Chapter 266: If Needed, I Can Fill In
[Chapter 266: If Needed, I Can Fill In]
Karlie appeared slimmer than the last time they met. Her legs, reaching an impressive length of 4 feet, contributed to a striking 64% proportion of her 6'2" stature, which was incredibly close to the golden ratio.
It was a beautiful set of measurements!
Karlie Kloss's proportions ranked among the best even in the supermodel world. Her legs had a graceful curve, and her overall figure was slender, with flawless, porcelain skin devoid of any blemishes, naturally beautiful -- she looked like she could have been created in a video game.
The upper body was just a plaid button-up shirt, tied at the waist, exposing a smooth flat stomach. A slight hint of abdominal muscles played in the sunlight, casting shadows that accentuated her form.
As before, her short hairstyle remained, softening her more angular features; there was no awkward angle to her look. When she stepped into the room, every eye turned toward her -- men and women alike paused in their tasks.
In an industry that thrived on appearance, someone like Karlie Kloss, with her commanding presence, drew attention that could rival any Hollywood star.
"You didn't keep us waiting too long," said Elizabeth Olsen, hands on her hips, puffing out her chest.
"Ryan, who is she?" Karlie furrowed her brows, glancing at Ryan. She and Elizabeth had crossed paths a few times but had never really chatted.
"I'm Ryan's assistant and the younger sister of the Olsen twins. I've known Ryan much longer than you," Elizabeth replied with a light laugh.
"Have you known him longer than Taylor?" Karlie shot back unexpectedly.
"Not quite, but certainly longer than you," Elizabeth responded, maintaining her poise.
"Have you been in any of Ryan's music videos or guest-starred on his series?" Karlie continued the interrogation.
"Not yet. But who knows about the future?" Elizabeth maintained her smile; Ryan had mentioned casting her in a film.
"Karlie, go get ready," Ryan directed, pointing toward the backstage area.
"And Elizabeth, go find your two sisters, ask them what they'd like to drink, and then stop by the beverage shop across the street for a few drinks," Ryan instructed, gently dismissing Elizabeth.
When Elizabeth hesitated, Ryan encouraged her again.
"Make sure to grab me one too," Karlie added, thinking she was just an assistant.
Elizabeth scoffed softly before turning to leave.
...
"She doesn't seem too happy," Karlie whispered, speculating about Elizabeth and Ryan's relationship.
Ryan stayed silent, leading her into the backstage area where several designers from the Olsen twins' team were already waiting. There would be a rehearsal for the show today, with the models' walk being the main focus.
With no special requirements for the closing model Karlie's attire, Ryan chose a few outfits he thought would look good on her, encouraging her to try them one by one.
"Designer, do you want to come over?" Karlie turned to Ryan. Although he wasn't directly involved in the fashion aspect, he remained the nominal creative director whose designs were all essentially his work. Karlie didn't know much about the details, so she invited Ryan.
"Of course, I need to check the results," Ryan responded, taking responsibility for the final presentation and not hesitating to join her.
Karlie stepped ahead, while Ryan followed closely behind, along with two female staff members carrying a pile of clothes, as they entered the dressing room.
...
The dressing area was simply partitioned, and the space was small. Karlie and Ryan were barely a foot apart, making it hard for them to stretch out their arms.
Once inside, Karlie immediately began to undress, pulling down her shorts to reveal her black underwear. She raised one foot to remove the shorts and then took off her top.
As their eyes met, Karlie felt a rush of embarrassment at exposing herself in front of Ryan. Her cheeks flushed.
"Nice body!" Ryan complimented, unreserved in his praise.
"Thanks! By the way, I've had some success in transitioning; Fizz has helped me secure a Maybelline ad contract," Karlie changed the subject to deflect her embarrassment.
"Is Fizz doing well?" Ryan noticed it had been a while since he had seen Fizz, and Irina was still working under her.
"Yeah, she often asks about you," Karlie admitted, her blush intensifying. To Fizz, Karlie being held in such high regard by Ryan most likely indicated a close relationship between them.
"But I have no idea what you've been up to," Karlie admitted, shaking her head softly.
"If you miss me, you can call anytime," Ryan said.
"But you must be busy, right?" Karlie asked, somewhat forgetting the previous sentence.
"No matter how busy, I can take a call," Ryan replied.
As for his female artists, Ryan was known for being "wealthy and generous." He provided as much support as he could to Ellie, Amelie, and especially Karlie, who he treated as if she were his own woman.
"Alright," Karlie nodded. But the next moment, her brow furrowed as she gasped in discomfort.
She was not paying attention when she was zipping up her pants and her finger got stuck. The pain shot through her, and with tears forming, the two assisting staff rushed over to help her free her hand. However, to maintain aesthetics, the zipper was tight, resulting in more pain for Karlie than relief.
"I've got this," Ryan stepped in, pulling gently and almost causing Karlie to cry.
"I'll get a pair of pliers," one of the staff members suggested.
