[Author's note: Carine, desperate to keep her modelling career afloat, has taken a very unusual job. She's agreed to become a suspended-animation living mannequin in a high-end fashion boutique. Carine wanted the exposure and the fame... what could possibly go wrong?]
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Carine decided to arrive in the heels. Short skirt, floaty blouse, dark hair secured artfully in a butterfly clip, just a hint of colouring around her ice-blue eyes, as if she wasn't really trying. She wanted Walker Terrin to understand the bargain she was getting, having Carine on show for six months in her shop window. In the early morning hush, the click of her heels echoed through the empty mall.
She'd given Telia the keys to her apartment, and her phone, and her wallet. It had felt surreal, standing in her best friend's doorway watching Telia nodding blearily as Carine handed her life over to her in the early morning light. Telia had given her a big hug, and then Carine had gone down onto the street to meet the car that had been sent for her by Walker. She had sat there in silence, acutely aware that she had nothing but the clothes that she was wearing: every other part of her life was packed up in storage, like she already didn't exist.
Carine came to a halt in front of a large glass window. In the distance, someone was working a floor cleaner, the only sound in the shiny, cavernous space. The contract was for six months, to be in suspended animation and dressed in designer fashion from a legend in the industry. She would be on display in Walker's window, but frozen, unable to see or hear or feel or think. The suspension device would activate and then in the blink of an eye, it would be six months later and Carine would be famous.
There was movement within the shop, and the doors opened.
"Carine, good to see you."
Carine blinked, roused from her reverie. Walker Terrin strode towards her, holding out a hand. Carine shook it, noting the firm grip. Walker's wrist jingled with silver bracelets, a counterpoint to the colourful silk top she was wearing. Tight black pants complemented the outfit, showing off the body of a woman fifteen years older than her but still as trim as a woman in her twenties.
Her blonde hair was gathered back, clear of a face that made Carine stop and stare: high cheekbones, almond eyes, full lips. Walker had worked hard to maintain her image.
"I... I was just admiring your latest collection," Carine stammered, unnerved by her proximity to the legendary designer. She nodded towards the display window.
Walker turned, smiling. "Yes. But that's all about to change isn't it?"
"How?"
Walker's attention flicked back to Carine, and Carine found herself staring into the older woman's beautiful eyes. "You, Carine."
"Me?"
"I've picked out something fabulous for you to be wearing."
Carine glanced nervously back at the window. There were two mannequins in short dresses, posed as if at a cocktail function. Her stomach flipped. "Uh, there?"
"That's the plan, darling. Front and centre. That's why I had you come so early, we need to make sure you're perfect for opening time."
Walker opened the doors again, holding them open expectantly. Carine took one last look at the mannequins on display, her pulse racing. Six months, suspended in the front of Walker's boutique, with all the very best people passing by every day. She would be seen by everyone, but she wouldn't be aware of it. She hoped that Telia would at least video her and show her afterwards. But, if everything went to plan, there would be dozens of videos online. Carine's exposure problem would be solved, and she would pop back into the world with six months' salary in her bank account and a string of modelling assignments. She nodded to Walker and strode purposefully into the store.
Inside, there was a small pile of clothing on a stool.
"Did you want to use the changing rooms or change here?" Walker asked her.
"Uh, what would you normally do?"
"We'd dress the mannequins in the window, but you're a different proposition. No-one cares about a mannequin with no clothes on."
"I can change here, then, I guess you can show me where you want me to stand."
"Sounds good. Otherwise I'd have to lift you and I'm not sure I can be bothered with that. Sounds too much like manual labour," Walker laughed.
It was a musical sound, and it dispelled the little knot of tension in Carine's stomach. Walker Terrin wasn't the dread figure Carine had imagined after all, the iconoclast forging her way through the ruthless landscape of high fashion. The real woman was warm and personable, and, Carine acknowledged silently, sexy. Not a girl, like Anna or any of Carine's previous partners, but a woman, assured in her manner, in control of her life.
She felt a little thrill as she said, "I can just strip here, there's nobody around except you."
"If you want," Walker replied, her face giving nothing away.
Carine stepped out of her heels, suddenly shorter than Walker. She tried to remember something she'd read recently, about an incident in Walker's private life that had made the headlines. Her husband? Yes, that was it. A messy divorce. She instinctively checked Walker's fingers and didn't see a wedding ring.
Carine unbuttoned her top, trying to remain businesslike as she stripped naked in front of the older woman. Walker picked a dress up from the stool and was smoothing it out. She glanced over at Carine, who was unzipping her skirt to reveal a matching set of lace briefs and bra.
Walker frowned. "Can you go without? It's a plunging v-neck."
"Uh, I guess." Carine reached behind herself and unhooked her bra, peeling it off. She resisted the urge to cross her arms over her bare breasts in front of the older woman; she wanted to remain professional.
Walker glanced at her breasts, and then smiled. "Oh, I remember those days."
"What days?"
"When the girls sat where you left them. Me topless is not such a pretty sight. I thought we'd need to tape you up or something for support, but you'll be just fine."
"Okay."
"Not an issue with mannequins. They're moulded into shape. You good without the panties too? I'm not sure how this works, but I'd imagine your body isn't going to be doing anything, uh, biologically, while you're suspended."
Carine looked down at her lacy briefs. "I guess not."
She pulled her panties down, stepping out of them, revealing her neatly-trimmed crotch. Walker tutted.
"What's the matter?" Carine asked, abashed.
