Chapter 3

Chapter 3

Max regained his composure with some difficulty, straightening his posture and adjusting his tie again. The studio coordinator, who had been watching everything in silence until then, looked at the CEO strangely. He had never seen Max so interested in any of the company's models, much less in the middle of a rehearsal studio. He was used to seeing him walking through the company's corridors or in meetings, always focused on work, with the expression of an unshakable man. Max only appeared in the studio when he was accompanied by interested clients, and even then, he always kept a professional distance from the models.

"Do you need anything, sir?" the coordinator asked, his voice full of uncertainty.

Max took a deep breath, trying to keep control of his emotions, but the image of Natasha still danced in his mind, provoking sensations he was not used to dealing with. He knew he needed to make a quick decision, before his reason was completely dominated by desire.

"Have you hired the model yet or is she auditioning?" Max asked, his voice deep and imposing.

The coordinator was surprised by the question, but answered promptly, without taking his eyes off the powerful CEO.

"We're doing a test, sir. She just arrived, but..."

"Tell her she passed," Max interrupted, the decision coming out of his mouth before he could stop himself.

The coordinator's eyes widened, his body tensing at Max's imperious tone. He had never seen his boss speak so directly, almost like an order that brooked no questioning. Even so, he knew that this was not the time to question the CEO. Standing up straight, he nodded quickly, knowing that if Max was interested in something, it was not up to him to object.

"Of course, Mr. Colt. I'll take care of it right away," the coordinator replied, trying to remain calm in the face of the situation.

Max looked once more at the door where Natasha had left, still feeling the impact that woman had caused in his life. He didn't know what fate had in store for them, but something told him that Natasha would be more than just a model at FashionTech Colt. She was different, there was something that attracted him in an irrational way, something he couldn't explain.

Before leaving the studio, Max gave one last instruction to the coordinator.

"And I want an exclusive contract for her. Something that will keep her here, at the company, for a long time."

The coordinator nodded again, still not fully understanding what was happening, but obedient to the command. Max wasn't the kind of man who made impulsive decisions, but at that moment, he knew he couldn't let her get away. Natasha Miller had stirred something inside him, something that wouldn't let him reason, and he wasn't willing to let it go.

With that, Max left the studio, feeling the blood still boiling in his veins. He knew that this decision would change things, that it would open doors to an unknown path. But for the first time in years, he was willing to follow that path, no matter how dangerous it was. And as he walked through the hallways of FashionTech Colt, Max knew that this woman had already earned a place in his thoughts, and perhaps even in his life.

***

Natasha was alone in the dressing room, changing her clothes after the rehearsal. She sat in front of the mirror, taking a piece of cotton and applying makeup remover to remove the heavy makeup she had had to wear for the test. She ran her fingers with long, well-painted nails gently over her skin, which was as smooth as a ripe peach.

She reflected on her journey. Two years ago, when she still lived in the countryside of Texas, she would never have imagined that that first modeling audition would lead her to where she was today. From a seamstress's assistant until the age of 21, she became a 23-year-old woman who walked the runways with confidence, even though the journey had not been easy. Learning Portuguese was a challenge, but even in that she found an advantage. Her Texan accent was still strong, and she enjoyed noticing how men got excited when they heard her say anything in her American accent.

But no matter how hard she tried to keep her head on straight, her thoughts couldn't get away from the man she saw in the company's lobby and later in the studio. A "gorgeous old man," as she described him mentally. She didn't know who he was, but something about him intrigued her. He seemed like someone important, maybe even the owner of the company, considering he managed to get into the rehearsal without any problems. Natasha knew it was risky, but she couldn't help the urge to seduce him with her eyes and the way she swayed her hips. Maybe it was because she had been alone for so long that her body reacted that way when she saw him.

"He must be one of those men who has several women in his bed," she thought, trying to convince herself that he was unattainable. Even so, she couldn't shake the idea of wanting to be one of those women, even if it was just for a while.night. The idea of being in that man's arms left her with a desire she couldn't ignore.

Sighing, Natasha stopped what she was doing, lowering her hand and looking at the mirror, as if she no longer recognized herself. She finished removing her makeup and applied moisturizer to her face before picking up her cell phone and calling her friend.

"Hi, Lu, are you busy tonight?" Natasha asked, trying to sound casual.

"No, I'll be free after 5 pm. What do you have in mind?"

"I need to go out for a bit. How about we go to the club today?"

"Are you crazy? Today is Wednesday. If I go to the club, I won't be able to wake up for work tomorrow."

Natasha laughed lightly, realizing that her impulsiveness had made her forget the day of the week.

"I didn't think about that, I completely forgot."

"I can tell by your voice that you're sad, thoughtful. How about we go out for sushi?"

"Hmm, you touched my weak point. I've been on a strict diet, but I think I can eat as much as I want today."

"Great, I'll pay! Let's go to the best sushi restaurant in town. Maybe we'll find some hotties."

"Deal! I'll go to the hotel where I'm staying, get ready, and pick you up at 7:00 p.m. Is that okay?"

"It's perfect. See you later."

"See you later," Natasha hung up her cell phone with a happier expression. Sushi had always been one of her favorite foods, and the idea of going out to clear her head cheered her up.

As much as she tried to forget the unexpected encounter with the "gorgeous old man," something inside her told her that that night could be the beginning of something she didn't fully understand yet.

Smiling, Natasha got up and started packing her things. When she left the room, she was surprised by Arthur, the coordinator, who held out a piece of paper to her, an enigmatic smile on his lips.

"Congratulations," he said, his tone admiring. Natasha looked at the paper and, with trembling fingers, picked it up, reading the heading that left her speechless. "Welcome to FashionTech Colt. Please read it carefully and sign it. The terms and conditions are the same as in any other company. However, we have some specific rules that cannot be broken." Natasha looked up, noticing a slight tremor in Arthur's voice as he mentioned the rules. Something in her became suspicious, but she decided not to interrupt. "It is forbidden to maintain any relationship with coworkers," he continued, hesitating slightly. "I know that this is sometimes almost impossible, but outside the company, you are free to do whatever you want, my dear." Arthur's stuttering did not go unnoticed by Natasha. She knew that some rules were made to be broken, and from the coordinator's tone, it seemed that he himself doubted that this particular one would be followed. Maybe he had sensed the spark between her and the man who had crossed her path earlier, or maybe he was just being cautious.

Arthur, on the other hand, had a feeling that this rule might not last long in Natasha's case. Not just for her, but for the CEO himself. He saw something in Max's eyes, something that indicated that the young model had made a deep impression on him. If Natasha was smart enough to gain the full attention of the most powerful man in the company and the country, she would be in a lucky position.

Natasha signed the contract with a small smile, feeling excitement building inside her.

"All right," she said, handing the signed contract to Arthur.

"Officially welcome, Natasha," Arthur replied, trying to hide his nervousness.

Natasha just smiled, thanking him, and left the room with the contract in hand, feeling powerful. As she walked, her thoughts returned to that mysterious man who had captured her attention.