Jia sighs deeply, watching as her model trips on the stage for the fifth time.
" Hani, what are you doing? " She asks, staring at the pretty female who watches her boss with a look of guilt. The model was wearing a lace dress, the violet fabric folding prettily down her legs. Long black hair cascaded down Hani's face as she blushes profusely.
" I'm sorry, I'll do it again-"
" No, take a break for a while. You still don't have that look for this concept, " Jia says.
" But, I'll try again if yo-"
" It's not just that Hani-ssi. It's been a month and I got so many complaints about you becuase of your clumsiness. You're pretty, but you need to learn how to get your act together okay?"
Hani frowns and nods her head before Jia expression softens.
" Fashion week's in a few more days, so let's see some improvement alright?" Jia comforted before giving Hani a wave as the model nods and stumbles to the backstage.
C-ELLE, the modeling agency she had been working at for the first year, had suddenly gotten recruits who were barely trained genetic lottery winners. Jia walks over to the photographer and gives the man a tired smile before sitting beside him. The sounds of electric EDM start to play in the background as the next model struts to the center stage.
" Leon could I see some of Hani's shots for today? " Leon nods eagerly before showing her picture on his camera. Jia stares intently before sighing deeply.
" Tired already Noona?" The man asks as Jia begins to sit on the seat beside him.
" I feel like I'm babysitting little kids at this point." Jia begins, arching her swollen back before sitting comfortably.
" But you've been doing a pretty good job up till now." He replies, watching the woman stare at him with a frown.
" I just understand why I can't work with some properly trained models, you know? I'm not some master trainer, Leon."
Leon smiles, pushing a long lock of ash blonde hair from his eyes. Jia sighs, giving her friend a good look through. Leon Choi, half American and half Korean with the face of an angel. His skin was smooth, and the long hair he had decided to grow out made him the unique beauty that any modeling agency would have grabbed.
" Why couldn't you be a model? You're only 23 and my life would have been so much easier,"
Leon laughs giving Jia a gentle smile.
" I'm a photographer, I have a talent other than blessing people with my face,"
" Tch, even you know that you're handsome. Just sign a contract and let's suffer together. If I have to deal with another model falling over her dress, I'm going to scream." Jia groans before Leon laughs again, light emerald eyes lighting up.
He could totally rock a dress, Jia thought.
" Anyways, I heard that two models were coming from abroad for Seoul's fashion week."
" Do they have a contract at C-Elle?"
" No, but our director's probably going to beg them to sign once they come. It's going to be a snake pit once all the sponsors find them." Jia straightens up at this. There was only a handful of male models in the agency, so it was understandable why the director would want more guys joining.
" Really? How come I've never heard about him? "
" They haven't shown up in Korea yet, actually. I went to Milan's fashion week last year and ended up seeing the guys on the walkway. They're really good."
" Eh, I'll believe it when I see it." Jia shrugs. Leon frowns.
" Maybe you could manage them,"
Jia winced a little before shrugging her shoulders.
" Do you know how much work guy models are? I'm too tired to cover each and every scandal they have with some girl, and manage their career."
" Huh, what about me? I thought you wanted me to model too." Leon asks, slightly offended. Jia cracks a grin before patting Leon's back.
" You're an exception, kid. I would kill to see you in a dress," Leon blushes at the statement and looks away.
" Noona, you're crazy." Leon begins watching the woman laugh.
" But you said you wanted to be promoted. How are you going to compete with Lee Eunji?"
Jia rolls her eyes. Eunji had been a rival ever since she came to C-Elle. Eunji's looks had made her life so much easier, unlike Jia who had a fight for her position. And on top of that, Eunji's insane amount of connections gave the agency a wide range of sponsors, making her an easy favorite in the director's eyes.
" What about her? Lee Eunji's probably going to use her connections anyways."
" I hear Eunji-ssi's interested in them,"
" Oh really?" Jia raises an eyebrow, eyes moving towards the woman talking politely to a few of the models on the side of the stage.
" Anyways, I think those models could really boost your reputation if you give them a shot," Leon says, before standing up and heading towards the stage.
" Okay fine, let's how good they are then," Jia says with a wicked smile.
