Episode 1

ELISA FRANCO

After a year working in France, it's wonderful to be in Brazil again. I arrived in Rio de Janeiro a few days ago, where my mother, Claudia Franco, lives and works as a professor at UFRJ (Federal University of Rio de Janeiro) for two years now. We haven't seen each other since last year when Mom came to visit me in Paris, and it's my first time coming to Rio. I'm happy to spend time with her, I love hearing her advice and snuggling in her arms while I tell her about my travels.

My father, Eduardo Franco, died of lung cancer when I was 15 years old. My mother and I took care of each other, it was a difficult period. At 19 years old, I became a model and, due to having the perfect physique and the necessary charisma, I stood out on the catwalks. Since then, I have been constantly traveling, participating in fashion shows and events. I am also frequently called to represent various brands in the beauty industry.

Today, at 29 years old, I am about to launch my first lipstick brand through BELLA COSMETICS magazine, which has made me very anxious. My dream is to be a fashion designer and have my own clothing store. I want to retire from the catwalks and stay behind the scenes. My plan is to focus on launching various products and create my own brand, "ELISA FRANCO". I feel that this work will be the beginning of a new phase of my life.

I'm almost at LOPES photography studio. BELLA COSMETICS magazine recommended it to me and said it's one of the best in the city. The problem is that I'm lost and running late. I've never driven on these streets, and the GPS isn't helping me. I enter a street and soon I spot Ipanema Beach, my reference point. Now I just have to find the right building.

Sophie Lopes: Twenty minutes late. Everything was ready in the studio, and no sign of the model. I hated how snobbish these people were. They acted as if they were the center of the universe, judging to have everyone at their feet. Maybe you're thinking I'm a control freak, which in part may even be true. I worked hard to get where I am, built my career as a photographer with a lot of dedication and discipline. I don't like delays.

"Sophie, calm down. I'm sure Miss Franco will arrive soon. Just relax."   Flavia, my assistant and friend, who knows me very well, noticed my bad mood.

"If the 'Queen of the World' doesn't arrive in 10 minutes, we'll postpone it." I say irritably.

Flavia stepped away, knowing that I wasn't in a good moment, picked up her phone, and started making calls.

Whom was I trying to fool? I wasn't cranky because of the model's delay. The truth is, yesterday I caught my boyfriend, or rather, my ex-boyfriend, cheating on me. I still feel disgusted when I remember the scene I witnessed.

Yesterday was a long and tiring day. Marcos wasn't in town, and I was going to surprise him with a special breakfast since we had been dating for two years. I decided I would go to his apartment and stay there overnight so I wouldn't have to wake up too early.

I opened Marcos' apartment door because I had a spare key. I left the groceries on the kitchen table and headed towards the bathroom to take a shower. The apartment was huge, I went up the stairs and walked down the hallway. I was surprised to see Marcos' suitcases by his bedroom door. Did he come back already? As I approached, I heard moans that only grew louder. I pushed the door slowly and became speechless when I saw Marcos having sex with a woman. She screamed, and he smacked her butt.

"Don't stop, Marcos, go harder." She was loud.

My hands clenched into fists, and I gritted my teeth. That scene disgusted and infuriated me. The girl looked at me and got scared, pushing Marcos away and covering her body. He looked at the door, his face turned pale. I wanted to punch him, which wouldn't be too difficult since I practiced boxing, but I could only run away. Before reaching the door, I felt Marcos' hand grab my arm.

"Sophie, it's not what you're thinking. "His cynical face annoyed me even more.

"Don't touch me, you idiot." I was never good with insults. How I wished I had something worse to say!

"Let me explain... She means nothing to me." I look into his eyes, feeling disgusted. For the first time, I didn't see him as the perfect man I believed he was.

"I don't want to hear your explanations. How could you do this to me? I thought you loved me." I was hurt and betrayed. I felt hatred consuming me.