"Don't ruin it; this is the only sample outfit, and we need it for the show," Ryan circled behind Karlie, finding a better angle to apply force.
"Pull your hand up! Don't push against me; we're almost done! Your legs are so long!" Ryan teased, trying to lighten the mood.
Karlie obliged, although her pants were still down. She felt an unexpected sensation from behind her. She knew full well what that was, that sensation became more apparent as it expanded, almost like a blow-up toy.
Ryan felt awkward; in summer, nobody would wear anything too thick, but he was different from ordinary people.
"Easy!" He finally managed to free the zipper.
At that moment, Karlie bent forward, her back arched, with Ryan holding her waist.
"Was that outfit designed this way on purpose?" Karlie murmured, unable to lift her head.
"It was an accident," Ryan replied.
"Just go outside," she instructed, fearing Ryan would notice her discomfort, effectively pushing him and the staff out.
In that brief moment, there were already patches of different shades of color on her panties.
...
Just as Ryan found himself outside, he heard the sound of high heels clicking on the floor. Turning around, he saw the stunning Russian model Anne smiling at him, accompanied by a distinctive-faced Rosie. After their previous encounter, it was the first time the two had seen Ryan since her loyalty offering.
Upon spotting Ryan, Anne quickened her pace, even in her heels, until she reached him.
"Boss, did you miss me?" Anne remarked playfully.
Ryan grabbed several outfits from the rack and handed them to Anne and Rosie. "First, you need to work."
"And afterward?" Anne inquired eagerly.
"What do you think?"
"I'll wait for you," Anne said, nearly touching noses with Ryan before entering the dressing room.
As for Rosie, she wasn't as flirtatious as Anne; she simply nodded to Ryan, acknowledging him.
...
Soon enough, Ryan spotted Amelie, who had flown in from Florida for the show, making her the fourth person involved in shooting static advertising alongside the three models.
...
Ryan personally oversaw the styling of the models, and the rehearsal wrapped up smoothly within 40 minutes.
...
After the rehearsal, the Olsen sisters quickly wrapped up their work and invited Ivanka for some retail therapy.
...
"Just leaving without saying goodbye? Seriously?" Elizabeth mumbled, then shot a sidelong glance at Ryan.
"They left me here alone. The press conference is nearly set, and now I don't know what to do this afternoon." She sighed audibly.
Ryan grabbed his phone, making a call while stepping outside. Elizabeth remained, pondering where Ryan would take her.
Shopping? They haven't done anything yet, it would be embarassing to buy things for her.
Out for fun? Maybe some good food? On second thought, best not; Taylor was so slim, and Ivanka wasn't much different; even Karlie was that slender...
He wouldn't be taking me to a hotel, would he? Elizabeth's face reddened at the thought.
After waiting for a while and seeing no sign of Ryan's return, Elizabeth turned, but Ryan had completely vanished.
---
"I have something to do; I'm heading back to the hotel... behave, and I'll take you out tomorrow," Ryan hung up the phone.
He returned to a hotel, but it wasn't his usual one.
He made his way upstairs, knocking on a door that opened promptly. A slender arm reached out, pulling Ryan into the room.
"Where were you looking for me?" Anne greeted him with a smile, tossing the hat Ryan had purchased on the street onto the floor.
At the moment, Anne was already dressed, wearing all black lace.
Rosie entered shortly afterward; she wore the same style but in all white...
...
That evening, after Ryan finished his shower, he found both women sprawled out on the bed, too tired to move even a finger, their bodies relaxed in the same positions as when he had left them.
"The previous deal was fulfilled, but I now have a new offer."
"After this contract expires, you'll sign with Next Models, and Fizz will be your agent going forward. This way, I can also conveniently schedule your future work." Ryan was preparing to take things further.
The two women lay unresponsive.
"By the way," Ryan dried off and began dressing, "I will be the music director for the upcoming Victoria's Secret Show."
Rosie and Anne's eyes snapped wide open as they perked up, propping their stiff necks.
"I need you both to continue gathering some intel for me, and as for compensation, I think you might be interested in the title of the new generation of Angels." Ryan added.
If they played their cards right, Sharen could easily arrange for the coveted slots of two new Victoria's Secret Angels -- an irresistible offer for models, akin to a "top model certification," promising fame and fortune.
The two models strained to sit up, almost crawling toward Ryan, eagerly reaching for his clothing.
"What about Karlie Kloss?" Anne asked curiously.
"She has other commitments," Ryan replied.
Karlie had genuinely helped Ryan before, and he wouldn't assign her to grunt work -- not to mention Taylor would never agree.
---
Later that night, Ivanka sat in a VIP box with the Olsen sisters, watching Taylor's first concert during the tour in Paris.
In North America, Taylor's concerts were sold out, but things were different in France; the venue was significantly smaller, and ticket prices were approximately 30% lower than those in the U.S. Still, about 10% of the seats were empty.
"Where's Ryan?" Elizabeth asked curiously.
"He's backstage and will be making a guest appearance shortly," Ivanka explained with a smile.
