Supermodel Forever. Anna Bondareva
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Название: Supermodel Forever
Автор: Anna Bondareva
Издательство: Издательские решения
Жанр: Биографии и Мемуары
isbn: 9785449860590
isbn:
“There are people to whom you cannot refuse anything, you follow me? If you want to stay afloat and stay in Paris, be ready to give in. And then, time heals!” she said.
Time, time … This word came out of Vera’s lips endlessly. It seemed that she escaped with each new sip of alcohol and puff of tobacco.
“Remember, darling, it is Frank who decides everything. He directs Marilyn herself; she is his courier, understood? Marilyn’s sister does the accounting. Befriend her, smile!” Vera said.
Vera’s imposing tone, as before, did not clarify the entire puzzle. I did not ask who Frank was and what he was doing, but I remembered his name and decided to put off any disturbing thoughts until the next morning. I woke up often during the night, and in the morning, I found Vera asleep in the armchair near the coffee table with an ashtray filled with butts. I decided not to wake her and went for breakfast in the lobby of the hotel.
Taking my morning cup of aromatic coffee, I remembered a Harold Robbins’ novel about a modeling agency in Manhattan, which I had read during the summer holidays while I was still in school: in the midst of a multi-stage detective story, passionate love affairs rapidly unfolded around the girls from the agency. All the women were looking for a pure and great love, and would do anything for their boyfriends. I wondered: Who did Vera like?
Was there a soul mate in her life, or did everyone see her beauty and take advantage of it?
I decided it was probably the second. But despite that, her soul was alive and beautiful. The twenty-five-year-old woman accepted the situation as the natural course of events, with frank resignation and without regret. Looking closer at Vera, I saw a child in her, the little girl that she once was. Vera, vulnerable but firm, would find her way.
Chapter 8. Frank and Marilyn
The main office of Sonia Rykiel was located on Boulevard Saint-Germain. I worked regularly with the designer, and there was a planned fitting. Sonia loved her models, and during lunch, she would often come to join the same table as the girls in the famous Café de Flore, opposite the studio.
“Anna, you have a call,” said the maitre d’.
I was very surprised when the maitre d’ called me by my first name, I did not know who, with the exception of the people from the agency, could know where I had my lunch break. On the phone, I heard the voice of Marilyn, the director.
“Honey, have you not finished yet? We want to invite you for dessert at the restaurant across the street. Come to Brasserie Lipp, please, I’ve already settled everything, and you’re free today.” said Marilyn.
I was completely dependent on the agency, as they were preparing my work permit and my visa and my papers were about to expire. It was clear that I had no choice.
“Darling, this is our beloved Frank,” Marilyn said, with her beautiful round body, an eagle profile, and impressive brown mane. After slipping into her chair, she carefully studied the menu. An energetic man of a certain age endowed with a diabolical charm who was, in my mind, very similar to Woland from Bulgakov’s novel The Master and Margarita. As for his height, he was neither short nor tall, but just tall enough. Franck seemed to be in his late forties, his mouth slightly twisted, with brown hair and black eyebrows, one higher than the other.
“And now, Marilyn, tell us what needs to be done quickly and effectively for Anna’s career to take a new turn. Do you think we should change the color of her hair? How are her breasts? The teeth are good. I think you already know what’s best, don’t you?“asked the man.
Marilyn only lowered her eyes and smiled, answering softly and coquettishly, “Yes, of course, as you say, I completely agree with you.”
The next day, a black car with tinted windows stopped at the entrance of my building. The driver’s window opened slightly, and there appeared a male hand with an envelope.
“Miss, it’s for you, from Mr. Franck,” said the driver.
I did not want to open the envelope, but the driver gave me no time to think. Without having my answer, he stepped on the gas and disappeared. The envelope contained large notes, about two thousand francs. Upon returning to my room, I put the money in my personal model’s photographic dossier, a model’s book, and decided to return the envelope to the agency as soon as possible. All of a sudden, the landline rang; it was Mr. Franck.
“Anna! I’m right here, just in front of the entrance. Please, I really need to talk to you,” he said.
“That’s good,” I thought to myself. “Everything will happen without any witnesses, all the better.”
Through the kitchen window of my apartment, from the height of the second floor, I saw Frank downstairs, next to the phone booth. Seeing me, he shouted, “Anna! I am taking you with me to America, and you will surely become a celebrity. Come down, we’ll have dinner, and then we’ll go shopping!”
At that moment, I decided to get rid of this envelope with money, and I threw it through the open window into Mr. Frank’s face. He picked it up and said, “I am giving you until tomorrow to decide. This would be a second chance… my flight departure is late at night, I’ll call you!”
Chapter 9. Unexpected Solution
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