"You know I'm gonna start calling you money bags!"
Sam spoke randomly as he enter into the office holding onto a recent sales report produced from the nearly naked shoot carried out only 2 weeks previous, Camila glance up confused issuing a wavering eyebrow as she grab out for the glimmering white paper
"Money bags wh- Holy shit... $559 million? On the outfits alone.. what the fuck?"
Camila gasp as she continually read over the words in front double checking that what she was looking at had been real.. it was the highest sales figure for a magazine promoted line ever produced.. her mind only swayed into making Lauren head of decision making.. thank the lord for her disobeying nature...
"Right? Mama this is HUGE! Articles are flooding every single website in existence right now.. Lauren broke Twitter with her photos too.."
Sam spoke in more than an excited tone as he pull out his phone to show the woman a few of the flowing titles, one of which stating that Lauren was predicted to rank number 1 in this years worlds sexiest woman list... Camila knew she'd hit it big time but this was something else.. this was global domination
"I can't believe this I- I refused to let her shoot.. if she'd have listened to me I can only imagine how hard the line would have flopped.."
"Girl Lauren is killing the game right now.. literally everyone wants a piece.. Dinah had been inundated with emails all morning requesting her to make appearances!"
The girl couldn't help but lean back in her chair as she shot the cold inch of liquor down the warm lining of her throat, she was speechless.. didn't quite know how to process what she was witnessing as she glance over to the slowly opening door behind
"You text me saying to meet you here for a fitting?"
Lauren spoke as she smiled unawares of her most recent success, Camila quickly stood walking over to her girlfriend quickly pulling her into a tight embrace before pulling back to look her in the eye
"Baby that shoot you did.. the naked one.. it's hit platinum sales records.. your little outburst just ranked us up into the highest level of production.."
She gasped as Lauren's jaw fell lightly open, her own shock blinding her from the space around her as she jumped up and down excitedly leaping back into the woman's arms with a joyous embrace, the perfect unison of success lingering in the air as Sam subtly slipped away
"See! Our vision.. like we wanted it Camz! I told you!"
"I know! And I'm sorry for not listening.. makes me look super dumb now huh!"
Lauren shook her head reassuringly placing a small peck across her lips before stepping back to discard of her shirt, Camila followed grabbing for an outfit hung neatly beside the door while the elder removed the remainder of her clothes
She stood ready and waiting, however when Camila turn back to face her body she immediately stopped to pause, her eyes examining the familiar body in front only to notice something not so familiar in view... a small silence broke as she step back a little further, her eyes scanning the girl from head to foot before laying down the outfit behind her
She walked back over to reach for a small draw pulling out a tape measure that lace over her palm while Lauren follow her every move, the look in her eye confusing as her furrowed brows walk back over to wrap the tape around her stomach
"Camz? W- what are you doing?"
She didn't reply, only continued to measure the contours of her body before shifting down to her thighs, Lauren quickly began to worry feeling something off as she step backwards out of the tape pulling the girl up by her shoulder to look her directly in the eye
"Camila! What are you doing?"
"Lauren have you been eating?"
The girl paused, furrowed her dark brows as she gulp back on her saliva, the question slightly abrupt and nevertheless intimidating as Camila only stare on with a demanding want for an answer..
"What? Yes? W- why would you ask me that?"
"You've lost weight Lauren! Everywhere! I saw it as soon as you took your clothes off?"
Camila spat in a tone not angry only concerned.. her beautiful girl seemingly keeping something ugly from her as her palms join in front of her stomach clamping together tightly as she glance around the room in an uncomfortable manner
"How... how did you see-
"I have been drawing and measuring bodies for years! If something changes I see it! Not just that but I'm your girlfriend Lauren! I have sex with you I hold you! I know your body! So don't lie to me! Why haven't you been eating!"
