If there was one thing Moni enjoyed, it was a good night out. They didn’t happen as often as she’d like but when they did, she did her best to make them good. Tonight was no exception.
She’d managed to convince a whole group of her friends to come out. It wasn’t a girls night and she grinned as she relaxed beside her husband. It wouldn’t be long before he got busy again, the holiday season had come to an end after all. She finished off her drink and stood, telling Dante that she was going to get another.
Moving through the mass of bodies was a struggle but eventually Moni made it to the bar. She was trying her best not to lean on the sticky bar top when she noticed someone familiar beside her. Of course, that wasn’t unusual - this was a popular club after all. But this one someone she actually wouldn’t mind talking too.
“Liliana!” Moni called, trying to catch the younger girls attention. She grinned. “Hi! How are you?” she greeted her.
There are about a million things for her to do today, starting with a photoshoot in an hour and ending with model calls. She’s going through outfits, a rack of them had been delivered earlier that morning and she’s trying to find a particular one that she thinks will go great with todays shoot. Except, she can’t find it. It’s not on the rack.
“Monique!” she calls out, as she walks out of her office and into the main bullpen, she already feels frazzeled. “Moni, there you are!” she sighs with relief when she finally runs into her coworker. “The Siriano lace dress is missing, it was supposed to be delivered this morning, do you know if it was taken out for a shoot?”
The Closet was one of Moni’s favorite places to be in the entire Nuntium building. She was forever grateful that a lot of the time, her job ended up putting her there. She’d been cataloging the delivering of clothes that had come in that morning and before any of them could be taken out, they had to be marked down. It wouldn’t do for things to go missing from the Closet.
She’d only just gotten back to her desk, iPad in hand, when she heard her name being called. This was the not so fun part of her job. The part she still wasn’t used to quite yet. “Evelyn,” she greeted happily though. After all, the other woman was someone that she liked. She frowned a little at the brunettes words, thinking back to what dress the other woman was talking about.
“Oh!” Moni grinned then. “I had it not long ago. I just finished cataloging all the new clothes that came in,” Moni told her, lifting the iPad to swipe through the digital copy of the Closet. “This is the right one, right? It should still be there. I can go grab it for you now?” she suggested, turning the iPad to show Evelyn the picture of the dress she’d taken not long ago.
BREAKING NEWS! ((MONIQUE COLLIER)) who looks an awful lot like ((LAURA HARRIER)) has just been seen around Nuntium House. Apparently ((SHE)) is ((31)) years old and have been in the New York City for ((12 YEARS)). They work as an (( ASSISTANT FASHION DIRECTOR )) at ((SCARLET)). If they had an article byline it would read ((IF I BE WASPISH, BEST BEWARE OF MY STING)) - but we have yet to make up our mind if that is accurate.
Monique was born Monique Jeanine Williams to Ronald and Paula Williams. Monique was born only 18 months after her brother. They were so close in age, they basically grew up as twins.
Her mother was a former model and her father a pro-athlete, Monique and her brother grew up in a certain kind of luxury. That only grew as her father retired and set up his own business.
Constantly fawned over about how pretty she was Monique never put much stock into her schoolwork. Instead, she got by constantly on her looks.
With her school career lacking, she never formally graduated high school. At 16 years old she began modelling and her career took off. Of course, it helped that her mother was a very well known supermodel - she truly was a nepotism baby all the way.
Her late teens and early twenties were spent jet-setting and modelling in exotic locations. It was easily a life that she’d become very accustomed too. Though she would always come back to her home base of New York City.
Her brother had followed in their fathers footsteps and was also a pro-athlete. With both their celebrity profiles rising, Monique and her brother very often shared the same social circle and group of friends.
It was because of this that Monique started dating athletes. A cliché for sure but she didn’t particularly mind. Unfortunately, she was starting to be known as a serial wag.
Until, she met Dante Collier. She fell madly in love with him and he with her. It took some time but eventually they got married in 2019.
Since their marriage, Monique has decided that she’s wanted something a little more stable in the work department. She knows she can’t model forever and she doesn’t want to be in and out of the country so often now that she’s married either.
