Villain Ch 206. Killer Eyes
With the virtual meeting coming to a close, the participants began to disconnect from the conference call one by one. The familiar sounds of notification pings echoed in the background. Just as Allen was about to log out, a private message popped up on his screen, grabbing his attention.
Vivian: I have something to talk about. Can I call you now?
Allen’s eyebrows lifted in surprise as he read Vivian’s message. He glanced at her screen, noticing the slight hint of urgency in her eyes. It was evident that whatever she wanted to discuss was not something she felt comfortable sharing in front of the entire group. Curiosity piqued, Allen swiftly typed his response.
Allen: OK.
With that, he logged out of the virtual meeting, closing the chapter on the discussion about the game’s events and future plans.
Within moments of logging out, Allen’s phone began to ring, jolting him out of his thoughts. He swiftly grabbed the device and brought it to his ear, eager to hear what Vivian had to say.
“Yes. What do you want to talk about?” he asked, his curiosity piqued by the urgency in her message.
“Um… Do you remember when I told you about my modeling project?” Vivian’s voice came through the line, tinged with a hint of uncertainty.
“Yeah, the one about the criminal and good girl, right?” Allen responded, memories of their previous conversation flooding back to him.
“Yes, that’s the one,” Vivian confirmed. “Well, the photo session is scheduled for this noon,” she added, her voice betraying a hint of nervousness. .𝘤𝑜𝑚
“Great,” Allen replied, his tone filled with curiosity. “So… are you saying you won’t be able to go online this noon?” he ventured, a slight frown forming on his forehead as he tried to piece together where this conversation was heading.
“No… I actually wanted to ask you a favor,” Vivian finally revealed, her voice tinged with a mixture of anticipation and nervousness.
“For?” Allen inquired, his interest piqued by Vivian’s request.
“Well, you see, my assigned partner for the photoshoot had an incident last night,” Vivian began explaining. “The agency just received the news this morning and they’re scrambling to find a replacement model. But here’s the thing – most models have a cute and friendly look, which doesn’t quite fit the character they’re looking for. That’s why I thought, maybe, just maybe, you could help me out with this,” she pleaded, her voice filled with hope.
Allen was taken aback by Vivian’s proposition. “You want me to be your partner for the photoshoot?” Allen made sure, trying to grasp the gravity of Vivian’s request.
He had never considered himself the modeling type, but the unexpected opportunity intrigued him. The idea of stepping into the shoes of a character in a photo shoot, especially one with contrasting roles like a criminal and a good girl, sparked a sense of adventure within him.
“Yes,” Vivian confirmed without hesitation, her voice filled with earnestness and a touch of desperation. It was clear that she had put a great deal of thought into her request.
“But, I’m not a model,” Allen pointed out, his tone tinged with a mixture of surprise and uncertainty. He couldn’t deny the appeal of the idea, but he also knew that modeling wasn’t merely about having a handsome face and a nice body. There were skills and techniques involved that he hadn’t mastered.
“I know,” Vivian replied, her voice gentle and understanding. “But we’ve exhausted all our options, and I genuinely can’t think of anyone else who would fit the role as perfectly as you do. They could certainly use makeup to create the edgy look of the character, but if the foundation isn’t right, it will be a real challenge to pull off convincingly.”
“Then what makes you think I’m fit for this?” Allen asked, his curiosity piqued. He couldn’t help but wonder what qualities Vivian saw in him that made her believe he could pull off the role.
Her next answer caught him off guard and left him momentarily speechless. “Um… you have an athletic body and killer eyes,” Vivian replied, her voice tinged with shyness. Allen could practically imagine the blush spreading across her cheeks as she spoke.
Allen blinked in surprise. He hadn’t expected that response. While he appreciated Vivian’s compliment about his athletic physique, the term “killer eyes” gave him pause. It made him sound like some sort of psychopathic character, rather than the edgy model he was supposed to portray. He couldn’t help but chuckle at the thought.
“I mean, a sharp gaze. Uh… an intimidating one,” Vivian quickly corrected herself, her voice filled with a mix of embarrassment and determination.
Allen couldn’t help but smile at her quick save. He appreciated her effort to clarify what she meant. “Well, I guess having killer eyes can add a certain intensity to the character,” Allen remarked playfully, trying to lighten the mood.
“So? Can you help me? They will pay you well. And don’t worry, I’ll be there with you through the whole process. You won’t be alone,” she reassured him.
“The problem isn’t the payment,” Allen replied, addressing Vivian’s earlier statement. “But I have no experience in modeling. Will the agency be okay with that?” he asked, voicing his concerns.
Vivian’s expression turned serious as she reassured him, “I’ve talked to them about your lack of experience, and they’ve agreed to give you a chance. They understand that you’re not a professional model, but they believe your unique qualities can bring something fresh and intriguing to the character. They’re willing to work with you and provide guidance throughout the process.”
“Have they seen my face before?” Allen inquired once again, skepticism lacing his voice. He couldn’t help but question how the agency could have given their approval without any prior knowledge of his appearance.
Vivian hesitated for a moment, her voice betraying her nervousness. “Uh… Yeah,” she admitted, her tone slightly faltering.
A knowing smile tugged at the corner of Allen’s lips. “So, you have my photo, don’t you?” he guessed, already aware that she had managed to dig up some information about him.
Vivian’s response confirmed his suspicion. “Uh… It’s actually your tournament photo from the gaming magazine two years ago. But I told them that you’ve changed a bit since then,” she explained, hoping to ease any concerns he might have.
Allen couldn’t help but chuckle inwardly at Vivian’s resourcefulness. She had done her research, delving into his past to find an image that could vouch for his suitability for the role. It was both impressive and slightly unnerving to think that she had gone to such lengths.