoken for. Remember Rita?"
asked Darien sarcastically.
  "Oui, oui, mon ami. But you forget, I'm not nailing myself down. Besides,
she's a pretty little piece." grinned Andrew as he lifted an eyebrow.
  Darien glanced at his friend. "She's a model, Andrew. Not a piece of
steak. You don't need to eye her so." he reprimanded.
  Andrew chuckled. "Ah...I see, protective are we?"
  "Get your background set up, Monsieur Don Juan." snapped Darien as he
shoved his friend who was laughing, toward the sets.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

  "He's friendly." smiled Serena as she pulled the zipper of her skirt up.

  Mina stared at her. "Darien?? Friendly??" she echoed. Barely a minute
passed when the three models burst into laughter at Serena's verdict of
Darien's character.
  "Oh, ma chérie... Darien is an absolute tyrant. He takes his job, VERY
seriously, cheré." commented Beryl as she stepped into her heels.
  "Oui, Beryl is right. But I advise you to watch out for Andrew Laborteaux.
He's much more a threat to you that Darien." teased Lita as she knotted her
scarf.
  "Andrew Laborteaux?? Is Elizabeth married?" asked Serena curiously.
  "Oh, non. Andrew's her brother. A real Casanova." laughed Mina.
  Serena rolled her eyes.
  "Casanovas, I can handle. I did it all the time in that greasy little
cafe I worked at. The boss and also Henri." she sighed remembering the dumpy
greasy little man who was her boss and the tall, insistent man with the
green eyes and the amber coloured hair.
  "Mmhmm, let's see you handle Andrew." challenged Beryl with a teasing tone
in her voice.
  Serena rolled her eyes.
  "You Paris locals really have to curb your imaginations, mes amis. I know
Paris is the City of Love and all, but I only came here because of Mina."
  "Oh, Reenie, don't tell me you don't intend to find love." exclaimed Mina.
  "Non. I'm here because of you, and I'm here right now for the work. I
don't have time to find romance. No matter how romantic the city is." said
Serena as she straightened her top.
  Lita chuckled and placed a comforting hand on Mina's shoulders while Beryl
laughed and pretended to swoon.
  "Idiot." said Serena playfully as she exited the cabana to get her make-up
done.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

  Molly smiled as she saw Serena heading towards her.

  "Serena, chére. You look wonderful in that outfit!" exclaimed Molly as she
looked over the design Serena had been chosen to model. "You'll knock
everybody's socks off their feet." she grinned. "Now, SIT!! We have to get
your make-up done!!"

  Serena exited the cabana once she was done. Milling around the area were
several other models. One of the models with dark curling locks,smoky grey 
eyes and a rather tall willowy figure saw her.
  Serena gave a friendly smile.
  The model only stared at her with cold unfriendly eyes and then turned her
snooty perfect nose up.

  Feeling rather displeased at the woman's behaviour, Serena ignored the
arrogant woman.

  "Bonjour, mademoiselle. You are new here. What is a pretty belle like you 
standing all alone here??" came a teasing voice.
  Serena turned and saw a sandy haired blonde with teasing eyes smiling down
at her. Serena turned suspicious eyes on him. He looked familiar.
  "You are...?" trailed off Serena as she stared at him skeptically.
  "Andrew Laborteaux, mademoiselle. And you?" grinned Andrew bowing.
  The light went on in Serena's head. This was Elizabeth's brother. No 
wonder he looked familiar. He looked slightly like his sister. She sighed to
herself. Mina, Lita and Beryl were right. He was definately a casanova. He
was already using his infamous silver tongue on her.
  "Serena Duval, Monsieur Laborteaux." answered Serena.

  Andrew caught hold of her hand and planted a kiss as he stared at her.
  "Enchanté, mademoiselle. Call me Andrew." 