So, through a friend of her mothers, she got a job as the assistant fashion director at Scarlet magazine. A magazine she’s been on the cover of several times in her career.
She’s been there for about a year and a half now and she’s enjoying it much more than she thought she would.
The first thing Monique had done once she realised she was stuck was to text her husband. She didn’t know where Dante was and she’d wanted to make sure he was safe. Now though she was updating her instagram feed, or trying to at least, with a few pictures and videos of the storm.
She was startled out of her concentration when a voice was directed towards her. Looking up she was surprised to see a man beside her. It took her a moment to realise what he was saying. “Oh, really? What for?” she asked curiously, head tilting up towards him as she spoke.
-
“Glad you ask.” Peter said rather quickly before taking out his business card. “I’m the new guy at the newspaper.” He explained. “I’m guessing my bosses will be happy if I update them about this storm and how the people felt about it - it’s news after all.”
He waited before realizing he hadn’t introduced himself. “Oh, I’m Peter Vanderwood by the way. New face in town.” Though he was aware he wasn’t the only one, rumor has it that CEO Andrew Hopps also was in town. Guess he got tired of lil washington?
“Oh, wow. Newspapers still exist?” Moni asked lightly, eyebrow raised in surprise at the man’s words. Of course she knew all types of news platforms were around but she felt like she hardly ever saw people reading physical newspapers anymore. She’d just sort of assumed they’d basically died out. She laughed a little then, grinning. “I suppose you’re right, it’s definitely news. Especially if it’s shut down half the city,” Monique mused.
She grinned then, giving him her best smile as he introduced himself. “It’s nice to meet you then, Peter Vanderwood,” she greeted him. “Monique Collier,” she said in reply. “You can sit down if you want?” she suggested, eyes glancing quickly to the spare seat opposite her. “So, if you’re new in town, where’d you come from?” she asked curiously.
Peter was excited, how could he not be - for once he didn’t have to go all over the place in the hope he’d find news. News litterly found its way to him. And with news meant confessions of the civilians - He’d written an baseline of what went down since he entered the restaurant but now he needed some interviews to make things more humaine. “Hey you, yeah you. Mind if I interview you?”
The first thing Monique had done once she realised she was stuck was to text her husband. She didn’t know where Dante was and she’d wanted to make sure he was safe. Now though she was updating her instagram feed, or trying to at least, with a few pictures and videos of the storm.
She was startled out of her concentration when a voice was directed towards her. Looking up she was surprised to see a man beside her. It took her a moment to realise what he was saying. “Oh, really? What for?” she asked curiously, head tilting up towards him as she spoke.
Elizabeth couldn’t believe that of all places, she was stuck in a bank. She’d had to deposit something in one of her security boxes, and unfortunately that was a process that required her to be there in person. Usually she’d have sent her assistant to do it for her.
But just as they were about to depart the power went out and Elizabeth frowned. She’d made a fuss but even for someone of her stature, she hadn’t been able to leave. With a huff, she sat herself down in one of the comfortable desk chairs, legs crossed as she ordered her assistant away from her. It was her fault she was stuck here anyway.
Looking around she was surprised to find that there were several familiar faces stuck in the bank with her. She grinned.
“Well, this is certainly not how I was planning to spend my evening. I had a dinner I was supposed to be at but I doubt I’ll make that,” Elizabeth said to the person closest to her, giving them an amused smirk and a dry little chuckle.
Scouting, stupidity, call it what you want it. He called it stupid. It wasn’t his fault, that’s why he was here. Having an intern or even anyone under him would help. Instead, “Fuck,” he muttered brushing twigs out of his hair. So much for the jacket he had on, that had been scuffed in the process. He just looked like he’d broke free and was running through the woods. Dirt on his face, shoes muddied and covered with leaves. He gave a sheepish smile at the person looking at him. “Nature is dangerous, don’t listen to anyone who says otherwise.” All for work. They’d better reimburse him.
