Chapter 154: Things Get Deep
[Chapter 154: Things Get Deep]
Ryan appeared in the final segment of the Victoria's Secret Fashion Show, titled "Black Tie Holiday." He performed Where Are U Now and Wake Me Up, standing on the runway. Just like Usher at the start, he sang while interacting with the supermodels passing by. He exchanged high-fives with Selita, shared a glance with Lima, and smiled at Carmen Kass.
"Hey, Ryan, you should be looking at their faces, not the chest," the director's voice crackled through his ear mic.
Misunderstanding, bad camera angle, Ryan thought.
At the end of the performance, all the models came out to bid farewell to the audience, colorful streamers floating around the venue. Luckily, Ryan was tall enough; otherwise, he wouldn't have been able to hold his own against the towering models in their stiletto heels, though many of them were still taller than him.
As he waved goodbye to the crowd, Ryan noticed a model intentionally choosing to stand beside him. He turned and saw it was Anne Vyalitsyna; she smiled at him.
Ryan saw her mouth something, but the noise in the venue was too loud; he couldn't catch what she said.
...
With the live broadcast cut off, Ryan followed the models backstage. After changing his clothes, he met up with Teresa.
"Smile," Ryan said, noticing her still wearing a stern expression.
Teresa forced a smile that looked more painful than anything else.
He brushed her off; the real highlight was yet to come -- the after-party for the Victoria's Secret show.
As a man who left no secrets for Victoria's Secret, Leo hunted for his prey right at the after-party. Two years later, he would leave three times to chat up Karlie Kloss; that year, Karlie was just eighteen, and Leo was thirty-seven -- she completely ignored him.
Ryan attended the after-party to gather intel. His mission was simple: find evidence of any scandal or get a model to identify a specific executive. What Sharon did with that information was beyond his concern.
...
The after-parties for Victoria's Secret attracted plenty of media attention, complete with a "backdrop" -- just like a red carpet affair.
Standing in front of the backdrop was Paris Hilton, dressed in a layered black spaghetti strap gown, flaunting an extravagant diamond necklace that left her back bare.
As for Ryan, he had opted for sTray's classic layered streetwear style. His yellow hair was styled for a scruffy look.
He posed for photos at the backdrop before entering the after-party venue alongside Paris.
The party took place within the Dan Fontaine Hotel, but unlike other after-parties, this one had separate areas for men and women, divided by a hallway.
"What's your agenda tonight?" Paris asked before they parted ways.
"No idea," Ryan responded, avoiding a definitive answer.
"After all the heiresses I've introduced you to, this is how you repay me? No gratitude at all," Paris shot him a look.
"If I remember correctly, I did give you a discount," Ryan mused, recalling how Paris had rented a booth for the night.
"Do I look like I need your discount?" Paris huffed, her frustration building.
Clearly, she wanted more than just a discount; she was seeking a rendezvous.
"Then no discount for you. Thanks for taking care of business, my lady," Ryan said, placing a hand over his heart and giving a slight bow.
"Ungrateful jerk," Paris said before turning toward the women's area.
...
Ryan made his way into the men's section and saw that it was already filling up.
Diddy caught his eye; he had actually come with Usher to the Victoria's Secret event and performed as part of the "band," even if he was just there to soak up the party atmosphere. He and Usher sat in the most prominent seating.
Ryan saw the Kushner brothers and took a seat beside them. The rest of the attendees were mainly lesser-known actors and hosts.
"I need to hit the restroom," Ryan said, standing shortly after sitting down.
The others exchanged puzzled glances.
...
After waiting for a full thirty minutes without Ryan's return, Joshua nudged his brother. Both brothers got up, heading toward the women's area.
Although men and women were technically separated, mingling was still allowed. A few lesser-known models had already crossed over to greet the guys.
Within a few minutes, the Kushners returned.
"Back so soon? Looks like your pick-up mission didn't go too well," a Miami-based host joked.
It was clear why young men attended the Victoria's Secret after-party; they all had the same goal in mind.
The brothers offered awkward smiles but didn't say much.
...
Diddy and Usher exchanged knowing glances, then got up and left, drinks in hand, evidently heading to the women's area. They lingered a bit longer than the Kushner brothers but still didn't stay over ten minutes.
"Let's get out of here and find somewhere more fun," Diddy grumbled, urging Usher as they made a hasty exit.
...
Others followed suit into the women's section, but soon returned.
"Ryan's not going to stay over there the whole time, is he?" the host wondered aloud, watching closely.
