"Sophie, what time will you arrive?" My mother spoke from the other end of the phone line.
"I don't know, Mom. I'm at the airport, and my flight is delayed." I looked at the help desk, where several people were gathered seeking more information about the plane's departure. "I promise to let you know as soon as I'm on the plane, Mom."
My mother lived in São Paulo with my stepfather Luiz and my sister Lara. They were eager for my arrival. It had been a while since I last visited them, and I took advantage of the fashion event I was called to work at to spend a week with my family.
"Alright, daughter, we miss you. Kisses, we love you." My father spoke. Surely the cellphone was on speakerphone.
"Goodbye, family. Love you."
I hung up and continued reading the book in my hands. After 2 hours of waiting, I finally boarded. "Finally!" I sent a message to my mother and turned off the phone.
After the beach trip last Sunday, the week passed in the blink of an eye. I worked every day without a break. I sent the photos of Elisa to Bella Cosmetics magazine on Monday, and everyone loved the final result. Sometimes, I found myself thinking about the beautiful blonde with emerald eyes. I kept reliving our last conversation and felt bad for declining her invitation. Why didn't I accept? Going out with someone is very different from falling in love with someone, and that was out of the question. Would she be at the São Paulo fashion show? I felt the desire to see her again.
I looked out the airplane window, and the city of Rio was getting smaller and smaller. I grabbed my notebook and started working. At some point, I opened a folder with several photos of me and Marcos. How did I let him deceive me so much? And worse, I can't believe I actually believed he was the right person.
FLASHBACK ON
I was in my apartment the night before. Flavia and Rick had been here earlier to invite me out, but I declined. I wanted to stay home, and despite their insistence, they accepted my refusal. It hadn't even been 5 minutes, and the doorbell rang. I thought it was Rick trying to convince me again.
"I already told you I don't want to..." I quickly stopped when the person I least wanted to see was in front of me.
"Hey, baby, I decided to come here to pick you up." He must be kidding.
"I'm not going anywhere with you, Marcos." I spoke irritably.
"Are you still mad at me, my love? I already explained to you that it was just an affair. Get ready, come on. Tonight is the dinner at my parents' house." His victim pose only made me more furious.
"I don't know if you understood, we have nothing else to say to each other." I spoke rudely and directly.
"Are you breaking up with me? Is that it?" His voice became agitated, and he approached me. I didn't feel intimidated and looked at him seriously.
"When I told you not to contact me again, that's exactly what I meant. I don't accept betrayal, and if you only want a trophy girlfriend, then go look somewhere else. And yes, I'm breaking up with you, if that's not clear enough. Goodbye, Marcos!" I tried to close the door, but he stopped me.
"Sophie, you're being so dramatic. I understand where you're trying to go. I promise I won't cheat on you anymore. Give me a chance, come on, babe." His tone became seductive, which worked many times, but not now.
"You should have thought about that before. Now, please, let me close the door." Marcos smiled and looked at me maliciously.
"That's why I looked for another woman. You're too cold. No guy can stand living with a woman who doesn't like sex. I needed to satisfy myself, and you didn't understand my needs." He spoke as if I were to blame for everything that was happening. I wouldn't cry in front of that bastard. I took a deep breath and spoke.
The fault isn't mine if in these two years you haven't been able to give me a single orgasm. So if I'm so cold, why are you still here? Do us both a favor and get out of my life. "I slammed the door in his face and let the tears fall. I hated him for everything he said and hated myself for not realizing his true nature sooner.
FLASHBACK OFF
I must have dozed off at some point, as the pilot was already announcing that the plane would be landing in São Paulo in a few minutes. I deleted the photo folder and closed my laptop. It was time to forget what happened with Marcos and focus on work.
ELISA FRANCO
São Paulo was one of the cities I visited the most. Many events were held here, like the one this week. The fashion show wasn't until tomorrow, but the fitting was already happening. The final adjustments were being made to my clothes. I couldn't wait to go to the hotel and rest.
