Wrong choice (Ferran Torres)

Chapter 6

But not all the attention Anna got was bad. Her presence on social media was a bit weird. She posted mostly simple photos but sometimes she felt cute...and that caught people's attention. Anna knew she was pretty. It wasn't arrogant to say so, really. She was but she had never cared much about it. It was other people who made a big deal about it. She was tall too and had always been told she should model but that wasn't her thing. She actually had a friend who modelled for a bit and told her so many horror stories that Anna was more than happy taking photos only for Instagram. However, that still didn't mean people would stop asking her to change her mind and model.

When she was out with Paula one day, they took photos and posted them on Anna's profile. A lot of people kept asking her where she bought her jacket and she told them it was Calvin Klein, which caused some people to start tagging the brand asking them to hire her as a model.

Anna laughed at those comments. But then saw the verified Calvin Klein account had liked her post.

"I got a weird email", said Anna looking at her computer screen.

"Watch out. It might be a scam".

"I think it's just a joke. It says it's someone from Calvin Klein and they want me to do a collaboration with them".

"Well, they liked your post on Instagram...".

"Yeah", said Anna, shaking her head. "But it says here they tried to contact me via DM on Instagram and I didn't get any messages there so it's clearly someone taking the piss".

Paula sat closer to Anna and took the keyboard and mouse from her. "Let me see...the email comes from a personal account not Calvin Klein's. Give me your phone so I can see your DMs".

"Ok...".

Paula picked the phone up and laughed. "Got a new one from Ferran. Shocking!"

"Shut up!"

"Anyway. Scrolling down and down...and here is the same name as the email. They did send the DM. I think this is legit".

"Really?", Anna still couldn't believe it. "I mean, I could use the extra cash".

"Those collabs pay quite well so I wouldn't think twice about it. Plus it could be fun".

So Anna took Paula's advice and accepted a meeting to talk about that collab. But once she got to the studio, she realised she has misunderstood what they meant.

"Well, it's a collaboration but...not just as in a few Instagram posts. We want you to do a proper campaign".

"A what?", chuckled Anna, feeling super nervous. "I'm not a model. I...".

"You're stunning, Anna. I'll go straight to the point because we're both busy people and have no time to waste. Just look at the camera and it's fine. Smile and you give us a million dollar shot".

"But what if I look terrified while I'm looking at the camera?"

"The photographer can work with that. So what do you say?"

"I don't know...", started to say Anna when she was shown the part of the contract where it showed what she would be paid for that campaign. "Seriously?"

"I never joke when it comes to money".

"Ok. I'll do it. How hard can it be?"

It turned out that it could actually be very hard. So she posted a photo on her close friend's stories joking about being at a photoshoot and needing help. It didn't take long for Ferran to send her a DM.

Ferran

I'm on your close friends list? I feel honoured ☺️

Anna

Must have been an Instagram glitch.

Ferran

🙄

I won't help you with your shoot now.

Anna

Sorry! Please help me!

Ferran

Give me your phone number, close friend.

So I can facetime you.

That felt like a big step. They had only communicated via Instagram DMs. Somehow, it felt less intimate than WhatsApp or facetime. But...Anna needed the help.

An unknown number facetimed her and Anna assumed it was Ferran so she answered the call and his face filled the screen.

"I'll answer all your questions. I'm an expert".

"Are you now?", she chuckled.

"Yeah. They have me taking photos all the time".

"Ok. How do I stop being scared of the camera and the photographer?"

"Imagine it's me taking the photos".

Anna rolled her eyes at that. "Brilliant tip".

"Imagine it's your brother then. Joking around with you".

"I might have to do underwear photos. I can't imagine it's my brother".

Ferran could tell how nervous Anna was and he had promised to himself he wouldn't make her uncomfortable again. But he was dying to tell her she should definitely imagine it was him taking those photos. Because he wished he was.

"Then a friend. Paula. This all happened because of the photos you two took. Imagine it's like that day".

"Ok...thanks. I gotta go. Thank you for at least trying".

"Always happy to help. But you'll do great. I know you will".

Anna smiled before hanging up and took a few deep breaths before heading to the area where they were going to do the photos. Ferran's advise was actually a lifesaver and she had a lot of fun during the shoot.

When she was done, she posted another story wearing one of the outfits from the shoot and Ferran paused it so he could stare at the photo for longer than a few seconds.

"Yeah, she looks like a fucking supermodel", he whispered, rembering Cecilia's words. "And like a fucking angel too".

Ferran closed his eyes, trying to control his emotions. But then he remembered the moment he noticed Anna had added him to her close friends. Knowing she trusted him made his heart beat faster than seeing how beautiful she looked at the shoot. It also gave him a hope he thought he didn't deserve. Because he was going to meet Cecilia for dinner...and he felt like the biggest asshole on planet earth.