In Deep Kimchi (12 page)

The decision was made when she checked out the short zipper. There was no way she could just step into the dress because it wouldn’t get past her generous hips that way. She would have to put it on over her head and work it down. Hell, she might need assistance getting out of it. She sat on the bench, put on the shoes, adjusted the straps and then rose. In a final act, she slipped the gown from the padded hanger and wiggled into it, pulling the slip down first and then the actual gown. Miraculously, she was able to get the zipper up without assistance.

Katsou was waiting for her when she exited. “I knew it would fit you like a glove. Speaking of which, where are the accessories?”

Shaundra handed the bag to him.

“You can add them after your face is done. Come on. The makeup room is free.”

Shaundra followed him out and down the hall to another room. This one was smaller with only two people in attendance. Ai appeared.

“Black hair would be nice, but does not go well with dark skin and a white gown.”

Shaundra did not take offense at the remark.

“Auburn would bring out your complexion more.” She opened a door to a closet full of more wigs than Shaundra had ever seen in her life. “Get to work on her makeup,” Ai told the two young women. “I’ll find something appropriate.”

Shaundra hoped the makeup artist had something to match her skin tone. She hated buying makeup. Either the color was too dark or too light. Normally, she only wore moisturizer and lipstick, and that was only on special occasions.

After about thirty minutes of being waxed, plucked, powdered and rouged, she was finished.

Ai applied a short, bobbed auburn wig that had a part on the right side, and then one of the makeup girls helped her into the gloves and jewelry. All three women spoke very rapidly in Japanese.
Rude
, Shaundra thought. One of them finally turned her chair around so she could see herself in a large mirror.

“Is this me?” Shaundra asked, hardly recognizing herself.

“Mr. Harper is going to love the way you look,” one of the makeup artists replied.

“What does he have to do with this?”

“He picked out the gown and had it sent over especially for you. The accessories too. He has very good taste for a man. He’s not gay, is he?”

Shaundra chuckled. “No, he is very much not gay.”

The phone in the room rang and the other makeup artist answered it. “Hello, okay. They’re ready for you, Ms. Morrison. Chie is on the way to escort you to the room where you’ll be photographed.”

Chie was at the door before she could get out of the seat. “They’re waiting for you, Ms. Morrison. The other three ladies are changing for their next picture.”

Shaundra caught a glimpse of them as they hurried back to wardrobe. Dorothy and Chirau wore spiky wigs while Izanami sported a long, black one.

“Radical,” Shaundra muttered as Chie entered another room across the hall. She stopped in the entrance, amazed to see an American photographer and big lights positioned around the room. There was also a piano and a big cello. The biggest surprised were the two young men waiting…Yori and Ichiro. They were both dressed in white tuxedos and tails. The photographer introduced himself as Jay Adams.

Jay sent Yori to the piano, her to the cello and put a violin and bow into Ichiro’s hands like they actually knew how to play. She’d seen a picture of a cello, before but that was the extent of her musical instrument knowledge. Jay sensed her dilemma, walked over to her, arranged her hands on the strings, positioned her head and then walked over to the cameras. “Don’t move,” he ordered. The next thing she knew, he snapped the picture.

Shaundra blinked, hoping it wasn’t in the shot.

Jay took another round of pictures after moving the instruments around the room and repositioning them and his models. “Smile.”

She caught Ichiro looking her way. She smiled at him at the same time that Jay took the picture. “That’s a wrap,” he said to them. “You can change for your next photos.”

Shaundra was in two more photos…the pop and the soul photos. In the pop photo, they dressed her in a childish school girl outfit with pigtails guaranteed to make dirty old men pant. The soul photo was just a tad bit better. She wore an afro wig, a navy blue mini skirt, a red halter top and platform clogs. Jackson, Riley, Ichiro and Takumijo wore similar garb. The two Japanese men looked a tad bit out of their element as Jay and another photographer set the scene to look like a smoky little nightclub.

Jay dismissed everyone except her when the shot was over. Ichiro looked back once and followed the others out of the door.

“You did an excellent job and I think you’re really going to like the proofs,” Jay replied.

“Thanks, it was fun.” She turned to walk toward the door.

“Don’t leave, Ms. Morrison,” Jay called behind her. “I wanted to ask you if you’d pose for one more photograph.”

“I thought that was the last one.”

“This one is for the cover of
Flowing Magazine
.”

“What? Why would you want me on the cover of a Japanese magazine?”

“Because you are very photogenic and I think you’d get more publicity on the cover, if you’d stop being so reclusive.”

Shaundra put her hands on her hips. “What do you know about that?”

“I’ve read most of your books. I’m a big fan and couldn’t wait to meet you as soon as I learned you were coming to Japan.”

Blush, but not too much
, she told herself. “That still doesn’t explain the statement about me being reclusive.”

“Harper did a PR spill earlier for a television station upstairs. I kind of listened to it.”

