Su Ryeon organises neatly the items on her desk. Folders in pastel colors, papers with her trusted sticky notes all over the important information and the calendar displaying today's itinerary. A circled item looms suspiciously on it and she averts her eyes. It's futile, of course, since she has memorized the cause of her stress.

 

16:00 Silverstone group Photoshoot

 

Silverstone, her company’s most successful band, is posing for the music edition of Vogue, to promote their upcoming tour. She needs editorial to showcase a different, more mature side of the band. Having traded every favor she was owed to get them this opportunity, the result has to be spectacular. 

 

She managed to book the most sought-after music photographer, Han Na Tee, known professionally as Natti, to capture them in film. Having Natti’s lenses means she maintains total artistic freedom. The result can either elevate the band to classic status or risk their downfall with a mere click of her camera shutter.

 

No pressure at all.

 

She returns to her spreadsheets as a knock sounds on her door.

 

"Ms CEO, they are ready for you in the studio.”

 

She thanks her assistant, fixes the waist of her sleek maroon dress and stands tall.

 

__

 

 

 

The studio is packed, the buzzing of people working music to Su Ryeon's ears. The band and the photographer are surrounded by a swarm of assistants, makeup artists, clothing stylists, lighting crew, managers and more. The photoshoot heads to a small break for setting adjustment.

 

"Five minutes and then we're shooting individual shots for each member. Min Seok, you're first up." Natti coordinates the process expertly, with the confidence of someone whose vision will become reality, even if everyone has to work through the night. She pushes her slim tinted glasses up her nose and joins Su Ryeon on the chairs behind the monitor.

 

"They're giving me soft boy vibes. Look," she points to a group picture, where the five members of Silverstone pose as if they're playing ball with each other. "They have chemistry together, c'est merveilleux pour l'esprit d'équipe.” Natti, in all her glorious eccentricity, doesn't let anyone forget she established herself as an artist in Paris. 

 

Su Ryeon studies the photos and agrees. Their rapport shines in the photos, five members moving as one. Min Seok, whose red hair sets the stage ablaze as he moves with unlimited energy. Then, there's Do Han, the rapper whose fringe perpetually shrouds his eyes, adding an air of mystery. Joo Sik, the embodiment of sunshine whose background vocals elevate every song. Lim Yoon takes center stage with mastery over the guitar and vocals making him into a TikTok sensation. Last but not least, the main vocalist and songwriter, whose ever-changing blue-black hair reflects his dynamic persona on stage and when he’s arguing with her. Logan. 

 

"What about the individual ones?" Oh Yoon Yee, Su Ryeon's colleague-turned-friend asks.

 

"Each member will have a special concept, matching to a song of the album. D'accord?"

 

"Bien sûre", Su Ryeon answers, earning wide eyes from both women. Her work has taken her places as well.

 

"Chin down! Look alive. Don't rest your head!" Natti barks instructions as she photographs each member.

 

"Pretend you're running away. Come on! It's an editorial, give me some heart!"

 

“Relax your neck, pull your hair away.”

 

Su Ryeon and Yoon Hee watch anxiously as the fourth photoshoot wraps up. Only one to go, and Natti is not mincing her words.

 

"Logan, you're up last. Where is he?" The man, now clad in form fitting pants and a midnight  blue shirt emerges from the dressing room. His cheekbones sparkle with some product, giving his eyes an ensnaring quality. 

 

"Your theme is impossible love. You'll pose alone first and then with Soo Na, our female model." The girl greets everyone and approaches Logan in the shooting stage.

 

As soon as the first click sounds, Su Ryeon can tell this was heading for a disaster. Logan may be dressed coolly, but he seems uncomfortable and stiff. His black and silver accessories give him a dark, enticing look, but what the camera captures is the scared eyes of a boy.

 

"Look at her! Not like this. Longingly!" Natti is losing her patience. 

 

Click. Click.

