After Kay had successfully covered Sakura’s love bite with makeup, Jane immediately turned up to fetch her for wardrobe. Now some half an hour later, she was staring at herself in the full-length mirror, feeling just a little bit sick at the sight.

She was utterly nervous and could feel her whole body shaking with anxiety. Soon, she’d be posing in front of the camera. Sure, she was a photographer and knew the ins and outs of that profession, but her genre in that field was a world away from this current one she found herself unwillingly participating in. She, after all, took photos of landscapes, scenery, and nature, while this was all about fashion, of which she knew very little.

Ultimately, when the time came, she prayed it’d just be her, Nicolas, Mr. Tachibana, Jane, and the cameraman—whose name she had yet to learn—and no one else. At least then, if she really did mess things up, she wouldn’t feel as if she did it in front of the whole world.

Once again, she returned her attention to her image in the mirror, marveling at the outfit that seemed to snuggly hug her slender figure, showing off her small waist.

Gosh, she really was dolled up from head to toe, wasn’t she? From the look of it, she was sure this very outfit would have cost in the hundreds of thousands per item, and it made her look like a billionaire’s daughter, or an exotic princess from some wealthy country.

The dress was exquisite, made of a dark-blue and white satin, with short sleeves and a skirt hitting at mid-thigh, thus revealing her long, slender legs, which were accentuated by the four-inch, glittery silver heels that Sakura knew would break her ankles if she wasn’t careful. Her hair was coiffured into an elegant knot, while her face was made up classically, highlighting her sensual lips. Topping off this posh look was the sapphire and platinum jewelry from her biological mother’s company. A mixture of silvery white and dark-blue gemstones hung about her ears, neck, and wrists.

Yes, she had to admit she looked amazing, breathtaking even. But she reminded herself again that this was because of the makeup, clothing, and accessories, and she, as the model, must show these pieces to perfection.

Once again, she took another deep breath to calm her nerves.

It was then that Jane came in. “Wow! You look amazing, Sakura.”

Sakura didn’t say anything. Instead, she took another deep breath to calm down.

“You’re going to be all right,” Jane said. “Are you ready?”

Sakura chuckled nervously, giving her friend a frightened smile. “As ready as I can be.”

“Don’t worry,” Jane said. “Mr. Tachibana won’t eat you alive if you can’t follow his instructions.”

Sakura laughed brokenly. “Yeah, right. Right now, I’m so nervous I don’t even think I can walk properly, especially in these heels.”

“Oh, you’ll be fine,” Jane said. “Come on. It’s not exactly your turn yet, but I thought you might want to watch how the professionals do it.”

Sakura nodded, and a moment later, the two headed out of the room. They came through a maze of corridors and then finally into a large office that had a great view of the ocean beyond. Sakura didn’t know it, but it was Nicolas’s office when he came here to do business in Hawaii. Now it acted as a set for the photo shoot.

Nicolas was currently posing with Alaina and Tara. Both women wore expensive, sexy dresses, while Nicolas was wearing Mr. Tachibana’s sleek, powerful suit that fit his authoritative image perfectly as the CEO of Princeton Group.

The moment they stepped into the room, Sakura sucked in her breath. Holy crap! It was jam packed. Apart from the important people, such as Mr. Tachibana, Miss Ruka, the photographer, and the lighting and computer people, there was also Akira, Sosuke, and the Princeton brothers. All of them. And they were sitting so comfortably on chairs provided for them, too.

She had thought they’d either be waiting in their makeup room or, if their turn didn’t come until the afternoon, they’d be out and about, doing their own things, enjoying Hawaii and chillaxing. But no, here they were, their eyes glued to the whole episode as if they were watching a very entertaining blockbuster movie. She was sure if they’d had popcorn, it’d be perfect.

But really, what’s going on? Why are they here?

Then Sakura reasoned with herself that perhaps, like her, they were here to get some idea as to how the process of a fashion photo shoot went, and to see how the professionals did it, as Jane said earlier.

Acknowledging that was certainly the case, she breathed out a sigh of relief. Yes, they’d all be leaving once the first session was over, once they’d gotten some idea as to how things worked, and gained some tips from watching the professionals. Although, Nicolas wasn’t a professional model, was he? Alaina and Tara, however, were.

Sakura quietly came to stand beside Akira, who was looking a little more than pissed as she glared at Nicolas.

