Chapter 11 chapter Ten

For Kelly, everything was happening at dizzying speed.She quickly learned the most important aspects of modeling: the company offered her training in image design, posture, demeanor and more.Modeling is largely about attitude, and for Kelly, it means acting, because she doesn't feel internally beautiful or that others are attracted to her. The phrase "overnight success" was probably invented for Kelly.She radiates not only an exciting, provocative image, but also a repulsive air that is challenging for men.Within two years, Kelly had risen to the status of top model.Be a product spokesperson in more than ten countries.She spends most of her time in Paris, where most of the company's most important clients are headquartered.

Once, after attending an ultra-luxe fashion show in New York, Kelly visited her mother before returning to Paris, and she looked even older and more emaciated.I've got to get her out of here, Kelly thought.I'm going to buy her a nice apartment and take care of her. Mother saw her look happy: "I'm so glad you're doing such a good job, Kelly. Thank you for the checks you send every month." "You're welcome. Mother, I have something to tell you. There's a plan. I want you to go away—" "Hey, look who's visiting us—Her Majesty the Queen." Her stepfather had just walked in. "What are you doing here? You're not wearing these fancy clothes to show off?"

I'll have to wait until next time, Kelly thought. Kelly still has a place to stay.She went to the public library where she had spent so many good times, and when she walked in the door with five or six magazines in her hand, scenes of the past emerged in her mind. Mrs. Houston was not sitting behind her desk.Kelly stepped inside and saw her standing in a side aisle, looking radiant in a silky, form-fitting dress, busily adding books to a shelf. Mrs. Houston heard the door open. "I'll be right here." She turned. "Kelly!" almost screamed. "Oh, Kelly." They ran towards each other and hugged each other.

Mrs. Houston pushed Kelly away and looked at her. "I can't believe it's you. What are you doing in Philadelphia?" "To see my mother, but also to see you." "How proud of you I am. You don't even know." "Mrs. Houston, remember I asked you how I thanked you? You said I was thanking you by letting you see my photos in fashion magazines. Look." Kelly put the stack of fashion magazines in Mrs. Houston's arms.Includes Ellie, Cosmopolitan, Mademoiselle and Vogue.She's on the cover of every book. "It's so beautiful." Mrs. Houston's smile was very bright, "I want to show you something." She walked behind the desk and took out several copies of the same magazine.

Kelly was speechless for a moment. "How can I repay you? You changed my life." "No, Kelly. You changed your own life. All I did was give it a little push. Kelly—" "what?" "Because of you, my clothes have also become fashionable." Because Kelly values ​​her privacy, her fame can sometimes get her in trouble.The constant besieging of photographers was a headache for her, and she suffered from an almost phobic fear of being disturbed by strangers.Kelly likes to be alone. One day, while she was having lunch in the fifth dining room of the George V Hotel, a poorly dressed man passed by and stopped to stare at her.He was pale and unhealthy, like someone who spends his whole life indoors.He held a copy of Ellie in his hand and turned to the page with Kelly's picture.

"Excuse me," said the stranger. Kelly raised his head unhappily: "What?" "I saw your—I read this article about you, and it says you're from Philadelphia." His tone became warmer. "I'm from there, too, and when I saw your picture, I felt as if know you, and—” Kelly said coldly: "You don't know me, I don't like being disturbed by strangers." "Oh, sorry." He swallowed. "I don't want to—I'm no stranger. I mean—my name is Mark Harris and I work for Kingsley International. I see you here, I—I thought maybe you didn't like eating alone, and you and I could—"

Kelly shot him a nasty look. "You're wrong. Now I want you to go." He stammered, "I—I didn't mean to interrupt. It was just me—" He saw the look on her face, "I'm leaving." Kelly watched him go out the door, holding the magazine.Hate. Kelly signed on to do a week's worth of print ads for several fashion magazines.The day after she met Mark Harris, she was getting dressed in the modeling room when someone delivered three dozen roses. The card reads: Please forgive me for disturbing you.Mark Harris. Kelly shreds the card: "Take the flowers to the Children's Hospital."