Elizabeth grimaced as she took in the rather dirty and scruffy image of Emilio in front of her. There was no doubt that her distaste was obvious on her face. “Oh, I’m sure it is,” Elizabeth mused, lips pursing a little. “Although, honestly Mr. Jeannin, you look like you’ve just buried a dead body out in the woods. You might want to fix that before you see any other clients,” Elizabeth quipped, shaking her head at the young photographer.
Going to therapy was not something Elizabeth was particularly happy about but ever since her grandfather had died and the dissolution of her marriage, she had to admit that it had helped. She found Dr. Piazza to be rather exceptional at her job, and frankly she expected nothing less, even with her current troubles. Still, as long as the Doctor did her job to a degree that Elizabeth was satisfied with, she’d continue to see the woman.
Elizabeth’s schedule was a busy one and she didn’t like to be kept waiting, so it was with some annoyance that she sat in a comfortable chair in the waiting area, barely repressing the urge to scowl. There weren’t many times in her life that she wasn’t catered to and unfortunately, she’d had to accept, that therapy was one of those times. Legs crossed, she tapped out an email on her phone, her assistant holding her bags a few seats away; the woman was one of the only people to know she went to therapy. It was a closely guarded secret - she could only imagine the chaos it’d cause if her Uncles were to find out.
Finally the door to Dr. Piazza’s office opened and a raggedy looking woman made her way out. Elizabeth could barely hide her disdain before her eyes found the Doctor’s. She stood, pasting on a demure smile as she all but tossed her phone towards her assistant. “Dr. Piazza, lovely to see you,” she greeted the therapist warmly.
Shoulders back and head up, she walked straight into the office as if she owned the place. Elizabeth took her usual seat, smoothing out the skirt of the grey business dress she wore, crossing her ankles delicately. Her hands rested together in her lap, fingers pressing against each other as she waited to start speaking. She had actually come here with something in mind to talk about for once; she was under no delusions that at times her therapy sessions were like pulling teeth. Sometimes she felt for Dr. Piazza, most times she did not.
Elizabeth wasn’t at all surprised to find that she and Helen would be attending the same dinner party. They’d made many mutual friends during their years together and a rather amicable divorce wasn’t enough to fracture their connections completely. Besides, she rather enjoyed seeing Helen - the woman had been a big part of her life for close to a decade.
She smiled, glad Harrison was distracted with a cigar and an old friend. He was the kind of man, she’d learnt, that made friends wherever he went and knew people all over the world. It was such a different experience to her own life and she was rather fascinated by it. Her eyes caught Helen’s across the room then and before she knew it, she was making her way towards her, practically gliding through the room.
“Helen, darling,” Elizabeth greeted with ease, she’d had a few glasses of wine by now, leaning in to peck her lips against Helen’s cheek. “Your aversion to calling me Bebe really is amusing,” she told her as she pulled back. “It’s lovely to see you here. No date again tonight?” she asked lightly, smiling as she let her eyes travel over the blonde surreptitiously.
Helen had been hesitant to approach Elizabeth at first, mostly due to the fact that she didn’t want to seem overeager. Yes, the pair had quite a nice interaction at the charity event a week earlier, but there was still the idea in the redhead’s mind that her former lover had only spent time with her out of goodwill… she was far too modest to actually believe any time with her was well-spent.
The smile already present on her fact spread as the slightly shorter woman approached her, immediately leaning in for a kiss on the cheek, as if it were completely natural. She’d learnt over the years to comply to the obligatory cheek kiss, it was something she wasn’t entirely used to upon moving to New York and mingling with high society, back in D.C, it was warm hugs or handshakes… the social etiquette was quite different from the circles she was used to.
A soft laugh left her crimson painted lips at Liz’s comment. There was complete truth in her statement… Helen had no desire to call the woman by the nickname that had seem to stick with her family and friends over the years. “It is? Well, I’m glad you’re amused by it. It just… doesn’t sound good coming from my lips. You’ll always be Liz to me.” She smirked, giving her a quick wink - something that happened before she could stop herself. “Ah, actually I do have a date. Victoria. She’s quite lovely.” The journalist replied rather matter-of-factly, pointing over to an attractive, leggy brunette clad in a slinky silk dress. A bit younger than Helen, but incredibly enchanting nonetheless. “Harrison looks like he’s having fun. Are you having a good night?”
