So, this was a thing with Lola, I realized. She loved to save people, or more like let people know she had a hand in others’ success. This was good news. If she wanted to save sad souls, I could lay my sob story on thicker and she could save me too. And by save me, I meant give me all her money.
“Lola is so, so good.” I wanted to throw up after saying the words.
“She is a great person, and the fact that she chose you to model says a lot. That means she sees something in you.” She gave me a wink, her faux lashes batting at me. “Anyway, I’m gonna get you in the chair with the makeup artist. The look will be subtle today—nothing too extravagant. Honestly, though, you don’t even need it. You’re gorgeous—but makeup for this shoot with this sun will give the charity images a fresher look!”
Xena led me to a chair in the sunroom inside, where I could still see the pool and the ocean. The floors were made of hardwood in this room, and there were cushioned lavender chairs in two of the corners. A vase of peonies was on top of a wooden table beside one of the chairs, and skylight windows were in the vaulted ceiling, giving the room a breath of fresh air.
A woman with wavy black hair and tan skin pranced around the corner with makeup brushes and introduced herself as Gena. Gena got straight to work on my makeup. As she did, I became antsy as more time passed, wondering where the hell Lola was.
I hoped she wasn’t leaving me to do this shoot by myself. That would have been rude as hell, and it would have completely thrown off my plans for the day.
Gena was halfway done with my makeup when Lola finally strolled into the sunroom. She wore a flowy blue dress, her honey-blond hair hanging down and touching her shoulders. Her baby hairs were sleek on her forehead and at her temples, and her lips were plump and glossed. All that beauty. Such a waste on a selfish soul.
“Oh, Ivy! Look at you!” Lola rubbed my shoulder with a wide smile. “Sorry it took me so long to come down. I had a few phone calls to make, but I’m so happy to see you here! You ready for today?”
“That’s okay. I’m excited to be here, but also really nervous.”
“No, no. Don’t be nervous. This is a private shoot where you can be yourself. You’re going to do great, plus, Xena always knows how to get people to let loose and have fun.” She gave my shoulder a squeeze and then looked at Xena, who was sitting in one of the chairs and fiddling with the lens of one of her cameras.
Lola excused herself from me to go to Xena, and they murmured about the shoot and other things I didn’t care to listen to. Lola left the room and I watched her go, only to return moments later with a stack of shirts.
“Ivy, we’re going to get started soon,” she told me. “I’ll let you get dressed in my favorite guest room.”
“Okay, great.”
Gena finished off my face with setting spray and I climbed out of the chair, following Lola down the hallway.
“Did you have a sangria to warm you up a bit?” Lola asked as I met up to her. “I swear, a good drink always has me feeling good.”
“I did. Georgia gave me one. Though I’m sure I could use another.”
“Well, there’s more if you’d like. I’ll have Georgia bring another glass to you after you’re dressed.”
Lola sauntered past the den and one of the stunningly decorated seating areas until she reached a molded white door. She opened it, revealing one of the rooms she’d shown me the first time I visited.
There was a queen-size bed swathed in a white duvet and fluffed blue and white pillows at the headboard. The walls were painted a very light blue—by now, it was safe to say this was Lola’s favorite color—and the floors were made of a light oak. The floors were so polished I could see the blur of my reflection.
Lola placed the shirts on a velvet, royal-blue chair in the corner and then stepped in front of a door beside it. She slid the door open, revealing a walk-in closet. I followed her into it, and for a guest-room closet, it was packed with clothes and was about half the size of my apartment.
“Okay, so as far as bottoms, pick your poison, but I would suggest shorts because this is to raise money over the summer. You told me your size via email, so I ordered several styles of shorts, skirts, and jeans and they’re all on this rack here.” She gestured to the front rack. “Experiment the bottoms with the shirts and see which look best for you. There’s a full-length mirror in the bathroom over there.”