The next morning the costume manager walked into the dressing room again, holding a package: "Someone sent this to you, Kelly." Inside is a single orchid.The card read: I hope I'm forgiven, Mark Harris. Kelly tore off the card: "Keep the flowers." Since then, there have been gifts sent by Mark Harris almost every day: a small basket of fruit, a magic ring, and a toy Santa Claus.Kelly threw them all in the wastebasket.The next gift was quite different: a cute French poodle puppy with a red ribbon around its neck and a card that said: This is "Angel".I hope you love her as much as I do.Mark Harris.

Kelly dialed the directory desk and asked for the phone number of Kingsley International Group.When their switchboard operator responded, Kelly asked, "Is there a Mark Harris working for you?" "Yes, miss." "Can I speak to him, please?" "Hold on." After a while, Kelly heard the familiar voice: "Hello?" "Mr. Harris?" "yes." "I'm Kelly. I've decided to accept your invitation to have lunch with you." There was a surprised silence, and then, "Really? That—that would be great." Kelly could hear the excitement in his voice.

"Today, Laurent, one o'clock?" "Okay. Thank you very much. I—" "I'll make a reservation. See you later." Mark Harris was waiting at one of Laurent's dining tables when Kelly strolled in with the puppy in his arms. Mark's face broke into a smile. "You—you came. I'm not sure—you brought Angel." "Yes." Kelly pushed the dog into Mark's arms, "She can have lunch with you." With a cold sentence, Kelly turned and walked away. Mark said, "I don't understand. I think—" "Okay, I'll explain to you one last time," Kelly snapped. "I want you to leave me alone. Do you understand?"

Mark Harris blushed: "Okay. Okay, sure. I'm sorry. I didn't—I didn't intend to—I just thought—I don't know how—I'd like to explain. Can you sit down for a minute ?" Kelly was about to say no, but sat down with a look of disdain on his face. "how?" Mark Harris took a deep breath: "I'm so sorry. I didn't mean to upset you. I sent you those things to apologize for disturbing you. I just want to have a chance - when I see your picture .I feel like I've known you my whole life. And when I see you in person, you're even more—" he stammered, embarrassed. "I-I should have known that a man like you would never be interested in a man like-like-me. I-I acted like a stupid schoolboy. I'm deeply ashamed. Just Because I—I don't know how to tell you how I feel, and…" His voice trailed off.The whole body exudes a naked and vulnerable fragility. "I just couldn't... express my feelings. I've been alone all my life. No one ever... When I was six, my parents divorced and had a custody battle. None of them wanted me." Kelly watched him, silent.His words resonated in her heart and lifted the dusty memory. Why don't you kill that kid before she's born? I tried.doesn't work. He continued. "I grew up in half a dozen different asylums and no one loved..." They are your uncles.Don't bother them. "It seems like I've never done a single thing right..." The dinner was terrible...the color of the dress doesn't match you...you haven't cleaned the bathroom yet... "They told me to drop out of school and work in a garage, but I—I wanted to be a scientist. They said I was stupid..." Kelly listened more and more engrossed to what he had to say. I decided to be a model. All models are bitches... "I dreamed of going to university, but they said I didn't need any education for the kind of work I did." What are you going to school for?As far as your face is concerned, it's better to sell your ass... "When I got a scholarship to MIT, my adoptive parents said I'd probably get kicked out and I'd better go work in an auto repair shop..." the University?You're just wasting four years of your life... Hearing this stranger's story was like listening to her own life retelling.Kelly sat, deeply touched, going through the same pain inside as the stranger sitting across from him. "After I graduated from MIT, I went to work at a branch of Kingsley International Group in Paris. But I was still lonely." Long pause. "I read somewhere a long time ago that the greatest thing in life is to find someone you love and who loves you...I believe it." Kelly sat in silence. Mark Harris said awkwardly: "But I haven't found this person, and I was about to give up. Suddenly I saw you that day..." He couldn't go on. He stood up, holding Angel in his arms: "I'm so ashamed of all of this. I promise I won't bother you again. Goodbye." Kelly watched him go. "Where are you taking my dog?" she said aloud. Mark Harris turned around, puzzled: "Excuse me?" "The Angel is mine. You gave her to me, didn't you?" Mark stood, in a dilemma: "Yes, but you just said—" "I make a deal with you, Mr. Harris. I keep Angel, and you get the right to visit." He froze for a minute, and then his smile lit up the dining room: "You mean I can—you allow me—?" Kelly said, "Why don't we talk about it over dinner today?" And Kelly didn't know that she set herself up as an assassination target because of this.