Isabella's studio wasn't far from the hotel. It was a spacious, bright loft apartment that had been temporarily converted.
The studio was buzzing with the artsy vibe typical of a high-end fashion magazine setup. Racks were filled with various outfits, the makeup station was stacked with cosmetics, and several assistants were tidying up things efficiently.
"Make yourselves at home, guys."
Isabella motioned casually, then walked straight over to a clothes rack and started picking out items.
Link stood stiffly in the center of the room. Andrew, meanwhile, was curiously looking around, still wearing that knowing, slightly suggestive smirk.
"Um… Isabella, thank you."
Link looked at her back and offered a sincere thanks. "To be honest, I'm really not good at any of this stuff."
Isabella didn't turn around, but her voice carried a hint of a smile.
"I can tell, Mr. Prophet. But it's no big deal…"
She pulled out a dark blue, single-breasted suit jacket and turned back to Link. "It's just a favor, really."
Isabella's eyes quickly scanned his frame. "You have great shoulders and nice proportions. You just need the right styling."
As she spoke, she grabbed a light gray dress shirt and a pair of dark, tailored trousers, handing them to Link.
"Go try this on. The changing room is over there."
Link took the clothes and thanked her again.
A few minutes later, when Link stepped out of the changing room, the entire studio seemed to go silent for a moment.
The perfectly tailored dark blue suit highlighted his broad shoulders and straight posture. The light gray shirt was unbuttoned at the neck, making him look less formal and more effortlessly elegant. The muscle tone from his intense training looked perfectly proportioned under the well-cut fabric.
Gone was the aggressive flash of the court, replaced by a cool, composed, and confident handsomeness.
Link adjusted his cuff a little self-consciously, but the movement only added to his natural charm.
"Wow!" Andrew was the first to shout, circling Link excitedly and clapping his hands.
"This is amazing! Link , you look like a model straight off the cover of GQ! This vibe is absolutely right!"
Isabella didn't speak. She stood still, her gaze fixed on Link, a flicker of light in her eyes. The stark contrast as Link instantly switched from athlete to elegant gentleman surprised even her. The unique combination of youthful confidence and mature styling was undeniably appealing.
Isabella's eyes lingered for a few extra seconds.
Realizing she might be staring, she quickly composed herself and, returning to her usual professional demeanor, gave a slight nod.
"Good," Isabella's voice was softer than usual.
She walked up to Link and naturally reached out to adjust his collar slightly.
"I knew my instincts were right. This outfit really suits you, Mr. Prophet."
"Now, you can confidently go and show those kids what 'dream come true' really looks like."
She stepped back, scanning Link one last time, her expression completely satisfied.
Link looked down at his refreshed appearance. He truly felt more sharp and confident.
He spoke again, this time with genuine warmth. "Seriously, thank you so much, Isabella. This outfit… it feels great. When the shoot is over, how should I get it back to you?"
Isabella waved her hand dismissively. "Don't bother, Mr. Prophet. Consider it… a gift to celebrate your first endorsement deal."
Her eyes sparkled with a hint of mischief. "Call it a small investment in my future big star?"
The gift was obviously expensive, and Link immediately tried to decline. "That's too much, I can't…"
"It's just a suit," Isabella interrupted, her tone firm.
"It's nothing. Keep it. It's better that it gets used than hangs on a rack collecting dust."
Link was momentarily speechless.
He looked at Isabella, and a thought suddenly popped into his head: What if I invited her to the Christmas Day game?
Link opened his mouth, and the invitation—"Would you like to come to LA for the Christmas Day game?"—was practically on his tongue.
But at the last second, he hesitated. Would it be too sudden to ask her out like that? What if she said no? That would be super awkward.
Isabella noticed his brief pause and tilted her head, her eyes questioning.
"Hm? Any other questions, Mr. Prophet?"
"…No, nothing," Link finally swallowed the question, managing a slightly uncomfortable smile.
"Thanks again, Isabella. Well… we won't keep you from your work."
Andrew, not getting the full scoop but sensing the shift in mood, quickly chimed in.
"Yep, yep, time to go! We need to get to the magazine office! Miss Rodriguez, thanks again for everything!"
Isabella smiled softly and winked. "Well, then… have a great shoot, and see you next time!"
On the way from Isabella's studio to the Rainbow Island magazine office, Andrew could no longer contain his burning gossip curiosity.
"Link ! Spill it!" He elbowed a still slightly uneasy Link, giving him a knowing look.
"What exactly is going on between you and Isabella? You two looked like way more than just casual acquaintances! Come on, how did you meet? What happened in New York?"
Link felt his ears flush and tried to give a vague answer.
"We just… met by chance when we were in New York for the game last time."
"By chance?" Andrew stretched out the word, giving him a 'who are you kidding?' look.
"Met by chance, and she gives you a suit this expensive? And personally adjusts your collar? She looks at you differently! I saw everything!"
Link became even more flustered by the interrogation and tried to be firm. "Andrew, focus on the job. We have business to take care of right now!"
"Fine, fine…" Andrew raised his hands in surrender, but his smile remained suggestive.
Once they arrived at the Rainbow Island office, the photoshoot went incredibly smoothly. Guided by the professional photographer, Link interacted warmly with the children brought in for the shoot.
He patiently answered their innocent and imaginative questions, sharing his story about chasing his basketball dream.
When, as requested, he effortlessly supported a little boy sitting on a basketball in one hand, flashing a warm, sunny smile at the camera, the photographer couldn't help but gasp in admiration.
"That's fantastic! Mr. Link, you're a natural! The feeling is perfect!" the photographer praised while rapidly snapping photos.
The entire shoot finished in a light, cheerful atmosphere. The magazine editors and staff raved about Link's performance, saying he perfectly conveyed the image of a positive, healthy role model who encouraged others to pursue their dreams.
The next morning, Link met the team in the hotel lobby, preparing to head to the airport for the flight back to Los Angeles.
While waiting for the team bus, Andrew's phone vibrated. He casually pulled it out to glance at it, then suddenly stopped dead.
"Wait… Link !" Andrew grabbed Link's arm, shoving the phone screen right in front of his face.
"Look! The editor-in-chief of Rainbow Island just messaged me!"
Link looked at the screen curiously. The message was long, but the gist was:
A friend of the editor's, a film producer, was putting together a sports movie with a basketball element. They were looking for an Asian player for a supporting role and had been having trouble casting it.
The editor thought Link's demeanor and look during the shoot were a perfect fit and had proactively recommended him. The producers were very interested in Link's status as a real-life NBA player and wanted to know if he was interested, hoping to schedule a simple meeting or audition during the off-season.
"A movie?! Link , it's a movie!" Andrew whispered, his hand shaking with excitement.
"This is an amazing chance to cross over! It would massively boost your public profile and market value!"
Link was surprised too; the film world felt so far from his familiar basketball court. He quickly thought it over.
His priority in the off-season would definitely be training, but if the opportunity was right and didn't take up too much time…
"Andrew," Link made a quick decision, patting his shoulder.
"You take full control of this. Contact them and get all the details: the specific time commitment, the role, the shooting schedule, and all the fine print. Evaluate whether it's worth the time investment. I trust your judgment!"
Andrew nodded vigorously. "Got it! Leave it to me. I'll handle everything!"
Just then, the call to board the bus came.
Link nodded and headed for the bus.
They arrived at the airport soon after.
Before the plane took off, Link looked out the window at the receding landscape of New Jersey. He paused for a moment and typed out a short text message.
"Isabella, thanks again for the suit. I've boarded the flight back to LA. Looking forward to running into you again!"
read my story : belamy20
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