Sakura’s eyes swept past the group and then Tara, who was sitting on the couch by herself, busy on her phone. She moved her gaze to another corner, and that was when she saw Darcy.
He was beside Alaina, and he was watching Sakura, his dark eyes intense. Suddenly, she felt her heart race and her stomach fluttering. There was something about his stare that didn’t sit well with her, though she couldn’t pinpoint this strange, powerful vibe she felt from him today. And why was he standing next to Alaina? Had the two reconciled?
She honestly didn’t know what to think if that was really what happened. Was she supposed to be happy for them, now that they were no longer estranged? Or was she supposed to worry because Alaina disliked her immensely? In that case, would Alaina once again try her hand at taking Darcy away from her?
Sakura didn’t want to think about it and turned her attention to the photo shoot instead.
She saw that Akira, with her sexy gold cocktail dress, four-inch gold heels, and emerald and platinum jewelry, which adorned her ears, neck, wrists, and fingers, posed seductively, sitting on Nicolas’s desk. Nicolas himself was sitting in the leather chair, his pose powerful and arrogant.
“Move this way a bit, Akira,” Jason instructed.
As the camera clicked away, Akira and Nicolas moved fluidly to show off their best angles.
Tristan shouted, “You can do better than that, Nicolas.”
Logan chuckled. “Akira is taking over the photo shoot. You’re just a prop, Nicolas. The background. If you want to get noticed, you need to do better than that.”
Sakura noticed that Nicolas was trying his hardest not to frown at his brother, and she couldn’t hide her amusement.
Finally, Mr. Tachibana said, “Right. Now change positions.” He walked up to them and told them what he wanted next.
Sakura watched as Nicolas moved from his chair and came to half sit on the desk. Then Mr. Tachibana instructed Akira to move into his arms. In the end, Akira was half sitting on Nicolas’s lap.
Tristan whistled. “Hot! You go, Nicolas.”
In this case, Nicolas really did give Tristan a good glare, demanding him to shut up.
“All right, we’re ready,” Mr. Tachibana said.
As the camera began to click again, Akira wrapped her arms around Nicolas’s neck and posed seductively.
Logan fanned his hand in the air near his face as he said, “Woo! Hot! That bastard Nicolas is super lucky.”
Hayden said, “Your commentary is unnecessary, Logan. Just enjoy the show, will you?”
Logan chuckled. “Got it, bro.”
The photo shoot for Nicolas and Akira continued for another fifteen minutes. Then finally, Jason said, “Done. Great job, you two.”
Mr. Tachibana said to Nicolas, “Do you need a five-minute break?”
Nicolas shook his head. “No, I’m fine.”
Mr. Tachibana grinned from ear to ear. “Can’t wait to get your job done, eh? Good man.” He turned around and said loudly, “Sakura, are you ready?”
Sakura suddenly wanted to run out, but found it was too late, as Jane appeared in front of her as if out of the blue and said, “Yes.”
As Jane led her by the hand onto the set, Sakura was very aware of Sebastian, Darcy, Tristan, Logan, Hayden, and Conrad, as well as Sosuke and Akira, watching her. Not to mention Tara and Alaina. She wondered if those two stayed back on purpose to watch her downfall.
“Sakura-chan,” Mr. Tachibana spoke in Japanese. “Do your best. Don’t worry about those loons watching you. Ah, but you do look beautiful. You are just as I pictured in my mind for this outfit.”
Even though her Japanese wasn’t great, Sakura understood what he was saying. She smiled in appreciation, which relieved her worries and tension. She didn’t know Mr. Tachibana could be so nice and also had a sense of humor.
Sosuke and Akira chuckled at Mr. Tachibana’s comments, while the brothers frowned because they couldn’t understand what was being said. Though, they suspected it was something to do with them.
A moment later, he introduced her to Jason.
“Nice to meet you,” Sakura said, shaking his hand.
“Nice to meet you, too,” Jason said. “Tachibana-sensei told me it’s your first time today?”
At Sakura’s nod, he said, “Just relax and be yourself. Be casual. That way we’ll get the natural beauty out of you.” He even gave her a smile that made Sakura’s heart melt.
Tristan shouted, “Oi! Jason, stop flirting with our sister princess. You’re way too old for her.”
Loud chuckles from almost everyone followed that warning.
Now that Sakura looked at the photographer closely, she noted that he was pretty mature, possibly older than Mr. Tachibana, in his later forties or early fifties.
“Shut up, Tristan,” Jason said loudly. “I’m not flirting. I already have a beautiful wife and three kids at home.”
