Chapter 163 - That Alluring Face

Nothing, he thought, and wrapped the scarf around himself. He turned off the light and left for the station. He hadn't made a decision yet, and he felt an unpleasant cramp in his stomach. He usually responded well to stress, but now he felt helpless. Unable to decide whether to take up a challenge that seemed unpleasant to him or to enjoy his new life calmly, he was also unable to define his actions.

That was what dinner was for today. Giorgio Fiorelli, despite his young age, was not just anyone in J. Acutti. For three years, he has been the mastermind behind all of his company's global advertising campaigns. He was either a genius or he started very young because he looked like a guy just turning thirty. Someone who had such achievements at that age was not an average person and had to be reckoned with. Andrzej, who had goggled all the information about him, was impressed by his achievements and was flattered by the fact that someone like him chose him as his new discovery.

The problem, however, remained the same - Nowicki was not attracted to the work of the model.

Fiorelli was already waiting for him at the table. He got up as soon as he saw Andrzej approaching and extended his hand to him.

"I'm glad you came," he said, holding his hand. "You hesitated for a long time?"

"Not at all. I have no reason to decline a free dinner."

The joke worked. Fiorelli laughed revealing a set of white teeth and the men sat down. A waiter came over and handed them the menu.

"I understand that you are not a professional model" due to the specificity of the English language in which they interviewed, they naturally switched to a less formal form of communication.

"That's right. To tell you the truth, I don't like being photographed."

"Was it shyness? Or maybe a lack of trust in the photographer?"

"Partly both."

"I understand, really. Whenever I posed for photos, I felt uncomfortable. Did you know I was a model for J. Acutti for a while?"

"No, I haven't heard of that."

"Ten years ago my photos were in the lingerie catalog. I never had a cover, but I proudly represented a world famous company throughout the season, and even though I showed my cheeks I can't say I was her face. Have you already chosen?"

So Fiorelli meant those cheeks below the waist, Andrzej thought. 

"Yes."

Fiorelli nodded to the waiter and they placed the order.

"Don't worry, although I can bet you look great all over, we want to put you in the cosmetics campaign for men. We're not gonna undress you below the waist."

It was also supposed to be a joke, so Andrzej smiled politely, although he was not laughing at all. Recently, when a man started talking to him about nudity or feelings, he felt that he meant homosexual overtones.

It was, of course, statistically impossible for every guy he met to think of him that way, but after Dominik's adventures and Marczak's confession, Andrzej knew that there were more people interested in the same sex than he once thought. Even if they weren't self-declared gays, they might feel like some unplanned adventure.

Erotic photos or simply showing a certain nudity, even the completely natural one, could arouse desire and while it would be nice if women admired him, Nowicki was not ready for his photos to be looked at by men other than Dominik with lascivious eyes.

"You are a professional photographer," continued the Italian. "You know what this trade is. You surely also know that women are more likely to buy men's cosmetics."

"Yes, I know the statistics."

"We are behind the stages of a gentleman, a wild man, a naughty boy and even a very polite boy. You could say that everything has already been done and everything has sold out. But since everything has already been done, what is left for us? A repetition of the entertainment?"

"Modifications."

"Exactly. This is where you come in."

"All right. How?" Andrzej showed sincere interest. He really was curious to see what Fiorelli had seen about him that he wanted to risk and hire a total amateur.

"Because you are all of the above."

The waiter who had just brought the starters interrupted their conversation for a moment, and Andrzej had time to think about the Italian's answer.

"We have a saying in Poland. 'If something is for everything, it actually sucks I neverything.'"

"Exactly not," Fiorelli reacted very vigorously. "'Italy is the mother of the Renaissance, and I don't need to remind you that the Renaissance man was just an omnibus. Specialization is not bad, but you cannot limit an individual with a potential well over one domain."

"I agree, but it applies to science and art. Maybe in ordinary life. But what does this have to do with human physiognomy?"

"So let's take the Mona Lisa into consideration" Fiorelli proposed as an example. "This one face, one portrait evokes dozens of different emotions, from adoration and delight to extreme aversion. One portrait, as one photo, can carry several, even several dozen messages, depending on the recipient. You know that as a photographer. As an artist. You just need to find the right face."

Nowicki had to agree with him. Regardless of his own artistic preferences, he knew that there are works that are unique not because of the artistic approach, but because of the object they represent. Especially when they are portraits. As a passionate portraitist himself, he realized how ambiguous human gazes can be and how ambiguous. One sees innocence in one smile will other notice mockery in it.

"Sorry, but I can't put myself in the same row as woman, who was model for the Mona Lisa."

"Or a man," Fiorelli observed.

"Or a man," Nowicki agreed.

"That's because you can't see yourself that way. When you look in the mirror, you only see yourself. The face you see every day from childhood will not be something new and fascinating for you. It is as natural as the air you breathe. Others, however, see it differently. You amazed me the first time I saw you."

The corner of Andrzej's mouth twitched. This confession sounded a bit ambiguous, almost like a declaration of love at first sight. Nowicki was angry with himself that such a thing had even occurred to him. He spoke to the talent hunter, it was obvious that the Italian had to be sensitive to certain aesthetic values ​​and there was nothing to it but a healthy, professional attitude.

"And you think others will feel the same?"

"Yes of course! To someone intelligent and gifted like you, the thought of making money just by your look, like you have nothing more to offer, may seem derogatory, but you have more to offer."

"I wouldn't use such a harsh word. I work with models and do not see anything derogatory in their work."

"You're right, sorry. But isn't it so that the work of a model, although hard, does not require such a wide range of skills?"

"I don't think that's where my reluctance to do this job lies" Nowicki answered.

"So where?"

"I don't like being shown. I prefer to be in the shade" he explained.

"Have you been on the poster often?"

"Not really," Andrzej admitted.

"So why do you say you don't like it? Even if you've had bad experiences, they can be turned into good ones. You know, thousands of men in the world could get cut themself alive to get the chance to show themselves at our company. We're knocking on you. You should appreciate it."

"I appreciate it," Nowicki sighed although he didn't enjoy the vision of being thankful for something that didn't really interest him. "However, I cannot shake off the impression of the surrealism of this situation. I walk down the corridor, a group passes me and suddenly it is decided that I will be the face of the new campaign. These things don't even happen in soap operas."

"It wasn't the first time I saw you" Fiorelli announced.

"What?"

"A few days ago you were in that bar with a blonde girl. Even then, I couldn't take my eyes off your fascinating face. I was so infatuated that when you got up to leave, I panicked. I missed a moment to come over to you and offer cooperation, and when we ran into each other, I couldn't find any English word. I came back later to ask about you, but the bartender didn't want to be helpful. All the time he said he saw you for the first time in his life."

"I'm not a regular customer here," Andrzej explained, silently adding "yet."

"I managed to establish that you can work in one of the agencies, but we did not know in which. I immediately assumed, as you can see wrongly, that you are a model. I never thought that you would not use your natural strengths."