"El, there's a unnamed number calling you." We were already outside the venue when Aileen handed me my phone.
The number is familiar, I think it's one of my parents'. They don't have a permanent number because if you're someone in the business industry you constantly receive death threats, and also bad people can track you if they have your number, my parents are just making sure they're safe.
I answered the call, " Hello? El speaking," I said. I was right it was mom's number, I remember receiving a call from this number before.
"Hey mom! Why did you called?" I asked trying to calm down. Why did she call? Did something bad happened? Where's daddy? I sure hope everything is fine.
"Why do you sound so concerned? I'm just calling to congratulate you, baby. " Mommy said. Suddenly all the worries and uncalmness faded, a sweet smile and a blush replaced it.
"Thank you, mommy." I said while that blush still flustered my cheeks.
"You look so sexy, baby. Your dad said it was revealing, but you know how father reacts about their little girls," mommy and I laughed and giggled in unison.
"Where is dad anyway?" I asked, I want to hear his voice too.
"Oh dad is still at a board meeting, he'll be here soon. How's everything there? Is your management treating you nicely? How are the people? They're not making fun of you, aren't they?" Mom worriedly asked.
"Mom relax! Manager Danica is the best, she's a competitive girl, she's doing everything to make me one of the best." I exclaimed which made her stopped asking mkre questions about the management.
"How about Aileen and Valerie? I know you're college friends and you stick together, so are they doing fine too?" Mom asked.
Aileen, Valerie and I were always together in lots of organization back at college. We also have the same circle of friends, so mom knows them both from the pictures i often show her.
"Aileen is loud like always mom, Valerie is still hyper, they're both still insane mom. " I said which made the two of them curl their eyebrows.
"She means we still have our sanity! " Aileen yelled correcting what I said that I'm sure mom hundred percent heard.
" Hello girls! " Mom greeted them through the phone.
"Hello Aunt! " They both greeted onced I extended my arm to them both to get them closer to the phone.
"Who's that Beryl? He's cute, do you like him? " Mom asked which made me roll my eyes. Not you too mom!
"Stop talking about him, mom. " I complained.
" Why? Don't you like him? He's cute and hot you know. " Mom said giggling loudly.
" Oh my God! Mom, ew! You know I didn't went here to find a lovelife, " I stated still shivering from the thought of liking that man.
I don't hate the man, I just don't see him as someone that I would like. I mean first thing he told me when we met was that I was hot, doesn't that sound kind of like what a playboy would say?
"Yeah! Yeah! You went there to follow your passion, that's why I'm so proud of you baby, and so is dad. We are both proud of you, I heard you went trending? I don't know a lot about twitter but the staff said it's a good thing." Mom exclaimed sincerely.
It made me smile more." Aw mom, you're going to make me cry. " I said stopping the tears. She really said she's proud of me.
" Don't cry! You're make up is going to smudge! " Valerie shouted.
" Don't cry now, baby. Listen to Valerie. " Mom said sobbing, I think she cried because she heard I was going to cry. I know we're so dramatic, but that's just how the two us are.
"Oh now Aunt, please don't cry, if you cry she also cries." Valerie stressed at the thought which made me giggle a little, it helped me forget about crying.
"Aunt she still has a contract signing and a shoot, please don't make her cry. We'll send you pictures of her through your gmail, or would you rather if we send it to your assistant instead?" Aileen asked mom which made her also forget about tearing.
"You know my assistant Giselle, right? Send it to her, darling." Mom said.
"Mom, Let's talk again later. I see Danica walking out of the venue now, I need to go inside." I told mom so she respectfully hanged up after saying goodbye.
"Let's fix your eyes first," Valerie said stopping me to go out of the Van.
"Danica is coming," Aileen reminded.
"We know that, but her eyes' corners are a little smudge by her tears." Valerie said while trying to blend the foundation again.
"Why aren't you girls out yet? Hello? We're on-call now people," Danica blurted as soon as she opened the Van.
"Are you still mad about Beryl and Onyx's partnership?" Valerie asked which made Danica pout.
"Yeah! If only you were the one he partnered with, why did it have to be Onyx anyways." Danica rolled her eyes still annoyed.
"I think they're friends," I said. Base on their Instagram stories they're always together with other models, maybe they're on the same circle of friends?
"The PR team already released an article about them, your hashtags aren't number one anymore, the exposure was useful while it lasted." Danica sighed.
"It's okay, we can still do better." I said.
"Beryl is the best there is, but you're right we'll do better! We'll do better until you're the best!" Danica encourage me, she nodded and smiled looking so inspiring.
"Let's go," I said.
Danica opened the door for me, people passing by that recognized me immediately stopped to look. Aileen walked passed me, she needs to take pictures of me to post on my Instagram and also to send to my mother.
