Renting Hearts

seventeen- mr model maker

Jadesola

“If you don’t give me a call, I will come back and find you, Jadesola.” One of the men seated at the table yapped as I served their food order.

Flashing him a small smile, I nodded, “I will try and remember.”

Charley, which he said was his name, had been yapping about making me a model. Not that he was the first, and of course wouldn’t be the last. Each time I told these men that I wasn’t interested, they always insisted. It was annoying but at some point, I had to learn to live with it. That was why I told him I would think about it, hoping that it was the answer that would get him to stop talking, but it seemed like he wasn’t going to stop.

Mr Charley was here with his friend who had his long locs styled in a low bun, and he, on the other hand, had a buzz cut. They were both good-looking men, and I would have maybe taken Mr Model Maker seriously if he knew how to keep his hand to himself. But then, a lot of men didn’t know how to keep their hands to themselves, which was always annoying.

But not Jonathan though. There was mutual respect between us and ever since I came in this morning, I had been heavily distracted by our conversation earlier. His face when he told me that I had been avoiding him had, for some unknown reason, remained in my memory, triggering a certain feeling inside of me.

He looked really serious and concerned, it made me feel like he really wanted me to talk to him— that the two years we were going to be together could get better. And our ride to the hotel this morning was the cherry on top.

At a point in his car, I wondered if the electrifying atmosphere had something to do with us riding together for the first time. But then, I remembered it wasn’t our first time riding together. It wasn’t even our second or third. Maybe I just missed being in the same car with my fake husband. Was that even possible? I came to the conclusion that the atmosphere earlier had something to do with our conversation this morning.

Again, I was lost in the thought of him– the thought of us, when I felt something on my waist and I jumped in reaction. It was him again, Charley the model maker, who didn’t know how to keep his hand to himself. I flashed him another tight-lipped smile as I subtly shifted away from him.

His friend, who wasn’t aware of what just happened, placed his phone on the table as I served plates of food in front of him. Glancing to my level, he smiled, saying, “Thank you.”

“I can’t wait to make you famous.” His voice was beginning to make my skin crawl. “I am going to take you to Europe and make you an international model,” he added and I cringed.

I peeped his friend giving him a weird look, and then I realised that he was only noticing our conversation now. I turned on my heels, about to escape, when his friend stopped me and ordered another two glasses of champagne and a bottle of water, one that wasn't cold.

I took the tray of the empty glasses to the bar station and upon giving the barman their order, I left to fetch a bottle of water. I walked into the server station, stepping past some of my colleagues who were also on their heels, busy with work. While the males wore a white long-sleeved shirt with black trousers, the females were clad in a black, slightly above-the-knee skirt, also pairing it with a white shirt.

I walked to the hidden door which led me into the beverage station built behind the server station. Walking past the built-in refrigerator and the storage cabinet, I went to where bottles of water were placed and picked one from it. Then, I reached for a tray and placed the bottle of water on it.

Back to the server station, I was on my way out when a body blocked my path, and I traced my gaze to the owner’s face.

It was Isaac who stood the same height as me and was staring back at me, a serious look etching his face. “What’s his deal,” he asked, glancing at the direction of the guests.