Chapter 37: Model / 6.1 : This Eden is a model
When Eden opened his eyes he was laying on a bare mattress. He looked around the tiny room after standing up. Besides a mattress, there was a wardrobe and a small fridge. He walked to the equally tiny bathroom to look at his reflection. His reflection was different than his previous one. He had long phoenix eyes and narrow and thin eyebrows. His hair was dark and he carried an aquiline nose that complemented his prominent cheekbones. His pale skin was like the silk of white rose petals making his lips redder. Satisfied enough Eden went to sit on the mattress again.
He closed his eyes using Versem and an interface appeared. He looked at the specs of the universe then selected receive and felt all the information of this universe pouring in.
This Eden is a 20-year-old ger. Ever since he was a kid he dreamed of becoming a model. It’s the only world he knew because of his parents. His mother Erin Grey was a famous model but she retired when her pregnancy started to show. His father Dawson Grey was a businessman in the fashion industry but sold all his companies to build Grey Modeling with his wife. Eden was always alone at home while his parents would be working at the agency. Thankfully he had two best friends called Astrid and Ezra who were constantly at his side. They wanted to be models as well and when they turned nineteen they went to Grey Modeling asking Eden’s parents to represent them.
His parents signed Astrid and Ezra on the spot. When Eden asked why they wouldn’t sign him as well they said that he wasn’t pretty enough and that he had a boring personality. Eden felt heartbroken but he still celebrated with his two best friends. He watched from the sideline as his parents found gigs for them. One night he waited for them to come back home and begged them to give him a chance to prove himself but his father lost patience and beat him. The next day Eden ran away with the money he had saved up over the years and rented a one-room apartment.
For months he looked for gigs without success until he finally got lucky. A famous brand called Atom was looking for a global brand ambassador. Being their ambassador would mean they would walk the runway wearing their haute couture clothing line and they would be the face of their perfumes and hotels. Atom would organize a reality tv competition every year to choose the new ambassador. Eden knew that even if he wouldn’t win his face would be recognized since the reality tv show Modeling Atom was watched by the whole country.
He auditioned and became one of the ten candidates selected. The competition featured five different challenges and the candidates would be staying in a villa near the hotel since all the challenges took place there. They were filmed constantly and the episode would air the next day. When Eden arrived at the villa he was surprised and happy to see his two best friends Ezra and Astrid. Ezra was over the moon but Astrid was angry. She was pleased when Eden wasn’t signed with them and he moved away. She had been in love with Ezra forever but she felt that he only had eyes for Eden.
Ezra was indeed in love with Eden but he didn’t dare to confess for fear of losing his best friend. Astrid went on a mission to destroy Eden’s reputation and it worked. She knew Eden since he was a kid and knew what would set him off. She went for his Achilles heel which was his relationship with his parents. She kept antagonizing him and Eden would lash out and say the most vicious words to her. While Eden was always caught on camera she wasn’t since she had seduced a producer. After two challenges Eden was eliminated. His public votes were extremely low because his parents worked double duty to destroy his reputation outside as well.
They wanted one of the two people they signed to win since it would be extremely beneficial for Grey Modeling and felt no remorse destroying their son’s reputation. Erin would do interviews sobbing about how he left home without telling them and that they thought he was dead until they saw him on tv. They said that he was abusive, unfilial, and selfish. Despite all the lies spread by his parents Eden went back to his apartment not responding. He went back to looking for gigs while supporting his friend Ezra even though he abandoned him because of Astrid.
He became heartbroken when he saw Astrid and Ezra become a couple. He had feelings for Ezra and thought that maybe he felt the same way. Astrid won the show and became the brand ambassador for Atom. Just a couple of days after the end of the show Astrid broke up with Ezra and got into a relationship with another candidate called Kalel. He fell in love with Astrid’s sweet image and decided to do everything to make her his. Astrid who had been flirting with him in the villa agreed when she found out that Kalel was the President of Atom.
He was a control freak and wanted to make sure that the person selected to be the ambassador of the brand wouldn’t cause trouble to his business. He was able to do it because no one knew what the president looked like since he had someone who represented him. Once they went public the entire country loved the couple and everything they would touch would turn to gold. Eden’s parents were even happier, Astrid hadn’t forgotten that they first gave her a chance and would publicize Grey Modeling at every turn. They quickly became the number one modeling agency in the country.
Eden felt depressed but he still worked tirelessly to get modeling gigs. When the news about him died down he finally got one but the next day it was canceled. Then started more negative news about him. He realized that he was being sabotaged and tried to look for a normal job because he was running out of money. Even at that, he failed, his face became the most recognizable one in the country. His blackened personality followed him everywhere until he ended up on the street out of money. He randomly died during a street fight. When the news spread everyone felt that he deserved it.
When Eden opened his eyes he burst out laughing as usual. This is fuckin ridiculous. First of all his parents are just as despicable as always second just because Ezra is in love with him it’s okay for Astrid to ruin his life? We’ll see about that. He grabbed his computer and opened it. He looked at the amount left in his bank account. He smiled, this will be more than enough with Versem. He went on a trading site and made one minutes investment. An hour later he looked at all the money he earned pleased. His audition with Modeling Atom is tomorrow and he has a lot to do before that.
He stood up and left the apartment after looking for the best hair salon. He walked in and a woman smiled at him after he took a seat.
"Hello, do you have an idea of what you would like?"
