The Idol's Captive Bride

Too Perfect to be Mine

Chapter 4: Too Perfect to be Mine.

The photographer, hearing the noise of her arrival, comes into the room to welcome her. “Thank you for joining us, Natalia, are you ready to start?” “Of course, darling, just a touch up and I can change.” She arranges herself in the armchair and imperiously signals to her entourage, three of them scuttle over obsequiously and start fussing over her hair, makeup, and elaborately decorated nails. I can't help admiring her, she looks like someone from another planet. Meanwhile, the photographer is inspecting my work on Ji-Ho, and nods in approval. She waves me over. “You'll need to touch him up between changes, gather what you need and follow me.'"

I obediently follow, Ji-Ho trails after me, seeming subdued by the arrival of Natalia. I can sympathise; running into an ex is never easy, having to work with one even harder. I feel a pang of jealousy, and try to ignore it and focus on the job ahead. The photographer tells me they will shoot part of the day indoors on the bed, then change and shoot some scenes in the garden at night, and finally finish up in the infinity pool at sunrise. I nod, and I suddenly notice that both shoots I've worked on have been in the evening. I shrug, thinking this must be the photographer's speciality, and think no more of it.

Ji-Ho is arranging himself on the bed, the photographer and stylist start discussing poses with him, so I find myself a corner to find room for my tools and wait until I am needed. Just as I get settled, Natalia and her team sweep into the room, and I am glad I found my spot early, as they quickly occupy every available space with their tools and products. There's even an assistant holding a small fluffy dog. The photographer looks exasperated, but doesn't say anything, just smiles brightly and directs Natalia to the bed beside Ji-Ho. She's now clad in an extremely small matching bra and pantie set, in bright fluorescent lace. With her spectacular natural red mane, and lithe golden limbs, she is the perfect foil to Ji-Ho's dark beauty.

I watch them begin to pose as the shoot starts up. Ji-Ho moves gracefully from position to position, and I am entranced watching him. Natalia easily matches him for beauty and grace, but there is a sense of danger about her that I do not feel from him. Her sapphire blue eyes gaze at him so passionately, and with such a strange and possessive light, that I cannot help wondering if things are really over between them. As I see her draped over his body on the luxurious bed, his hands caressing her face, it all seems too real to be an act. Pain stabs through my heart as I see his hands grasp her waist, and she straddles him suggestively as they move into another pose. I find myself fighting back tears, and angrily scold myself for being so foolish as to think he would be interested in boring little me.

Just then, the photographer pauses, and beckons me over. “He needs powdering, I can see shine on his face.” She waves over Natalia's team, and three people appear to touch up her makeup. I lean in to Ji-Ho, who has paused in place, with Natalia draped over his thigh. So far, she hasn't even noticed me. I am so far beneath her that I may as well be a chair. I can't help brushing against her as I brush powder on Ji-Ho's face, and she shoves me away impatiently. “Don't touch me!” she berates me, before turning back to her own makeup artist. I stumble, and catch myself on the bed, before returning to finish the job. Ji-Ho is refusing to make eye contact with me, he just lifts his face to get powdered, then returns to his position. I sigh inwardly. It is to be expected, as soon as she is in the room, how could he notice me any more? Whatever was there for me is clearly gone. I return to my corner, and sadly watch him cavort with Natalia on the bed until the photographer claps her hands and announces a wrap for this scene.

I desperately need a coffee, we have two more scenes to shoot, then I can collapse. As I grab a snack and a cuppa at the buffet brought in by the hotel staff, I quietly observe Natalia and her staff. She is clearly a rare beauty and immensely talented, but how she treats them still seems odd. They all behave as if they are terrified of her, and no wonder. I have watched her belittle, threaten and abuse them all day. It is clearly her normal way of behaving, as everyone else ignores it. They don't look comfortable about it, but no-one dares say anything. As I watch, she throws a cup of water over the youngest makeup artist, who bursts into tears and runs out of the room. Natalia sits back, satisfied, and continues bullying the rest of her team, while they avoid eye contact and hurry to fetch things, fix her hair, and re-do her lipstick in a different colour.

The photographer calls Natalia and Ji-Ho outside, to start the second part of the shoot. It's cool outside, the night breeze makes me wrap my cardigan around me, and I look up at the stars, feeling thoroughly miserable. The studio lights are set up, and both models are arranged by the stylist in a carefully decorated part of the garden, resplendent with orchids and rare ferns. Natalia is now wearing lacy, pure white lingerie, and Ji-Ho looks a complete snack in classic white Y fronts. That man doesn't need any stuffing to fill out his C Ks.