Nicolas, who at that moment was the sole subject of everyone’s attention, wasn’t even looking at the camera. His eyes were on Akira, a handsome smirk on his face.

Sakura wondered if he was mischievously flirting with Tara on purpose to make Akira angry.

“Good job, Nicolas. Good job, Tara, Alaina,” Jason, the photographer, said.

Mr. Tachibana rushed over and straightened Nicolas’s suit, while Mr. Ruka fussed over his hair. Then more shooting ensued.

Sakura watched, noting how relaxed Nicolas, Alaina, and Tara were, posing so professionally and effortlessly. Would she be able to do that, too?

For the next fifteen minutes, she silently watched, taking in every detail as to how both Alaina and Tara worked, and by the end of it, she had gained a few ideas.

“That’s it,” Jason said. “Well done.”

As Nicolas, Tara, and Alaina started moving away, Mr. Tachibana asked, “Akira darling, are you ready?”

With her eyes still on Nicolas, Akira said loudly, “Hai, Tachibana-sensei.”

The moment she answered, all eyes turned to her, including the Princeton brothers. And it was then they glimpsed Sakura hiding behind Akira.

Sakura had felt safe standing beside Akira, no one noticing her. When Akira moved and made her way to Nicolas by the desk, however, she felt exposed.

“Oh, my Lord,” Tristan said. “An angel.”

“Damned right,” Logan said, walking over to Sakura. And he wasn’t alone. Tristan, Hayden, and Conrad came along with him.

Sakura grinned nervously as they surrounded her, their eyes taking in her polished looks in appreciation.

“Hey, guys,” she said in greeting.

Conrad said, “Wow! You look like a princess.”

Tristan nodded. “A very posh and innocent princess I just want to mess with.”

Hayden slapped Tristan on the shoulder. “Mind your words, stupid brother. She’s a princess today, so treat her like one.”

Tristan chuckled. “Sorry, darling princess sis,” he said.

Logan said, “Come on. Let’s get you a better view.”

He took her by the arm and led her toward where Sebastian was sitting. Of course, she found it hard to resist, since standing for the last fifteen minutes in the four-inch heels had already pained her feet, and she sorely wanted to sit.

“Move over, Seb,” Logan demanded the moment they arrived. “Princess Sakura has to have the best view.”

Sakura didn’t miss the fact that Sebastian was giving her a dashing smile and that his eyes lingered a little too long on her neck. Is he checking for the hickey? The blasted man! He had caused trouble for her on purpose.

Suddenly, her neck felt sensitive and her tummy fluttered deliciously.

She took a grip of herself and said, with a sarcastic smile on her face, “Yes, please move, Sebastian. This princess needs to have the best view.”

She wanted to taunt him for what he had done to her and found this was the only way to get back at him.

He graciously nodded and then got up from the seat. “There you go, princess,” he said. He even gave her a wink.

“What a flirt,” Tristan commented. Turning to Sakura, he said, “Please don’t be affected by that wink and dashing smile, princess. An angel like you shouldn’t get yourself dirty with the likes of that Seb.”

Sakura chuckled. “I won’t.” But as she sat down, she touched the side of her neck. Why, oh why was it feeling very sensitive today? Well, it was Sebastian’s fault of course.

Logan took the seat on her right, while Tristan sat on her left. Hayden and Conrad took the two empty seats to the left and right of Tristan and Logan respectively. Meanwhile, Sebastian went to stand beside Sosuke at the back.

Once she was settled, Sakura glanced around the room, looking for Darcy. She was pretty sure she had seen him sitting beside Sebastian when she’d entered the room some fifteen minutes before the brothers had noticed her presence. So, where is he now?

Currently, Mr. Tachibana and Jason were prepping Nicolas and Akira, briefing them on how they wanted the pair to pose, while Miss Ruka was adjusting the last-minute details on Akira.

Sakura’s eyes swept past the group and then Tara, who was sitting on the couch by herself, busy on her phone. She moved her gaze to another corner, and that was when she saw Darcy.

He was beside Alaina, and he was watching Sakura, his dark eyes intense. Suddenly, she felt her heart race and her stomach fluttering. There was that something about his stare that didn’t sit well with her, though she couldn’t pinpoint this strange, powerful vibe she felt from him today. And why was he standing next to Alaina? Had the two reconciled?

