"Wait. I thought your sister was studying to become a lawyer."
Jordi pulled his left hand, which was tightly clasped. Estel, who had been dragging him behind her, came to an abrupt halt. She turned back to Jordi and directed a dangerous glance towards him. Soon, Estel's arm was in Jordi's arm, as she led him through the basement of the mansion. Their pace was far slower now as Estel took time to set the scene.
"That is what she went to London to study. There, she switched to fashion design and got into Central Saint Martins. Apparently, that's the best fashion institute in the world. Anyway, she graduated last year, interned at Dior and Tom Ford, and here she is!"
Conveniently, they reached their destination just as Estel finished. Jordi, however, stopped her at the large oak door. There was still much to unpack in this situation. Mainly, what was he doing here?
"So, what is the surprise?"
"The surprise? Oh yes, the surprise. Claudia is applying to Loewe, and she needs to add some independent pieces to her portfolio."
"First of all, what is Loewe? Second, what am I doing here?"
Before Estel could respond, the door flung open, and Claudia leaned out. Her face carried a look of disbelief. She seemed offended for some reason.
"How do you not know what Loewe is? It is the biggest Spanish fashion house ever, Jordi. They compete with all the European big shots in terms of prestige." Claudia disappeared from the door frame after her short rant. Jordi turned a questioning face to Estel, who reassured him. It was perfectly alright for him not to know what Loewe was. In fact, she would be surprised if he did.
Just as Jordi was about to ask Estel the second question again, Claudia popped back into view, "You asked what you will be doing here. Of course, you and Estel will be modelling for me. My sister's beauty, your magnetism, and the chemistry between you two. I would be blaspheming if I did not use you."
Just like that, she disappeared again. Estel followed her inside, her smile not containing a hint of guilt, only triumph. Poor Jordi was rooted in place. What the hell? He was not a model…
…
Rita, an aspiring make-up artist and Claudia's best friend, thoroughly tested Jordi's patience. Only after what felt like hours did she release him from the chair. Worse, he looked no different from before. Somethings called foundation and concealer had been rigorously applied to his face, but he saw no difference. And the hours on his hair? It was still tousled and wavy, just at a different angle. Exasperated, Jordi sat down to compose himself while Estel got ready. To no one's surprise, she hated the entire experience even more than Jordi did.
…
The malnourished and heavily bearded photographer, Joseph, turned out to be Rita's husband. Jordi was equally on guard against him, eyeing the camera as if it were a weapon in Joseph's hands. Fortunately, he was soon sent away to change into the first piece of clothing. As he wore the clothes, he did not stop to think about how they fit him perfectly. Even if he had asked, Estel would never have revealed that Layla Lloret was long-ago involved in this mission.
The studio suspended into silence when Jordi stepped inside. He wore black utility pants, a white sleeveless sweater, and a brown leather long coat. The sharp and handsome features, the solitary azure eyes, the windswept hair, together with the understated colors and angled cuts of his outfit; no one in the crowd had expected this. Never had they laid eyes on a more handsome sight before. Nor had they ever felt a presence as deep and arcane.
"I-I, Ehm… Let's get you standing on the spot, Jordi," Joseph was the first to recover. He guided Jordi to the marked spot before rushing back to adjust the lighting.
Jordi found Joseph's frantic movements and the disquiet in the room quite off-putting. Yet, the gleam in Claudia's eyes and the adoration in Estel's did reassure him. Let's see how this modelling thing goes.
The shoot continued into the evening. The crew worked in deep silence, whether it was Rita setting hair or Claudia adjusting the clothes. Only Joseph would shout his instructions out loud. Every piece worn by Jordi deeply affected the team. Estel, in her warm presence and effortless beauty, had no less of an impact. Jordi, especially, was smitten.
…
"How was the shoot, Jordi?" Alicia, Estel and Claudia's mother, entered the library.
After the shoot, to forget the slightly traumatic experience, Jordi had rushed over to Alicia's library. The magical room covered two stories and was covered with wooden shelves and carpeted floors. The books in here could rival Señor Garcia's personal collection. Jordi regularly frequented the place because Alicia's collection was rare and one of a kind, especially in English Literature. It was here that he first discovered Jane Austen and the Brontë Sisters.
"It is over now. That is the best I can say."
Alicia's laugh resounded across the shelved walls of the library. Alicia and Jordi, both devourers of books and consumers of art, were quite close. Not that she had ever mentioned it, but Alicia had long considered Jordi her son. Speaking of, she could only sigh as she looked over to Estel, sprawled on the floor and snoring in the most unwomanly of manners.
"What are you reading?"
"Agatha Christie."
"Oh, she is lovely. I've told you many times, you can take the books with you."
"No, Ma'am. I have a habit of marginalia, especially when I am watching football. Now, I only carry books I buy from Señor Garcia."
"Oh, Jordi. You are still too formal with us. Did I tell you I got a rare recording of Bach on vinyl? Would you like to listen?"
"Yes, Ma'am!"
Jordi left Estel's only after completely listening to Bach's Trauerode. Tomorrow, he returns to La Masia and continues his season.