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I opened my Facebook and found a friend request from Sam Rinaldi. She had sent me the request a little over a month ago, but I have yet to accept it. I clicked on her profile, and most of her posts were restricted only to her friends. Her profile was still an old picture. I wondered how she looked after not seeing her for a month.
After we made love that night I got stranded in Milan, I decided to end things with her. There was no reason for us to meet again or to keep up what we thought we felt for each other. That night was only filled with lust and confusion. Though I would never forget it, I needed to move on with my life.
“How was the go-see, darling?” my mom asked while barging into my studio apartment.
I snorted and ignored my mom’s question. She was ecstatic a month ago after I had a small feature in a fashion magazine. We hoped that my modeling career would take off after my breakthrough in Milan. It never happened. In fact, it became a mess.
My agency accused me of being careless for losing my passport and for missing what could have been another opportunity. They did not renew my contract with them. I had become my own agent since then. It had been a month, but I had never booked anything for myself.
"They still prefer those who are with agencies," I replied. "But there's a photoshoot for sports gear and I..."
My phone rang before I could finish my story. My body tensed when I saw the name of the caller. Steven Ricks. He was the editor of the sports magazine handling the launch of the sports gear.
“Hi, Mr. Ricks,” I greeted while hiding my excitement for his call.
“Do you know Nolan Richards?” Steven asked.
“The soccer player? Of course. Many know him.”
“No. I meant personally,” Steven corrected me. “Are you acquainted with him?”
“No. I’m not. I don’t...”
“We need to discuss something in my office,” Steven told me. “How soon can you get here?”
“In twenty minutes,” I happily said.
Nolan Richards? Is he the athlete model for the sports gear? I wondered. He was not as popular as Messi or Beckham, but he was becoming popular because of his sexiness. He had long blond locks that curled around his ears, beautiful almond-shaped brown eyes, a sharp jaw, and a lovely dimple on his chin. I had seen a few of his games. Truth be told, I only watched the games because he was hot – raggedly hot on the soccer field. Why would Steven ask me about him?
#
“I hope you’re waxed and ready,” Steven told me.
I stared at him with wide, shocked eyes. He had just named me as the primary model for the photoshoot of Nolan Richards. The Sports Gear Company objected to my participation for a moment, but Steven Ricks explained that Nolan insisted that I should be the main model. Apparently, he wanted some girls with boobs to model with him. My healthy breasts became my advantage again.
“But this is just a one-time deal,” the marketing manager said. “On the next photoshoot, it would be Clarise Danes.”
“Then I guess I will not be the endorser for the next products,” a man with a deep voice declared while entering the room.
I looked at the doorway and found Nolan Richards standing across me and staring at me with his wide, charming smile. He looked different in his coat and tie with his jaw neatly shaved. But I preferred his ragged look on the field. He gives off the hotness of a gladiator when he is on the field.
“Tamara Simons. Finally, I see you again,” Nolan said while offering his hand to me.
I reached for his hand and shook it while replying, “I’m not aware that we met before.”
Nolan chuckled and sat on the couch opposite from where I sat. His eyes never stopped looking at me; his smile never faded. Steven cleared his throat, and Nolan finally looked at him. “I was a guest at Milan Fashion Week a month ago,” Nolan explained.
He came too early for the fashion show of the house that invited him and decided to watch Sam’s collection. Nolan claimed that he wanted to meet me after the show, but he could not find me.
“You got distracted by more beautiful models, I suppose,” I joked.
Nolan laughed and looked straight at me. He shook his head and responded, “No. There was no woman at that event that was more beautiful than you.”
My face burned with embarrassment. I hated the fact that I got the job because Nolan had an infatuation over me, but it was the only job I nailed for the past month. I had no choice but to keep smiling at his flattery and swallow any insulting thoughts that probably crossed the minds of the sports gear representatives.
“Enough with the chit-chat,” Steven cut in upon seeing my awkwardness. He called his staff and said, “Let’s get the shoot ready.”
The staff quickly assisted Nolan in his dressing room while only one staff member was assigned to me. Steven gave the staff member a sign to leave us, which alarmed me.
“I have seen these things a lot, Tamara,” Steven said. I looked at the fiftyish editor with questioning eyes. He flashed a side smirk and told me, “I’m saying this because you seem to be a nice girl. That boy wants something after this.”
Steven’s words did not surprise me. I had indecent offers from some employers and clients when I was still an amateur model. It would not surprise me if Nolan would ask for “favors” after we had our first shoot.
“That boy has a lot of endorsement contracts. If you keep him fooled over you, you might as well be guaranteed a lot of jobs,” Steven said. He tapped his temple with his index finger giving me a sign to think before saying, “Nice girls usually have a tough time at this job. Use your opportunity well.”
I left Steven's office with deep thoughts. Steven was right. Nice girls often have a tough time getting jobs. There were always some sharks who thought of new models as prey. Nolan Richards could be one of them.
I watched Nolan for a while as the stylist and other staff helped him get ready for the shoot. A stepping stone. Mom said that all I needed was a stepping stone – a moment to shine. I had my moment to shine in Milan, but it quickly faded. Nolan was a star shining bright at the moment. Perhaps, I could use him as my stepping stone. Not only to become a famous model but to hide the other part of me, which was becoming stronger while I longed for Sam’s touch.
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