She honestly didn’t know what to think if that was really what happened. Was she supposed to be happy for them, now that they were no longer estranged? Or was she supposed to worry because Alaina disliked her immensely? In that case, would Alaina once again try her hand at taking Darcy away from her?

Sakura didn’t want to think about it and turned her attention to the photo shoot instead.

She saw that Akira, with her sexy gold cocktail dress, four-inch gold heels, and emerald and platinum jewelry, which adorned her ears, neck, wrists, and fingers, posed seductively, sitting on Nicolas’s desk. Nicolas himself was sitting in the leather chair, his pose powerful and arrogant.

“Move this way a bit, Akira,” Jason instructed.

As the camera clicked away, Akira and Nicolas moved fluidly to show off their best angles.

Tristan shouted, “You can do better than that, Nicolas.”

Logan chuckled. “Akira is taking over the photo shoot. You’re just a prop, Nicolas. The background. If you want to get noticed, you need to do better than that.”

Sakura noticed that Nicolas was trying his hardest not to frown at his brother, and she couldn’t hide her amusement.

Finally, Mr. Tachibana said, “Right. Now change positions.” He walked up to them and told them what he wanted next.

Sakura watched as Nicolas moved from his chair and came to half sit on the desk. Then Mr. Tachibana instructed Akira to move into his arms. In the end, Akira was half sitting on Nicolas’s lap.

Tristan whistled. “Hot! You go, Nicolas.”

In this case, Nicolas really did give Tristan a good glare, demanding him to shut up.

“All right, we’re ready,” Mr. Tachibana said.

As the camera began to click again, Akira wrapped her arms around Nicolas’s neck and posed seductively.

Logan fanned his hand in the air near his face as he said, “Woo! Hot! That bastard Nicolas is super lucky.”

Hayden said, “Your commentary is unnecessary, Logan. Just enjoy the show, will you?”

Logan chuckled. “Got it, bro.”

The photo shoot for Nicolas and Akira continued for another fifteen minutes. Then finally, Jason said, “Done. Great job, you two.”

Mr. Tachibana said to Nicolas, “Do you need a five-minute break?”

Nicolas shook his head. “No, I’m fine.”

Mr. Tachibana grinned from ear to ear. “Can’t wait to get your job done, eh? Good man.” He turned around and said loudly, “Sakura, are you ready?”

Sakura suddenly wanted to run out, but found it was too late, as Jane appeared in front of her as if out of the blue and said, “Yes.”

As Jane led her by the hand onto the set, Sakura was very aware of Sebastian, Darcy, Tristan, Logan, Hayden, and Conrad, as well as Sosuke and Akira, watching her. Not to mention Tara and Alaina. She wondered if those two stayed back on purpose to watch her downfall.

“Sakura-chan,” Mr. Tachibana spoke in Japanese. “Do your best. Don’t worry about those loons watching you. Ah, but you do look beautiful. You are just as I pictured in my mind for this outfit.”

Even though her Japanese wasn’t great, Sakura understood what he was saying. She smiled in appreciation, which relieved her worries and tension. She didn’t know Mr. Tachibana could be so nice and also had a sense of humor.

Sosuke and Akira chuckled at Mr. Tachibana’s comments, while the brothers frowned because they couldn’t understand what was being said. Though, they suspected it was something to do with them.

A moment later, he introduced her to Jason.

“Nice to meet you,” Sakura said, shaking his hand.

“Nice to meet you, too,” Jason said. “Tachibana-sensei told me it’s your first time today?”

At Sakura’s nod, he said, “Just relax and be yourself. Be casual. That way we’ll get the natural beauty out of you.” He even gave her a smile that made Sakura’s heart melt.

Tristan shouted, “Oi! Jason, stop flirting with our sister princess. You’re way too old for her.”

Loud chuckles from almost everyone followed that warning.

Now that Sakura looked at the photographer closely, she noted that he was pretty mature, possibly older than Mr. Tachibana, in his later forties or early fifties.

“Shut up, Tristan,” Jason said loudly. “I’m not flirting. I already have a beautiful wife and three kids at home.”

A cheer went up then, which made Sakura chuckle in amusement. Suddenly, she found she was relaxing and didn’t feel as frightened as she had.

“Feeling better?” Jason asked.

