The Former Marine

It was a sunny morning in Los Angeles, and Derek was in his gym, supervising a group of elite athletes as they worked out an intense workout. The sound of jump ropes and dumbbells hitting the floor echoed through the space, but to Derek, it was just another normal day.

He was reviewing his week's schedule when his phone vibrated in his pocket. He glanced quickly at the screen and saw that it was an unfamiliar number, but something in his intuition made him answer it.

"Derek Rogan speaking," he said in his firm, direct tone.

"Derek, this is Julian Dubois, Paco Rabanne's chief marketing officer," a voice with a slight French accent responded on the other end. "I have a very interesting proposal for you. Would you have a few minutes to listen?"

Derek frowned, surprised by the unexpected contact. Paco Rabanne? He was familiar with the brand, known for its bold fragrances and campaigns, but he never imagined it would be on their radar.

"Sure, go ahead," he replied, curious.

"We're launching a new campaign for One Million, one of our most iconic fragrances, and we want to create something big. Something that represents power, confidence and action. And we thought of you."

Derek laughed lightly, surprised. "Interesting. And what do you have in mind?"

"We're producing a commercial that mixes military action with sophistication. The idea is that you start out dressed in military gear, jump out of a plane in mid-flight, land in a landing zone, and as soon as you land, you quickly change into an elegant suit and apply One Million perfume. At the end, you meet none other than Gigi Hadid, in a chic and sophisticated environment. The scene will portray the transition from a man of action to a man of class."

Derek was silent for a moment, absorbing the proposal. He'd done a few campaign appearances before, but this one was on a whole different level. A skydive? A date with Gigi Hadid? It was bold, but also intriguing.

"Well, that sounds really interesting," he replied, trying to hide the smile that was forming on his face. "When are you planning to shoot this?"

"We're scheduled to shoot next month in Dubai. It's going to be a high-profile international shoot, and we know your military experience will bring authenticity to the commercial. Plus, you have the right look and presence to represent the brand."

Derek nodded, even though Julian couldn't see him. "I'll need a few more details, but it sounds like an opportunity I can't turn down."

"Perfect," Julian replied excitedly. "I'll send you all the details and the contract today. But I can tell you right now: we have high expectations, and we're confident you'll be perfect for the role."

After the call ended, Derek thought for a few seconds. It was a different proposition than anything he had ever done before, but he always liked a challenge. Plus, the idea of ​​jumping out of a plane for a perfume commercial definitely intrigued him.

That night, Derek was home with Kylie, who was lying next to him on the couch while the kids slept peacefully. He was mulling over the proposal when he decided to tell her.

"You'll never believe the call I got today," he began, still smiling.

Kylie looked at him curiously, raising an eyebrow. "Oh? Who called you?"

"I've been asked to do a commercial for Paco Rabanne," he said casually. "They want me to jump out of a plane, change on the floor, and show up in a suit and tie next to Gigi Hadid."

Kylie's eyes widened in surprise. "What? Seriously? Derek, that's huge!"

He laughed. "Yeah, that's exactly what I thought. It sounds like a challenge, but it'll be fun. Plus, I've never done anything like this before."

Kylie smiled excitedly. "You're going to rock it. Just imagine, you skydiving and then looking all fancy in a suit… it's going to be amazing. And with Gigi Hadid, of course. That's going to get a lot of attention."

"I hope so," he replied. "I'm already mentally preparing myself for the adrenaline rush of the jump."

Kylie looked at him and with a mischievous smile said, "I can't wait to see the end result. I bet it's going to be one of the most talked about commercials of the year."

Derek knew the production would be intense, but he was ready for the challenge.

A month later, Derek found himself in Dubai, in the middle of the desert, where the Paco Rabanne team had set up a huge film set. The director, Julian Dubois, greeted him with infectious enthusiasm, explaining every detail of the shoot.

"Today is the big jump," Julian said. "You're going to jump out of a plane at 10,000 feet, and as soon as you touch the ground, our team will help you change into your suit. From then on, it's just a matter of doing what you know how to do."

Derek, dressed in full military fatigues, looked up at the clear blue sky, feeling the excitement building. Skydiving was nothing new to him, but this time it was for a completely different reason. By the time he reached the plane, adrenaline was already coursing through his veins.

He climbed aboard the C-130, accompanied by an aerial camera crew who would capture every second of his descent. The sound of the engines filled his ears as the rear door of the plane opened, revealing the vast desert below. Derek gave one last wave to the cameras and jumped.

The free fall was fast but intense, with the wind roaring around him. The cameras followed his graceful movement through the air as he masterfully controlled his descent. When his parachute opened, he knew that the epic moment from the commercial was being captured in the best possible way.

As soon as his feet touched the ground, a crew was ready to help him change out of his uniform and into an impeccable suit, while he sprayed One Million perfume on his wrist and finished with a touch of his neck.

Now Derek stood, elegant and confident, ready for the final part of the scene. He walked toward Gigi Hadid, who was waiting at an outdoor dining table. She smiled when she saw him, and the cameras captured the moment of pure sophistication.

The director yelled, "Cut!" and the scene ended. Derek gave a relieved laugh, and Gigi high-fived him.

"You did great," she said, winking. "Not bad for a skydive and a quick costume change."

"Thank you," Derek replied, smiling. "It was unlike anything I've ever done, but I think the results are going to be incredible."

And with that, Derek knew he had successfully met another challenge, showing that he could excel in any arena, be it on the battlefield or on the big screen of a high-profile commercial.

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