Her tone was firmer this time, more direct, it only lead to Lauren's body becoming more and more nervous, the very smart woman in front not missing a thing as she stood in silence unable to answer the question
"Wait... you've not been eating dinner with me because you've been grabbing lunch with Vana recently? You sit in PJ's instead of panties.. We have sex in the dark now.. what the fu-
"Camila please it's not what it looks like I swear!"
Her panicked tone interject as she step forward to follow Camila's pacing body, her hand stretched up to cover her forehead before quickly strutting to open the door calling out for Vana who sat just across the room, she quickly came running, her small body falling in line as Camila pull her into the space to look over at Lauren's body
"Lauren told me you and her have been going out for lunch everyday for the past 2 weeks.. is that true? And don't lie!"
Vana gulped looking over at Lauren for reassurance only to notice her eyes buried in the window beside her, she quickly glance back at her boss shaking her head disregarding Lauren's lie before the woman in front press her glossy lips together, she point the girl back out from the room shutting the door swiftly behind her, she turn back to Lauren leaning on the desk with folded arms and a raised brow
"Camila I-
"You lied to me! Told me you were still full from lunch every night when I cooked us food! You don't even drink the coffee I buy for you in the mornings Lauren? What the fuck is going on?"
The elder glance quickly up towards the ceiling taking a deep breath before gingerly reaching back for her shirt only to have it pulled from her hands by her very unamused girlfriend still stood waiting for her needed answer
"I just lost my appetite that's all.."
"Lost your appetite? Really? So you don't eat breakfast, you lie about eating lunch and then you say you're too full for dinner? I thought the sex thing was weird but seriously?"
Her tone was more than devastated, Lauren had been very subtle in her hiding the past few weeks as she'd more than convinced the girl she'd taken Vana under her wing.. taking her out for lunch when really she had done no such thing.. she hadn't noticed the difference in bed as things were less about touching more about feeling.. it was only today with the mandatory fitting that she'd notice the slight change in her body
"Camila it's nothing! I swear? I'm just not hungry.."
Camila rolled her eyes frustratedly unfolding her arms wipe at her stressed brow, she felt guilty for not seeing it sooner but Lauren had been acting completely normal.. her body language and sex drive all the exact same as usual...
"You're honestly just gonna stand there and lie to me? Like I don't know you at all? Lauren you've dropped almost a whole dress size! You're doing this on purpose! So just tell me.. I love you? I need to know.."
Lauren dipped her head, the pity in her eyes guilty.. she hated how intelligent Camila was, she saw things no one else ever would.. she should have guessed sooner or later she'd find out about her recent habits.. She lift her arms up to fold over her chest before wetting her lower lip into the ground
"It doesn't matter.."
Camila stepped forwards grabbing for the girls dipped chin as it sank down lower with every word, her brown eyes meeting the emerald orbs that only dropped that usually glimmering gaze
"We are in a relationship! You have to fucking communicate with me! This matters Lauren! This matters! What is it those girls out there? You think you have to look like them or?"
"No!... it's not about that.."
"Then what!"
Lauren puffed out her cheeks with a deep breath as her eyes roll over slowly to the side of the room, her body aching with hunger so intensely that a loud grumble flood the room.. she instantly closed her eyes admitting defeat before parting her lips to speak
"2 weeks ago there was this article.. like 5 pages long just talking about how fat and disgusting my body is.. I just.. I-
"You believed it?"
Camila interject as the girls eyes raised up into her own, the thick head of hair nodding back gingerly with a heavy embarrassed blink.. Camila sighed dropping the girls chin to step back into the room with a deep sigh of hurt, she walked slowly over towards the pile of clothes Lauren she discarded grabbing them into her palms before shoving them into her stomach
"Put your clothes on"
She spoke bluntly as the girls heart began to hurt.. she felt as though she'd disappointed her somehow as she drag her skirt back up and over her thighs, the shirt covering the new outline of her delicate rib cage, Camila proceed to walk back to her desk slumping down into the chair before turning on her computer typing away as the elder followed to stand in front, a direct finger pointing down at the chair without even a single look indicating her want for her to sit.. she did..