After the launch of my lipstick brand, I did a series of commercials to promote the product and the immediate success of sales was surprising. In response to the sales boom, the Eliza Franco brand was going to launch the next product, which would be a perfume. I kept myself busy for the rest of the week, and then came straight to São Paulo. I was exhausted.
I always had a reputation as a party girl, and it was true. I loved going to parties and dancing, especially dancing. But in the past two years, I didn't mind staying home. I wanted something more for my life. I was tired of not having someone to share everything I had achieved. Coming home after a full day of work without someone waiting for me didn't make sense anymore. But I didn't want just anyone, I wanted someone I loved and who loved me too. Someone I cared about more than anything else in my life. I don't know why, but Sophie's face came to mind. I know she wanted to keep me away, she made it very clear that she didn't want a relationship. Maybe I could make her change her mind. I've never been one to give up on what I want, and this wouldn't be the first time.
When I arrived at the hotel, I took a quick shower and threw myself onto the bed. Tomorrow would be a busy day, and I needed to recharge my energy.
I was late for the meeting that would happen before the fashion show. I almost ran through the entrance door and headed towards our designer's office.
"Sorry, Thomas, I got caught in horrible traffic." He came towards me and kissed my cheek.
"It's okay, my favorite model. You know that without you, my show wouldn't be the same. Let's hurry, your outfit is right over there."
I went to the closet and changed clothes. Everyone was waiting for their turn to walk the runway, and Thomas was talking about how proud he was of us. He gave a flamboyant speech, and we all laughed. The designer was light-hearted and laid-back, he knew how to uplift us.
"Come here, my big star." He pulled me by the hand. "You'll be our first model to go out. Go out there and shine!" I smiled and positioned myself behind the curtains.
An upbeat song started playing. I took a deep breath and confidently walked onto the runway. Many people applauded, and the camera flashes almost blinded me, but I had long known how to handle all the media attention. The photographers hired for the event were further ahead, and as I approached, I posed for them. I thought I saw Sophie behind one of the cameras, but everything happened so quickly. I went back to the closet and put on another look. This time, I would find out if it was really her.
SOPHIE LOPES
Elisa Franco was definitely more beautiful than last week, which was almost impossible to happen. The models walked one by one on the runway, but none caused those sensations in my body except for the blonde who was entering again. This time, she not only struck a pose but smiled in my direction, leaving me breathless. When she disappeared again, I released a breath that I hadn't even realized I was holding. I looked at the photo of Elisa smiling, and my heart raced. How could she do that to me?
The fashion show ended, and the desire to speak to Elisa didn't leave my mind. But in this universe, she was so inaccessible, and to think that she was the same person who challenged me in footvolley and whom I saw all wet from the sea.
SOPHIE LOPES
I took pictures of people in front of the event panel. She would pass by there at some point. I knew this because many people were talking about Elisa around me.
"Did you see how beautiful she is?" Two young people commented.
"My friends are going to go crazy when they find out I have a lipstick from Elisa Franco." A group of girls was ecstatic next to me.
So this was her world? Full of fans and flatterers. I myself wanted to see her very much. Still, I didn't know why, but she had seen me, so it wouldn't be polite to leave without greeting her.
Elisa came to the panel and started answering some questions from the reporters who were there. They seemed like vultures circling around her.
Reporters: Elisa, how long will you stay in Brazil?
Elisa: I'm not sure yet, but you all will be the first to know.
"How do you feel about the success of your lipstick line?" One of the reporters asked.
"I'm very happy, and I hope you all like it as much as I do," Elisa replied enthusiastically.
"Are you single?" That question caught my attention.
"Yes, but that doesn't mean I don't have suitors," Elisa joked, making everyone laugh.
Despite the harassment, she remained friendly and fun.
"Elisa, Elisa!" one of them responded playfully.
"If you all excuse me, I have to go. It was a pleasure talking to everyone. Good night!" Very politely, she withdrew to a VIP area, where I, fortunately, could enter thanks to my employee badge.
Inside, various fashion names were present. I started taking many photos. I couldn't find Elisa; she disappeared too quickly. After countless pictures, I leaned against the bar counter and ordered sparkling water. I looked around trying to find her; there were many people in that place. I spotted the model with her stylist, Thomas Fiori. The two were talking animatedly, so I approached and asked.
