Chapter 5

I pulled another tissue from the Kleenex box, blowing my nose and drying my eyes. My mother made her way towards me with a warm cup of chamomile tea, sweetened with honey.

"It's gonna be okay, baby. I know it's hard but I promise you won't feel like this forever." She hugged me once more.

"Mom, I just don't get it. Why would he do this to me? I knew there was someone else but it's one thing to have an affair and another to get someone pregnant! Why?" I shrieked with tears rolling down my cheeks.

"I know it hurts, sweetheart. But remember you have so much going for you right now. No matter what, I want you to stay focused on your career because this is what will help you to stop being dependent on him financially and move on with your life." She remarked.

"I know but it's hard! I feel so weak! It's like I'm slowly falling apart!" I sobbed.

"You've got this, Nicky! You're stronger than you know and I may not be of much help but-

My mother was interrupted by my phone buzzing. I quickly cleared my throat.

"Hello?" I answered.

"Nicole, darling! I just got prompted that Chanel needs your contract and your portfolio before you can get on that plane. Have you had a lawyer look it over with you? Are you comfortable with the terms and conditions?" Brad asked.

"I had a lawyer look it over with me two days ago and yes I signed it." I stated.

"Perfect! Bring your folder in so I can take it from there. It would be nice if you brought it in today," he said.

"Today? How about another day?" I requested.

"Sorry, sugar cakes! But I need that folder ASAP! The catwalk show is in three weeks and a lot needs to happen before you get to Paris. I also need you to come in to my office today no later than 6pm. I need to have a meeting with you."

I sighed exasperatingly. "Ok. I'll be there in an hour."

"Sweet! I'll see you then." Brad concluded our conversation.

I hung up the phone and returned to my mother's company. "I have to get ready to go to the agency for a meeting. Could you get Ella from school, please?"

"Of course! But what should I tell Chris if he calls?" She asked concerned.

"Ella and I haven't been home in two days and he hasn't picked up the phone to call to see if something even happened to us. He's probably too busy attending to his pregnant girlfriend. I doubt he'll call you but if he does, simply tell him we've been with you. It's the truth anyways." I shrugged.

"Alright. You go get ready for your meeting, I'll see you later."

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I was met with the same white walls and portraits in Brad's office. I had been sitting in his office for a few minutes waiting for this meeting to begin but he was occupied with a phone call.

"Listen! My models, MY FREAKING MODELS, are top tier! They're badasses, ok? I've got some of the best models that Canada has. You can tell your boss I heard the little stunt he pulled the other day, coming to my agency trying to recruit people. His reputation sucks and nobody wants to be signed with him so he thinks it's a good idea to come to my establishment to try and "take" my models? Pfft. As if my models would even give him the time of you day. You tell him, the next time he sets foot on my property, it's gonna be a showdown!" Brad slammed the landline down, ending the call.

Brad sipped on what appeared to be a glass of water while removing strands of hair from his blonde wig, out of his face. He had been wearing a chiffon dress, pearl earrings and necklace and his makeup was immaculate.

"I'm so sorry about that, Nicole. Don't mind me, I'm just getting back from a drag queen brunch party with my friends and by security guards made me aware of the fact that one of myself rivals came here today trying to "scout" my models. I don't even know why I'm getting worked up because there's no competition there. I just don't want him on my damn property. But anyways, thanks for coming by! Do you have your folder?" He asked.

I handed it to him without uttering a word.

He briefly scanned through it to see what was inside. "Ok great! Now that you've submitted this, you'll receive your itinerary for your flight in your email. You'll be travelling with some of the other models to Paris in two weeks but there's a flight that leaves two days from now that I wanted you on and it's going to the British Virgin Islands. A few models will be going out there for a workshop. It's basically grooming you for the catwalk while being on a mini vacation. Could you give me one minute please?" Brad picked up his landline and pressed a button on the phone.

"Lucy, I need you to do something for me," he asked his secretary. "I need you to check on the flight that the models are going on to the British Virgin Islands and see if there's any space left, please." He waited for a response from the other end.

"Awesome! Can you please put Nicole Manccini on that flight? And as soon as you're done with that, please come by my office and scan her documents for the catwalk coming up in Paris? I need her on that show. Thanks, sweets." He hung up, redirecting his attention to me.

"Ok, darling! So you're all set! I'll be seeing you on the island and I'll be there with you guys in Paris too. If you need anything or have any questions, I got you, girl!" Brad winked.

"Thanks, Brad. I'll see you around." I got up, making my way towards his office door.

"Wait!" Brad called out. "Come back here, sugar cakes."

Feeling lifeless on the inside, I turned around to face him. More than anything else, I wanted to be at home with my mother, snuggled up under one of her knitted blankets while drowning in my sorrows.

"You're not yourself today. What's going on?" He questioned unsettlingly.

"I'm good, what are you talking about?" I lied.

"Girl, miss me with the bullshit. Come take a seat and tell me what's going on." He commanded.

"My husband has another woman pregnant. That's all." I shrugged.

Brad gasped. "Son of a bitch! Oh, my Poor baby girl! I know this is a lot for you but you're my model and when you're with this agency, you're not just "a model"; you're all family to me and I feel the need to take good care of you guys. So with the agency, a few years ago, I started this program where you guys get medical benefits six months after being signed with us but I'm gonna go ahead and give it to you now. It covers medical and dental stuff but if you need to see a counsellor we can take care of that too and I think you need to see one ASAP. I need you to be in the best shape possible for your first show. So I'm gonna have Lucy put that on your record. But-"

"Brad! It's ok. I don't want to see a counsellor or whatever. I'm gonna file for a divorce when I save up enough money to get my own place." I disrupted him.

"Well if you need any help, I'm one phone call away. And if you need someone to pound his ass, my husband and I are more than willing to do that!" Brad flashed a devilish grin.

My face flushed. "Are you sure that's what you meant to say? My husband isn't ga-"

"Oh, stop it! You know what I mean." He snapped, as we laugh in unison.

"Anyways, I'm gonna get going and go home and pack. I'll see you in a few days, Brad."

"Adiós!" He called out from behind me.

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Later that night, I was at my house packing my suitcase for my trip to the British Virgin Islands. My daughter was with my mom and I had no idea where Chris was. It seems neither of us had been at this house for a while. I quickly packed my necessities and exited the house. Maybe it's a better idea to try and get my own place when I'm back from this gig in Paris. My heart felt so heavy here and my anxiety was heightened. It no longer felt like home. As I packed the trunk of my car with my belongings, Chris drove up beside me.

"Been a while since I've seen you." He uttered.

I acted as though I didn't hear what he had said.

"Nicole...I'm sorry about what happened the other day. I shouldn't have allowed my temper to get the best of me but you're just so annoying sometimes and I-"

"Is that what you call an apology, Christopher? Because if you ask me, that was absolutely pathetic." I rolled my eyes.

"You see, this is why you got what you got. You're nothing but a stupid bitch with a rude attitude. You deserved what happened. Fuck you." He sped off without giving me a chance to respond to his distasteful comment.

I slammed the trunk and hopped into my car, speeding off into the night.