Page 60 of Blue Gold

“So, any tips for aspiring models?” she asked as I put down my coffee and stuck the new smoke between my lips.

“A cigarette for breakfast,” I half choked while lighting it up, then took a quick puff. “Maybe do not write it down, oui? Make me bad influence.”

She laughed. “Not at all. If anything, it’s quite funny.” She flipped to a new page in her notebook. “So let’s cut to the chase. Tomorrow, New York Fashion Week starts, and you’re going to walk in twenty shows.”

“Twenty-two,” I corrected her, because Robert, my agent, closed two more shows last week.

“Twenty-two shows, and you’re only twenty-one. That’s unbelievable, Elliot. Truly. Are you excited?”

“Of course.”

“Is there any show you’re looking forward to in particular?”

I shook my head. “Non.”

“And what about New York? Do you have plans to explore our city?”

“Euh, non. No time.” I forced a smile because, honestly, I hated this stupid place. “Tu vois, I be very busy.”

“That makes sense,” she said just as Robert, my agent for the past year, pointed at his watch from across the room before signaling with his hand to hurry up.

“Since it looks like we need to wrap this up, I’ll be quick.” She looked down at her notebook. “So, a question from your female fans, who I’m sure are all dying to know… how is your private life?”

I frowned at her, because what did she mean?

“Quoi?”

She chuckled. “Do you have a girlfriend?”

I paused with my cigarette close to my lips, thinking about a proper answer, but only one came to mind.

“Non. I don’t do relationship.”

19

ELLIOT

After the interview was over, we went back to finish the shoot, which turned out great. The photographer took some really good photos that I knew would make a beautiful cover.

Now, squished with Robert in the back of one of those yellow taxis that drove around the city like angry little ducks, we were on our way to where my first show would take place tomorrow. As always, Robert’s lips were moving, and I think words came out, too, only I didn’t really listen and instead gazed out the window. All those high buildings hid away the sky while creating such horrible shadows. It wasn’t that I hated big cities. Europe was full of them, only there, the architecture touched your soul. The structures in Paris weren’t just buildings but a form of art, while here, it looked like someone was trying to compensate for something. It made me miss France, so I closed my eyes and imagined I was back there.

Floating on my back with my arms spread to the sides, I allowed the water to carry me gently. I gazed up at the trees and the sky that peeked through their branches. The sun’s rays broke through the leaves, creating spotlights that felt almost magical. As I slowed my breathing and closed my eyes, the only sounds I heard were the crickets and frogs lurking in the reeds. Warmth slowly spread through me, starting from the place where the sun touched my skin and slowly moving to the parts underwater. It was the perfect moment, one in which everything felt in place, so much so that I almost fell asleep until I was yanked out of it with a big splash of water.

I swore at Jacques under my breath, wiping the water off my face, while he seemed rather pleased with himself as he began swimming circles around me.

“When will you grow up?” I scolded him, but he only seemed happier. “Never,” he announced confidently, as if the world was in the palm of his hand, his to do with as he pleased.

He then swam closer to me, stopping so close I could spot the little shreds of gold he had in his emerald eyes.

“You know why?” he asked, and I shook my head.

“No.”

A smile spread on his full lips before he pushed my hair away from my face and leaped closer, like he was ready to share a well-kept secret with me.

“Because I’m going to stay young forever.” He leaned in until his lips brushed my ear. “And so are you, mon chaton.”

As the taxi came to a stop, so did my daydreaming, and without saying a word, I got out and waited for Robert to do the same. He was still talking, only now, he was on his phone. I followed him quietly inside the building, greeted the people he told me to greet, and smiled at others until we reached a dressing room where strangers asked me to undress. Then they took pictures of me from every angle and measured whatever parts of me they could. About two hours later, we were done there, and Robert took me back to my hotel.