  Serena rolled her eyes. "Please, monsieur...at least try to use something
a bit original." she chuckled to herself.
  "I beg you pardon??" gaped Andrew confused.
  "Kissing the hand. Very old trick, monsieur." grinned Serena. She frowned.
"My hair is blonde. So, you shall say, my hair outshines even the sun and
my eyes sparkle like the stars in the sky."
  Andrew blushed. It was quite true he'd been about to say those words. He
was baffled at her attitude yet nonplussed and truly enchanted by her 
guileless words, candor and sharp wit.
  "Madame, you have seen through my strategy. I salute you." chuckled Andrew
as he did a parody of a salute. Serena laughed too.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

  From across the set, Darien heard sounds of laughter. Turning his head to
find the source of the tinkling sound, Darien was astonished to find it was
coming from the girl who was Mina's second cousin. What was more unusual was
that Andrew was laughing along with the girl!!
  Some of the set technicians gaped at the sight of Andrew laughing with 
the new model. Usually, new models were the ones to be laughed at. Darien
shook his head. No doubt the girl had fallen for one of Andrew's lines and
was now laughing at a joke Andrew had told her.
  This was going to be a long day.

  After taking a few shots of Mina, Lita and Beryl modelling their dresses.
He beckoned towards the new models. The model with dark hair and smoky eyes
smiled seductively at him. He rolled his eyes. Why did some models always
think they could sleep their way to the top??

  "You, stand by that pillar." ordered Darien as he adjusted his camera.
The model walked coyly towards the pillar and leaned on it, flashing him a
pearly smile.
  "Non, don't lean on the pillar. Just stand beside it." said Darien. The 
model stared confusingly at him.
  "Raye, move her into a stance. Andrew, a little wind please!" snapped
Darien irritated.

  Raye rushed towards the model. Darien fired off rapid instructions of the
model's pose. Andrew moved the fan to the side of the pillar.
  "Alright! Wind!" called Darien as he focused the camera.

  After a few shots, Darien nodded and turned to Serena who was talking with
Lita.

  "Serena, you're next!!"
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

  "Good luck." smiled Lita kindly. "Don't let Darien intimidate you, 
Serena. Just act natural and smile.  He can't object to that." grinned Lita.
  "I'll try. Merci, Lita."

  Serena smiled tentatively as she waited for Darien's instructions.

  "Sit beside the pond there please." pointed Darien as she shifted his
equiptment towards the area.
  Serena nodded. "Okay."

  Serena reached the pond. Sitting down, she turned to see Darien still
adjusting the angle of his camera. Sitting sideway, Serena leaned over 
slightly into the pond. She stared at her reflection staring back. Bracing
herself with one hand, Serena used the other to skim the water's surface.
Ripples moved through the water. She smiled slightly.

  "Hold it!!!" called Darien.

  Serena's head shot up confused as she saw Darien aiming his camera.

  "Non, non!! Go back to that pose you were doing awhile ago. That was
better than what I had in mind." exclaimed Darien.
  Serena stared at him for a moment and shook her head in amusement as she
turned back to what she was doing before.

  After Darien said it was okay to get up, Serena got off the ground and
shook her hair out of it's style, tossing her hair back.
  Unknown to her, Darien had smiled and stolen another few pictures of what
she was absent-mindedly doing.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

  Mina grinned at her cousin. "Oh, Reenie!! You were wonderful!! I think
you're a natural!!" she smiled brightly.
  Serena blushed, shaking her head. "No, you're being to kind, cousin."

  A voice broke into their conversation.

  "Minalle!! Serena!" called a laughing voice.

  Serena turned to the owner of the voice and blinked. It was the woman 
from the Eiffel Tower.
  "It's Madeline!" pointed Serena.
  Mina nodded. "Oui, it is. She usually comes after Darien finishes work." 
  "I don't understand." answered Serena confused.
  "Madeline is Darien's fianceé."
  "Oh."

  "Bonsoir Serena, how was your first day at work?? I hope Darien didn't
scare you too much. He usually frightens new models."
  Mina grinned. "Oh, Darien didn't scare her. Serena's a natural. I'm sure
of it! She's so sweet. Whatever pose she does is sure to look good." bragged
Mina.
  Serena glared at her cousin. "Mina is exaggerating."

  Madeline merely smiled demurely as she watched the cousins bicker. Her
smile turned radiant when she saw Darien.
  "Darien!"
  "Maddie, bonsoir. Ready for dinner??" asked Darien as he kissed Madeline
lightly when she threw herself into his arms.
  "Oui. I want to eat-"
  "Caviar and escargot?" teased Darien as he held her hand and began walking
away.
  "Ewww!! Non, non!!" protested Madeline as she hugged his arm.