Eden looked at her through the mirror and said:
"I’m a natural blond and I want the dye out of my hair."
The woman nodded and went to get everything she needed. Eden leaned back when she came back to relax.
Eden is actually blond but he died his hair to be more like his parents. They both have dark hair and gold eyes but he was born with blond hair and blue eyes. He already felt this emotional distance between them and he thought that he would feel closer to them if they at least looked alike. Why should he change for people who don’t care about him?
He’s glad that they don’t look alike because he wishes they had no blood relation, at least with his mother. Since he was a baby everyone would say how beautiful he is with his blue eyes and blond hair which infuriated his mother. She hates Eden because she felt like he had stolen her beauty and destroyed her career. He’s going to destroy Grey Modeling until the only thing left is ashes.
An hour later Eden looked at himself in the mirror. With his blond hair and beautiful blue eyes, he looked straight out of a catalog. His skin was tan which made his blue eyes shine brighter. He smiled haughtily and the hairdresser nearly choked on his beauty. Eden stood up and looked at her with a friendly smile.
"Thank you I’m pleased with the result."
The hairdresser nodded with a blush, she felt parched for some reason. She hasn’t done anything more than taking the dye off. She felt grateful that she did because Eden looked like a male god.
Eden smiled and left. He went to an agency to get a new place because there was no way in hell he’ll stay in that tiny room. After finding an apartment in a luxurious building he went shopping and sent everything there. He went to the old apartment and had men throw everything out. He opened the wardrobe and grabbed a gold bracelet hidden underneath his clothes. He looked at it with an affectionate smile and left. It’s the only thing he needs from the past. He got a new cellphone and computer and went to his new home. He entered the building and got into the elevator. The doors opened directly in his living room.
He ordered food and ate while doing his homework on the people of this universe. He took a shower and got into bed. He needs to wake up early for the audition. When he woke up he took a shower and ordered breakfast. When he was done he got into the car and his chauffeur drove him to the hotel Atom. He got out of the car when the chauffeur opened it and looked at the luxurious hotel a little impressed. He walked in looking at the grand lobby. This is ridiculous how rich is Kalel Atom? That man is not even 26 and he already built an Empire.
He went to the lobby and asked for directions. Eden walked to a room and saw multiple models waiting for their turn. He took a seat and closed his eyes leaning back. An hour later he opened them when he heard:
"Eden?"
He walked to the woman with a smile.
"It’s me."
"Follow me."
Eden followed her and entered a spacious room. There was a big white backdrop with lighting equipment and reflectors. In front of it was a man carrying a camera with a tripod in front of him.
On the side were multiple racks with clothes and there were multiple vanity tables with lights. Eden was led to the designer and when his eyes landed on him they immediately lit up. Eden stood in place as he looked at him from all angles. He thought for a few seconds and said with excitement:
"I know exactly what will be perfect for you."
After giving the ensemble to his assistant he was led to a dressing room to change. He quickly did and scanned himself in the mirror.
He was wearing a blue utility shirt with trousers and he had on white sneakers. He walked out and he was placed in front of the background with only a chair waiting for instruction. The photographer asked
"What’s your name?"
"Eden."
"Ok Eden for now I want you to pose as you like."
Eden nodded and started to pose.
He relaxed and counterposed, he decided to start with a natural look. When the photographer had enough pictures he leaned against the chair. His legs were crossed and one of his hands was in his pocket. After multiple poses, he decided to show the real him. He sat on the chair crossing his legs and looked at the camera with squinted eyes. His blue eyes were shining mischievously and he seemed to be up to no good. He had a haughty smile on and everyone on set felt like they were beneath him. The photographer kept taking pictures nonstop.
Eden licked his lips and it went from playful to seductive. He looked like he wanted to seduce them to join the dark side and everyone would gladly follow along.
"Perfect Eden."
Eden stood up and after thanking him he went to get changed.
When he walked out the designer said:
"You’ll receive a mail if you’re selected with all the information you’ll need to know."
Eden smiled.
"Ok thank you for having me."
The designer smiled whispering:
"Don’t worry I’m sure I’ll see you soon."
Eden laughed and hugged him goodbye. He walked out but he stopped and turned around. He looked up at a high dark glass window. He could tell there was a viewing area up there. He felt drawn to it for some reason and he looked at the dark glass with a frown. You couldn’t see what was behind it. He just had this feeling for some reason. His senses are heightened but it’s not like he can see through walls. He turned around and left.
Kalel looked at Eden leave. He had a chiseled jawline and his almond green eyes were shining with interest. His hair was dark and he had a well-set straight nose and full lips. His dark three-piece suit fitted him to perfection. You could see his muscles underneath it and he looked like your typical overbearing president. Kalel’s hands were in his pocket and he had a devilish smile on his face.
He doesn’t understand how Eden’s eyes were able to land on him so perfectly. At first, he thought he saw him until he saw the frown on his face. No one knows that he watches every candidate from up here but Eden did. His business is everything to him so he has to okay everything, he is a control freak so of course, he’s not going to rely on anyone else. He’s glad he doesn’t or he wouldn’t have seen Eden. He never met someone so breathtaking before. He looks like an angel with his blond hair and blue eyes.
Even during the shoot when he was acting haughty it wasn’t the kind that makes you despise someone but the one that makes you want to spoil them. He looked like an entitled angel and he just wanted to pamper him. He doesn’t know why but he feels like he should be. He smiled his eyes shining with excitement.
