Chapter 11: A Little Tenderness

I take the studio supplied dress from my wardrobe, and I quickly change into it. I’m busy admiring myself in the mirror when Ellen returns with her emerald ring, necklace and earrings. She fastens the necklace for me, and for the first time I see the combined effect of the dress with Ellen’s emeralds.

“Perfect,” says Ellen. I can’t help but agree with her. If looks alone could see me through this afternoon’s performance, then I would be home and dry. But I must still navigate my way through an interview, or make myself noticed if I’m not one of the ten contestants chosen. If I’m interviewed, I need to be eloquent and confident in my responses to the hosts’ questions. Not just because I want to impress any potential employers, but because Paulo and the other contestants will be watching my every move.

“Do you think Paulo will like my outfit?” I ask Ellen.

“Paulo? Hmmm ... I think you will snare him with these emeralds.”

“Do you think I have a better chance if I wear that piece which belonged to your greataunt Sophie?” I ask, remembering Paulo’s reaction when he saw it. “Who was this greataunt of yours anyway?”

“Sophie? Oh, she was a famous dancer. Her stage name was Desire. She lived a very bohemian life. My parents regarded as the black sheep of the family. But I liked her. I used to visit Sophie quite often when I was young, so I knew Sophie much better than did Sylvie or any of my other sisters. That’s why Sophie left her jewellery to me when she died. The emeralds were hers as well. A gift from a man she lived with for many years.”

“Have you ever worn her jewellery?” I ask.

“The emeralds, yes, but not that piece you were looking at when Sylvie intruded. I’ve never been in a situation where it was appropriate to wear it. It’s not the sort of jewellery you wear in public places, and it takes a certain amount of confidence and practise to wear it. You do understand how it should be worn, don’t you?”

“Yes. Thanks to Sylvie’s demonstration, I know how it fastens,” I say, giving Ellen a demonstration using my fingers to represent the springclips. “You would need to be wearing a thin top to stop it sliding off, though.”

“Or no top at all,” laughs Ellen. “But we are getting sidetracked. The others will be here soon. If we are done I suggest you change back into your regular clothes.

“Ellen, could I borrow that piece of Sophie’s I saw earlier?”

“What!? There is no way you are wearing that on the television show.”

“No, of course I won’t. I do have some sense of propriety. But I might be able to use it to snare Paulo.”

I put on my most winsome smile and Ellen finally agrees after some hesitation. She must have anticipated my request as she has the box with Sophie’s piece in her bag. She hands it to me.

“You knew I was going to ask to borrow this,” I say.

“I didn’t know, but I suspected you might ask when you noticed Paulo’s interest,” smiles Ellen. “You had best try it on. You might not be able to keep it in place.”

I find a thin top and change out of the dress. Fortunately Vincent has decided to go for lunch. He’s harmless enough, but I think I’ve treated him to enough eye candy for now. Ellen hands me the jewelled piece and watches as I nervously place the discs in position. I anticipated a certain amount of discomfort from the pressure of the clips on my nipples, but the initial pain is almost unbearable. Fortunately the pain soon passes and after a short while I can only sense the weight of the piece tugging on my nipples and breasts.

“Now try walking about,” says Ellen. “Try to shake it loose. We need to see whether it will stay in place.”

I do as Ellen suggests and try moving into several different positions. The piece remains firmly in place, but several movements cause me to wince in pain as the weight or tension in the linking chain pulls against me. After a few minutes Ellen seems satisfied with my first attempt at wearing it.

“OK,” says Ellen. “You can take the piece off.”

What sounds like the simplest of tasks turns out to be the most excruciatingly painful experience I could imagine. As soon as the clips are removed, the numbness in my nipples quickly goes, and my body protests strongly. I bite my lips to prevent myself from crying out. If I fail this last test, then Ellen might not let me borrow the piece. I rub my chest gently to ease the pain, and after a while only a little tenderness remains.

“Hmmm. Do you still wish to borrow this piece?” asks Ellen as she places it back in its box.

I nod and Ellen hands me the box. I give her a hug in thanks, being careful not to aggravate my tender breasts. The sound of Patrick’s voice coming from the corridor prompts me to finish changing and join the others for lunch.