 

"Have you never seen a woman before? Look at her. Take her hand," she shouts. "Not like you're in first grade, mon dieu!"

 

Natti lowers her camera and brings a palm to her forehead, wiping beads of perspiration. She turns to Su Ryeon.

 

"He's not giving me anything."

 

"No, he'll get it", she placates Natti. He has to get it. Or else, they're losing the magazine cover and their biggest chance for promotion yet.

 

She risked a lot for this, not a chance he’ll ruin it. 

 

She strides up to the white set where Logan is standing, the model stepping back when she approaches. 

 

"Why are you blocked up? You have the emotional expression of a brick." He squeezes his eyes and huffs. "Not my words. Give it a little passion, we're shooting for a cover!"

 

He shakes his head.

 

"Oh! Now the lady wants me to do passion. Weren't you the one yelling at me for going out with a woman?"

 

"That's different! Now it's for show. Act like you like her, take the pictures, we all go home."

 

"I'm trying! But I can't act like I want her. I'm a singer, not an actor."

 

She puts a firm hand on his bicep and pulls him down forcibly. He looks down, his face now mere inches from hers.

 

"Right now, you're what I tell you to be."

 

He bites his lower lip and-

 

Click.

 

They turn their heads to the source of the sound and see Natti capturing their heated exchange. They move to separate but she stops them immediately.

 

"No. Stay there. That's it!" It's the first time today Su Ryeon has seen her so animated. There's a gleam in her eyes, marking what she says next.

 

"You're doing the photoshoot together."

 

"What?"

 

They exchange a look and the stylist starts to protest. Natti waves them off and orders the pair to face each other.

 

"Logan, move closer to her and look at her lips. Su Ryeon, be natural. We don't know how much of you we'll show. Let's focus on Logan's expressions."

 

"Do we have to do this? Shouldn't we bring another professional model?" she protests. 

 

"No. You're with him. Take your positions." Her tone leaves no room for discussion. 

 

Logan faces her, his large frame looming over her. But he doesn't overpower her in the shot, more like being a constant presence beside her. They take some photos opposite each other. 

 

"You're going to act like a couple in love and agony." Natti walks them through the poses and Su Ryeon focuses on the instructions, rather on the unsettling fact that she’ll have to get very close to the person who frustrates her. "Take her hand, as if you're leading her out of the forest. Then we'll do Logan behind her and finally the red lips thing."

 

Before she has a chance to wonder what the “lips thing” is, Logan moves to take her hand, but when there's only an inch separating their fingers, he pauses.

 

"May I?" He asks with an open expression.

 

She swallows. She is professional. "Yes."

 

His palm envelops her smaller one in a tentative hold. Instead of facing away from her to strike the pose, he pulls their joined hand towards him, making her follow this body's movement.

 

“You okay?” he asks as she puts her hand on his shoulder, while he faces the camera. 

 

“I wasn’t the one who was too nervous to convey emotion.”

 

He huffs. “I show emotion through my music.”

 

“I thought you were reserving it for screaming in my office.”

 

He turns to her-

 

“Eyes on me!” Natti orders and his head snaps back.

 

“I can see why you two are friends.” He says without moving his lips and she chuckles. 

 

Then, it's a pose where she has to pull him from the collar towards her. They try it many times, but the landing looks awkward. Logan laughs at her inability to control his massive body and she casts him a deadly glare.

 

"Let me try something," she proposes after yet another failed attempt.

 

Logan looks at her with a spark in his eyes,  excitement or maybe fear. Her hands move from his collar to undo the first button of his shirt. Logan's eyes widen but he makes no move to stop her. She does the same with the next button and the next. Now she's acutely aware he's not wearing anything under it. As she uncovers the skin below his abs, she stops. He looks up at him hesitantly and he gives her a bemused nod.

 

"Why stop now?"

 

She bites a laugh and reveals his sculpted chest. All those endless hours of dance practice have left their mark on his body.

 

"Ready," she tells Natti. 