With that, Elizabeth seemed to understand that Ryan's earlier disappearance was to rehearse with Taylor.
Ivanka occupied the best central seat, ensuring that Elizabeth sat beside her.
"Once we get back, both Taylor and I will have work to handle; taking care of Ryan is up to you," Ivanka said gently.
"...Alright," Elizabeth replied absently.
"You can take this credit card for now; if you ever need cash, just let me know," Ivanka said, magically pulling out a credit card and handing it to Elizabeth.
Elizabeth attempted to refuse, but Ivanka had already withdrawn her hand.
"Ryan has a lot of work to deal with, so we've got to avoid any petty rivalries. We don't want him distracted. As for what you desire, with Taylor busy touring and me pregnant, you have a great chance," Ivanka reminded her, knowing she could take care of things without Ryan's involvement.
"I hadn't really thought about it," Elizabeth confessed, glancing back at her sisters.
"Well, it's time to consider these things." Ivanka folded her hands neatly beside her, appearing almost like a regal lady.
"Then I'll accept this card for now," Elizabeth said, seeing that neither sister opposed.
During the concert, Ivanka spotted a familiar figure in another box -- Karlie Kloss with two female friends, likely tickets given directly by Taylor. Clearly, Karlie's relationship with Taylor was quite close.
What exactly was the connection between Karlie Kloss, Taylor, and Ryan? Ivanka found herself increasingly confused.
---
The Dior sTray collaboration launch event proceeded as scheduled. Although Ryan had no intention of attracting a crowd, many guests still attended, including the Hilton sisters and Lydia Hearst -- familiar faces who had come after hearing the news.
Among the media, the notable Karl Lagerfeld and friends invited by the Olsen sisters were also present. While the Olsen twins had started as child stars, they had transitioned into fashion, maintaining a notably low profile, unlike Paris, and had gradually made connections with many European nobility descendants.
"Let me introduce you. This is Charlotte Casiraghi, daughter of Princess Caroline of Monaco, and beside her is her boyfriend," Ashley introduced Ryan. Simply put, her uncle was the current Prince of Monaco, Albert II.
Monaco is surrounded by France on three sides; although it was the second smallest country in the world, spanning only 2.2 square km, its average income was the highest globally, filled with wealthy individuals, luxury cars, and beautiful people, hidden within Europe and reliant on the gambling business.
Monaco has no diplomacy or military and relies entirely on France for protection. There's even a peculiar agreement between the two countries: if the Prince of Monaco dies without an heir, Monaco automatically merges with France.
Ryan nodded at Charlotte as they exchanged pleasantries, noticing another young blonde woman standing next to her.
With a simple ponytail exposing her forehead without any hairstyle embellishment, Ryan could easily see her striking features and confident aura.
"And who is this?" Ryan asked.
"This is Beatrice Borromeo, a friend I brought along," Charlotte said, explaining that her father was a commoner, so technically, she was not a princess.
"You mean the youngest daughter of the Borromeo family?" Ashley exclaimed, surprised.
"My sisters are probably more famous than I am," Beatrice smiled modestly.
"Of course, especially since your three sisters are all married to major figures," Ashley joked.
After the exchange, Ryan and Ashley bid farewell.
...
"Is the Borromeo family famous?" Ryan asked, completely unaware.
"Not particularly; they're an old Italian hereditary aristocracy and a significant tourist destination -- the Borromean Islands are their private property. Valentino was also founded by this family, but none of that holds weight as much as their alliances; no one in Europe can match their family's connections.
The eldest daughter is married to the chairman of Italy's largest oil company.
The second daughter is married to the fourth-generation heir of the Agnelli family -- I'm sure you know Fiat and Juventus Football Club?
The third daughter is married to a German prince."
Quite the catch, he mused.
"So this family is now targeting the position of the Princess of Monaco?" Ryan conjectured.
"Who knows? The Prince of Monaco is indeed unmarried, but he's a bald, overweight middle-aged man said to play around quite a bit and has a particular preference for women of color," Ashley shared some juicy gossip.
"But on the surface, they need a princess; otherwise, Monaco could face extinction," Ryan teased.
"Those are just rumors. Besides, having a male heir shouldn't be a problem," Ashley laughed.
'If needed, I can fill in here,' Ryan shrugged.
...
The launch officially began. Having attended similar events before, Ryan was somewhat accustomed to the routine. After going through the formalities, Taylor appeared onstage, and Delphine was also present to announce that Taylor would become Dior's spokesperson in North America.
During the usual post-runway interview, Ryan also revealed some juicy gossip about Ibiza and mentioned once again the inequities he faced. Similar to Delphine's brother, Ryan was preparing to unleash a public relations offensive; tonight was only the first round.
After the interview, the dinner officially commenced -- it was more of a relaxed party than a structured dinner.
Throughout the event, Ryan occasionally glanced over at Beatrice, who remained adjacent to her friend from Monaco, barely moving away. Holding a wine glass, Ryan took a seat opposite the two...
*****
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