Captive in Plain Sight

Douazecisipatru || Invisible

Hey guys,

This chapter could use some love, so please make sure to vote.

- Shar

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"Boyfriends, husbands and fiancés aren't allowed on set. So be good." Salvadore said, before rushing off somewhere to give orders.

It was abundantly clear why. Currently, his significant other stood on a platform in the center of the large studio in nothing but a sheer body suit decked in crystals. They'd given her matching-colored undergarments, but he could still see the outline of her more conservative areas.

This is not at all what I had in mind, he thought. She may as well be naked.

When he'd allowed Mila to work with Salvadore, he thought it would be a few photos, maybe one or two outfits. Instead, they'd walked into a circus. A team of twenty filled the studio. Paolo tested camera equipment, while several assistants took measurements. Others were on the phone, or hand-sewing gems onto delicate-looking fabric.

Along the wall, there were mannequins with different sparkly outfits waiting to be fitted. Some were dresses, others body suits in different textured fabrics. Most of it, beyond his comprehension. When she stepped out in the first nonexistent outfit, she mouthed "Sorry," and kept shooting him "Don't be mad," looks. However, as more people entered her peripheral, she became too busy to pay attention to him.

Accessories and jewelry also weren't allowed, so he was literally holding her purse, watch and ring while standing in the back of the room. It was odd for him to be on the sidelines in a business setting, but here, he was invisible. All the fuss was over Mila, the one person he didn't like sharing with others.

"Thanks again for doing this." Salvadore said, making his way back over to chat with him.

"No, thank you." he said.

He meant it. Salvadore adding Mila as a model to his exhibit gave her more legitimacy in their circles. No longer would he have to suffer questions of "What does she do?" or "Where does she come from?" The title of "Model," squashed the noise and judgement. No one batted an eye when a rich man walked with a model on his arm.

Paolo seamlessly directed the entire production, while speaking with Mila excitedly in Portuguese. Expecting this, he'd brushed up as best he could. Long ago, when they were different people, they'd studied each other's languages. It'd been fun challenging each other. Nothing like their relationship now.

Though his understanding of the language was shaky, he still picked up a few things, Paulo was saying things like, "What happened to your curls? I wanted to use them for a look!" but mostly, complaining about Seattle.

Even though it was for work, he didn't like how close Paolo was to her. Especially the way he made her laugh. How every now and then, he would whisper in her ear and look over at him. He was pretty sure they were just playing around, but it still made his blood boil.

"You really didn't have to come along." Salvadore said. "These sessions are going to be all-nighters. Paolo won't be done with the prep for at least another hour. Probably longer, with the way those two are gabbing on."

"Are you kidding?" he replied. "I'm not going to miss seeing how the sauce is made." Also, there was no way in hell he was letting her out of his sight around these two.

When they first arrived at the studio, he caught Paulo and Salvadore exchange glances with each other, like they had spoken at length about Mila. It made him glad they were on better terms and hadn't fought recently.