Early in the morning, at around 6:35AM Malaika's phone rings. She ignores it but not because she wants to rather she's in a deep sleep. It disconnects. It rings again for the second time but still it disconnects again. It goes for the third time. 'Uuurgh who TF is this? She groans with a sleepy voice. She rolls over and garbs it from the side table beside her bed. Squinting her eyes due to the brightness, she's shocked to find it's an unknown number. She frowns her eyebrows throwing her hand on the bed. It seems like she has the thought of not answering it. She takes the phone up and stares at it ringing and puts it back. Taking in a deep breathe, she swipes it up to answer and let's the other person talk hoping to pick up the person's identity through their voice.
'I'm utterly sorry for ruining your sweet sleep,' the voice begins. 'It's me Theo.'
Once Theo introduces himself, the wrinkles on Malaika's face disappeared. 'Ooh Theo what's up this early morning?"
'I just called to remind you that we have a meeting with Jax at exactly 8 O'clock. After that we have a photo-shoot scene, so make sure to carry something official, elegant. Something that screams we have the deal. If you can't wrap around what I am saying, remember the conversation with Jax from yesterday.Later we have to work on your social's and give the good news to your fans,' he highlighted
'A meeting with Jax?' she seemed surprised.
' The brief and the preparations of the Do's and Don't's during the Summit Week in Thailand. Similarly there are documents that you should sign,' he explained. 'Okay,' she agreed dismissively.
'I am picking you up in 35, get ready,' he said and disconnected. Reluctantly she dragged herself out of the bed and stepped into the shower. Once she was done, she jumped into her blue wide legged trousers, a white tube to and some sneakers. Just like any other girl she added a touch of mascara and a shiny gloss.
She had just sat on the edge of the untidy bed when the door bell rang. She approached the door and pulled it open. Theo raised his eyebrows once he set eyes on her 'This… This is not giving a conversation with Jack,' he commented. 'I know,' she said walking to the couch as he followed. 'That's why I was waiting for you, to help me pick out an outfit,' she explained.
Looking at his wristwatch ' This is a quarter past seven,' he began. 'If we start picking outfits, we will be done a quarter to eight. That means we'd be caught up in the morning traffic. Which meeeeeans Late for the meeting with Jax,' he gave a detailed turn out of events. Holding his hand he pulled her to her bedroom 'We'd rather be late but have a satiating outfit for Jax.'
For the next twenty five minutes they were selecting dresses and analyzing them with their eyes.' This is not effortlessly chic, this lack's passion. This is too plain. This is it but Jax insatiate.' Those are some of the commentary's they made on most of her dresses. They kept going till the found "The one" and left Malaika's apartment.
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When they arrived at the office, he pushed the door open with his hip. He stood and let Malaika who was carrying one of those black high end garment bags pass through. He on the other hand, carried his tablet and four coffee cups in their small carrier. 'We're doomed it's 8;45,' he confirmed glancing at his watch. The entry corridor was busy. Full of workers rushing to different floors of the building. Others going in others coming out.
As they struggled to reach the elevator before it went up, Theo walked into one of the many people. 'Sorry, Sorry,' he apologized but kept walking. After everyone stepped out, they walked into the lift the first people. While in there, Theo kept glancing at his watch after what seemed like a microsecond. Whenever anyone arrived their floor, he'd grow impatient. If possible he'd step out and walk to his floor. Too bad they were going to the fifth floor.
The door to the office was open, they walked in. At the reception, a woman stood browsing through some papers. On her desk was a tag 'SECRETARY."
'Good Morning,' they greeted her. 'Hello,' she said.
'Is Jax here?' Theo inquired placing one of the coffee cups at the secretary's desk.
She didn't bother to lift her head to see who it was. 'He's waiting for you in the board room,' putting the papers she held back on the desk and picking a different set. They hurried to the board room once they were outside the room, through the glass walls, they saw Jax at the far end the office enjoying the view of the City. Malaika opened the door for Theo. The room centers around a large polished hardwood table featuring six high quality executive chairs. At each station was a book and a pen.At the front wall was a 40-inch screen waiting for important projects to be projected on. The air inside was a mixture of Jax's faint expensive cologne and the dump air of not being used often.
Once he laid his eyes on them he began to approach them. His hands as usual, they were pocketed.
'Thank you for waiting for us,' she apologized as Theo placed three coffee cups at three chair stations.
'Sit,' Jax whispered.
Once they had settled 'Theo did you inform Malaika she has a shoot after this? Jax asked. He nodded to agree with him. 'Then what's with this potential liability she has on?" pointing at the clothes she was wearing. 'No,' she began. I … I … Ummh...' pointing at the black garment bag she had hanged behind the door. 'I brought something.'
