One thing I’ve realized about myself is that I really can’t handle being in places with harsh, bright lighting. It’s not just that the brightness strains my eyes, it also makes me feel strangely unsettled, almost as if the light itself is overwhelming and leaves me with an odd sense of being dirty or out of place. I’d actually be fine spending a whole week in a place with barely any light. I had to bring dark-tinted glasses with me and put them on when I got to the studio. I'm carefully arranging the equipment we'll use for the shoot today on this round, elegant looking table. I'm not sure how to explain it, but there’s definitely something unique about its appearance that gives off an expensive vibe. When Sam and I arrived, two people were waiting for us, the woman who was the makeup artist, and the man who would help us with the backgrounds. I’m still unsettled by the stark white walls and stage, making it feel like the brightness could blind me. In the following minutes, the makeup artist wheeled in a clothing rack filled with various styles, all from the same brand. Shoes and brightly colored bags are present on the counters as well.
“In case you're curious, everything here belongs to her, she is, after all the brand's model.” The woman said to me unexpectedly as she saw me watching her set them in the right order. She has a name card attached to the chest area of her T-shirt that reads ‘Eleanor.’ I knew she was the model, but I didn't know she was the initial face of the brand from the start. She’s on a whole different level here, I have to give her that.
After everything was arranged, we simply waited for her to arrive so we could begin the shoot. Sam and I discussed and decided to limit this shoot to one day with no extensions, especially since Sam mentioned it was a last minute preparation. The plan was to confirm everything one or two weeks ahead of the shoot. “She’s on her way. When she gets here, she’ll simply place her bag on the table and be ready to pose for the shoot. She’s a star, she’ll make things effortless for you all.” Eleanor spoke with a radiant smile that lingered. I assume she’s married due to the ring on her finger, but it could just be an accessory for all I know. Besides, she doesn’t appear very old, so I’m assuming she’s in a relationship with someone. I guess I’m simply trying to keep myself distracted here.
“You look familiar to me.” Eleanor suddenly pointed at Sam, clearly struggling to recall where she had seen him before. Sam and I made eye contact. “You’re the ex-boyfriend she’s always telling us about.”
I was stunned by what she said as she kept pointing at Sam. “She still holds onto pictures of you on her phone. She must miss you deeply. What's your name again?”
The expression on Sam's face showed he wasn’t up for talking about it. “Sam.” He gave his answer promptly without holding eye contact with Eleanor.
“Irish tends to be overly obvious in any situation. Whether she's angry or upset, her face always gives her away. She just can't hide her emotions, and that’s her weak spot.” She spoke as if she had known her for years, suggesting she understands her deeply. I couldn’t respond to her words because every time I think of her, I recall her actions. I simply kept nodding along to what Eleanor was saying. “She doesn’t hold any anger towards Jack, I’m just curious why she decided to fire him out of the blue.”
I was taken aback by what she said because as far as I recall, we weren’t discussing anyone named Jack. “Who's Jack?” I asked. It's obvious that Eleanor loves to engage in conversation, no matter what the situation is.
“Her photographer, they have a sibling-like bond. I’m not entirely sure what happened, but I should definitely ask her about it.” I looked at Sam with suspicion and he met my gaze with a questioning look. She mentioned that her personal photographer had an emergency, but she didn’t say anything about firing him. I suspect she meant to do this.
