Floriography: Red Roses
Chapter 9
Tracy and Tim Naka return to the hotel, to have lunch with investors and VIP guests. Violetta was immediately greeted by all the guests, and they started talking about something in Japanese. Tracy follows Candice to pick up her buffet, lunch looks delicious, and the hotel is quite famous for its good quality of food. But his heart was too excited for him to enjoy lunch.
Candice repeatedly tries to calm Tracy down, but the girl will only pretend to be fine, before turning her head back towards Violetta.
“Tracy Manson, right?”
Tracy was startled and almost jumped as the heavy voice of a man called out to her from behind. Tracy had not yet turned her head, the man sat down in an empty chair next to Tracy and thrust his hand out.
“Include, William Johnsson from Poise.” magazine Tracy cheered the man.
“I'm sorry, interrupt your break time. I'll get to the heart of my question, so I don't waste your time. From the information we have, you have several times refused to represent our magazine for editorial photos, what makes you change your mind and present a dress from Naka Fashion Magazine at this event? Is it because you only accept big offers, or?”
Tracy almost frowned, why did this reporter ask with a sentence that made Tracy uncomfortable like that?
“No.. I—“
“Sorry, there was no question and answer session with our model, Tracy Manson came with Naka's team as a journalist, and humbly performed on stage for one reason or another. Your questions can be saved for the press conference later, thank you, Mr. Johnsson, enjoy your lunch.” Reth's sprightly words were already on Tracy's side.
William Johnsson looked at Reth in annoyance, then stood up and left. Reth patted Tracy's shoulder.
“Do not think. Many of them have no manners, let alone VIP guests.”
Tracy nodded. Tracy knows, but she doesn't mind Johnsson's words hitting Tracy a little.
His lunch was increasingly uncomfortable, and without notice, the team had already begun to disperse and rushed to prepare for the press conference. Tracy was pulled back to the stage, and she re-worn the same dress. The five best dresses will be presented at the beginning of the press, before the press begins.
This time Tracy didn't feel so good. When his turn came the photographer immediately showered him with flashes of blitz. MC directed Tracy to face a certain side so that all reporters could take a clear photo of Tracy. She gives them three poses, one front-facing pose, a side-facing pose, and a back-facing pose for her to perfectly show off her Violetta dress. Tracy then returned backstage and became Tracy Manson the journalist, joining the guests in the front seat. At least he didn't have to worry about the bad whispers from the reporters, because even if they talked about it, they would talk about Tracy in Japanese, he wouldn't understand what they were talking about.
“Halo, good afternoon to all the distinguished journalists who have attended. Please be advised, after this Miss Nakajima will go on stage, please have her question prepared and please raise your hand before asking. Miss Nakajima will pick and appoint you, so please do not scramble, Miss Nakajima and the committee team will work on each team from every TV station and other media will be able to turn to ask questions, he said, thanks.” The MC announces and the translator repeats the same. After the announcement, Violetta went on stage and sat down at the table that was available. The atmosphere was quiet and orderly, but the silence made Tracy even more uncomfortable.
“Good afternoon dear reporter. Violetta Nakajima, designer of Naka, and director of fashion magazine, Naka Fashion Magazine. Hopefully with this conference, our work can reach all corners of the world and inspire many people. Let's start the conference today. First question?”
Snapping all the reporters raised their hands and Violetta pointed at one.
“We have heard stories about the inspiration this collection got from the design of Karin Sasaki dresses, whether the theme
‘kimono’ is what caused Naka to do a fashion show only in Japan? Because for the previous two collections, Naka did two presentations, in Japan and in France if we are not wrong.”
Violetta nodded and she approached the loudspeaker.
“Betul. I have put out two previous collections, the winter collection Shade of Grey, then the mini dress collection Disco Balls. For this collection of Modern Kimono I will do a second presentation at Paris Fashion Week early next year. So it will be different from the previous year where I did a closed presentation and a press conference like today, there will be no press conference to be conducted but I will do some individual interviews with local Parisian magazines. What magazine? The information is still kept in secret so please do not need to ask. Thanks though. Next question?”
Tracy's fingers are typing fast. He did not have time to even be nervous about the reporters' questions that might be addressed to him some time later.
Violetta chuckled.
“As we know, My mother is European and my father is Japanese. I was born in Japan before
studying abroad. Japan for me is an amazing country, and yes, arguably after I walked this far, I started to feel, it's my time to introduce the traditions that accompanied me growing up. I was born in Kyoto and that is also the reason I chose to make a presentation in Kyoto, while refreshing the memory of my childhood left behind in this city. I love my country, of course I want to share the name of this country if I have the opportunity, and I hope this work is enough to realize it.”
Tracy typed quickly, her eyes not separated from Violetta, and occasionally glanced at the computer screen to make sure what she wrote was in accordance with what Violetta was talking about.
“What is your reason for choosing Tracy Manson who is an American model to present your last dress? While other collections are fully brought by local models. We heard about your inspiration that gave birth to Ocean Tears dress was born from imagining the figure of Tracy Manson, but did you make it an excuse to bring Tracy Manson into the presentation of this collection?”
Tracy's fingers stopped moving, then returned to motion after she reminded herself that she was present as a writer today, not a model.
“Let me answer this question honestly. Yes, it is true that the dress I made with a proportion of western women's bodies that are higher than the average Asian, and when we were behind the stage, he said, the dress fell longer than it should have on our model's body so the parts I wanted to highlight didn't look the way I wanted. I am sure that Tracy Manson can bring the dress well with her high posture, and with her humility, Tracy agrees to present the dress in the last seconds.”
Tracy tries to focus on her own writing and ignores the topic. His heart started beating fast now.
“But Tracy Manson is not a model, are you not thinking of hiring Gracy Manson, her twin sister to present the dress?”
Violetta chuckled, like insinuating. Tracy knew clearly, Violetta also disliked when someone compared Tracy to Gracy.
“Tracy Manson is not Gracy Manson, although both are identical twins and have almost the same posture. I myself am a perfectionist and specific person. It's true that I'm making Ocean Tears dresses with Tracy Manson's image in my head, but Tracy Manson himself isn't focusing on modeling right now, because she's working on her other priorities, so I didn't even consider hiring another model to present Ocean Tears, but due to the forcing conditions and Tracy Manson was present today to support my presentation as a journalist of Naka Fashion Magazine, she said, his presence saved our presentation. Tracy Manson wants to modeling or not going forward is entirely the decision of Tracy Manson. His catwalk today is entirely accidental.”
Tracy breathed a sigh of relief. Violetta could always give the right answer.
“Some VIP guests praised Tracy Manson's performance tonight, and even some said his performance and aura were more amazing than Gracy Manson's. What do you think of this?”
Tracy frowned and almost looked at the reporter who asked the question. Did ya?
Violetta sighed before answering.
“Manson's twin sisters are both entirely different individuals, and at the same time are ordinary humans who can have a shitty day, a fun day, a, perfect body condition in the present day or pain later in life. Both are good models, and talented. That's all my opinion. Next question, let's go back to topic.”
After that the question returned to the topic and Tracy refocused her mind to her writing in her notebook.
In the room were dozens of TV writers and journalists from various labels and productions. Writers have a unique way of making their news viral sometimes.
Tracy had begun to feel fear, even imagining what could be reported on TV and magazines after today.
At least it will make Grace remember to check her e-mail and reply to messages from Trace.