'It better sell,' he said. Turning to Theo 'You mind taking as through?'
He stood and moved towards the screen picking up the remote ' As you are aware, The Imperial is one of the largest BL film making companies in Thai…."
"Theo.' Jax cut him short. 'That's basic information. Give me something I can work with,' he said leaning back against the chair. 'The Summit Week,' he clarified.
'Ok,' he said pressing the remote. 'It's in days time , and on the first day… … ' He gave them an outline of the events that would take place from the first to the last day. After the Gala Dinner, Jax will proceed back here in three weeks and we will be left there for six to twelve thirteen months as the filming will start on the third month.'
;'Gala Dinner? One year in a foreign land? Different language, different traditions, different foods, different everything.' She said.
'You have a problem?' Jax whispered. 'I repeat , you're making a movie,' he interjected '… you're the executive consultant. For the success of this project, everything has to be different.' He moved her. Without them, there;s no sour love the series, without you, THE IMPERIAL still exists. A hit. They have nothing to loose.
He left her no choice. It's either she was in or somewhere deeper than that
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Inside Jax's apartmental office was a small room, small enough to be a store room. Roughly it accommodated two people at most. The bricked wall was covered with a white wallpaper that has The Imperial Logo. Inches from the wall was A directors chair with a book. Not just any book, but a thick bound screenplay. The title of her novel is visible on the front, but below it, in bold black ink, are the words: FINAL SHOOTING SCRIPT. Across the chair was the camera stand and besides it a computer on some sort of picnic table.
The door groaned open revealing a spark. With a deliberate slow-motion she enters the room. The transition is jarring; from "The potential Liability" attire to a whine red plunge top revealing her cleavage with a touch of ribbons on both shoulders. A slim doubled chain with a heart ran through the cleavage. She wore white high-waisted shorts that covered half of her thighs with white western belts. The shoes were white sneakers and on her head was a red floppy hat. On her hand she held a white rose flower. The outfit was sharp enough for the red carpet but effortless enough for the "cool author" brand.
'This room is too squeezed for the shooting crew,' she commented walking to the chair as Theo followed. 'Awww,' she squealed picking up the screenplay ' I can't believe this is about to happen.' 'You better had,' he whispered as he adjusted the camera and lightings. 'Are you ready for the shoot?' he asked. Malaika stopped mid perusal of the screenplay 'The crew is here already?; she asked taking a seat.
'Ok, hold the ros----,'
'Hold up, Hold up,' she cut Theo short. ' … what are you doing?'
'Doing what I love the most.'
With a wide smile, her mouth wide open surprise written all over her face. 'Wait what! Two in one?'. He flashes a bright smile, nodding his head. 'Daamn! I have to admit. I'm impressed. You're a full package.' She acknowledged his capabilities as she adjusted her pose.
'Move to the front, almost at the edge of the chair,' he whispered his commands as he looked through the lenses. She also tried to oblige to them. 'Raise the flower almost up to your nose but not their certainly and try to look at it,' he kept commanding. 'Like this?' she'd ask whenever she felt like she had achieved the pose. 'A bit closer,' he'd instruct further. She'd adjust again. 'There,' he'd say once they achieved the pose.
Click. Snap Whirr. 'That chin.' She slightly lifted it. CLICK-CLICK-CLICK
'Stunning. Now let's do one with the screenplay." Instead of a static pose he captured her in motion. Mid-laugh looking at the script as if she had read a text from her ex begging her to take her back.' Another click-click-click. 'Now you can do whatever you want around that chair, sit down, stand on top or behind. Just give me anything.'
She sat down pulling her left leg almost up to her breasts and stretched her hand over it. The script hanging. She then took the Rose and bite it's stem. 'Woow!' This should be featured on the Fashion magazine,' he said and snapped thrice. 'Another pose,' he said. Malaika collected herself from the floor and stood on the chair, looking away from the camera. The script hanging on her right hand. 'There, you're an idol,' he complemented. They went on and on and on till they were all done.
'That was quite something,' she said pulling the chair approaching Theo who was not seated before the PC. '…. I never thought I'll be able to do this.'
'It's worthwhile experience,' he said his entire mind and every cell of his body focused on the screen before him. 'It's time to pick the best photo's and edit them,' he clarified. 'Ooh!" she gasped pulling her chair closer to him. He scrolled through out the photo's. 'All of them look great,'she said once he'd scrolled through all of them. 'I can't agree less but then we have to select the best out of the best,' he said scrolling back to the top. Analyzing them keenly and deeply as they conversed they finally picked out the best five.