Accidental Housemate

05: dreaming

05

DREAMING

. . .

Dressed in the two-piece lingerie, I posed for the test photoshoot my supposed boss assigned me.

I liked to model. Maybe not for lingerie, but I didn’t mind. Directed by my ex-co-workers, I signed up for the modelling agency, which demanded lingerie models. To me, that was incomparably better than my previous job.

The pay was less, but that wasn’t my priority when I applied. I thought I had enough money, and my wage from the new job would be enough to put up a living when I supposedly bought that flat. I was also promised a dramatic increase in wages once I was approved permanently.

As I posed for the photographer, sitting backwards on a chair, I thought about whether my plan needed to change, or whether I needed to return to my previous job, or maybe both. I re-hit rock bottom, worse that time, by not even having a place legally mine to shield me from London’s winter. How much longer would Dave be willing to accept me? Human decency, sure, but I couldn’t predict how long that would last.

“Perrie,” the photographer called. Her name was Hannah; she introduced herself previously. A dirty-blonde with green eyes and a thin face. She looked at least thirty-five, but I didn’t ask about her age and didn’t care. Her figure was thin, wrapped in clad jeans and a fitting jumper. She glared at me for the umpteenth time, willing me to focus and give the ‘seductive look’.

“Yes, I’m sorry,” I apologised, fixing myself. She’d told me before the look would work even better if I let one bra strap loosen over my shoulder.

Hannah grinned at me, assuring me it was okay. In all honesty, the woman creeped me out. She was able to switch expressions from annoyed to cool in milliseconds, which was probably why she had prominent wrinkles already. I told myself maybe it was merely the stress of her job and having to guide new models like myself constantly.

When she announced the session was over, I prepared myself to hear rejection, that I wasn’t fit enough, sexy enough, or that I didn’t have the right personality to work in such a field. I was ready mentally, already plotting my next steps. Even though Hannah was introduced to me as their best photographer, I couldn’t rely on that. I felt it in my bones. I was going to go back to my old job, and that scared me shitless. In my barely clothed state, I was sure my goosebumps were evident, and the instability of my shaky body clearer than ever.

I wore a silk robe to secure myself and followed the woman to the computer screen, wherein my photos were displayed in full clarity. A woman with a forming baby bump and a ring around her finger, Editor Ellen, sat in front of it, flipping through the photos. Ellen and Hannah’s talented initial work was clear. I looked better than I expected, but still not good enough, I thought.

“Impressive.” Hannah looked at me with a grin and commented, “Innocent but daring certainly suits you.” She sounded like she’d make any comment to keep me, which irked me.

What a concept. I smiled back respectfully. “Thank you. Does that mean I’ll be approved?” I bit my lip and played with my wrists. That was all I cared about. Although I needed the money, a small part of me hoped something would stop me from working that job. I had a bad gut feeling about the environment and co-workers. Then again, I didn’t have better options.

“Surely,” Ellen mumbled, to which Hannah smirked.

The dynamics between the two were too weird for me to decipher. How truthful were their words? After all, their job ended with taking photos of me, and they couldn’t decide whether I could stay. However, judging by their experience, I agreed to let their words assure me. At least they’d have predictions close to reality.