Sakura, still smiling, nodded.

“Good,” he said.

Mr. Tachibana started instructing the pose he wanted then. “Now, Nicolas-kun, I want you sitting in that chair.” He pointed to the leather one behind the desk. “I want you to look relaxed. Not as powerful or imposing as previously. But don’t smile either. You should look a little arrogant, but not too arrogant.”

“That won’t be hard for him,” Akira commented loudly, which Nicolas heard. “Since that’s how he always is.”

Nicolas flicked his gaze to her and said, “How nice of you to notice. You’re very perceptive where I’m concerned, aren’t you, Akira-chan?”

Akira immediately blushed in response, while Sakura chuckled with amusement and Tristan and Logan had their mouth gaped open in shocked surprise.

“Akira-chan?” Logan repeated as if he couldn’t believe it.

On the other side, Sosuke said to himself, “When did Nicolas and Akira become so close?”

Hayden said, “Back in New York. You’re Akira’s brother and Nicolas’s friend. You didn’t notice?”

Sosuke shook his head. “I’m pretty in tune with things like that.” He even chuckled. “Hmm... It wouldn’t be too bad if Nicolas became—”

“Stop!” Logan said abruptly. “No one wants to hear that, so just stop talking, Sosuke.”

Sosuke obediently nodded and zipped his mouth.

On the other side of the room, Mr. Tachibana said, “Sakura, you’ll be standing beside Nicolas.” He turned to Nicolas then. “And you wrap one arm around Sakura’s waist.”

Nicolas did as he was directed, as Sakura stood close to him. A moment later, the camera started to click away.

Sakura finally lost herself in her new job as a model as the camera continued to click and her body fluidly moved. She felt relaxed and, in fact, had forgotten all about the people that surrounded her, watching her.

A few minutes later, she found herself sitting on the side of Nicolas’s chair as he wrapped one arm around her waist. She was posing as the girlfriend of a powerful, young billionaire, and she fit that role perfectly.

“Not too tight, Nicolas,” Tristan shouted teasingly. “You’re pulling Sakura too close, man.”

The brothers laughed, as did the staff. Of course, Akira was chuckling along with everyone else too, which oddly enough pleased Nicolas.

“Wrap your arms around his neck, Sakura,” Mr. Tachibana instructed. Sakura did as she was told, and a big cheer went up.

Tara looked heavenward, while Alaina rolled her eyes.

Click. Click. Click. The camera continued until eventually Jason said, “Done. Good job, Nicolas.” He turned to Sakura and gave her a grand smile. “You did great, Sakura.”

Sakura, feeling elated that she hadn’t messed anything up and was being praised, blushed and smiled. “Thanks.”

Before the brothers could surround Sakura, cheering her on, Jane rushed in and whisked her away to change.

“How was that?” she asked, as they headed back toward the makeup room.

Sakura sighed and felt quite hot all of a sudden. “It wasn’t that scary. Mr. Tachibana and Jason are very nice.”

Jane nodded. “They have planned this project for a long time, so it’s only natural that they’re enjoying it, too.”

While Sosuke had his photo shoot with Alaina, Sakura had her makeup touched up and then changed her wardrobe. Some half an hour later, she was back out again, now wearing a different dress. This time, she was posing with Sosuke, and Jane felt a little more than breathless when she saw the Japanese man in his suit.

Their set was by the window that overlooked the city of Honolulu. Once again, Sakura was much aware of the brothers watching her. Tara and Alaina were nowhere to be found this time, and Sakura was pleased. The shoot went without a hitch, and it was done within half an hour.

“Good job,” Jason said again. “Let’s prepare for the next one.”

“What’s the next one?” Sakura asked Jane, on their way back to the dressing room.

“Your scene with Tristan and Logan at the restaurant. But it’s not until after lunch, so there’s no rush.”

“That’s good,” she said. “I’m really thirsty and need a drink. Not to mention I’m starving.”

Jane chuckled. “Of course you’d be hungry. You’ve been working hard, after all.”

She nodded. “And being nervous takes a lot of energy, right?”

Jane nodded. “That, too.”

When the two girls got back to the makeup room, Akira was already in her casual jeans and T-shirt. “Hurry, you two. We’re meeting everyone for lunch down at the restaurant. I’m famished.”

With that, Sakura hurried in, and both Jane and Akira helped her change.