He stood up, ready to check on the situation himself.
As he approached, he widened his eyes in surprise.
Ryan was there, holding a drink, flanked by two models, one perched on his lap. They were laughing heartily, clearly having a good time.
"Another one, you know what you remind me of?" Ryan asked the model named Lindsay Ellingson sitting on his lap.
"What?" she asked, curious.
"Like WiFi."
"Why?"
"Because as soon as I get close to you, I automatically connect."
"You're terrible!" Lindsay playfully slapped him.
The other models around burst into laughter, many of them showing rosy cheeks, a bit tipsy, not that it would stop them from being cozy with Ryan.
Nice joke, thought the host, feeling envious.
If Ryan told it, it livened the mood, but if he did it, it would be straight-up harassment.
Moreover, Ryan was no ordinary guy; he was a designer star endorsed by Anna Wintour, which meant these models felt the need to curry favor.
The host shifted his attention, spotting a cluster of Victoria's Secret Angels gathered elsewhere. They didn't shun Ryan; they simply felt above mingling with regular runway models. Their clique centered around three veterans: Heidi Klum, Adriana Lima, and Alessandra Ambrosio.
Candice Swanepoel and Anne Vyalitsyna were caught in between, while other models dispersed in small groups, some cozying up to men and others forming tight-knit circles.
The host decided to avoid the awkwardness and left alone.
...
Meanwhile, Ryan heard models nearby asking him questions.
"Ryan, I heard you're hosting an event at Bad Room on Christmas. Can we come?"
"Of course! I would love it! You won't have to spend a dime; I'll put everything on my tab!" Ryan offered generously.
These were indeed "Victoria's Secret Models," each used to causing a stir just by walking into a club, typically attracting a hundred men. Ryan wasn't being philanthropic; he had plenty of guys ready to cover costs.
In a sense, they made the ultimate "hype squad."
"Really? I won't hold back then," said the British model who had been the first to ask.
"Please don't hold back! When can you come? I'd love to host you all," Ryan said with a smile.
Most of them had plans on Christmas Day but had free time shortly after. Ryan quickly jotted down a list of names, around seven or eight of them...
...
At that moment, Ryan noticed a woman walking by. Compared to the sexy figures of the models, she appeared a bit more delicate but still attractive. He recognized her; it was Rachel Chandler, the DJ.
What was she doing here? Was she scouting models for someone important? Ryan recalled Diddy's partner mentioning a "cheese pizza."
Ryan felt a twinge of concern; perhaps the Victoria's Secret world was more complicated than it seemed, hinting at concealed rivalries that extended beyond Sharon's insinuations...
Just then, he saw Razek conversing with a Victoria's Secret Angel. Next to Razek stood another man, with gloomy look in his eyes and a scar on running down his cheek.
...
The time at the party flew by, and before long, it was late. The models started to drift off -- some left with men, others returned to the hotel with friends, and some waited for their dates.
As Ryan left the venue, he glanced around and locked eyes with Anne Vyalitsyna. She arched an eyebrow and smiled knowingly.
Both left together but in different directions, Ryan turning away Anne Vyalitsyna.
...
"You can head back now," Ryan instructed Teresa, who had been waiting outside.
A couple of paparazzi caught Ryan as he exited. He moved on alone, while Anne Vyalitsyna took off in the opposite direction.
However, the two would cross paths again in a hotel suite just twenty minutes later.
As Anne Vyalitsyna stepped off the elevator, she spotted Ryan lounging on a nearby sofa.
"What a coincidence," she beamed.
"Yeah, what a coincidence," Ryan nodded.
"Are you waiting for someone?" Anne asked, fiddling with a strand of her hair. While her accent was less pronounced than Irina's, she still had an unmistakable hint of Slavic charm. At twenty-two, she was just like Daddario.
"Let me guess, you couldn't find your sleepover partner," she teased, approaching Ryan with a playful stride.
"Wait, what if there are cameras here?" Anne Vyalitsyna fretted. She had seen the way Karlie Kloss was treated; leaving evidence would be disastrous.
"I've checked; it's clean in the hallway," Ryan guided her into his room.
Once inside, Anne Vyalitsyna threw her arms around Ryan's neck.
"You're so bold! You were staring at me all night..." she laughed, leaning in to kiss him.
"If you didn't look at me, how would you know I was watching you?"
Ryan pushed her gently against the door. "I need to ask you a few questions first."
*****
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