A cheer went up then, which made Sakura chuckle with amusement. Suddenly, she found she was relaxing and didn’t feel as frightened as she had.
“Feeling better?” Jason asked.
Sakura, still smiling, nodded.
“Good,” he said.
Mr. Tachibana started instructing the pose he wanted then. “Now, Nicolas-kun, I want you sitting in that chair.” He pointed to the leather one behind the desk. “I want you to look relaxed. Not as powerful or imposing as previously. But don’t smile either. You should look a little arrogant, but not too arrogant.”
“That won’t be hard for him,” Akira commented loudly, which Nicolas heard. “Since that’s how he always is.”
Nicolas flicked his gaze to her and said, “How nice of you to notice. You’re very perceptive where I’m concerned, aren’t you, Akira-chan?”
Akira immediately blushed in response, while Sakura chuckled with amusement and Tristan and Logan had their mouths gaped open in shocked surprise.
“Akira-chan?” Logan repeated as if he couldn’t believe it.
On the other side, Sosuke said to himself, “When did Nicolas and Akira become so close?”
Hayden said, “Back in New York. You’re Akira’s brother and Nicolas’s friend. You didn’t notice?”
Sosuke shook his head. “I’m pretty in tune with things like that.” He even chuckled. “Hmm… It wouldn’t be too bad if Nicolas became—”
“Stop!” Logan said abruptly. “No one wants to hear that, so just stop talking, Sosuke.”
Sosuke obediently nodded and zipped his mouth.
On the other side of the room, Mr. Tachibana said, “Sakura, you’ll be standing beside Nicolas.” He turned to Nicolas then. “And you wrap one arm around Sakura’s waist.”
Nicolas did as he was directed, as Sakura stood close to him. A moment later, the camera started to click away.
Sakura finally lost herself in her new job as a model as the camera continued to click and her body fluidly moved. She felt relaxed and, in fact, had forgotten all about the people that surrounded her, watching her.
A few minutes later, she found herself sitting on the side of Nicolas’s chair as he wrapped one arm around her waist. She was posing as the girlfriend of a powerful, young billionaire, and she fit that role perfectly.
“Not too tight, Nicolas,” Tristan shouted teasingly. “You’re pulling Sakura too close, man.”
The brothers laughed, as did the staff. Of course, Akira was chuckling along with everyone else, too, which oddly enough pleased Nicolas.
“Wrap your arms around his neck, Sakura,” Mr. Tachibana instructed. Sakura did as she was told, and a big cheer went up.
Tara looked heavenward, while Alaina rolled her eyes.
Click. Click. Click. The camera continued until eventually Jason said, “Done. Good job, Nicolas.” He turned to Sakura and gave her a grand smile. “You did great, Sakura.”
Sakura, feeling elated that she hadn’t messed anything up and was being praised, blushed and smiled. “Thanks.”
Before the brothers could surround Sakura, cheering her on, Jane rushed in and whisked her away to change.
“How was that?” she asked, as they headed back toward the makeup room.
Sakura sighed and felt quite hot all of a sudden. “It wasn’t that scary. Mr. Tachibana and Jason are very nice.”
Jane nodded. “They have planned this project for a long time, so it’s only natural that they’re enjoying it, too.”
While Sosuke had his photo shoot with Alaina, Sakura had her makeup touched up and then changed her wardrobe. Some half an hour later, she was back out again, now wearing a different dress. This time, she was posing with Sosuke, and Jane felt a little more than breathless when she saw the Japanese man in his suit.
Their set was by the window that overlooked the city of Honolulu. Once again, Sakura was much aware of the brothers watching her. Tara and Alaina were nowhere to be found this time, and Sakura was pleased. The shoot went without a hitch, and it was done within half an hour.
“Good job,” Jason said again. “Let’s prepare for the next one.”
“What’s the next one?” Sakura asked Jane, on their way back to the dressing room.
“Your scene with Tristan and Logan at the restaurant. But it’s not until after lunch, so there’s no rush.”
“That’s good,” she said. “I’m really thirsty and need a drink. Not to mention I’m starving.”
Jane chuckled. “Of course you’d be hungry. You’ve been working hard, after all.”
She nodded. “And being nervous takes a lot of energy, right?”
Jane nodded. “That, too.”
When the two girls got back to the makeup room, Akira was already in her casual jeans and T-shirt. “Hurry, you two. We’re meeting everyone for lunch down at the restaurant. I’m famished.”
With that, Sakura hurried in, and both Jane and Akira helped her change.