My heels clack on the marble floors beneath me. My heart pounds faster and faster and my hands are becoming sweaty. I have to switch my briefcase back and forth every few minutes. I'm finally here. My mind wondering every possible scenario to this day.
"Hello, I'm here to meet with Anasasia," I smile at the woman at the front desk.
She buzzes for me to go up so I climb onto the elevator and ride to the top floor. When the silver doors part I'm met with a beautiful office and large windows looking out onto the city life.
"Hello, Celia! It is so lovely to finally meet you!" A voice echos through the large room as I walk to the desk. A lovely elder woman is sat at the chair with a bright smile across her beautiful aged face.
"I'm so excited to meet you. You've been a dream of mine to work for," I can't even speak without sounding shaking, I am so nervous.
"You won't be working for me, silly. I'll be working for you. Please, take a seat," she gestures at the gorgeous emerald green, velvet chairs across from her, and I happily ablige.
"Here is my profolio," I place my brief case on her desk, and she pops it open, pulling out a pair of glasses that she places on the tip of her nose.
She flips through the many photos I have. I catch myself picking at my nails and shaking my leg so I stop myself. I want to come across as confident but my anxiety is getting the best of me. As usual.
"This are so lovely," she proclaims as she smiles brightly, her eyes scanning each image carefully. "So beautifuly done. I don't know if I've ever seen work like this."
"I'm really happy you like it," I almost choke on my words as the butterflies try escaping my throat.
"I don't like them, I love them!"
Her comment makes the anxiety almost shiver from my body, and I sit up a little straighter. Confidence builds in me as her eyes continue sparkling at my images, her smile wide showing all of her wrinkles she's gained over time.
"I want these up in my gallery immediately. JAMES!" She shouts loudly as a man enters the room from a side hall.
"Yes, ma'am?"
"Please send these in and have them canvased and hung by next weeks showing,"
"Yes, ma'am."
He exits with my briefcase as she removes her glasses. She tangles her fingers together as she leans onto her desk, our eyes locked. "Celia, you have an amazing talent, and I want to work for you. I can tell you have a great eye and a great heart. My next showing is next weekend at 5 pm. Please be there to greet other guests and artists. Introduce yourself and get yourself out there. There will be tons of buyers as well."
"I am so flattered. Thank you so much, ma'am-"
"Call me Anastasia, darling."
"I apologize. I do have a question. What do you mean by buyers?"
"We pay to print your images on canvas and frame them. If someone is interested in your piece then they can purchase. You make your prices."
"This is mt very first time doing a art show so I'm not exactly sure what pricing I should do."
"Don't low ball yourself. These are worth quite a bit of money to the right person. The art at my shows go for usually around 2 to 10 thousand dollars each."
I literally choke at her words, "are you serious?"
"That's just for my newest artists. Seasoned artists who have been working with me for a while and have made great names for themselves sell their work from 10 to 50 thousand."
My mind draws a blank as I just stare at her. I'm in complete shock. Thousands of dollars? That could change my life forever. I could afford to live comfortably and get a new car. So many things bubbling and floating around in my mind.
"The attire is all black, as it is formal. Please make sure to be there. Send me the prices of each piece to my email so I can have them on file. I hope I can be a start of a very bright and happy future for you."
"Thank you so much, Anastasia. You don't know how greatful I am. I will email that to you as soon as possible. Thank you again."
"I will see you next weekend, dear. It was lovely meeting you."
My heels pound wildly on the sidewalk as I race to my car. My hand is digging in my purse as I yank out my keys and phone. I make it to my car and jump in, throwing my purse to the side. I call Jade and Sarah, telling them the amazing news. They congratulate me over and over.
Once I make it home I get inside and undress into my pajamas. I sink down into my bed as I land on my back. I take a deep breath, feeling like I'm on cloud 9. I never thought this would happen. The odds. I thought I was going to be rejected. I'm so new at this. I have to price my photographs not too low but also not too high. The stress is getting to my head too fast. Just be happy right now, in this moment. I'm trying so hard to live in the moment more but my anxiety makes it so hard.
My phone rings and I roll over to see Harry's name lit up bright on my screen. I feel like a little girl with a school crush as I kick my feet in excitement, "hello there handsome."
"Hello, love. How did the interview go?"
I tell him all about it, and he congratulates me as well. He continues to talk to me about how his day was and what his plans are tomorrow.
"I was hoping that you would possibly want to be my date to the art show?" I bite my lip as I await his answer. I don't hear words but I can see his smile and a red flushing over his cheeks, in my mind.
"I would love to," he answers, making me sigh in relief.
We say goodnight to each other before I curl up with Willow for the night. My cheeks hurt from smiling so much. Please don't let this be a dream. Everything in my life is so perfect right now and I'm on my way up. Nothing can knock me down.
YOU ARE READING
Falling Fast :: H.S.
FanfictionCelia graduates college and moves to a big city in California with her photography degree. She moves into a little apartment in San Francisco to pursue her dreams of being a professional photographer. She meets tons of new friends and slowly begins...