I am too busy staring dreamily at him, and have to be called three times before I snap out of my reverie. I have to race over to quickly re-do highlighter on his face, and Natalia is so annoyed she notices me for once. I apologise quietly, but she turns away, tapping a bare foot on the marble tiles impatiently. I look up at Ji-Ho, unable to resist stepping a little too close as I gently smudge highlighter on the perfect cheekbones. I inhale sharply, as Natalia's back is turned I allow myself the luxury of glancing quickly into his eyes as I smooth a dab of gloss over his full bottom lip. He is unable to avoid me, and I hear his breath quicken as our eyes meet. Natalia turns back to him, and I step away, quickly looking down, but it is too late...she has seen the fiery look that passes between us, and she is not happy.

She looks me up and down with a snarl, and the look of absolute hatred on her face makes me tremble a little, then feel angry at myself for being afraid. Ji-Ho, meanwhile, has reverted to his blank look and signals to the photographer that he is ready to start again. I smile to myself as I see Natalia struggle to hide her rage and get back into position. She and Ji-Ho writhe against one another in the soft glow of the lamps, illuminated by each flash of studio lighting, they glow against the dark tropical foliage. The photographer is making satisfied noises, it seems Natalia's barely subdued anger is improving the shoot. Ji-Ho's face is impassive, seeming like a perfectly carved statue in the stark, dramatic lighting. I can't read his face, his eyes are in shadow, but his posture seems tense. Finally, the photographer says she's done, and Natalia stalks angrily away, back into the suite.

Her entourage are gathering their belongings and the small fluffy dog, who has done a wee on the carpet that one of them is still trying desperately to sponge clean. It seems Natalia's part of the shoot is over, and she is leaving. I breathe a sigh of relief, and drift over to get some more coffee from the buffet. Ji-Ho has gone inside too, and sits on the bed wrapped in his robe, carefully not looking at me. As we sit in silence, Natalia sweeps through, followed by her hapless entourage. She glares at me maliciously, lip curled in disgust, then stoops over Ji-Ho, and spits out something in what seems to be another language. He doesn't respond, just sits completely still and waits for her to leave. She huffs angrily, and storms out, slamming the door behind her, making her staff open it again to follow her out.

Ji-Ho finally breathes out, and lets himself fall heavily back onto the bed. After a moment, I drift over with my coffee cup and look down at him. He is staring at the ceiling, looking tired. “You OK?” I ask softly, “That looked rough.” He sighs, then looks at me, golden amber eyes shadowed with pain. “She's always like that. Nothing ever changes with her.” I sit on the bed beside him. “Do you need something to eat?” He looks at me curiously, and almost smiles. “Thank you, but no. I don't eat while working.” He's about to say something, but the photographer comes back and calls us for the final part of the shoot. Ji-Ho has to change into some swimmers and lounge around seductively in the pool. I feel I need to fan myself just thinking about it.

We all walk out to the pool, and after I check his makeup one last time, Ji-Ho slides into the still, dark water. The lighting is set up again, and shooting starts. With Natalia gone, he seems to relax, and unleash the full force of his personality towards the camera...and me, standing just out of the way of the lighting team. Moving smoothly through poses, he flexes muscles I didn't know existed before, smiles roguishly at the photographer, making the most of the adorable dimples. I didn't realise my mouth was hanging open until he winks at me, I close it with a snap and blush, embarrassed he caught me staring again.

As dawn approaches, he glides noiselessly to the other side of the pool, then props himself on the edge, lifting his body clear of the water with one smooth motion. As the sky behind him lightens, shell pink fluffy clouds are lit with the emerging rays of the sun, embossing his silhouette with delicate dawn light. The photographer clicks away, flashes pop explosively, and I watch in silence as he works. The man is incredible; he works hard with the photographer to make the perfect image, and before the sun appears above the horizon we are back inside the room, packing up.

The curtains are all closed against the sun as Ji-Ho emerges, once more full dressed in an elegant suit. I am about to leave, but he calls me back. “Don't forget, Rosa Corbyn.” he smiles mysteriously, and hands me his card, "I'll pick you up."  On the back is written the name of a very exclusive restaurant, and "7:00pm" in elegant, old fashioned cursive. He walks me to the door; I can barely believe this is happening. He grabs my hand, then in one swift movement, leans in to plant the softest of kisses on my lips. The scent of rose and cinnamon swirl around me, making my heart beats faster, and I look up at him in wordless shock at the electricity of his touch. He smiles again, dazzling and bright, the amber eyes beaming golden at me for a moment, before disappearing back into the darkened hotel room, and I fumble my way out the door into the foyer.

I can't even remember how I got home, I was so completely full up with his eyes, smile, mouth, the pressure of his hand on mine. I emerged from the dream as I opened the front door, and was greeted by Muttley's joyous embrace; it seems he was convinced I was never returning. I am suddenly aware of how tired I am, and after sending a quick text to Gloria to say that it went well, and I was home about to sleep, I collapsed into bed. I fell asleep with a smile on my lips, and Ji-Ho's card still held tight in my hand, thinking only that tonight I would see him again.