  Defore they disappeared, Madeline suddely turned back and waved. 
"Au revoir Minalle, Serena." called Madeline before turning back to Darien.

  "Au revoir!!" replied Serena after them. She sighed. "They make such a 
cute couple. They are perfect." murmured Serena dreamily. So why had she
felt so down when Mina had said Madeline was Darien's fiancée?
  Mina laughed. " Tell that to Lita. She is certain something is missing in
their romance."
  "Speaking of Lita, where has she gone?? And Raye? And Beryl??"
  "Probably to the Club. Merde!! I forgot! We were supposed to meet them
there. Damnez!" exclaimed Mina as she snatched Serena's hand and rushed to
the curb to get a taxi.
  "Mina!!! Why can't we just take the Metro??" called Serena as she tried
to keep up with her whirling dervish of a cousin.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

  Darien entered Monico Enterprises bright and early. He pushed the button
to head to the top-most level. In his hand, he held a big fat envelope.

  "Bonjour, Monsieur Clavélle. Mademoiselle de Bour is waiting for you."
smiled Madam Ramponneau.
  "Merci and bonjour to you too, Madam Ramponneau." greeted Darien as he
knocked on the door and entered.

  Monique de Bour sat behind her polished hard oak deak, looking over papers
and documents. She heard the door close and looked up expectantly.
  "Bonjour, Clavélle." smiled Monique casually as she placed the pen down.
  "Bonjour. The photos, Monique." said Darien as he handed the envelope to
Monique's outstretched hand.
  "Sit down, Clavélle." ordered Monique as she took out the photos and 
began sifting through.
  Darien sat down and waited for the verdict.
  "These are the photos for next month's issue?" asked Monique still
sifting through the thick pile of photos.
  "Oui. What do you think??" asked Darien.
  "Very pretty. As usual. So, what do you think of Mina's cousin as a 
model?" asked Monique nonchalantly. "I want to know what you think, if she
is a good model or not. She's never had an experience but I think she can
pull it off." said Monique.
  "Always to the point, eh?? Oui, Serena Duval is a beautiful woman. And
oui, she does not have the training of our professional models, but I agree
with Raye, she had potential and is practically a natural." admitted Darien
grudgingly. "To be honest, I expected otherwise."
  Monique held up a photo of Serena tossing her hair, her face turned to 
the side.
  "Sneak picture??"

  Darien blushed slightly. "Oui. It was such a naturally good pose, it was
a shame to waste it."
  Monique smiled. "Mm-hmm. Yes well, I think I have enough on Serena. I 
think she will be perfect for the special issue you are going to do."
  "What??" asked Darien confused. He didn't even know that there was a 
special issue coming out.
  "It's this way. Jacques Rouen just sent in a new line of clothes." 
explained Monique. "Very lovely but I need a model that shouts 'innocent'
to make it work. It'll be very alluring for the whole line."
  Jacques Rouen was just one of the designers that worked for Monico 
Enterprises and gave half of the percentage to Monico Enterprises.
  Darien was beginning to understand. "And, that is where Serena Duval comes
in. Oui??"
  "Oui. You're catching on. This is the places I want you to take shots in." 
said Monique handing him a folder.

  Darien raised an eyebrow and took the folder. Opening it, his eyes widened
at the names of places.
  "You want me to go to all these places!!!??"
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

  "And Monique wants you to go to all those places for shoots?" repeated 
Andrew unbelievingly.
  "Oui. How many times must I say it??" asked Darien irritated.
  Andrew sat back in his chair, lifting his mug of beer to his lips.
"I just can't believe it. How can anybody be so lucky. I mean, this is her
first time modelling right?"
  "Oui." answered Darien in a tired tone.
  "I can see I am boring you, mon ami. Fine, we'll talk about something
else. Let's talk about Madeline." grinned Andrew slyly.
  "What's there to talk about Maddie??" asked Darien confused.
  "Have you set a date??" grinned Andrew arching his eyebrow.