She picked up the office phone beside her calling Sam into the room awaiting his entrance before pointing down at the dress meant for Lauren...
"Can you go and fit number 18 or 41 for this please"
"But this is for-
"Now!"
She interject as the man drag the garment from the table editing awkwardly from the room shutting the heavy door behind his body, Lauren furrowed her brows gasping slightly before looking on at her girlfriend, her eyes trained on the screen in front
"That was my dress for the Gala runway?"
"Not anymore!"
Her heart almost broke in her chest as she felt the muscle begun to quicken, her arms weak, her legs heavy... that was her dress.. her walk.. and Camila had just given it away...
"B- But that's my walk..."
"You're benched!"
She reply firmly finally shooting her eyes back into Lauren's as she lean back slightly in her chair with a harsh gaze that only left the elder feeling majorly uneasy.. her own girlfriend pulling her from a walk she was supposed to do..
"I thought I was doing a good enough job in convincing you that your body is perfect just the way it is.. but obviously not, so it's time you learnt like the rest of those girls out there what this industry is really like!"
She began before turning her attention back towards the screen, her brown pools scanning the images in front before looking back over at her girlfriends timid gaze
"People get paid to write slander articles for exposure and content contingency strikes, girls like you making people like me money take away from their business as the majority of the articles are designed only to praise you.. SO in order to be seen they write HATE, things that aren't true!"
Lauren gulped back running her fingertips over her soft thighs as her girlfriend took glances at the screen beside her, her tone steady and controlled as she type various things into the keyboard
"As a policy we tell models not to read anything they find online, stick only to magazine published articles! Now looking at the one you seemed to be reading.. it's written by a monitored franchise... they write dismantling words only.. untrue to make it simple... none of this is true Lauren none of it!"
"I didn't know any of that stuff, just made me feel bad about myself.."
Her eyes sank, fell into her lap as her back slump into the chair behind, Camila's look of hurt the only thing stopping her from saying more as she didn't want to further disappoint
"Lauren you're so fucking beautiful it hurts! Your body your face.. it's all perfect! You are CUBAN, you have curves and contours that those girls out there could only dream of having! These articles talk literal shit for a pay cheque! You see how many little girls write you fan mail every day saying how they want to be just like you when they grow up?"
Lauren's eyes lift, her brows calm as she took in the words the girl in front so honestly spoke, she felt bad.. the way she was talking only indicate she felt like a failure.. Camila was always telling her beautiful she was.. always taking the time to kiss every space of skin across her body..
"I know.. I just got caught up.. felt like I had to change.. it was dumb.."
"You never ever have to change? Ever... you're perfect the way you are I swear on my entire life.. but You HAVE to talk to me Lauren? You can't just keep shit from me like this.. if your upset or angry or whatever I need to know? This will never work if you hide stuff baby?"
Lauren nod accepting the woman's words as she admit in her eyes the sorry she had felt.. it was a moment of weakness that played on her mind.. she should have told her.. explained what she'd read but she just wasn't used to it yet.. having someone who cared about what she thought...
"I will from now on I promise... I'm sorry Camz... I really am.."
"Don't be sorry! You're allowed to feel shit.. but you don't have to feel it alone anymore Lauren? I'm here! Right in front of you... I'll feel it with you! But how can I be a good girlfriend when you won't let me in?"
Lauren nod, her hand reaching across into the Youngers palm that extend out for her grip, her soft thumb rolling over her knuckles as she slap the table for her attention
"I will, I swear I will... are you.. are you mad at me?"
"No baby? I'm not.. but I'm serious you're benched.. for now anyway!"
She reply with a soft eye, her words only meant for good as Lauren huffed back into the chair more than angry at her own self for being so stupid in the first place.. her aching tummy only telling her off further as it rumble and groan..
"I don't want to be benched.."
"Well you are! You don't walk until you start eating again! 3 meals a day, every day! That's final!"
