HARLEM
I stare at my phone while sitting in a corner, taking a break. Lexi left to the US yesterday and she posted A LOT on her story. I smile as she shows off her new Chanel purse.
In two days, Zoran will be getting married to the love of his life and I'm supposed to be in Poland by this time tomorrow. I was given the week off but I had to come today because my nerves are all over the place and the house was too quiet. I could opt out and decide not to show but No. Zoran needs me and cowardice will have to wait.
I look up, staring at Olga as she gets her makeup done for Zaron's makeup brand shoot. She's absolutely stunning. When I found out she's royalty, I was certainly convinced that God has favorites. Are you telling me you're THAT beautiful and still stinking rich? I sigh and stand up because she's almost done and they'll get started with mine next.
Ezra walks in at the worst AND perfect timing looking like the grim reaper in his all-black suit. I stop halfway like a rusty Ferris wheel; certain he'll track me if I keep moving. He gets approached by Miller and they talk while I think of a way to escape.
I'm almost fully blended back into the darkness of the corner when his eyes meet mine. He tilts his head as if to try to tell me he knew I was trying to escape. I break eye contact, wincing slightly and feeling myself go red. I summon courage and walk up to Olga as she gets drenched in setting spray. I say a silent prayer that he's not here for me. The last thing I need is for my co-workers to think he came to see me.
Olga smiles at me "You ready for yours?" I smile and nod feeling the hole being stared into my back. I'm wearing a studded mom jeans and a Y2K fluffy retro jacket, it's an old school shoot. I saw the last shoot we did and I couldn't believe I was staring at myself. I looked so much like my mom back in her days and they ended up posting the pictures on social media; I even saw it got 80k likes on Instagram and a lot of people seemed to complement Olga and I's duo. Someone even told me they loved my Broadway show; looking at the comments made me feel… special. It was THAT good. I guess that's why they're THE Zaron Modeling Agency. Only the best can produce the best.
My makeup takes less time than Olga's and before you know it, we're at the background starting the shoot. We're not the only ones taking pictures though, Jason and other guys are taking a male group photoshoot at some other corner and Clarissa and the others are also occupied, YET… he stands in front of us, staring. I avoid eye contact at all costs, not that I can even dare to because photos usually require you look AT the camera, but his staring feels like lasers. EVERY. TIME.
The camera man adjusts us and a photo analyst comes up to us to tell us the direction of our bodies and body language signal how the public will view the agency and us. She's like a modeling psychiatrist. I like her a lot; her name is Evelyn and she gives us all these lectures on deeper meanings to Modeling. She says it's a depiction of however we want the public to see us and every pose has a deeper meaning. Preach, woman.
We take more pictures and I change into about three more different outfits to fit the retro style and it's about two hours spent by the time we're done. I finish the solo shoot last and I see Olga and Ezra talking. She's laughing at something he's saying and he's smiling respectfully at her. I feel a burn in my heart and look away quickly. My breakfast probably didn't digest properly.
I go to the changing rooms to change back into my maxi skirt and tank top when I get a call from my mother. We've been talking more frequently lately and it's been slightly awkward but it gets better each time. She asks me what time I will be arriving at Poland, where I'm staying and how long. I tell her tomorrow evening, and that Zeke booked me a hotel and till a day after the wedding. We talk about a few more wedding related stuff and end the call.
When I step out, Olga and Ezra are gone and I'm instantly hit with this weird disappointed feeling in my chest. My therapist has been telling me to take some time to dissect my emotions when I'm feeling unsure, so I do just that. I realize that the disappointment sprouts from thinking he came here for me. Guess he came to see Olga.
I sigh, it's not like it's the first time seeing them together, I saw them when he came with his mother but it didn't really click. Now, I'm certain they know each other or something.
I'm calculating how I'm going to ask Olga how she's acquainted with Ezra Roth without sounding weird or too intrusive when I almost bump into the said Roth. With his cologne clouding my senses, his hands hold my shoulders to stabilize me and I look up at him.
I blink a few times, trying to collect myself. I clear my throat as he still stares at me, he slowly takes his hands off.
"Roth. You're still here." I say faking a smile.
His jaw ticks once, no idea why, and he answers "I've been waiting for you."
I look around comically and then point at myself, he nods, once.
"Why?" I ask my heart rate speeding up at an abnormal rate.
He sighs and rakes his hand through his hair and I notice the dark circles around his eyes.
"I can tell you. But, I'm not sure in front of a modeling agency building is the best place. Are you hungry?" he asks me.
I think about what happens if I go home now. It'll just be Bimmy and I. I don't feel like being alone any time soon.
I nod "Yeah, I am. Anywhere in mind?"
He visibly relaxes when I agree and he smiles slightly which causes my heart to leap. Not sure if that's healthy though. "Yeah. Are you driving or should I drive you?" he asks.
"Oh, I didn't come with my car. I used an Uber." I don't always trust myself to drive.
"Alright. Makes this easier."