*** Reuben pov***
"I diverted my eye away from the new girl after Amanda had called on her. I don't think anybody's worth my time, or else I want to have fun — but; I suddenly find her interesting. I wonder who she is and why she's getting my attention?" I thought to myself while taking a sip of the last water in the bottle...
"It's your turn now, Reuben," the secretary Felicia said. "Go into the dressing room and put on your dress," she added.
"Finally, my ass is already flat from the chairs," Cece complained, getting up.
"I'm sorry about that," Felicia apologized.
"I thought we were supposed to go first, anyway," Cece murmured.
"The CEO wanted you both to rest before shoots because it's going to be a long one," Felicia told her.
"I knew it was her doing. Might as well ask us to sleep over," Cece said, grabbing her handbag.
"While you grumble like a witch, don't forget to remind Amanda of the family gathering," Reuben reminded her as he walked away.
"Thanks for the reminder, or else Mother would kill me," she said, looking grateful.
Almost halfway into the dressing room, I saw the so-called new girl come out from the makeup room she had entered with Amanda. She was grinning instead of frowning like I expected anyone to when called by Amanda if it was patterning me.
"Interesting," I said again. "What's her name?" I asked one of the male dressers who was escorting me inside.
"Who?" he asked.
"The Ebony-skinned lady with short braids," I said.
"Oh, that's the stylist, new team leader, Aliya," he responded.
"Her name is ugly, it sounds like a threat," I responded, going into the dressing room.
The two male dressers escorting me glanced at each other in confusion.
* --
The shoots took longer than expected as they were dressing and matching his designer wears and makeup. He had already done ten shoots with different dresses, and there were still a few left. It almost seemed like they were all over him.
"You all are hard on me right now," I said, halting the photographer. "Can't we reschedule?" I asked.
"We're sorry, Reuben. It's just that the magazine will be published this coming week, so we have to finish the shoots since the designer clothes are pairs and can't be in a different magazine," Amanda explained gently.
"Aren't the stylists going to get more people to make this easier? I see only two male dressers trying to do everything all at once. Shouldn't the secretary have known that, or is your new team leader not good at her job?" I asked, looking at Aliya or whatever her name was.
Amanda glanced at the secretary, making her uncomfortable.
"I will reschedule if you're not going to be busy tomorrow, being Sunday. We're sorry for the inconvenience," Amanda apologized.
"Text me the time tomorrow," Reuben said, getting up from the chair to go back and undress from the designer clothes.
"I'm sorry, Amanda. It was already late when she called in for the dressers, who were absent, and I couldn't add the female dressers as per your order," Felicia apologized.
"Don't think you can't lose your job," Amanda told her before leaving to soothe Reuben.
"This is your mistake," Felicia told Aliya.
"I am sorry for calling in late," Aliya apologized.
"No, you're not. You're enjoying it," Felicia told her as she made her way out to see that everything else was going well.
"But still, everybody loves him. His actions are sexy," Emily said from behind.
Aliya stared at her surprised. "Where were you standing all this time?" she asked.
"I'm always right beside you," Emily responded with a calm smile.
"That's unhealthy for me," Aliya said, moving away.
While Amanda waits for Reuben to directly apologize to him, Cece walks up to her.
"He's not going to listen to you here," she told Amanda.
"Really?" Amanda asked worriedly
" You can make it up to him at the family dinner gathering today, you are invited with your mum" Cece told her
" Oh wow, thanks Cece, I will be there" Amanda said holding her hands
" Sure, and also today was good, there are a lot of designers' clothes everywhere and I noticed your new designer purse; it's cute" Cece told Amanda
" Thank you Cece for your support, in fact; I will bring one of them to you at the dinner" Amanda told her
" That's sweet Amanda, I can't say No right?, because you see through me" Cece said with a grin.
*__
"Let's wrap up, teams. You all did great today," Aliya told her team members. There were just eight of them.
"Thank you, team leader. You worked the hardest today," the team congratulated.
"Yes, she did. She was able to get all the designers' clothes and other things ready without missing any, even though she is still new," Emily said with a smile.
"Thank you, everyone. It's 6pm now, so we all should go home and rest," Aliya told them.
"Can I sleep over your place?" Emily asked.
"Hell no. My roommate is scary, and tolerating you for a whole day is the hardest job for today," Aliya told her while leaving.
"Damn, that must be her way of loving people," Emily said.