The girl huffed out into the air catching the woman's attention as she nod before leaning forward into her knees choking her chin between her palms as her eyes alone drift up to meet Camila's gaze that made obvious she wasn't done talking
"You're a human being, with feelings! A good heart and a smart mind! Your health comes before anything else in this world Lauren and not eating just to make an article that will hate you regardless happy? That's not ok! Do you understand?"
Lauren nod gingerly into her direction with pouting lips
"Good, come here, come kiss me"
Lauren stood slowly walking over to slump into her girlfriends lap sinking her head down into her warm neck while her arms wrap around her shoulders like a hurt child, the warm palm smoothing the length of her back comforting as she breathe in the sweet scent of her familiar perfume, they lingered for a moment before the elder sat back up pressing her lips down into the glossy pillows below that happily pay attention to the obviously troubled mind
"You're my Queen... my beautiful.. perfect Queen... I never want you to change? I fell in love with you for you.. not some altered version?"
"I love you Camz.. you're my Queen too.."
Camila smiled back accepting the girls now happy mood as she gently stroke the girls warm ivory cheek settling as her body lift to stand in front, she reach down into her bag pulling out a gold card that waved subtly in the air for Lauren to take
"You're done for today! Go to the store, get whatever you want for dinner and when I get home we'll eat, TOGETHER... but until then get into some PJ's and have a movie day ok?"
"You're sure?"
"Yes, go and chill your mind out.. that's an order.."
______
Later that evening Camila returned home, her tired feet walking her up the long black stairs leading into the lounge in which her eyes immediately set gaze onto the raven haired beauty bundled below the duvet obviously dragged from the bedroom.. her eyes trained on the half playing movie as she sip back on a can of soda.. she smiled.. admired for a moment before clearing her throat to grab the elders attention
"Shit sorry, I didn't hear you come up.. how was work?"
"Fallon tripped a model.. on purpose! I mean she told me she was going to do it so I guess that's a bonus..."
She smiled lavishing in the rich giggle that fell from her girlfriends lips as she kick of her heels and jacket beside her glancing over at the counter with a home cooked lasagne sat prize and place in a glass dish ready for serving.. Lauren shuffled under the blankets placing down her drink before parting her lips to speak
"I made it myself.. I had to follow a recipe but.. I think it will taste good.."
"So my baby's a chef now too?"
Camila giggled as she walk closer to the sweet smelling dish, Lauren's happy laugh could be heard behind as she walk over to grab two plates, her hand dishing out two portions before shoving them into the microwave
"I found a movie we can watch?"
"Set it up, I'll bring the food over"
Camila issued as the loud ping of the food echo out into the dimly lit room, she grabbed for the plates walking over to crawl upon the couch sitting herself neatly beside the elder who happily accept the dinner into her lap, her eyes looking over at difference in portions cut off in the question Camila's knew she would ask
"Yours is smaller.. you haven't been eating, if you eat too much now you'll just make yourself feel sick"
Lauren nod accepting the answer before shivering a mouthful of the food back with a satisfied moan, she was proud of the creation but more so happy the tormenting mind games were over..
"Lo this is so good? Fuck modelling you could be a 5 star cook.."
"Shut up you dork!"
She giggled back taking another mouth full quickly as their eyes shift up to watch in at the now playing movie, they didn't stop until the plates were empty.. Camila looked down with a smile placing the dishes onto the floor before wrapping her arm neatly around the girls warm shoulder, the soft T-shirt and strands of black hair under her fingertips calming as an arm reach across her stomach with a comforted breath
"That was the best lasagne I've ever eaten.."
"It was? I did good?"
Camila laughed at the girls response, she often thought if Lauren realised how cute she was sometimes as some of the phrases she'd come out with resembled that of a previous child.. she loved that side of her..
"You did good baby, more than good! I don't think there's a single thing you're not talented at.."
Lauren giggled back at the statement, her mind falling into a deserving sensation for love.. she was yet to get used to being praised but as of right now she happily accepted it with a gentle smile
"I love you Camzie"
"I love you more beautiful, forever"