"And that's why we think you would be the perfect model for Stinman's office supplies." Marie clicked the button to turn of the projector, walked over to the switch in the meeting room and flicked it up, turning the lights on.
"Let's talk cash." Samantha Prescott sat at the end of the long table with her perfect airbrushed feet on the table. She wore a small black blazer over an off white dress and black stilettos. Her bleach blonde hair sat in a fashionable up-do. None of this matched the expression on her face she looked serious, yet slightly amused, with one eyebrow high up in the air and the corner of her mouth lifted up just enough to make it seem as though she was smirking. "How much does it pay?" Her eyebrows moved along with her mouth.
"That's for your manager and I to discuss." Marie said kindly yet firmly, trying to hide the fact that she was terrified of the woman on front of her, while also feeling proud of herself for standing up to someone with much more experience than her. Her smile turned into a frown as Samantha burst out in laughter.
"Oh how cute! but-" as she finished laughing, the expression on her face became less amused. "I AM my manager." She uttered through clenched teeth.
"Well in that case..." Marie felt a lump in her throat as she prepared to say her next words. "My boss, Clarice Francois-Dubois, is prepared to-"
"WAIT" Samantha's chair wobbled and almost fell as she sat upright and planted her feet firmly on the ground to balance herself. "Did you say Clarice Francois-Dubois?" She clarified while her mouth was smiling and her eyes were beaming.
"Yes that's what I-"
"I'll do it." Samantha's face and body went back into the position she was in at the beginning of this chapter.
"Wait. What? I haven't even told you how much you'll be paid!"
"I'll do it for free."
She shrugged.
"But-" Marie was totally confused, but she decided not to make a big fuss as it might change the model's mind. "Ok. But... Can I ask you one question?"
"Of course!"
"Why?" Marie stared curiously into Samantha's eyes, but Samantha was staring elsewhere. Her eyebrow went up higher and her smirk became bigger. It was the kind of look that people make when they are about to say something that will first make you go "WHAT!?!?" And then "NO! IT CAN'T BE!" And then "Could you please repeat yourself?" And then leave you confused and pondering the possibilities of what it means as they walk out the room.
"Revenge." That was the thing that made Marie think: WHAT? Then NO! IT CAN'T BE!!! Then say "Could you please repeat yourself?" And after Samantha responded "You heard me." And dropped her card on the table, she left Marie confused and pondering the possibilities of what it meant as she walked out of the room.
......................
"Listen to this." Was the first thing Nina said to Marie when she got home from work and saw her roommate sitting at their small round table drinking an iced tea. "It's a letter from Manuel." She sat down at the table with Marie.
"Oh how sweet!" She said in a high pitched voice. She was still pondering what the model had said and whether or not she should tell her sister.
"NO!" Exclaimed Nina, making Marie jumped. "NOT sweet. It's annoying. Listen: Dear señorita Nina, I have been thinking about you lately. Mostly because I saw you when I came to your door the other day," she had begun reading in a Mexican accent. "but partly because you broke my heart. Before I thought I could never forgive you, but now I realize that you deserve a second chance. I have been with a lot of girls since you, btw, but none of them compare to you. I hope you will take me back. Next Saturday I will come by your apartment at 7 to take you on a date. If you forgive me, then go with me. If not, just turn me down flat on my face. I can handle it. Trust me. I handled it before. Didn't I? Yours truly or not yours truly, Manuel."
"Oh my god!" Marie said in disgust.
"I know! Doesn't it just make you want to barf?"
"Yes!"
"I mean, he even sprayed it with his cologne!"
"Oh! Are you talking about the letter?"
"Yes! What did you think I was talking about?"
"I was talking about your horrible Mexican accent!" Marie laughed. "Oh come on Nina. So what? At least go out with him! He's so nice! I don't see what you don't like about him."
"He just doesn't understand me." Nina out her head down on the table.
"I know what'll cheer you up!" Marie smiled with excitement. "How about we order sushi?"
Nina tried not to smile. "Ok." She sighed as if she didn't want to. When Marie went to get the phone, Nina sneaked one last sniff of the cologne enhanced letter. Maybe she wasn't as uninterested as she pretended to be.
