Catch me when I fall (Rúben Dias)

Chapter 5

My first couple of weeks working for The Stylist are a dream. Sure, it's long hours and I'm not getting paid much, which means I have to keep working for other publications. But it's all I've ever wanted to do. I don't care about the crazy schedule or the rude people, I'm just happy to be here. I guess it's just the intern honeymoon phase and it might go away soon, so I'll enjoy it while it lasts.

"Grace, can you give us a hand here?", asks Andy while I'm typing a new article that needs to be published later today.

"Of course".

I see most of the people missing at the office are on set, getting ready for the next cover shoot.

"We need glitter on this model", tells me Andy, leading me to the model he's talking about. "Put some moisturizer on her and then apply the glitter. Look at how the make-up artists are doing it and just copy them".

"Ok".

That's been my modus operandi since I started working here: always say yes to everything even if I don't know what I'm doing.

So I get the pot of moisturizer and apply some on my hands. "I'm sorry if my hands are cold".

The model looks down at me when I talk. "That's fine. You're like the first person who's cared about something like that since I started modelling".

"Really?"

"New here?", she laughs.

"I've been here for a couple of weeks. Too obvious?"

"You still look pure", she says, making us both laugh.

When I'm done applying the moisturizer, I get the brush and start applying the glitter. It looks gorgeous on her skin and I can only imagine how beautiful it will look in the photos when the photographer plays around with the lighting. I also checked the clothes the stylist picked this morning and they are stunning. I hope I get to stay here and see some of the shooting in action. Andy has been allowing me to do that a lot, often asking for my opinion.

"You're done...I think. No one really told me if I should do anything else", I tell the model when I'm finished.

"She's perfect, Grace. You're a lifesaver...again", says Andy while he takes the model to where the photographer is waiting.

"You're doing all the right steps, Grace", I hear someone say and when I turn, it's Amirah who's there smiling at me.

"In which way?"

"In the one I expected you to do when I hired you. You ask all the right questions, you seem interested in what we do no matter what that is, you help as much as you can and aren't afraid to offer your opinion. That's what we want in an intern, someone who actually appreciates this job. I think we all know what we'll happen soon".

Her wink after that final sentence throws me off. "What will?"

"You're getting a permanent job here, Grace. It'd be stupid of us to let you go".

"I...thank you. That means a lot".

"You know what? Cancel all your plans for tomorrow night", she says, shocking me.

"I didn't have any but ok".

"How can you not have plans for a Friday night? You're young and gorgeous. Maybe instead of taking you to an event with me, I'll take you to a club so we can find someone you can have some fun with".

"An event?", I ask, not even registering the rest of her words.

"Yes, would you be interested in joining me? No work requirements involved in it. Just you looking beautiful in some clothes a brand lends you and letting me show off the future of fashion to my colleagues".