  Darien sighed and shook his head. "Non. Besides, everything has been so
hectic lately. I couldn't set a date just yet. My work, my career. It's 
just currently in the way."
  "Madeline understands?"
  "Oui."
  "Ah, you have yourself a rare breed of woman, mon ami." grinned Andrew.
"In fact, if I wasn't dating Rita, I'd be after your woman."
  Darien raised an amused eyebrow.
  Andrew winked.

  Slender arms closed round Darien's neck. The scent of lavender filled his
nose. He knew who it was...
  "Maddie.." whispered Darien as he turned his upturned face sideways 
slightly. Madeline's head was bent down towards his. Darien's movement 
caused their lips o touch slightly.
  "Darien." smiled Madeline against his lips.
  "Maddie, are you not supposed to be working today??" asked Darien as he
pressed a kiss to the pulse at her throat.
  "A took half the day off." gasped Madeline as Darien continued to tease
her throat.
  "Get a room." sighed Andrew as he gulped down his mug of beer.

  "Excuse moi." chuckled Darien as Madeline went to sit down beside Darien.
  "Much better. So, tell her." grinned Andrew evilly.
  Darien blinked uncomprehendingly.
  "The shoots??" prompted Andrew.
  Madeline smiled innocently. "What about the shoots??"

  Darien realized what Andrew was doing. He turned to Madeline and gave a
brilliant smile.
  "Cheríe, I must be out of France for at least three to five weeks." sighed
Darien, taking Madeline's hand in his and pressing a kiss to the back of her
hand.
  "Oh. A special assignment??" asked Madeline understandingly.
  "Oui, ma cheríe. Monique wants to use the new model, Serena Duval."
  "I've met her. She's very nice and kind. Beautiful too. And you said she
might not be." teased Madeline poking him.
  "Alright, I admit, I was wrong. Now, lets get out of here." said Darien
standing up and pulling Madeline up with him.
  "Darien?"
  "What?? Leaving already??" exclaimed Andrew.
  "Oui. I've got two season passes to the movies. Madeline's company is 
far more enjoyable than yours." grinned Darien as he walked out the club
with his fiancée.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

  "Mademoiselle Duval??" came a voice.

  Serena opened an eye and looked at the digital clock standing on her
bedside table.
  The red digits were blinking 6.50am. She sat up and rubbed her eyes.

  "Mademoiselle Duval??" came the voice again.
  "Oui, what is it?" called Serena with a voice groggy with sleep.
  "A Monsieur Clavélle is on the line for you. Mademoiselle Reynaud asked me
not to waken you when she went out this morning. But since the man on the
phone says it's urgent, I-"
  "Alright, merci Marie. Which line??" asked Serena.
  "François says the monsieur is on line 3." answered the woman outside the
door.
  Serena yawned. She groaned. Paris people had to be mad. Nobody ever called
at 6.50am back in Marseille, and usually the only people up were the garbage
men and thieves.
  Lifting the phone from it's hook, Serena pressed line 3.
  
  "Hello??"
  "Bonjour, Serena. Did I wake you?" asked Darien.
  "Oui Darien, oui. Well, what can I do for you??" sighed Serena feeling 
decidedly cranky about being woken from her dream.
  "Monique liked your pictures and wants you to pose for a special issue 
she has lined up. Naturally, Mina, Lita and Beryl will join you."
  "Only the four of us??" asked Serena confused.
  "Oui." came Darien's deep voice.
  "Oh..."
  "Monique wants the shots at, Italy and Spain. In different cities in the
country of course.

  Darien heard a thump and a curse from the otherside of the line.

  "Serena?? Are you still there?"
  "Oui. Spain and Italy??!!" screeched the voice over the line.
  Darien chuckled.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

  Mina grinned at her cousin. "This is fantastic, Serena. Going to Italy and
Spain."
  "Yeah whatever you say." groaned Serena as she buckled her seat belt of
her seat in the private jet owned by Monique.
  "I think it will be wonderful." smiled Beryl. "We can take in the sights
when we're not shooting."
  "Oui. This will be great." sighed Lita.

