When Rahul heard this, he was genuinely shocked.
What? 1 million Thai Baht just for a single set of promotional photos?
The exchange rate between the Thai Baht and the Indian Rupee was roughly 1 to 2.3, which meant she was offering him around 23 Lakhs INR! He had absolutely zero modeling experience and zero influence in the fashion world, yet he was being offered 23 Lakhs just to take some pictures. It was like picking up free money off the street.
Rahul glanced down at the DJI camera in his hand; it was still rolling, capturing everything.
"Rahul, what do you think of this price?"
Seeing that Rahul remained silent, Divya thought she had offered too little, so she quickly elaborated: "The 1 million Baht is strictly for the initial photoshoot. The actual brand endorsement fee is an additional 5 million Thai Baht."
Rahul's jaw nearly dropped.
5 million Baht is over 1.15 Crore Rupees!
He wasn't a Bollywood superstar, nor was he a mainstream celebrity. Why would a brand offer him such a massive endorsement deal? Was it really just because of his face? Was there some hidden catch?
Thinking this, Rahul immediately voiced his concerns. "What exactly does the endorsement require? With a budget that high, you could easily hire a famous Thai actor or a mainstream model."
Rahul's straightforward, unpretentious nature made Divya feel incredibly comfortable. She smiled slightly and patiently explained:
"Your unique identity as a global travel vlogger is exactly what inspired me. The reason the endorsement fee is so high is because you will be required to travel the world exclusively wearing our brand's clothing. You'll need to feature the clothes naturally in your vlogs and on your personal social media accounts for a minimum contract period of five years."
"Traditional celebrity endorsements don't have the sustained, authentic, daily exposure that a global vlogger does. Moreover, your non-celebrity, 'adventurous traveler' status aligns perfectly with our brand's new philosophy for young men. From now on, your entire wardrobe will be provided by Santiya. Of course, we only specialize in summer and tropical wear."
Hearing this, Rahul's guard finally relaxed.
1.15 Crores to just wear their clothes while traveling the world for five years? Broken down, that was roughly 2 Lakhs a month just to wear free designer clothes! Plus, he would never have to buy summer outfits ever again. He had come to Thailand to film videos and farm Charm Points, but he had stumbled into a massive financial windfall.
It was true: a guy with the Karma System never runs out of luck.
"Where's the contract? Let me read it."
Seeing Rahul agree, a rare, genuine smile bloomed on Divya's face.
Her secretary quickly handed the drafted contract to Rahul. Fortunately, with his System-granted Thai Language Proficiency, Rahul could effortlessly read and understand all the complex legal jargon in the document. After confirming there were no hidden traps or unfair clauses, Rahul confidently signed his name.
With the help of her secretary, Divya stood up from the sofa and extended her hand. "Rahul, it is a pleasure to work with you."
Rahul reached out and shook her hand. But when he tried to pull back, Divya held onto his hand firmly, refusing to let go.
"Give me your home address in India. Whenever we launch a new seasonal line, I'll have my team ship the clothes to you in advance."
Rahul stared into Divya's eyes; her gaze was incredibly intense and sincere.
After a moment's thought, Rahul gave Divya Kabir's apartment address in Mumbai. He didn't want crazed fans or corporate packages swamping his parents' quiet home in Nashik. He had already given his home address to the girls in Bangladesh; this time, he'd sacrifice his best friend's privacy instead.
Finally, after Rahul provided his Indian bank account details (including his SWIFT and IFSC codes) to the secretary, Divya took his arm.
"Let's go, Rahul. We'll head down to the studio to take the photos right now. I'll have the finance department process your payment immediately."
Ten minutes later, Divya, still limping slightly, brought Rahul into the company's massive, state-of-the-art photography studio.
A professional makeup artist quickly applied a light base to Rahul's face, making his naturally sharp jawline and high cheekbones pop even more under the studio lights. However, when the hairstylist approached with a comb and gel to restyle his hair, Divya stopped him.
"Leave his hair exactly as it is," Divya ordered. "He needs to look distinctively Indian to retain his unique character. Do not make him look like a local Thai idol."
