Chapter 4 4

I smile. "Thanks. I'll be sure to mention it to him. Were you guys waiting on me? It seems as if all the food is done" I say as I walk towards the counter where everything is, steam still visible.

Oliva nods. "Yes. I can fix plates, you have a seat".

I shake my head. "No no, I'm already here. You guys have done enough. I'll get this done" I say. I reach into the cabinet and eye its contents before grabbing down three glass plates. I lay them side by side as I began to add food to them.

"I know you told me not to but I did anyway. You only graduate college once, and a business like yours is something to be proud of. I got you something that I'll give you tonight at dinner" my father says and I roll my eyes before turning to him.

"At dinner?" I ask, not wanting him to make a scene.

He nods. "Yes, at dinner. Oliva already knows what it is" When he says this Oliva holds a big smile on his face.

I mirror his smile. "What do I have to do to get you to tell me? Should I make your favourite dessert?" I ask and he shakes his head.

"Nope. You'll know later tonight when you come back. We will spend our last night here all together. It'll be special. I have something for my son as well" he says and I nod. Special?

I set the plates of food down and take my space between the two men.

A very hot and subtle drop of beading perspiration drove itself onto the clavicle of the right side of my body. Slipping its way down my brown skin, it began to leave a trail of tiny droplets that steered towards the betwixt of my bosoms.

My body flowed like one's fingers against the strings of a harp, inside the chilled water. All around me, the water moved in sync with my movements, making me a creator of the ripples.

With his possessiveness of the large camera he held in his tiny hands, he snapped away, bringing a white flash to coat my skin.

"Perfect, Querida. Just like that" he kept chanting the words with each new pose I did.

My lips were already coated with cherry lip balm, giving me no reason to coat them with the wetness from my tongue, but the sudden urge never left my body

My tongue rolled out of my mouth. Slowly, I traced the underside against the very top of my bottom lip. Even without the sugary taste hitting my tastebuds, I could relish the sweetness.

He had his way with the camera that was always inside the grey backpack he carried almost everywhere. He would pull it out at any convenient moment and wasn't afraid to stop traffic if he thought he would make the perfect shot.

Which is probably why I was now in his mother's pool.

Thick layers of sunlight filtered my skin, giving the aesthetic of a glow that was only natural to one with a skin tone like mine.

"You're breathtaking" he murmured, snapping a clean shot just before the sun began to descend.

My cheeks had begun to heat more at his compliment. I pulled my arms above my head, bending my elbows and letting my hands rest at the nape of my neck. My gaze was averted to him and the opportunity struck once again.

He pulled the large camera away from his right eye and began to examine the shot he had just taken. In awe, he stared at the device for long seconds before pulling it away and standing to fetch a towel.

"I would have asked you sooner if I knew you'd agree to these snapshots. This is going to be my number one money maker. I guarantee it" he said as he grabbed a white towel from one of the pool chairs.

"I mean, you have to be one of the greatest muses I've ever had in my life. Now, take that ribbon out of your head and allow me to get a few angles, then we're done for today".

My feet collided with the grainy feeling of the bottom of the pool, bringing me closer and closer towards the stairs. He held a firm hand out for me and I took it, using him as leverage.

I swiped the towel across my face, drying up the excess water that paraded my skin. "I'd like to see those pictures. My new line goes out soon. Are you going to edit them?" I asked.

His eyebrows knitted together as he slyly shook his head. For a moment I thought I had grown an extra eye. "No, no editing. I love the rawness in the material we've created. Trust me, you look great" he compliments.

He pulled his camera down so that I was able to see one of the pictures. The sunlight hits the water and reflects on my skin in the most heavenly way possible. The shots seem like photos that were taken off guard and I look very relaxed.

"Those look better than I expected," I say as I reach my arm above my head for the blue ribbon wrapped around my hair.

He fakes an offended look as he puts one of his hands to his chest. "Better than you expected? Are you saying that you doubted my glorious skills? I thought you knew me better than that" he frowned, wiping a fake tear from his eyes.

I smiled. "No, I just thought that maybe I wouldn't be the right woman for the job today".

He shakes his head. "It's literally your ribbon line, you're the woman that should be modelling it, and plus it's a win-win. You have photos for your new line, I have photos to enter into the States contest" he says.

I take a small step back, his words hitting a small nerve. "Wait a minute, you never said State's contest," I say, holding the ribbon tightly.

He rolls his eyes. "I know but if I did, you would have been freaking out about the way you look and I didn't want the on-edge you, I wanted the relaxed one. Put that ribbon in the water, girl" he tells me.

I scowl, tossing it. "If you're going to be using my face to let some strangers gawk at me, you better win".

He smiles. "C'mon girl, you know I am".

I roll my eyes, moving beside him so that I can watch as he takes a few pictures of my very own product. He gets a few cool shots before he pulls it out and gives it to me.

"My father wants you over for dinner tonight," I say.

He winces. "Sorry, but my mother wants me at dinner tonight. She's going to be giving us some good news and I don't think she'd like it if I missed it" he says and I nod.

"No, of course, it was just a small invite. What do you think her good news will be?" I ask. He shrugs.

"Maybe a job opportunity, I'm not sure,e" he says.

"We need to get another with the ribbon, I have an idea, do you mind getting back into the water?" He asks me, changing the subject.

I sure hope everything is alright.