1. l'amour

Fountains burst to life on cue with the sunrise. The morning flags rolled down from the mansion's windows. Velvet fabrics draped over golden statues. Black high heels clicked down the main staircase of the The Sorino mansion, makeup flawless, dressed in a red robe (without her wig on yet) Mrs. Sorino shouted to summon her daughter. "Stella!"

*ding*

When the elevator doors opened by the front parlor Martha stepped out, so Mrs. Sorino summoned her next. "Nurse! Where's my Stella? Bring her to me."

Every morning, Estella's mother sounded like an alarm and when she considered her pre-morning peaceful quiet time to be ruined, well-graced, she slipped into their sight before they even noticed.

"Yes?"

Mrs. Sorino yanked her arm and dragged her back into the room, sitting her down in the chair. She took one good look at her and gasped at the natural state she was still in. "You've not gone to hair and makeup yet?'

"Not yet.."

Rolling her eyes, she downed her frustration with a swig of brandy. Before zipping up her dress, the seamstress applied her headdress and laced her into a golden corset. Picking up a magazine with Christian's face on it, Mrs. Sorino shook her head for what could have been, disappointed that her daughter failed to make things work with him.

"Madam," the butler begged to pardon. "The rock band will soon arrive for the evening press release."

Nodding, Mrs. Sorino swiped open a fan that looked like a peacock and took off back downstairs while the nurse continued the errands she'd assigned. 

"Martha," Estella pulled $10,000 cash from a satin pillowcase in the drawer of her vanity that she'd set aside for her. "For the day off."

"Ms. Sorino, I can't accept this,"

"Please." Smiling, she clasped their hands together and insisted. "Enjoy your birthday."  

*✧･ﾟ: *✧･ﾟ:*✧･ﾟ: *✧･ﾟ:*✧･ﾟ: *✧･ﾟ:

With eyes looking for their first USA headlining tour, the growing popularity for Sheer Heart Attack and single Killer Queen seemed to lean toward a promising future. Tonight's release party promised climbing popularity for the boys, since The Sorino's A-List additions to the guest list.

Photographers attracted beautiful girls who soaked themselves up in the camera which didn't annoy Roger one bit. In fact, he loved every moment of it.

The drink in hand already coursing through his system, when Freddie stepped in front of the cameras to join the rest of the boys, he caught sight of her. Again.

She laid her hands gracefully on the second floor's railing. Without any visible nerves to the lights, the cameras, or the surrounding action, instantly, the sight of her drew him in further and he didn't dare look away.

Freddie watched her. Beyond beauty... Intoxicating. Voluptuous. Her classic black dress hugging the fleshy parts of her breasts, waist, and hips. The color of her lips, the charm and seduction in her eyes that tied everything together with such an elegant sensuality that excited him with desire. Carnal, for the way she... from afar with such softness, gratified his animal nature.

Soft, beautiful, dark, mysterious, sensual, striking, captivating, and enthralling without yet saying a word to him. He wanted more. He wanted to peel back every layer. Insatiably.

As Estella turned, the fullness of her lips and the depth of her eyes completely captivated him. 

Elizabeth Taylor touched her back for a photo, and Estella kindly greeted her and joined the shot.

Taking the picture, a short, sharp-eyed photographer with spiky jet black hair and a beaming smile. "A spot in Vogue Paris, with love," He kissed each of Estella's cheeks.

Then for the first time, Freddie caught the silkyness of her voice.

Hands on his shoulders, she shared a moment of appreciation with him before turning to Elizabeth. "Elizabeth, this is Paolo." She stepped aside, helping introduce them and encouraging a connection. "He's a very big admirer of yours. He says he's wanted to shoot with you many times in Paris." She smiled when they began talking and connecting.

A gentleman with a white glove placed his hand on the small of her back, asking for her attention. Freddie watched her figure sway with softness, passion and the promise of the sweetness to come in every step.

The way he'd smiled at her... That was him wasn't it? The unforgettably handsome flirt is in a rock band. She figured him no stranger to commanding attention. Surely, women more than admired the way his clothes hugged his body. And surely, he knew how perfectly his outfits showed him off. Just like he knew those sharp and expressive godlike features defined him with handsome perfection.

"That was her." Freddie finally spoke.

"That was who?" Roger turned to look, but she'd already gone.

On impulse, Freddie stepped into the banquet hall and took it upon himself to stand on one of the tables, making a stage. "Hello beautiful people! And your loved ones.... In the interest of giving you something wonderful to talk about instead of a load of boring chit chat later," he scooted the centerpiece to the site with his foot. "I'm Freddie Mercury. You can call me that or daddy, the devil, or whatever you like," the crowd laughed. "Our band's called Queen," he introduced the others. "Now then..I'm looking for someone and she's very beautiful. And by the way she works it, I think she may very well run this whole shindig... Which one of you is gonna give me the gift of telling me who she is?"

Stepping from the midst of a crowded conversation and into his line of sight, with steady, confident steps, Estella took a seat at one of the other tables in the banquet hall.