End Games

Chapter 35:Paragon I

In that moment, she was the very embodiment of beauty. Flashing camera lights clicked sporadically, casting a silver glow on her creamy skin, which was covered in a subtle shimmer. Clad in nothing but a sequinned silver bra, feathery silver panties with sequin accents, and matching wings, Misa looked like a graceful angel. Beneath the sea of multi-colored flashes, she felt as though nothing else existed and that once again, she could be her unmitigated, free, and expressive self. This was her moment, and hers alone. With carefully calculated movements, Misa elongated herself, arched her back, and wove her hands through her long blonde hair while striking a delicate pose. As more cameras flashed, she tossed her waist-long hair to the side, over her firm, round breasts. She reveled in all the attention while running her hands over her slender waist, down the curve that met her hips, in a slow, sensual tease.
"Beautiful Misa, just gorgeous!" Praised the director's voice from behind the wall of cameras. "One more..."
Misa gave him a playful half-smile. Her lips were their natural pink color, with just a bit of gloss added to make them appear moist and inviting. Her hazel eyes danced with edgy confidence as she relished this moment, when she could be herself, surrounded by beauty, embodying beauty. Long gone were the days when all she did was cutesy-type photo shoots. She was a new woman now, three years in the making since she left L behind and took on the role of single mother and the terrible burden of being a detective for the ICPO.
"I lied, two more...no, three more...wow I love that pose!..." Said the director, in awe. Misa smiled even more. After ten more minutes of photographing her, the shoot finally came to a close.
"...and that's a wrap!" Declared the finely dressed director, beaming at the 23-year-old starlet. "Misa, you my dear, are a star." He declared getting up from his seat to hug the model.
She blushed at his praise. Florence was a renowned director and photographer with great influence in the entertainment industry and an even greater sense of fashion, which showed in his pristine clothing and appearance. He worked exclusively with big name brands, and his eye for talent was unmatched, which is how he spotted Misa. However, what the young model liked most about Florence, was that he was very professional, never lewd or disrespectful, and unmistakably gay. She trusted him so much that if there was one man in the modeling world with whom she would feel comfortable doing a nude photo shoot with, it was Florence.
"Thank you, Florence, that means a lot coming from you" She said, bowing politely. Florence smiled, revealing pearly white teeth.
"Oh you don't have to bow darling." He said, waving her off.
"Sorry...old habit" She said, chuckling.
A stage hand came up to Misa with a silk robe to cover her. Meanwhile a whole entourage of people swarmed the area, helping her with her props and breaking down the set.
"Thank you for your hard work everyone!" Said Florence before turning back to Misa. "I can't wait for these to make next month's Victoria's Secret catalogs. The world is going to be taken by storm over your return to modeling after your three-year hiatus. I can see the headlines already, saying 'Misa Amane, an angel in photographs and in real life too!'" He said with a flair that was so him.
Misa blushed again. "Oh Florence, only you would come up with that headline!" She said, laughing.
"You know it. And that's not all, love. Guess what?" He asked, not really expecting her to guess. "You are going to be on my spring collection runway debut, and everyone who's anyone in the entertainment industry is going to be there to see it!" He announced excitedly.
Misa's eyes lit up at the news and it took her a moment to fully digest what he was telling her. Her, on a runway? For years Misa dreamed of doing a live fashion show, but she'd always been too short to be a runway model. In photos she could make herself appear long and tall but in live shows, her modest height was painfully obvious, and a hindrance...but not anymore!
She squealed with delight and threw her arms around the director.
"Oh my gosh! Thank you that's amazing, I promise I won't let you down, I'll be the best ever!" She said all in one breath. "Give me a pair of 10-inch heels, if you have to, I'll rock them!" She said enthusiastically.
Florence grinned. After working with Misa and being blown away by her modeling prowess, he had no doubt that she would shine like a star. Satisfied, he walked off to begin the arduous task of sifting through all the great shots to find the best for the catalog. At least he knew he would not have to do much retouching, as Misa was lovely as she was.
Misa tied the silk robe around herself and was about to join Florence in looking at the pictures when her talent manager approached her with her cell phone in hand. Misa turned to her expectantly, knowing well that only two things were important enough to interrupt a photo shoot. Those two things were the ICPO, and her son. She took the phone from the concerned assistant, and held it up to her ear.
"Hello?" She said into the phone. "Yes, that's me...mhm..." She listened intently. As the moments passed, her features went from excited, to neutral, to worried. "Oh my gosh...I...I'm very sorry...Yes, I understand. I'll be right over to pick up my son. Thank you..." She said with seriousness. With that she hung up the cell phone. She sighed and her shoulders slumped as she ran a hand over her bangs.
Sealing the robe tighter, she walked over to Florence with an apologetic look.
"I'm so sorry, I have to go. I have an emergency again..." She said, regretfully. The director gave her a sympathetic look.
"It's fine, we're done here anyways. You take care of yourself and I'll see you next week!" He said, kissing her on both cheeks. He watched her go with a worried look, hoping that everything was alright...
...
A distressed Misa walked briskly up to the entrance of a clinic. She was holding the hand of a small blonde boy with bangs over his eyes and chin length hair which bobbed as he trailed behind his mother. The boy glanced at the plain building with vacant eyes, looking disinterested in everything around him. Misa on the other hand was livid as she replayed in her mind the conversation that took place only an hour before.