Cam adjusted his glasses and stared intently at the sketches spread across his cluttered design table. Soft light filtered from the ceiling, while the warm glow of wall lamps illuminated the vibrant fabrics decorating the room. Surrounded by a kaleidoscope of colors and patterns, he exhaled a contented sigh. His friend, Chester, walked in, carrying a tray with two steaming mugs of coffee.
"Cameron, you've been at it for hours. What's the big idea for the dress?"
Cam grinned, his eyes sparkling with a burst of creative energy.
"Picture this, Chester. A gown that captures the essence of a summer sunset, with layers of chiffon that cascade like the sun's rays. I want it to evoke the feeling of warmth and romance."
Chester handed him a mug of coffee. "Sounds dreamy. What's the occasion?"
Cam chuckled, taking a thoughtful sip. "An exclusive gala hosted by the city's elite. It's not just a dress; it's a statement, a masterpiece. I want heads to turn, jaws to drop. I want that feeling again."
Chester nodded, leaning against the table. "So, what sparked the idea?"
Cam's eyes gleamed with excitement as he traced his fingers over the sketches. "I was walking through the botanical gardens yesterday, and the way the sunlight played with the flowers sparked something. It's like nature choreographed its own dance, and I want to recreate that in fabric."
Chester grinned. "Nature's dance, huh? That could be the name of that dress. Also, this place could use some sunlight, but how would that even work?"
Cam winked and nodded, signaling his approval of what Chester had said. He set his coffee aside and continued sketching.
Chester sat down on the sofa. He glanced at Cameron with a curious expression, then back at his cup. Hesitant to voice his thoughts, swirling the coffee in his mug, he finally decided to ask anyway.
"Cam, during the interview, I was your assistant, remember? I was masked too. So why pretend I don't know you're Luc?" Chester asked, swirling his coffee before taking a sip.
Cam leaned back, blinking. His face tightened in disbelief, brows lifting slightly. "Are you serious?"
The room buzzed with suspense, wavering between letting go of doubts or solidifying disbelief. A faint smile played on Chester's lips as he absorbed the affirmative reply.
"So, what's the harm in telling people I know you, of course as your assistant?."he questioned, the air lightening with the prospect of unraveling a shared connection.
"Because if I did that, they'd start connecting the dots. That woman will come after you and not just you. Your family, your friends. Anyone linked to Luc's assistant."
Cameron stopped sketching and looked at Chester, his expression suddenly solemn.
"Of course, she will use you to get what she wants. She will hire someone to kidnap you, and your identity will be revealed and that would fuck everything up."
Cameron put down his sketchbook and stood up. He walked to a painting on the wall and continued to explain.
"You already know how hard it is for us to hide and find a place to remove those masks. This will give you the freedom. So, her target would only be me as Luc, and not his assistant Simon. And what she wants is Luc's identity. It's dangerous, that's why I'm always careful"
Cameron pressed a painting of a black cat on the wall, revealing a hidden compartment, and picked up the mask that was inside it and with two fingers, showed it playfully to Chester and smiled.
"She'd do anything to find out who's hiding behind this mask. And we both know she's already on the hunt. It's already hard enough for me to get through your house and be in this room as Cameron since we need to keep this friendship and meet ups a secret. Also- "
"BUT-"
Cameron cut him off. "Announcing that on Tv will make her think that you don't know anything about me. And that would make me, Luc, her major priority, next will be her business, then her name, and so on. I thought by now, you already realize these things," Cam stated, the words laced with a subtle expectation for understanding.
Satisfied with Cam's answer, Chester shrugged his shoulders and smiled. "You're the boss" Chester said with a chuckle, raising his mug.
The two then continued to talk about their plans for the Gala. However, one problem stood in their way, they don't have their ideal model for their envisioned showcase.
The air thickened with the challenge, and a shared realization dawned upon them. They were in search of a face that could embody their vision, yet the missing piece lingered in the unspoken space between their words.
They couldn't think of anyone. None of the actors, influencers, or friends they knew fit the idea of the 'perfect model'.
Hours passed by and Cam stared blankly at the sketches scattered across the table, frustration etched across his face. He and Chester had spent the entire day searching for the perfect model to bring his vision to life at the upcoming gala, but every candidate fell short.
He sighed, running a hand through his disheveled hair, feeling the weight of unmet expectations. In a moment of surrender, he muttered to himself, "Maybe I'm chasing an impossible ideal."
"Hey, everything's going to be fine"Chester assured him. Cam smiled bitterly as he looks at the printed faces attached to the wall. "I'm sorry about the mess Ches and thank you for letting me use your underground bunker as my secret studio."
Chester smirked, "Well, you don't want to get caught by your mother, she hates you, after all. Besides, this room is perfectly hidden. People wouldn't even know I have a bunker."
The two decided to call it a day. Cam closed the door behind him, disappointment clinging to him like a second skin. The tunnel was cold, but not colder than the quiet ache of doubt weighing on his shoulders. He emerged from a hidden hole in the back wall of a building, walked a few meters to the street, and waited for a taxi.