"Baby, did you really think a man could live without some adventures? They are just one-night stands. With you, things are different. I chose you to be my woman." I couldn't believe what I had just heard. So he always cheated on me and was justifying it with this sexist bullshit speech?

"Marcos, listen carefully to what I'm about to tell you, because I won't repeat it. I never want to see you again. It's all over. Don't you dare look for me. Everything we had, from what I see, has long ceased to exist. I don't want to look at your stupid face, stay away from me." I turn around and leave. I don't look back. I hated him with all my strength.

I snap out of my thoughts when the studio door opens. A tall, slim, blonde woman walks in. She must be the model. I approach her to greet her and show her to her dressing room. I was still upset with Marcos, but I was too professional to let my personal life interfere with my work. I put on a smile and go up to her.

ELISA FRANCO

I finally manage to arrive. As soon as I enter the studio, a very beautiful woman comes to greet me.

"Hello! My name is Sophie. I'm the photographer who will take your photos."

Sophie is about 15 centimeters shorter than me, which is still considered tall in the Brazilian average. I believe she is about 1.70 meters tall. Her body is delicate and full of curves, her eyes, honey-colored, and her hair black, but I can't observe the length as they are tied up in a bun. Her lips are full and pink, I can't help but stare.

"Hello Sophie." I take too long savoring her name in my mouth. "It's a pleasure to meet you. My name is Elisa Franco." I approach and kiss her cheek. I know I take too long for a simple greeting, but Sophie is very attractive and her hair smells so good. It makes me imagine her showering and the water running down her body while...

"You're late, Miss Elisa." Her raspy voice of reprimand only makes me more interested. Even though she visibly seemed uncomfortable with my gazes, I loved hearing my name on her lips. I definitely had to have that woman in my bed and make her climax until her eyes were clouded with pleasure. Unlike now, where despite her smile, I could sense sadness in her eyes, which strangely made me want to comfort her.

"Don't get distracted next time." She simply ended my flirtation. How mean! Just as I was having fun. "Flavia will take you to the makeup artist."

The brunette returns to her tough pose. Then, she goes to the other side of the room to guide her assistants. I could leave because of her arrogance. Nobody has ever treated me like this, but I felt that beneath that tough exterior, there was an incredible woman.

"Don't worry about her. She's not always like this." The girl next to me speaks. "My name is Flavia, and I love your outfit." She smiles. Her comment makes me like her immediately.

"I don't think Sophie is mean." I say with a smile. "She just needs a good night of sex." Flavia chokes beside me and I laugh.

"I always say that, but don't tell Sophie what I said, because I will deny it until death." I sit in front of the mirror, laughing at Flavia's desperation.

"Don't worry, this secret is between us." Flavia smiles conspiratorially.

The makeup artist quickly comes to do my makeup. Then I change clothes and Flavia helps me. I take the opportunity to gather more information about Sophie. I find out that she is the owner of the studio, which I already expected, as an employee wouldn't be so cold with me. Flavia tells me that Sophie hates delays. I can relate to that. The brunette also participates in various sports, which surely contributes to her perfectly toned body. After a few minutes, I am ready. I go to my place in front of the white screen and Sophie comes towards me with her camera in hand.

"Very well! Let's begin. Elisa, I want to see your natural smile," she says. My smile comes easily. Maybe the brunette in front of me has something to do with it. "Put your hair to the side and look serious," Sophie is so bossy. I do what she tells me and wonder if she is also authoritative in bed. That thought makes me bite my lower lip. "That's it, keep that expression," it was easy, I look at Sophie's full lips and my seductive look comes naturally. "Okay, looks great. Just like that. Now give me a fierce pose," the brunette approaches and we are less than half a meter apart.

She lifts her hand and adjusts my hair, which immediately warms me up. I feel an incredible connection with that woman. It scares me at first, but then it becomes the best thing I have ever felt. Those honey-colored eyes stare at me. It is in that moment that I realize she also feels that tension between us.

