Chapter 203 No Escape.
Chapter 203 No Escape.
[Here's your bonus Chappy! Dirtydew!]
Hugo sat in the barber chair, staring at his reflection with a mix of joy and overwhelming relief.
He turned his head left.
Then right.
Then he leaned in closer, squinting at his flawless, tapered edges. Discover hidden stories at My Virtual Library Empire
It was perfect.
A clean, sharp fade that blended seamlessly into the top, which was cut just right—not too short, not too long.
His natural waves flowed effortlessly, giving him that "bad boy who also writes poetry" kind of look.
'I... I actually look dangerous. Like a man who steals girlfriends without trying. Like a mafia boss' illegitimate son. Like I should be on a poster for men's cologne.'
Old Rick smirked, snapping his fingers. "Not bad, right?"
Hugo, still in disbelief, slowly nodded. "Rick…"
Rick raised a brow.
"…for once in your life, you didn't ruin me."
Rick snorted, waving him off. "Boy, you act like I don't got skill."
"Skill? Last time, you almost scalped me, you menace."
But Hugo wouldn't complain today. No. He had survived. And not only had he survived, he had thrived.
He quickly paid, tipped a little extra for his miraculous survival, and walked out feeling like a brand-new man.
---
Hugo stood in front of Sanchez's ridiculous mansion, knocking on the massive double doors.
Within seconds, the door swung open, revealing a man dressed in a neatly pressed uniform, bowing slightly.
"Mr. Hugo, welcome. The Boss is waiting for you in the fourth living room."
Fourth. Living. Room.
"What kind of lifestyle—"
Hugo sighed and walked in, admiring the sheer luxury around him as he followed the worker through hallways that were bigger than his entire dorm.
After a few minutes, they finally reached Living Room #4—because apparently, having just one wasn't enough for this man—and the worker gestured for Hugo to enter.
"Boss is inside."
Hugo stepped in, expecting to see a well furnished living room fit for Forbes...
Instead, his brain short-circuited.
The entire living room had been completely transformed.
All the furniture was gone. Instead, bright studio lights, high-end cameras, and photo shoot equipment filled the space.
Workers in headsets rushed around, adjusting tripods, fixing backdrops, and setting up reflectors.
And in the middle of the chaos…
A bald man wearing an all-black outfit was dramatically shouting, "PERFECT! WONDERFUL! YES, GIVE ME MORE! MORE INTENSITY! I WANT PASSION!"
Another bald man, just as intense, was snapping photos furiously, his camera clicking at light speed.
…
And their subject?
Sanchez.
Wearing a fitted designer suit.
Looking like he was born to be on the cover of GQ Magazine.
Hugo froze, his mind failing to process what he was witnessing.
"WHAT. THE. ACTUAL. HELL. IS GOING ON HERE?!"
Before he could even recover, Sanchez spotted him from across the room, his face lighting up.
"HUGO!"
Before Hugo could even react, Sanchez sprinted toward him, arms open, excitement radiating off him like a nuclear explosion.
Sanchez grabbed him by the shoulders, shaking him slightly. "HOW IS IT?! DO YOU LIKE THE SETUP?!"
Hugo blinked.
Once.
Twice.
Then, he squinted.
"…Why are you asking me that?"
Sanchez grinned.
"Because, my dear friend…"
He leaned in, eyes glowing with pure mischief.
"…you're modeling for my startup agency today."
…
"I'M SORRY. I'M MODELING FOR WHAT?!"
Hugo stood frozen, staring at Sanchez like he had just told him that he was joining NASA's first mission to Mars.
"…What?"
Sanchez grinned wider, as if he had just delivered the best news in the universe. "I said, you're modeling today!"
Hugo's brain officially malfunctioned.
Modeling? Him?
He glanced around again at the bright studio lights, the high-tech cameras, and the swarming crew members, who were all working at lightning speed like they were about to photograph Hollywood's next big superstar.
Then, his gaze landed back on Sanchez, who was standing there, looking like an actual movie star in his expensive, custom-fitted suit.
At that moment, Hugo realized something very important.
This was not a joke.
This was not some casual, fun little hobby.
This was a serious, high-class, big-money operation.
And he?
He was about to be dragged into it against his will.
Hugo slowly lifted a finger, pointing at his own chest. "Wait… me? Modeling?"
Sanchez nodded enthusiastically. "Yes! You! Don't you see it, Hugo? You've got the perfect look—sharp jawline, great bone structure, and now with that fresh cut?" He whistled. "You look like you belong on the cover of a men's fashion magazine."
Hugo stared at him.
Then, slowly, he turned his head toward the bald man shouting "PERFECT! MARVELOUS! YES! GIVE ME MORE!" at a completely random chair.
Then back at Sanchez.
"…What kind of drugs are you on?"
Sanchez just laughed and clapped him on the back. "Come on, Hugo! You'll love it. Plus, I need another fresh face for this agency, and you are perfect."
Hugo's eye twitched.
A model? Him? THE Hugo?
The same Hugo who spent half his time running from and towards crazy girls, the other half plotting revenge on tiny gremlins, and the remaining 1% of his time actually focusing on school?
What part of that screamed "model material"?!
He took a deep breath. 'Okay. Think, Hugo. Think. How do we escape this?'
"…Sanchez, listen," Hugo began carefully, putting on his best 'negotiation mode' voice. "I appreciate the offer. I really do. But, uh… I don't know if I'm exactly the right—"
Before he could even finish, a strong arm suddenly wrapped around his shoulder.
Hugo froze.
A deep, dramatic voice whispered in his ear.
"You are exactly what we need."
Hugo turned his head ever so slowly.
Standing beside him was the bald man.
Not just any bald man.
THE bald man.
The one who had been screaming about passion and perfection just moments ago.
His eyes burned with an intensity that should not exist outside of war movies.
Hugo swallowed. "Uh… excuse me?"
The bald man did not blink.
"You. Have. The Face."
…
Hugo blinked.
"…The what?"
"The Face," the bald man repeated. "Strong. Confident. A man of mystery. A man of danger. A man that women look at and immediately forget their current boyfriends."
Hugo blinked again.
'…Wait. That actually sounded kind of nice.'
Still, he wasn't about to fall for the trap that easily.
"Uh, yeah, that's cool and all," Hugo said, slowly trying to edge away, "but I really don't think I'm—"
The bald man suddenly snapped his fingers.
Two crew members instantly rushed forward, holding a designer outfit.
Sanchez grinned. "No running now, Hugo. You're in."
Hugo stared.
He stared at the outfit.
He stared at the crew.
He stared at Sanchez's smug, evil face.
And at that moment, he realized something.
…
There was no escape.
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I feel like my writing style is slowly evolving. Have you guys noticed it too? Is it getting worse?
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Power stone Goal!
50 PS - 1 Bonus chapter
100 PS - 2 Bonus chapter
200 PS (Quite an achievement as of now) - 3 Bonus chapters.
Castle - 20 Bonus Chapters!