A Perfect Pose

1-2

“I DON’T THINK YOU’RE going to have to worry about that stuck-up cow for much longer,” Maggie told Polly when she returned to reception, satisfaction filling her voice.

Polly looked up curiously from the sheet of paper on which she was sketching out her latest design - she dreamed of one day being a top fashion designer, and was forever designing one item of clothing or another.

“I can’t tell you, I’m not supposed to know myself, but I’m sure we’ll all know what’s going on soon enough. How about I make us both a nice hot chocolate,” she said by way of apology for not being able to say more.

“It’s too hot for hot chocolate,” Polly said, staring at Maggie as if she had gone mad. She didn’t know how hot it was, but she was sure it was at least twenty-five degrees, and a part of her, despite how much she loved being at the studio and helping her parents, wished she was at home, where she could cool off in the pool.

Maggie smiled. “It’s never too hot for hot chocolate. Especially when you’ve got a fresh supply of Options chocolate orange. And I know where your dad’s hidden his stash of mini-marshmallows.”

Polly grinned as wickedly as Maggie, whom she had always thought of as a second big sister, at the thought of sneaking some of her father’s marshmallows. It wasn’t that he was likely to mind them having some of his marshmallows, it was just that they were popular around the studio, and he did his best to hide them, otherwise they would all disappear before he could have any. It was practically a game between Eric and the models, with him trying to find new hiding places where his treat would be safe, and the models hunting the marshmallows down so they could enjoy them.

**