Rahul was then led into the dressing room by the styling team.
When he emerged wearing the first set of the brand's clothing, the entire studio staff collectively gasped.
Rahul looked like a male lead who had just walked off the set of a high-budget romance movie. At this moment, any mainstream actor would pale in comparison.
"Perfect! Absolutely flawless! He's incredible!"
"He's so handsome... and so masculine!"
"This outfit looks like it was bespoke tailored just for him. He makes streetwear look like high-end luxury!"
"The Director's vision is terrifyingly good!"
"This new product launch is going to sell out in seconds!"
Sitting in the director's chair, Divya was utterly mesmerized by his sunny, rugged appearance. Wasn't this exactly the image she had in her mind when she spent late nights designing this line? This Indian guy embodied the exact vibe she had spent months searching for! It was as if these clothes were spun from fabric meant solely for him.
Did... did heaven literally drop him into my lap? she wondered, her heart fluttering.
Meanwhile, Rahul waved at Divya from the backdrop. "Miss Divya, can we start shooting now?"
His deep voice pulled her back from her daze. "Yes. We can start."
Following Divya's nod, the head photographer immediately raised his camera, offering slight directions on how to pose. Meanwhile, a staff member held Rahul's DJI camera, vlogging the entire behind-the-scenes process.
As a rapid series of flashes went off, the photographer couldn't stop praising him.
"Yes! Hold that!"
"Perfect angle! Just look slightly to the left..."
"My god, how is his face completely flawless from every single angle?!"
"He looks phenomenal no matter where I put the lights!"
After powering through the first set, the relentless compliments were starting to make Rahul's ears ring.
"Director, we're done with the first look. The model is too perfect, we barely need to take alternate shots!" the photographer beamed. "We can move on to the next set."
Rahul changed into nine consecutive outfits, shooting continuously until the sun set and the studio windows went dark.
Just as they were about to shoot the final look, Divya—who had been staring fixedly at Rahul's face the entire afternoon—suddenly stood up. The staff nearby rushed forward to help her, but she waved them off.
Rahul immediately walked over and supported her waist to keep her steady. "Your ankle is still swollen. Please, just sit down."
"No," Divya said, her tone leaving no room for argument. "This next set is the outfit I designed with the most care. I want to see you put it on with my own eyes."
What Rahul didn't know was that this final outfit was a passion project Divya had designed in her private spare time. It was modeled entirely on her secret, idealized fantasy of the perfect man. She hadn't even intended to include it in the commercial launch, but seeing Rahul bring all her other designs to life with such effortless perfection made her heart ache with anticipation.
She needed to know if Rahul was the physical embodiment of the fantasy she had dreamed up.
Whatever the boss said, Rahul naturally wouldn't refuse. He immediately helped Divya walk toward the VIP fitting room.
Once inside, Divya pointed to a hanger holding a loose, luxurious black polo shirt and a pair of perfectly tailored gray casual trousers, then pointed to a pair of sleek leather shoes on the floor.
"Change into these."
Rahul paused, hand on his shirt. "Aren't you going to step out?"
Divya, possessed by a sudden, uncharacteristic boldness, shook her head. "I'm going to watch you change."
Rahul wasn't a squeamish guy. With a casual shrug, he grabbed the hem of his t-shirt and pulled it over his head.
Divya's face instantly flushed a violent shade of red, her breath catching in her throat.
Lean when dressed, aggressively muscular when undressed—that phrase described Rahul to absolute perfection. His core was tightly defined, his shoulders broad and powerful. When he slipped on the black polo, the fabric draped perfectly over his chest, and Divya felt her heart practically melt into a puddle.
"Style your hair into a slicked-back look," she whispered, her voice slightly hoarse.
Rahul picked up a jar of hair wax and a comb from the vanity and quickly pushed his wavy hair back into a sharp, slicked style.
Looking in the mirror, Rahul realized he looked incredibly dangerous—like a young, ruthless mafia boss.
As Rahul turned around, he locked eyes with Divya. Her gaze was no longer cold; it was burning with an undeniable, fiery intensity!