"Can I take a picture of you both?" Elisa looked at me and smiled, and Thomas nodded.
I took some pictures and, without realizing it, I looked at the guy's hand, which was very close to Elisa's body. That made my face heat up.
"Of course, Sophie, I'd love to," her response surprised me, and her gaze at the camera almost gave me heart palpitations.
"You were perfect today," I said softly, just for her to hear. I took a few more pictures, and she approached.
"Thank you. I hope you're having fun," her voice was sensual, and my hairs stood on end.
"You're the star of the event, it's you who should be having fun," I said, shifting the focus away from me.
"Actually, it's not fun at all. I know many other things that could be much more enjoyable," the blonde was flirting with me?
"Is that so? And what do you have in mind?" I couldn't believe I was flirting back, but I was curious.
"Let me take you on a date, and you'll find out," she was persistent, I had to admit, but despite being affected by her proximity, this game wouldn't work on me.
"Nice try, Elisa, but that's not going to happen," her gaze became sad, but then she smiled and spoke.
"It doesn't hurt to try. How are Flavia and Henrique? I didn't even have time to say goodbye to them," I was surprised by the change of subject, but this conversational zone was much safer for me.
"They're fine. They spent the rest of the week talking about you. We saw your commercial. Congratulations on the success."
"Thank you, your photos helped me a lot with the advertising. Everyone loved your work, especially me." Your compliment meant a lot to me. Before I could thank her, someone called her. She said goodbye, "It was great seeing you, Soph. Tell the studio crew I said hi." She approached, kissed my cheek, and whispered in my ear, "Have a great night." Then she went to the person who called her, and I stood there without any reaction.
When I arrived at my parents' house, it was already very late. They must already be asleep. I had stopped by earlier, so I had a spare key. I silently went to my room and closed the door.
"How was the event?" I jumped in fright. My sister was on my bed.
"Geez, Lara, you almost scared me to death! What are you doing here at this hour?" She smiled, rolling her eyes, and then lay down.
"I guess sometimes you forget that I'm already 22 years old, Sophie. I snuck out of our parents' house and used your window to get inside." She smiled as if she hadn't done anything wrong.
"You should have come in through the front door, since you're old enough to inform our parents and not sneak out." I teased. "And why didn't you use the window in your room?"
"Oh, Soph, stop being annoying. I was curious to know how it went at the fashion show."
Lara was my younger sister. We had always been close, even after our parents moved here.
"It was great." I involuntarily smiled as I thought of Elisa, how beautiful she looked. Her seductive voice in my ear. How could I resist that blonde?
"Wow, it must have been more than great for you to have that dumb look on your face." She looked at me questioningly.
"What? I don't have a dumb look on my face." I touched my face and it was warm.
"I'm not stupid. I know you've already broken up with Marcos. You haven't said anything about him since you got here, and that's not normal. Who's the guy making you have that look?" Lara was impossible.
"You're right, I'm no longer with Marcos, and if you don't mind, I don't want to talk about it. You're mistaken, there's no man. I'll tell you about the fashion show tomorrow, it's late, let's sleep." I made it clear that the subject was closed.
"You're a terrible liar." My sister was so curious.
"Seriously, there's no man. I don't even want to get involved with anyone right now." I spoke the truth.
"I'll pretend I believe you. Can I sleep here with you?" She asked with those puppy eyes that she knew how to use so well.
"Alright, but you have to take a shower first." Lara kissed me and went towards my bathroom.
I stared at the ceiling again and remembered Elisa's words, "Let me take you on a date and you'll find out." She looked beautiful, and it was no surprise to find her there. Her photos were on all the event flyers. I already knew she was going to walk the runway, but I wasn't prepared for the hurricane the blonde caused in my body.
That night, I dreamed that Elisa took me on a very indecent date. She kissed my neck, and I moaned her name. Her hands were all over my body, and I couldn't stop desiring her.
I woke up sweaty and with a racing heartbeat. What was happening to me? This woman was entering my mind and I couldn't stop her.
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