“Oh, I didn’t mean amused in a good way darling,” Elizabeth explained to her easily, a warm smile on her lips as she spoke. She never could understand why Helen refused to call her by the nickname she’d acquired in her girlhood. “Yes, well, a lot of things could sound good coming from your lips. Though you never did give it much of a try,” Elizabeth mused, lips quirking up in a smirk at Helen’s wink. Clearly they viewed this same thing very differently and Elizabeth decided that there was no point in making a fuss over the use of a nickname; not now that they were no longer together at least.
A perfectly manicured eyebrow shot up in surprise at Helen’s statement. She followed the redhead’s gesture as she pointed towards a younger woman a little ways away from them. “It’s lovely that you’re finally getting back out there Helen,” Elizabeth complimented sweetly. Her glanced back to the young woman that had accompanied Helen. “Although, isn’t she a little young for you Helen? I didn’t realise you’d fallen for the doe-eyed look,” Elizabeth continued, smiling turning a little sharper as she spoke.
She was surprised however when Helen brought up Harrison. She’d had the distinct impression during their last meeting that Helen hadn’t been fond of the man, though they’d never actually met. Her own eyes glanced back briefly to her current beau, smiling at his warm enthusiasm. “He is. He’s very personable, he even managed to find an old friend here tonight,” Elizabeth explained, turning back towards her ex-wife. “And I am. Thank you for asking, darling. It’s not often I get to enjoy myself like this. You know, of course,” Elizabeth smiled then. “And how about you? Are you enjoying yourself tonight?”
Monique had spent a wonderful Christmas season with her family and now that, that was over, she wanted to have some fun. So with a group of close friends, Moni decided to go out clubbing for one night. Her husband and brother were both out of town for a game - which left her on her own for a few days. The club was pumping and Moni had a few cocktails in her and she was having fun. So she was surprised when a man made his way towards the group, directing his words and a hand towards her.
An eyebrow rose at his words as a surprised smile graced her lips. She couldn’t help but laugh a little as he spoke. With a quick glance to her friends, she gave an easy shrug. “I’m not alone. But sure,” she told him with a firm nod, taking one more quick sip of her drink and standing up. “And you better not be flirting, the ring isn’t just for fashion,” Moni told him teasingly. He seemed friendly enough.
“I’m Monique!” she shouted to him as she stepped a little closer. “Don’t get handsy, yeah.”
Beau didn’t visit anyone during Christmas day. He had the apartment to himself. He lived alone. He didn’t mind it. He liked his own company. During the Christmas period he had made new friends which was nice. Some were more accepting of him than others, but any company was good company in his eyes. He watched as the dark-haired girl rose her eyebrow at him and smirked. “I’m not flirting. You’re cute but I can see a ring. I’m not trying to get involved in any of that,” he chuckled.
Beau looked at the other and nodded his head as she introduced herself. “Pleasure to meet you Monique. I’m Beau,” he introduced himself. “And I’m a little tipsy,” he laughed. “After the day I’ve had, I needed to do something,” he said, talking seriously for a moment before looking back at Monique. “I won’t get handsy, I promise you.”
“Good!” Moni exclaimed at his words, smiling as she nodded. It wasn’t that she thought every man that talked to her was trying to flirt but in a club, you could never be sure. It was better to make the boundaries clear. “Hi Beau!” she greeted, when he gave her his name, grinning widely. She was on the fun side of tipsy it seemed.
As he spoke, she couldn’t help but laugh, nodding at him. “Me too! So don’t worry, you’re in good company,” she told him with a sweet smile. Her brows furrowed for a moment at his words. “Oh? Not a good day?” she asked curiously, knowing it really wasn’t her business but asking anyway.
His promise not to get handsy with her had her appraising him curiously for a moment before she nodded, believing him. “Alright. Let’s dance then...”