"We'll take a break!" Sophie says, startling me. As if I have come out of a trance, my hands are sweaty and my heart is racing. I am definitely aroused.

SOPHIE LOPES

I walk to my desk and start fiddling with the camera without really focusing on what I am doing. My hands are trembling. When Elisa Franco entered my studio, I was too upset to notice anything around me. Just one look at her green eyes through the lens made me realize that she was not just very beautiful, but also incredibly seductive. I don't know what was happening to me, her closeness made me nervous.

"Are you okay?" Flavia asks, bringing me back to reality.

"I'm okay, Flavia, I'm sorry if I was rude earlier. Today hasn't been a good day!" My friend looks at me worriedly, and I knew I would have to tell her about Marcos.

"Is this about Marcos? Because I know he came back from his trip and you are here instead of being with him like you always do." Am I that transparent?

"I'm not always with him, Flavia." I was just trying to be a good girlfriend. I remember what he did to me and how stupid I feel now.

"Yes, you're always with him, but that's not what I asked." At that moment, Elisa returns to the room with a different outfit and makeup. I try not to stare at her, but my eyes don't obey me. "We'll talk later, okay? Let's get to work." I go towards the blonde and silently thank her for giving me an excuse to not talk about what happened with Marcos.

It was super easy to get incredible photos of Elisa. She has a relationship with the camera. Her smile is effortless, and even when we're not taking photos, I observed her behavior with the people in the studio. Everyone was infatuated with her, they would surely do anything the model asked. Except me, of course. Although it's irresistible to follow her commands and think about her whispering in my ear as her hand moves down... Sophie, control yourself. What are these thoughts?

"The shoot was perfect, Sophie. You are undoubtedly the best photographer I've ever worked with," Elisa says excitedly.

"Thank you, Elisa, you were great," the blonde looks at me surprised. I don't blame her. I haven't been the nicest person in the past few hours.

"Thank you, your studio is beautiful. Have you lived in Rio for a long time?" she asks.

"I've lived here forever," I reply curtly.

"My mom has been living here for two years. This is the first time I come here. I didn't have much time to explore the tourist spots or places where I can have fun. "I know I should offer to show her around now, but she makes me nervous, and all I want is for her to leave soon. So I can regain control over my thoughts.

"You should ask someone from the studio to accompany you. I'm sure they would love to be your tour guide. "I suggest.

"And what about you?" Is she flirting with me? I feel a bit uncomfortable, but I have to admit that I like it.

"Me, what?" I ask, all wrong.

"Don't you want to be my tour guide?" The blonde is direct.

"I'm sorry, but I'm swamped with work.

"It doesn't have to be today. I'll be staying here for a while. "She says suggestively.

"You know what, I... "Flavia calls Elisa. Thank God! I'm saved! The blonde leaves me alone, and I can breathe easily. I start going through some papers on the table and try to focus on something other than the model's presence in the room.

ELISA FRANCO

Sophie is a difficult woman to access. I used my flirting skills, but she didn't seem to care, which made me even more curious.

At the end of the shoot, everyone wanted my contact information, invited me out, and offered to show me around the city. The only person I wanted all that attention from was now at her desk, working on her computer. Her resistance made me more interested. I wouldn't give up so easily. I approached Sophie before leaving. I wouldn't let her cold demeanor shake me.

"Sophie?" She looks at me. "The crew invited me to go to the beach this afternoon. Are you coming?" Her seriousness scared me, but I wouldn't give up. Something told me that this woman was worth it.

"I'm not going, I have a lot to do. I hope you enjoy the outing. When the photos are ready, I'll send them to the Magazine.

"Alright. I'm already heading out. It was a pleasure meeting you. "I give her a kiss on the cheek. She seemed slightly surprised. I thought I heard her say something, but I couldn't understand. I believe I made her nervous. I walk towards the door and notice her gaze on my body. I smile triumphantly. Even though Sophie doesn't admit it, her gaze gave her away.

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