  "Uh-huh." sighed Serena.
  "Alright Reenie, what is wrong? I may be be a model, but I am not a dumb 
blonde." commanded Mina.
  Lita gave a muffled snort that sounded suspiciously like a stifled 
chuckle. Mina whacked Lita lightly on the arm.
  "It's nothing. It's just nerves. After all, I'm new in this line of work.
What if I make a mess??" asked Serena shakily.
  "That's why we're here to show you the ropes, cher." smiled Beryl.

  At that moment, Darien and Andrew stepped onto the plane.

  "Our first stop will be Rome, Italy. I hope some of you here speak fluent
Italian." grinned Andrew.
  "I'm sure the guides Monique set for us is quite suitable." sighed Darien
as he rolled his eyes.
  "What are their names again?" asked Lita, a glint in her eyes.
  "Their names, are Michelle Angelles and Suzanne Catana." growled Darien.
  Mina sighed. "Why couldn't she have sent men as our guide? Men with 
pretty derrieres."
  "Minalle Reynaud!!" exclaimed Serena horrified her cousin would even think
to suggest such a thing.
  "I agree with Mina." grinned Beryl.
  "I second it." laughed Lita.
  "It's exactly why Monique decided on girls." groaned Darien.
  "She forgot to take into account Don Juan Laborteaux." yawned Mina 
pointing a perfectly manicured thumb at Andrew's direction.
  Andrew merely smiled wolfishly.
  "Mon Dieu, I'm stuck with a bunch of hormone crazed people." groaned
Serena hiding her face.
  "You and me, both, petite." sighed Darien.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

  The plane landed in Rome at the Leonardo da Vinci International Airport 
fasrter than Serena had expected. Serena was the first to leave the plane. 
She sighed. Finally, being stuck in the plane with Mina and Lita had been a 
living nightmare. Well...maybe she was exaggerating. But she'd been 
awestruck by the view when they'd been flying over Rome. The tiny houses 
dotted the landscape looking like a tiny miniature of the city.
  "Rome! Here we come!!" laughed Lita.
  "Handsome men!! Watch out!" joked Mina as she struck a pose.
  "Honestly, you two." groaned Raye.
  "We're only young once, Raye." argued Beryl. "What do you think, Serena?"
  "I for one, am glad to be on terra firma where I can escape you hormone
crazed people. Mon Dieu, the chatter about men." shuddered Serena.
  Mina rolled her eyes. "You're a prude, Reenie. You know that??"
  "Oui, of course. Why do you think I went to college?" asked Serena
mockingly.
  Darien muffled a laugh.

  Darien turned to look at the two women coming towards them.
  "Ciao, you must be Signorina Angelles and Signorina Catana. I'm Darien 
Clavélle." greeted Darien as the two women came to stand in front of them. 
One had aqua coloured eyes, fair skin and shoulder length hair that had 
been dyed an aqua colour. The other had dark skin, dark eyes and long dark 
hair with dark green highlights that had been pulled back into a single bun,
leaving the rest flowing from her head.
  One of them smiled. "Oui, Monsieur Clavélle. Don't worry, we can speak 
perfect French, Italian, English as well as Spanish. We'll be your guides 
in both countries." smiled the woman with dark hair demurely.
  "You look Spanish." ventured Serena looking at the dark woman.
  "I am. I'm also Italian. My mother was Spanish." she answered.
  "Oh. Well, I'm Serena Duval." smiled Serena.
  "Minalle Reynaud." followed Mina.
  "Camalita Margot."
  "Beryl La Croix."
  "Raquel Deveraux."
  "Aimee LeFier."
  "Molly Van Damme."
  "Elizabeth Laborteaux."
  "Andrew Laborteaux, her brother." winked Andrew at the two women.

  Darien rolled his eyes..

  The woman with aqua hair laughed. "I'm Michelle Angelles."
  The dark woman smiled. "I'm Suzanne Catana. We're pleased to meet you.
Welcome to Rome, Italy."
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
To be continued....

Next up: ~ Chapter 4: Magical Rome ~

Okay, not much romance yet but I'm working on it!! The first spark has
already arisen between Darien and Serena. I'll work on it in Rome.
What will happen?? Will cupid and fate decide to play a game that will cause
irreversible damage to the lives of Serena and Darien? Or will they manage
to escape the grip of destiny unscathed??
Email people!! Plenty of thanks to those who did!! :)