Chapter 69
Seoul, Korea
Fashion Square – Loft 33
Bolts of fabrics in every color and texture possible were strung about the floor. There were bolts of lace, jars of rhinestones and crystals, embroidery machines waiting to be loaded, and spools of thread in every color in the metallic and matte finish rainbow.
The space had eight sewing machines, tailor forms in various sizes, and tables with blank pattern paper waiting to be drawn and cut. A team of assistants were waiting, conserving their energy because they knew they’d be going non-stop for days until it the rush job hit the red carpet. Tailors, clothiers, and seamstresses, the best at beading and rhinestones, hand embroidery, and lace markers in the industry stood ready for the job…
Problem was, there was no sketches, no patterns, no fabric selected, no theme, not even a color scheme selected.
They were waiting for the boss to make the magic happen so they could get to work.
The frantic Frenchman stood back with a sketchpad in hand, slowly walking around Rain as she stood in the center of the workspace. They had already taken her measurements, and Modeste had done some research on the flight to Seoul about who he’d be dressing on such short notice.
It didn’t help inspire him in the least.
Modeste Augustin was one of the most highly sought after French designer there was. He took the fashion world by storm six years ago when he came out of nowhere, and had only gotten more popular with each runway show he had. Normally he would have told whoever was demanding anything from him to go do something impolite with themselves.
But Modeste couldn’t tell William Lee no.
Will held the majority shares and controlling interest of Modeste Augustin’s label “Modeste”.
Why would a tech inventor, former hacker turned billionaire have an interest in a French no name clothing designer?
The answer was simple.
Lula Yasuhiro was why.
One day when flipping through a magazine, she saw one of Modeste Augustin’s designs and commented that she liked it.
The next day, William Lee was making Modeste Augustin an offer he couldn’t refuse.
Myo Mi-Sun would be the first Korean actress Modeste dressed, and he actually like the challenge it posed. She wasn’t tall by any means, so making her appear taller would be a challenge. Also, she wasn’t curvy, had small breasts, and was very lean without curves; that was to be expected though with a young Korean woman. As many dresses as he could possibly put her in, he was at a loss as to what would work for her.
Modeste Augustin’s designs were about the person in them, and making them feel as if they were someone else. Making a statement through confidence and subtle sexuality was his staple, so needless to say picturing Korea’s girl next door sweetheart in one of his designs was proving to be a challenge in itself.
Finally he gave up trying to read the shy young woman.
“What do you want to wear?” he asked and Lula translated for him from French to Korean.
Rain shrugged. “I don’t know,” she whispered. “I thought I was ready to walk down the red carpet and face the public and my ex-fiancé that left me for another woman… I’m not so sure now.”
His eyes widened. “A statement piece?!” he offered with a smile; that, he could work with.
“Bond villain,” Kita said from where he was sitting, by the exit. “Femme fatale that will destroy Gok Soo and Gang Moon’s world.”
Rain blushed. “Yeah, that.”
Lula shook her head; she was going to have words with her brother when the opportunity presented.
“Ooh!” Modeste Augustin said, inspiration hitting and he picked up his sketchpad and started drawing. “It is so simplistic that it is insulting. It will make you look older, more mature, but sexy villain… Korean Bond villain!” he beamed.
Lula refused to translate that so Kita did.
Rain jumped up and down with excitement, clapping.
This was what she wanted and what she needed.
Even if it was just for one night, on a red carpet that wasn’t hers, she was going to own it.
“Act as a translator,” Lula said, speaking to Will.
“Of course, but be nice to your brother,” Will scolded, watching Lula as she headed from the loft, motioning for Kita to join her outside.
Rain looked from Kita’s retreating form to Will. “Are they fighting again?”
“When aren’t they?” Will rhetorically asked. “While Modeste is barking orders at his people, try on some shoes. There’s dozens of options, and I don’t agree with a peep toe, especially for a Korean Bond Villain.”
She made a face but joined him at the stack of boxes Modeste’s team had brought with them from France; they were delivered to the airport before their jet took off.
William Lee’s extensive network was as impressive as it was scary at times.
“How do you feel about a pant outfit?” Modeste asked.
Rain had never worn pants on the red carpet before.
Pant suits and jumpers were very popular nowadays, so it wouldn’t be entirely unheard of to wear something like that if it were classy enough. It would be out of the norm for her, and some of her favorite villains played by women on the big screen always wore a pant suit and high heels.
“I like it,” she said. “Can we do lace as well? Something feminine to offset the masculinity of the pants?”
Will shrugged, translating.
“And a belt!” she beamed, getting excited at the thought.
Modeste applauded. “Bien!”
“He likes it, a lot,” Will said. “I’ll have a makeup and hair team prepared for you. That way you’ll be red carpet villain ready.”
Rain smiled and hugged Will, to his surprise. “Thank you so much!”
Will groaned. “I’m not a hugger,” he complained so she hugged him tighter. “Okay, now you’re just trying to make Lula jealous.”
She chuckled. “Not at all. Lula terrifies me. But you should really work out whatever you two’s issues are. It’s kind of heart breaking to watch.”
He sighed. “Trust me, you don’t know the half of it. Make me a matching suit,” he said to Modeste. “I want to match my date, and I’ll even do my hair.”
Modeste gave him a look. “No pajamas?”
“Non.”
“Bien!” he beamed, and started sketching even faster; it’ll be a long forty-eight hours.
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