Chapter 4

Sophie

Even with more than a thousand bucks in my possession, I still felt like a poor cat. I felt like a street beggar.

It wasn’t my finest moment, but it was better than being a beggar. I had a roof under my head and was on my way for a job interview. But life couldn’t get any easier right now.

At first, I had looked over my shoulder every other minute, expecting to see Antonio watching me, but three days had come and gone before I could confirm that my plan had worked perfectly. He knew I was no longer here and was following my phone to wherever that lady was going. There was no doubt in my mind that he had tracked me to where the phone was, but I had been safe here for some time.

I wanted to try out the job on the flyer. They promised $10,000 a month, and I didn’t care about the details. With that amount of money, I was bound to live a normal life. I wanted to work for a powerful man so it would be difficult for Antonio to touch me. That would be the last thing he expects me to do.

I didn’t have a false sense of my appearance. I understand I’m pretty enough, but I’m certainly not a model, so I can apply for an assistant job or a stylist.

I arrived at the audition and checked in just like everyone else. All the women there were already in heels and skimpy outfits, with enormous hairstyles. They were all looking like models.

I was the only one fully dressed, and ironically, that made me feel naked. Most of them raised their eyebrows when they looked at me, whispering something to their friends. Some even laughed at me like I was an idiot, showing up dressed in a complete outfit.

I had my makeup and hair done by Gwen before she left for work.

I heard whispers that the owner would show up here today, but I didn’t care about that. I wanted to land the job first before I thought of my next move.

Numbers were called, and some of the women walked the stage like it was their home. They strutted, flipped their hair, and held the gazes of the men sitting behind the table.

It went on for a long time, I eventually grew bored.

They finally called my number. I walked up the stairs and passed the woman before me. She couldn’t contain her laughter as she pranced away in her lingerie.

I ignored her and walked up to the stage, looking at the men sitting at the table. They were all dressed in suits, their eyes trailing over my body, taking in every feature with experienced gazes.

The one in the middle turned to the little microphone, leaning to speak to me. “Turn around and walk,” he ordered.

I frowned – I didn’t come to audition for a modeling job. I came for a remote job. This wasn’t necessary.

I kept my hands by my sides, not bothering to come up with a fake smile to impress them. I just needed my manners to land this job.

“I am not here to model,” I said as politely as possible.

The man in the middle had blond hair and brown eyes, a pen held in his fingers. He looked at me with his brown eyes, taking in every inch of my body while twirling the pen in his fingers.

I sighed when he regarded me with a cool look like he was getting impatient. I sighed again when I realized that I had no choice but to prance around like those other girls.

“We only have the modeling job open,” he said firmly.

I nodded. I didn’t want to argue with any of them. They looked like they made people’s dreams come true, just by sitting here and criticizing everyone on stage.

I wanted to comply, but something sparked in me. “I am not the modeling type,” I said instead.

I didn’t smile or smolder with my sexuality. It was just a plain me, and I knew it. Judging by the way they looked at me, they knew it too.

“We don’t know that for sure, you haven’t even done the audition,” one of them said.

His eyes were silently telling me to hurry up and get out of here.

I swallowed my pride and did as they asked. I watched the women do this, so I knew exactly what to do. I knew how to sway my hips while working and pivoting just like they did. I did that, and deep down I felt like an idiot.

I walked to the end of the makeshift runway, then turned and walked back with my back straight. I didn’t smile or hold a smothering gaze – I just couldn’t do it.

The same man in the middle set his pen on the clipboard. “Do you have any scars on your body?”

I shook my head, “No.”

“Blemishes, acne, and the rest?” he continued.

“None,” I answered.

I gritted my teeth - this was becoming way more hectic than I anticipated.

A smile spread on his lips, “Satisfying, here are your instructions.” He dropped a piece of paper on the table.

I slowly inched forward, my eyes on the small piece of paper he placed on the table.

“What does that mean?” I asked.

“It means you have been selected to be part of our modeling program. Show this to the person guarding the door, or you won’t be able to get in,” he instructed.

I nodded my head. Wait a minute…

“Does this mean you are considering me?” I asked as my eyes scanned the information written on the piece of paper.

“Yes, you have something unique,” he said, waving a hand for me to get off the stage.

I stared at the paper again, unable to believe what had just happened. I didn’t know how I landed a job like this.

He dismissed me with a look. I kept the invitation tucked into my jeans pocket, and my heart was beating way too fast.

The last thing I wanted to do was to become a model. I didn’t have the right attitude and had never been interested in this lifestyle, but I had danger looming all over me, and I needed to escape it, one way or the other.

I would rather run than surrender.