"Oh my gosh! Can we please take a picture of you, we saw your recent pictures with Beryl, you looked dashing." Two girls went close to us to ask for pictures.
Danica and Valerie immediately distanced themselves so that we can have a great photo together, they each took turns capturing each others pictures.
"Let's do a selfie together," I suggested and took showed my hand to her.
"Oh my gosh! Thank you we really appreciate this." One of the girls said smiling in joy.
"Say pretty!" I said and they did what I said, I took three pictures before returning the phone to them.
I accepted two more requests before proceeding to walk inside the venue now. I don't want to be late for my contract signing. Finally after waiting for so long, finally I can now call myself a true model of Hidden Gems Agency!
"Welcome, please make yourself comfortable Miss Del Acosta. The photographers are still preparing everything, they'll take your pictures on that set up first before we start signing the papers. " One of the heads said.
There was a fancy set up in the middle of the room, there was this very soft white cushion and behind it there's a backdrop with the agencies logo. There was also a mini glass table in the center where the papers are placed.
There were fancy huge vases that has fake flowers and ferns as designs on either sides of the cushion that made the set up more lively. I guess they don't want to overdo the set up too much because the photographer wants to focus the eyes on me and the CEO of the Agency.
"Give me another pose, El. Can you look at me while smiling, I need to see that beautiful teeth." The photographer said, they played a very hyping music, my two assistants are helping the photographers to hype me more.
"Beautiful! Okay you can free style now," the photographer said.
A few more minutes later Mister Trevino already marched inside the room, looking so slick in his fancy hairstyle. He's wearing a nude tuxedo to make me stand out more in the picture.
He smiled at me so I smiled back in return. "How's my lucky charm? Did you sleep well last night? I saw your Instagram story, you didn't sleep." He caught me off-guard with that question. The Agency has strict rules too about staying up late because they care about our health, they teach us how to live a more healthy lifestyle to prevent us from getting sick.
"Manager Danica called me during my sleep-" Danica's eyes widen when she heard what I said, she looks like she's about to kill me." It was my first milestone, I just needed to see it for myself. " I reasoned out and smiled shyly.
" You're lucky, I'm fond you. " He said before sitting down on the cushion.
"I just want to thank you again, I just can't stop thanking you all." I siad and smiled to everybody inside the room.
"Let's start! I know we all got schedules to catch soon, I'm sorry for making you all go in an hour lately." CEO Trevino shamefully apologized.
Everything went smoothly actually, after the contract signing we just had a chat and then he went first because he had other plans to catch. I also went right to my next shoot which is just located on the other building beside the one we're in.
I had a shoot for a beauty product, that also went smoothly.
"That's a wrap! Good job everyone!" The head exclaimed while clapping.
"There's someone calling you El." An unknown number was calling on my phone again, I think it's just mom or maybe dad because we didn't have the chance to talk a while ago, so I just answered it.
I wasn't wrong at all, it was dad's. His news to me is very shocking I guess.
"I think we should go, like right now." I told Valerie and Aileen in a very serious way, the thought suddenly gave me the creeps.
"Is something wrong? What's happening? Who was that?" Aileen asked.
"Was it your mom or your dad? Did something happen to them? Are you in danger?" Valerie asked also looking so curious. I've gathered everyone's attention by standing there, so I told the two to pack our things and go.
"Thank you so much everyone! We need to go first because I have an emergency." I let them know. It's like a tradition for us now to eat somewhere right a after a shoot so, I thought I should explain to be why I'll be gone.
"What's happening?" Aileen asked again once we were already inside the elevator motioning going down.
"Uhm my presence is needed back at Acosta Group of Companies." I mumbled still refusing to answer any questions.
Someone's POV
" Why did it had to be sunny today? " I asked curiously while covering my face with my hands.
"It's global warming!" My friend jokingly exclaimed.
We were walking back to the office from our lunch break when we saw a familiar face. She was wearing a very bright fuschia terno pieces so she wasn't really someone you can just ignore.
"Do you know that girl? I think I saw her somewhere, isn't she famous?" I asked him while trying to skim my mind to know remember some information.
"Oh? Isn't that the girl who went trending yesterday?" He asked looking shocked.
Who is she? He's right! I did saw her picture on Instagram and twitter this morning. Is she famous of some sort?
" I think she's a model, she's tall and has a very stylish fashion piece." My friend exclaimed in a very exciting tone, he looked for his phone to take a photo of her.
"What are you doing? That's stalking you know." I said.
"It's not everyday that you get to see a celebrity, let's go ask for a picture." He said.
"Why is she standing in front of the building? Is shs waiting for someone? Oh! Is the company hiring her?" I asked still not getting over the fact that there's a celebrity standing before our eyes.