“You know Harper?”

Jay nodded and sat down on a stool behind his camera. “He and I are old friends. We grew up together.”

“Figures,” Shaundra replied. “Did he ask you to put me on the cover?”

“No, that was my decision. I do know a thing or two about making people into overnight successes.”

“Not interested.”

“Why not? You’re beautiful.”

“I hope Harper didn’t tell the press about having to drug me to get me on a plane,” she replied, playing off the compliment.

Jay chuckled. “He didn’t mention the drug part, but he did allude to the fact that you have a fear of flying and that you turned down his offer to join the mile high club.”

“I am going to kill him.”

Jay took a picture of her.

Shaundra looked up, startled.

“Shows you have taste as well as character. That’s why I want you for the cover. You have fire.”

“Okay, I guess I’ve gone this far. I can go a little further.”

“Good, wardrobe is waiting for you with the perfect outfit.”

“Did Harper pick that one out too?”

“No,” Jay replied. “I did.”

“But won’t I hold up the others if I have to take another photo?”

“Don’t worry about your friends. They’re eating and it won’t take but an hour.”

“Okay.” Shaundra headed toward the door once she ran out of excuses. She knew it was an honor to be asked the grace the cover of any magazine. She left and walked down the hall to wardrobe where Chie waited.

“I knew you would agree if Jay asked you.”

“He’s very persuasive and good with the compliments.”

Chie agreed. “Girl needs a little ego boosting at least once a week.”

Katsou entered and handed her a garment bag and Shaundra disappeared into the changing booth wondering what kind of taste Jay had since he and Harper were old friends. She removed the white gown, put it neatly back on the hanger and placed the rest of the stuff into the bag. Moments later, she opened the other bag. Inside was slinky red dress like a flapper’s costume. “Shit, they’re going to run me out of Asia if I keep wearing stuff like this.” She eased the seamed stockings out of the bag and put them on and then the dress. It fit like a glove. Once she was dressed, Chie escorted her back to the room. Mr. Niigata was there talking to Jay. The conversation stopped once they spotted her. That was the first time she’d ever seen Mr. Niigata smile.

“Right as always, Mr. Jay,” he replied as he walked over to meet her at the door. “Ms. Morrison is going to take this town by storm.”

Jay beamed like he had just given birth to her.

The red heels made her tall and she had to tug the dress down a couple of times to keep it from rising up on her hips and butt. Mr. Niigata walked her over to the props. The room had been transformed into a romantic Victorian backdrop with lots of flowers. Next to the partition was a snow white chaise lounge. Jay walked her over and positioned her on it. She had to flash a lot of thigh in the process.

Shaundra heard the door open, but she could not see who entered.

“Oh, you’re here,” she heard Jay replied.

“Yes.”

She knew that voice. It was Yori
. What is he doing here
? Her question was answered when he appeared in eye-sight dressed in a black tuxedo with a red shirt that matched her dress. His hair had been combed back from his forehead, exposing those dark brown eyes, that creamy porcelain skin and full lips. Her stomach clenched and her panties dampened like they had in Charlotte’s office.
This is going to be so embarrassing
.

“Mr. Morika has agreed to share the cover with you,” Jay told her when she stopped gawking. He positioned Yori with his arm over the head of the chaise and looking down on her. Jay walked away and got behind his camera. “Smile, Yori.”

Yori smiled down at her.

Oh no, the smile was too much. Wicked and predatory.

Shaundra’s eyes widened and Jay took the picture.

“We’re going to sell every copy we print,” Mr. Niigata said proudly.

Jay posed them a couple more times and, each time, Shaundra was oddly aware of the tall Japanese’s ease in front of the camera. She wasn’t so comfortable. In fact, her body felt on fire.

“Just one more,” Jay replied as he posed them again. This time, he put Yori on the chaise and put her on her knees draped against Yori’s midsection. His abs tightened when she touched him.

“Sorry, am I too heavy?”

“No, it just surprised me. You’re not heavy at all.”

“No talking please,” Jay scolded. “Hold that pose.” He took the picture. “Excellent. This is going to be
Flowing’s
best cover this year.”

Shaundra lifted her weight off of Yori and rose.

Yori rose and tugged his coat hem down.

“Oh!” Shaundra said with alarm, turning her head, quite embarrassed at Yori’s dilemma.

Jay chuckled. “Do you want me to immortalize that on film? It’s quite impressive. The women would hound you more if they knew what was lurking behind those tight jeans you guys wear.”

Yori frowned. “Please don’t. It is just a temporary reaction.”

Jay started packing up his equipment. “Be glad you can still get one. That little blue pill has some wicked side effects, I’ve heard.”

Shaundra didn’t know if Yori knew what the little blue pill was, but she was embarrassed for him.

“I’ll send you both copies of these proofs tomorrow. I should have them ready by then.”