Deluded// Leonardo DiCaprio *FINISHED*

Some sort of audition

Leo and I arrived at the Ritz at 12 sharp, as instructed.
"Do you want me to wait with you?" Leo offered.
"Nah, I'm okay." I said, and I kissed him before watching him walk away.

I stood back to face the building,
I kept seeing men I imagined to be him: camp men; good-looking men; men in good clothes, but they all walked towards me, and just walked straight past.
This guy would know what I look like, right? I mean why would he offer me a modeling job if there's a chance I could be hideously ugly?
My mind was buzzing with questions, as the minutes went by and the time got further and further into 12 o'clock.
I looked at my watch one last time, and the it read 12:37. Almost 40 minutes late. Is this the right Ritz? What if he's already inside? Oh god.

I was about to leave as I heard, "Victoria? Darling!". I turned to see a short man with a pink face and yellow hair, running towards me. I smiled and kissed both his cheeks. "I'm so sorry I'm late, there was so much traffic in London that in the end I told my driver 'I'm getting out, I'm going to run!' God, how I regret that decision now. Anyway, at least I'm here, right?" I sort of smiled and laughed. "Well... Shall we go in?"

********

After a few minutes sat at our table, we were presented with a stand of small sandwiches, all precisely cut to the same size, filled with egg salad, ham, chicken, tuna, you name it. We began to tuck in.

"Now," Julian said, his mouth half full of sandwich. "Do you have any experience with modeling?"
"Well, no, not exactly." I said.
"Not exactly?" He repeated.
"When I was younger I entered many beauty pageants, and won a few. But that's all over now. I became too insecure from it." I explained.
"So, you wouldn't be interested in modeling for my company?" He asked.
"Well, I don't really know much about it." I said.
"Models1 is an extremely sophisticated modeling agency. We have helped thousands of young aspiring models to reach their goals. Our models work for big companies, such as Victoria Secret, Topshop, and Hollister."
"Wow..." I said, honestly astonished. "I would love to give it a try."
"Great! Come along to 215 Hartford road, on Tuesday at 11am. I'll text you later on with the details. I'll see you then!"

********

I knocked on the door of 215 Hartford road, I wore a play suit on top of my black bra and nickers, and black stilettos on my feet (as I was instructed). A woman in a grey suit and lilac top answered the door, holding a checklist.

"Name?" She ordered.
"Victoria Hutchingson."
"Go right in." She said, sternly.

I was nervous, but I had to act professional. I wanted to be a model.
Then I saw Julian, stood in front of maybe 200 girls in black bra and nickers, and black stilettos.

"Victoria! Come, come. Just take off your clothes over there, take this and go stand over there." He handed me a sign saying 207 on it. I was model number 207.

They instructed us to all pose with our right leg in front, which I was used to from my pageants. They then ordered us to, one by one, walk up and down the room, to present our skills. After we had walked, we had to go to the right side of the room to be measured and weighed by a lady with shocking blue hair.

We were told that the company will be in touch if they want us to model for them, so I suppose that must have been some sort of audition.

********

On our second-to-last day in London, I got a message from Models1. My heart jumped, I had been waiting for this all week!

Miss Hutchingson, we are sorry to say that although you showed exceptional modelling/catwalking skills, you do not meet the weight requirement. We understand that your weight may be due to big bones, however your waist must be 26inches, your hips 30 and your breasts must be no bigger than a 30B. We are sorry, but maybe you can try again next year. Thank you for attending our open day.