章節 15: Janessa the Model Pt. 1

The flash went off in my face, but my sunglasses were dark enough to keep my eyes from the starry blindness. I was used to this anyhow, being that I was trying to make it big in the modeling industry.

"Now, stand next to that chair and appear like you're reading ... yes ... closer. That's it!" The photographer was someone I'd never worked with before, but he was quite professional. His voice was native to New York City, but more Brooklyn styled. It wasn't lost on her that he was handsome and vibrantly energized.

"Now, you're walking, in the street and someone bumped into you. Put your hands on your hips. Yes! Yes!"

The flash went off several times as I posed, some with my glasses slid down my nose, others with a tilt of my head, my braids falling behind me then forward. I had extensions in half pink, half jet-black like my natural hair.

"Janessa!" I heard from the other room. It was my husband, Chase. I sighed.

"I'm working!" I shouted at him with annoyance. The photographer continued to shoot. He seemed to appreciate my creased brow and angry posture.

"I don't care. Come in here!"

I apologized to the photographer and walked into Chase's office. I stood there with my hands on my hips, not unlike how I had been posed. He swiveled around to me in his massive leather chair. He had his pen in his mouth, resting against his thin facial hair that was darker around the edge of his jaw in a chinstrap style.

Pointing to the chair in front of his desk he had me sit down. Luckily, my black head to toe catsuit was stretchy in any position. As I sat, I watched him give me a once over.

"You've been gaining a little weight. You should probably cut back on the snacks." I glanced down at my body in shock. There wasn't an ounce of fat on my stomach nor my legs or arms. I kept my feelings to myself because this was Chase. He was both my husband and boss after all.

"Anna can work some magic with my schedule so I have more time for jogging."

"Well, no matter. I don't think modeling is for you anyway."

I sat back with my mouth open.

"What? After all the pushing and obsessing about it from you, I'm not good enough at it? You had to drag me kicking and screaming. I can't believe this." I sat back for a minute holding my chin, staring down at the floor. When I glanced up at him, I could see he was smiling about my hurt.

"I'm going away for a few weeks."

"Really? That sounds great. I'd love to have a break from NYC. It's been so busy lately with the upcoming holiday--"

"I said, I'M going. Not you." He folded his hands resting his elbows on the table linking his hands. I could see his defined forearm muscles lining his ulnar bone in his rolled-up onyx button-down shirt sleeves. The expensive Rolex watch on his left wrist read 12:45 pm.

"I don't understand. Is this about Sophie?" I inquired. I pursed then rolled my lips, pressing the sienna-tinted lipstick to even out the color.

"I told you that we aren't going to talk about that. You're acting delusional. There is nothing going on."

After I sat back, the rest of the conversation was tuned out. My ears were ringing, and I felt sick. Whenever I brought up his concubine, he vehemently denied it. I don't know if he thought he could fool me with a lie or if continuing with the false narrative--knowing I was privy--was his thrill.

I stood up after a few minutes and left without saying a word to him.

"Get back here, Janessa! I'm not done talking to you."

"We'll talk at home."

"If you walk out that door, we are through. Do you understand?" I spun around and stared into his brown eyes. His face was taut with anger, his jaw clenched, and his mouth twisted.

I saluted him as I was walking out quickly retracting my index finger, leaving only the middle.

I stepped into the elevator but just as it was ready to close, the photographer, who had been talking with another model rushed over. I pushed the "OPEN" button and held it. I wanted to be out of there, but he seemed like a nice person. The doors jiggled from their nearly complete shutting and then opened back up.

"Thanks," he said with a tilt of his head his midnight-black hair falling forward. His forehead, neck, underarms, and chest were wet.

"Geez, I thought I got sweaty. Not that it's a bad thing. I guess the other photographers aren't as into it as you."

"I become entrenched in my work. It's deeply personal and therefore physical."

He had all his equipment with him slung over his shoulder and went back to organizing it. I fully expected him to hit on me, but he didn't. That behavior was unexpected.

Upon leaving, he gave me a small wave rushing through the rotating glass door and out into the street haling a cab. I was standing there absentmindedly watching him when I heard my assistant running after me.

"Mrs. Barrington!" she called after me.

"Yes, Anna?" I asked, turning around on my heel facing her. Her face was red from exertion, her sepia-shaded hair disheveled, and her bag and planner falling apart.

"I'm sorry to do this to you this way, but Mr. Barrington asked me to give this to you."

I shrugged in confusion about how that could be seen as any kind of emergency when I saw "Divorce" at the top. A strange memory like deja vu washed over me when I saw the papers. I took them and glanced over them. Had I done this before?

"You're my assistant and you're helping him?" I asked, raising my eyebrows.

Anna bit her lip, raking her red lipstick against her front teeth. Her brow was knitted in a slight wince.

"That's just the thing. See, if you go down to clause 7.4.1, you'll see that my services are no longer to you. They're to Mr. Barrington, exclusively." I snatched the papers out of her hand and waited for her to provide me with a pen. "You'll have to find your own pen. This is the last thing I can do for you."

"This is great. Really classy, Chase," I muttered pulling a pen out of my bag. I spun Anna around and used her back as a solid surface to scrawl my signature. "I hope that wasn't against Mr. Barrington." I mocked saying his name in his haughty tone. I tossed the papers at her watching them scatter across the gray speckled floor.

"It was great working with you!" she squeaked. I left out the revolving doors and went into the street.

It was raining and I didn't have an umbrella. Quickly, I took off my braids to preserve them. For once I was glad that my career hadn't taken off yet so the paparazzi wouldn't snap pictures of me without my synthetic hair.

I held my hair extension under my raincoat and walked down the street. I had no idea where I was going to go. I'd start with the apartment and pack. I had to hurry to get there before Chase did.

Once I was upstairs in our apartment, I pulled my suitcase out and began stuffing clothes in it. I was thankful that my mascara was waterproof. Tears spilled down my cheeks. In an instant, I was jobless and divorced.

It was a good thing I speedily packed. As I suspected Chase been right behind me. He burst through the door while I was about to leave.

"I don't want you leaving with anything!"

"I'm taking my own property Chase. You can't keep that from me. Go talk to a lawyer if you want to own my underwear. I'm leaving."

"That's all you'll have. Any access to my money is gone. You've been removed from the accounts." He pointed at me in a furious manner.

I stowed my gasp of surprise. He was essentially leaving me homeless. I didn't have any form of transportation either. Why had I allowed him so much control over my life?

I entered the elevator furiously pushing the first-floor button. Once downstairs, I dashed outside and was out in the street within moments. As I walked with my matte-black rolling suitcase, I saw a cab pulling up to the side. I looked in the window and thought I recognized the person inside.

"You need a ride, miss?" he asked. I nodded. "Please, hop in."

I slide into the back of the cab, loading my belongings beside me. He turned around.

"I'm Jafir. It's great to meet you."

"Likewise. I'm Janessa."

I told him to drive me to a competing modeling agency. I handed him my little bit of cash and left. When he dropped me off, I thanked him, noting that he seemed especially kind. Had we met before?

Ascot Agency was in front of me in all its glory. My eyes scanned from the door all the way to the top of the skyscraper. I hoped it wasn't as intimidating inside as it appeared out here.

I entered the place and I noticed someone at the front desk. She greeted me with a cheery grin.

"Hello, can I help you?"