Chapter 164 - Something's Not Right

"I have a few more than the face itself" Nowicki noticed.

"Oh yes, definitely. You see, our company still has a reputation. A brand as old as ours does not collapse quickly, but it is more and more difficult for us to reach a new group of customers, and the old ones ... Well, no one lives forever. To reach this new group, we need something modern but not extravagant, we must finally maintain our classic image. Someone like you is essential at this point."

Andrzej decided that it was not fair to lay the fate of this company on his shoulders. Fiorelli was playing dirty. At that moment, the Italian leaning slightly forward reminded him of Marek Marczak, a man who always got his way, regardless of the price and number of victims left behind.

Although not always. Since Andrzej appeared in Dominik Śliwiński's life, Marczak could no longer touch the young actor.

"Andrzej, please consider this offer!"

Fiorelli gently placed his hand on Andrzej's. Nowicki suppressed the instant instinct to tear his hand away. What the hell is going on? He withdrew it gently, taking the cutlery in it and dealing with the dish on the plate.

The Italian did not seem offended, but he did not withdraw his hand, leaving her on the side of Andrew's table. Nowicki had heard of the directness of men from the South, but they were in Poland, and such familiarity was not the norm.

Rather, it was seen as an infringement of personal space. However, Fiorelli might not be aware of it, and Nowicki did not feel competent enough to point out to him. For the sake of the talks, he decided to ignore the Italian's slightly too much familiarity.

He didn't have to do this for too long. Facing the plate and seeing that Andrzej was dealing with his portion, the man picked up the cutlery.

"You could say that I already know why you want me," announced Nowicki. "I respect your opinion, although I am not convinced of it. Let us assume that I agree to your proposal. How do you imagine the details of our cooperation?"

Fiorelli smiled charmingly. Looking at him, Andrzej did not doubt that he could be a model in J. Acutti, but he wondered why he did not become the face of the company. He was handsome and his olive complexion gave him an exotic charm. Only in Italy such an appearance was probably nothing unusual and it is rather Nowicki's fair complexion that may be more eye-catching.

"I'm glad you asked. We would take photos in Poland, in your agency. We are planning two two-day sessions. In addition, two advertising clips, we have not yet determined where exactly. As you can see, it won't take long. For Fashion Week, you would go to Milan, New York and Tokyo. Nothing big."

Yes, nothing at all, Andrzej thought to himself, and suddenly he felt that, putting everything aside, the very plan established by Giorgio Fiorelli would be too much of a challenge for him. Fashion Week in Milan, New York and Tokyo? Is someone kidding him?

"Are these trips to other continents necessary?" He asked. The waiter served the first course.

Faretti looked thoughtful.

"I think so," he replied slowly. "You see, fashion is not only about clothes, it is also about smell, makeup, general lifestyle. When selling a brand, you also need to present it live. In fact," he smiled apologetically, you won't have much to do. Your task is to appear in several places, look nice, smile and smell. It might be a bit of a hassle for you, but I know you can handle it. All you have to do is act naturally. We will take care of the rest. Just like now. You are perfect."

Andrzej's heart beat faster. He was not used to compliments of himself, not even those of his relatives. Fiorelli was a stranger and clearly professionally fascinated by him. It was a strange feeling to know that someone was looking at him as he was looking at models, where he figured out how to arrange them so that the photos would come out according to the client's expectations and the natural predispositions of the girls. He looks at him as if he saw a great opportunity, a potential that he couldn't wait to wake him up and observe the effects of working together.

"I know!" Giorgio Fiorelli exclaimed suddenly. "At the hotel, I have campaign designs and cosmetics samples that I would like for you to promote. You're primarily a photographer, so I'd love to hear your views on this."

"I don't know, it's getting late ..."

"Come on! Tomorrow is Saturday! It won't take long, anyway. When you see the projects, feel our new Cologne, you will surely be convinced!"

Andrzej was not so sure about it and was not very eager to go into the details of the proposal, but it would be rude to refuse when Fiorelli was so enthusiastic.

"Okay," he agreed, though without enthusiasm.

"Great" said the Italian. His smile, however, expressed a little too much satisfaction for Andrzej's taste.

Er, it's just his imaginary, he thought, and decided that he really needs to stop looking for something that is not there.

***

The smell came first. Pleasant, alluring, lively, with a slightly citrus note. The bottle design caught his eye too.

"What do you think?"

"I like it," Andrzej Nowicki admitted with a smile. "I'm not sure if I would choose it for myself, but I would wear it as if I had received it as a gift from a loved one."

"Right? It was composed in such a way that it attracted mainly women. Not only because they make a purchase, but when a man smells good, it's easier for him to attract the fair sex. Of course, it also works for men" he added.

"Is it enriched with pheromones?" Andrzej asked curiously.

"Yes. How do you know?"

"I guessed. I have the impression that the smell changes differently than normally."

"Yes, it adapts to the biochemistry of a specific organism. The recipe is very modern, so we want a new approach to the campaign and a face that is as original as the fragrance."

Giorgio Fiorelli stepped closer to Andrzej and sucked in the surrounding air.

"I knew it would smell great on you."

The Italian definitely violated his personal space, so Andrzej politely moved away half a step. Fiorelli took the hint and reached for the papers.

"We want to shoot one commercial clip in Rome" he announced, unfolding the storyboard in front of Nowicki. "You are walking in the middle of the street, nonchalantly, with your hands in your pocket, and all the women you pass are watching behind you ..."

"Not very original ..."

"You will be originality, but the effect we want to achieve with the scent is always the same, so there is nothing to change here. Passion, desire, lust. We won't discover anything here. I want something to drink. What can I get you?"

"Just water, please."

"So water," Giorgio Fiorelli announced and stood up. Andrzej was looking at the project. Nothing original, but Fiorelli may have been right to appeal to the most basic of desires. After all, it wasn't exactly what was shown in the ad, but how.

"Please."

"Thank you" Andrzej drank half a glass. "You said that you want to take photos for magazines in Warsaw. They won't be open-air?"

"Some of them are, but we also want to have studio ones."

The Italian sat down next to him again, close enough that their knees touched each other as he handed him the documents related to the second project. Nothing but a coincidence, but Andrzej felt discomfort.

He also felt something else.

The image in front of Nowicki's eyes began to lose focus. He felt suddenly hot, there was a desert in his mouth, and between his legs his penis began to show disturbing symptoms of arousal.

What the hell is going on? Was there a drug in the water? Impossible! He felt nothing while drinking and why should he...

"Andrzej, are you okay?"

Fiorelli looked genuinely concerned. He extended his hand towards Andrzej.

Nowicki immediately stepped back, avoiding the touch.

Of course he wasn't feeling well. It was getting harder and harder for him to catch his breath and his body began to resemble the inside of a metallurgical furnace. If it was a drug ...

No it is not possible! Fiorelli couldn't do something like that. He cared too much about the contract.

Or was the contract just a farce? An excuse to bring him here?

No, it was all kind of weird.

"Andrzej, you don't look your best. Maybe you should lie down for a while?"

Lie down? In a hotel bed? In a stranger's room?

Nowicki's head was spinning. He saw worse and worse. He stood up suddenly, wanting to increase the distance between them. It was difficult because the knees were breaking down under him. Was it realy a drug?