 

She pulls the corners of his shirt, bringing his torso to hers with a precision that makes her wonder if she did it in a previous life. Logan, who's put all his weight and trust in her hands, lands a hair away from her chest. From where he's leaning, he grazes her forehead with a piece of his blue black hair that's gotten long in a rugged way. Only then she realizes his hand has found purchase on her waist, tantalizing the edges of her dress.

 

Click. Click.

 

"Su Ryeon-si," he lets out, a little breathless. "You seem to be a natural." Through her painted eyelashes, suddenly heavy, she can see his inviting smirk.

 

Click.

 

As they find a rhythm with each other, everything else fades away. The people in the studio, the stage directions, everything is coming from a distant corner of her consciousness. As if they're the only two people there, morphing their bodies into vessels of forbidden love.

 

For the purposes of the shoot, of course. 

 

They take turns leading the poses and Logan goes with her easily, his movements plastic. His ease, that he certainly didn't have before she came, suggests he’s better at this now she’s posing with him. 

 

She's done a few photoshoots for business editorials, but none of them with a partner. It's a surreal experience to synchronize her body with another, like blending two colors together to create a striking combination.

 

Natti instructs to take off her high heels for the next shots. The pose is supposed to be a back hug, but Logan interprets it differently.

 

She looks down at her bare feet as Logan stands behind her. With his broad shoulders and extra height, he towers above her. But the effect is reversed when he hunches over and brings his arms around her, molding his body to hers. Both are looking at the camera and Su Ryeon feels his solid chest supporting her back. His palms rest on top of hers, inviting her to spread her neck and rest it on his shoulder.

 

She does.

 

His thumb caresses her wrist, a touch so light she would have missed it, if every nerve of her body wasn't attuned to his, fully aware of every little point of contact.

 

She feels his lips dangerously close to her ear, hot breath sending tingles across her spine.

 

"That's the longest we've gone through without you yelling at me," he notes, sounding close to a complaint. Is he really sad she's not arguing with him?

 

"Why would I? This is work. And you're doing a surprisingly good job, for someone who constantly grumbles about these things."

 

"What things?"

 

"You. Me. How I'm presenting you to the public. You seem to have no objections to being photographed with me."

 

"Was I complaining? How do you know I meant that?" He pulls her waist closer, molding her body to his. He brings his mouth close to her ear while his fingers tremble above her taut stomach. "Maybe having you like this," he tightens his arms around her, "was the idea all along."

 

He grins mysteriously. What's he playing at, she doesn't know. But she can't deny the warmth in her stomach as soon as he uttered the words.

 

"Put red lipstick on her and bring a chair," Natti orders, interrupting the moment.

 

Logan’s fingers graze her abdomen as his hand falls. He steps off her to let the make-up artist do her work, making her instantly miss his body heat.

 

"Last batch, don't mess it up. Now give me desperation. You're clinging on to her, pleading for a kiss."

 

He approaches until their chests are almost touching. He doesn't close the distance. Her eyes follow his every move. In a tender gesture, he puts his hand on her cheek, pushing the hair out of her eyes and resting on the sensitive area behind her ear, where her neck ends. His touch is hot, the silver ring on his finger cold against her skin. He angles her jaw, as if he's hoping for a kiss.

 

Her newly-painted lips part.

 

"How is that for pleading?" He asks her quietly, his eyes focused on her lips. "Are you tempted?"

 

She the inside of her lips. "Are you?"

 

He swallows.

 

Click, click, click.

 

"We got it. It's a wrap," Natti announces. Neither moves. They look at each other, some unspoken thing hanging in the air between them.

 

Su Ryeon pushes his chest gently and rushes  away, leaving behind her shoes and a bewildered man.

 

Hours later, when she's in a violet nightgown under the soft covers of her bed, a message beeps from her cellphone.

 

She opens it, having an inkling of who's the sender.

 

What if I am?

 

She stares at the screen. Another beep.

 

Tempted.

 

 

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