Chapter 248 - Bahamas Work Holiday (3)

The journalist that came was someone both Scarlet and Alex were familiar with. Scarlet remembered this lady who attended the Sweet Sixteen Gala and sat down to interview them with their mother. Alex was more familiar and greeted the lady with a hug and kissed her on both cheeks.

"It's good to see you again, Lucy!" Alex greeted enthusiastically.

Unlike the other journalists and reporters, Lucy was something like a family friend. She was often the one that Orita called in for a favour when they had a private party that needed coverage or a charity event. Unlike the other reporters, Lucy had a gentle and understanding nature who only wrote good articles about the Wilde family in a gentle light instead of the drama thirsty scandals that most other journalists spin for attention. It was the reason why Lucy was their go-to-girl for many years.

Orita and her girls got changed while Lucy entertained herself with a refreshing drink onboard the yacht. It was quite a luxurious sitting room despite the choppy waters that the captain had to sail out of. It wasn't Lucy's first time on a yacht but the Wildes sense of hospitality was very different from the other celebrities and socialites who requested for yacht interviews. If Lucy had to put a word to the feeling, the Wildes gave a very homey feel despite the luxury.

It took the ladies an hour to get their hair and makeup done. Lucy proposed to Orita that they started with a photoshoot to get that out of the way while the sun was still up. The girls could then change into something more comfortable for an informal interview session over lunch on the deck when the yacht reached calmer waters. Needless to say, Orita was very pleased with the idea.

When the Wilde daughters appeared, Lucy had already rearranged some furniture for a few good spots for the photoshoot. The sun was perfect and the scenery was breathtaking where the captain anchored the yacht. The waters were calmer now and the cliff in the distance made a beautiful natural backdrop. She didn't know if the girls would be willing to take a fun shot by diving into the water but she knew she had to ask. It would be incredible to catch them in their candid moments having fun like true sisters would to kill the rumours of how the sisters weren't close.

"Hello ladies," Lucy smiled after Scarlet and Alex changed into their swimsuits with their hair and makeup done. "Are we ready for the mini photoshoot? I've prepared the deck for our shooting area. Please feel free to use anything that makes you comfortable and look at the camera. We shall start with Alex first seeing as you're a professional model. Don't worry too much about looking great, just have fun, alright?"

Alex found the instruction strange but complied to the best of her ability and stepped onto the sunny deck where there were sun chairs. The model looked around for a while and went to retrieve her sunglasses that she perched on top of her head and pulled her hair back into a high ponytail. Orita watched as Alex discussed the kind of feeling Lucy wanted to get from her.

"Is this alright?" Alex asked and stretched almost lazily on the sun chair and propped herself up on her elbows to tilt her head up towards the sun. One knee was bent and Alex threw her head back completely to seem as if she was enjoying the feel of the sun on her face with a relaxed smile and closed eyes.

Lucy quickly put her camera to work to capture the moment as Alex changed poses naturally to one that was seated on the sun chair. Alex was mindful not to block too much of the landscape behind her and posed in a manner that her shadow from the strong sunlight wouldn't cover her face as she played with her hair that was flowing in the wind.

The next pose that Alex chose was a relaxed one leaning against the rail of the deck and looking at the camera with a flirtatious smile, a hand propping her chin up with the sun working in her favour and the wind sweeping her hair backwards. Lucy was impressed that Alex was a natural model at the age of only sixteen. No wonder she was considered a supermodel with many brands fighting to endorse her. Initially, the journalist thought that Alex's fame was thanks to her name but after working with the teenage model, she knew better. Alex made her name through her own abilities and Lucy noted that down.

Scarlet was nervous. Alex breezed through the photoshoot easily and the writer wondered if she was a little too underdressed for the occasion. Her swimsuit might look mature on the mannequin but on her, Scarlet looked like a tween doll. She wasn't as well-endowed as Alex and her makeup style was very plain compared to her sister's. Alex looked like she was in her twenties and Scarlet looked like she was only fourteen at most even though Scarlet was slightly older than Alex. Seeing how her sister professionally completed the shoot, Scarlet felt her self-confidence take a huge dip.

"Wonderful!" Lucy announced after going through the photos she took. Alex was a natural and very little editing was required. She turned to Scarlet who looked very small all of a sudden in the shade.

"It's your turn, Scarlet," Lucy smiled and encouraged the girl to loosen up because she appeared very stiff and awkward in front of the camera.

"Don't worry about the camera," Lucy said when she noticed how conscious Scarlet was of the camera. The smile looked forced and the girl appeared uncomfortable at how much skin she was showing so Lucy paused the session.

"Say, do you feel uncomfortable wearing this? You could change into something more comfortable for the photo shoot."

Scarlet paused and apologised. "I-I don't have any other swimsuit and I don't know how to pose like Alex or do my makeup to look older."

Hearing that, Lucy patted Scarlet on the head. "I see. Do you happen to be mindful about how you appear because of your height?"

Scarlet sulked. "Not just my height. Looking at Alex, I don't know what went wrong with my genes during puberty. I didn't grow much and I still look like a child."

Alex snickered from behind. "That's because you don't know how to use your womanly charms."

Orita smacked Alex lightly and pulled the meddlesome model away so that Lucy could have a moment to coach Scarlet and ease her up. It was no secret that Scarlet disliked how she appeared not because it reminded her about her adoption but because it reminded her about her past when Mrs Liu would put her in pretty but uncomfortable clothes just to show her off. It was the reason why Scarlet decided not to become a model of any kind if she could. She didn't want to become somebody else's doll.

Lucy scratched her head. Scarlet was very quiet and it was trickier to work with the girl who wouldn't open her heart up to her. Orita brought Alex away and Lucy was thankful for that. Sometimes, it was harder to talk about things with family as compared to a stranger. Scarlet might not be comfortable enough to say what's wrong in the presence of her family because she didn't want to be judged by them but now that they were gone, Lucy could try a different approach.

"Would you like to start with an interview first instead? I think the photoshoot session could wait for a little longer until you're feeling better."

Scarlet was presently surprised and didn't disagree when Lucy brought her indoors and poured her a drink. Scarlet accepted it gratefully and took a sip to calm her nerves. Lucy observed her client and noted that unlike Alex ho was an outgoing person, Scarlet appeared to be quite the introvert despite being a big-screen name in China.

"Say, do you actually not like fame and attention?" Lucy asked and Scarlet flinched.

The writer looked away and the journalist smiled. "Don't worry," Lucy assured her. "I won't pry into the things you don't wish to share.

Scarlet sighed. "I don't want to be seen or treated like a kid but it's difficult with a face and body like mine. Also, I don't have Alex's confidence to pose and wear such provocative swimsuits. I don't think I'm suitable to become a model."

Lucy chuckled. Scarlet was too adorable. The young girl doesn't seem to know her personal charms but Lucy was going to change that.

"Have you heard of the saying that beauty is in the eye of the beholder? Let's try and bring out that hidden womanly charm inside of you, shall we? Are you dating anyone currently or like someone?"

Scarlet blushed at that question and Lucy didn't need any other confirmation. It was good to be young.