Management is a Bitch

Chapter 3

"Everybody quick! Move the fashion show is starting in 15min!"

I arrive backstage and see tons of models running everywhere, doing their hair, makeup, or even waxing. The fashion show is definitely running late, hopefully Andrea told me Ralph Lauren is one of the lasts brands to pass on the podium.

I walk towards a door with written "Ralph Lauren's models only" and enter the room.

Everything seemed very calm and ten other girls were seating in front of mirrors until they saw me coming in, all eyes were on me, I hate when people stare at me.

"Well what are you doing in modelling?" My subconscious tells me.

I forget her and concentrate on the other girls, they were all in lingerie, aren't they supposed to be dressed up by now?

"Hello" I quietly say

The models continued staring at me, like if they were analysing me, searching for anything that looked strange or ugly to then judge me behind my back. I look around the room, where are the outfits?

"Hum, do you know where are the outfits?" I ask shyly, I feel like I've lost all my confidence here.

"Yeah your bras and panties are folded on the chair next to Jennifer with the high heels" A beautiful black girl tells me, she looks nice, she has those long black hair with some shades of brown.

She points at a girl, Jennifer I presume, she's...

Orange.

Way too much fake tanning and bright blond hair, but who knows, she might be cool, I shouldn't judge.

However, it's only a couple minutes afterwards that I realise she was talking about lingerie.

I take the bra and look at it, since when does Ralph Lauren designs lingerie?

"Um, do you know where the rest of the outfit is?" I ask.

The blond laughs: "Are you new in modelling or.."

I quickly realise I'll be wearing only lingerie on stage, and of course Andrea never mentioned it to me. I hate her.
Something I'm very shy of is my body, there is no way I'm wearing only lingerie in front of hundreds of people.

I quickly take out my phone from my bag to call Andrea, where is she anyway? Her phones goes directly to voicemail and I curse at myself for not asking more details to her about the fashion show.

I take the bra and the panties and scan the room, I find a hiding spot to change and go in a rush to change myself. I put on the black panties and bra, it looks simple but I swear the push up in this bra is huge.

I go look at myself in the mirror and let a gasp out of my voice, how does the other girls are not stressed about all of this?

"You better hurry up, we're next" one of the girls tells me.

"Oh, well, I think it's an error... I'm not doing this" I try to cover my body with my hands, I'm not comfortable in only underwear.

All the girls turn right in front of me and one speaks up: "You're going to just abandon the show like this?"

"Well" I try to defend myself, "It's only a bra and panties, or you girls can wear them instead of me"

"If you do that, be sure to be blacklisted from every fashion show and your carrier will be destroyed"

"Oh she's just shy Becca" Says Jennifer, "The poor little girl is too scared to walk in front of people"

I shoot a glare to Jennifer.

"You know what? I'll do it" I proudly smile

What am I doing.

Think before saying Madelyn

"Good luck showing the curves you don't have,"

"At least I'm not made of plastic" I sarcastically say which makes Jennifer role her eyes

I seat down in front of the mirror next to... I don't know if I could call her a friend but she's definitely the nicest girl here.

I ask if I can borrow her makeup and of course she answers yes, I try to stay simple, foundation, eyeliner, mascara and lipstick. I put on a little bit of bronzer but that's it, I certainly don't know how to do a "smokey" or that kind of stuff.

I finally put on my high heels and we all walk out of the room, I just brushed my hair and tried to do something cool with the ends of it with a hairdryer and it turned out pretty well.

Someone from the staff explains us what the order for the models was and I am the third one to go on the podium.

I start stressing while the first girl starts walking on the stage, what if I fell down? Do I look fat with lingerie on? Maybe I should have listened to Andrea and loose a little bit of weight... But I would be so flat if I loose more weight, questions continued tumbling into my head until someone in the back pushed me and I understood it was my turn. I took a quick breath and step on the podium, all eyes on me. I could feel my cheeks turning into a shade of red, but I kept my head up.

Until I saw him.

Shit.

This is not happening.

He was there, second row, with his friends, what do they even do here? Don't they have girlfriends?

My hearts beats faster and faster as I stand steel at the end of the podium, hearing a couple of "clicks" from cameras taking pictures.

His eyes are on me, I know it, I can feel it.

"Where do you want his eyes to be anywhere else?" My subconscious reminds me.

He might be here just because he's seeing his girlfriend who's a model, and that's it.

After a few seconds I walked back to the backstage, while an other girl arrived on the podium. I let out a deep breath which seemed like I was holding for so long. I rushed to put back on my old outfit, but of course things never work out the way I want.

The other models and I are in the room, I seat on a chair and breath deeply, seeing Harry Styles when you're in lingerie is definitely confusing and stressing.

I closed my eyes and heard the door being opened then closed, I actually really hope it's not-

"Madelyn, sweetie, you were beautiful on stage"

Just the voice of my manager makes me want to slap her.

I turn around to face her. "You never told me I had to wear lingerie!"

"Because if I had you would never had modelled for Ralph Lauren, and they pay a shit ton of money, anyway I'm here to give you you're outfit for the afterparty."

"Afterparty?"

"Yes where you meet all the journalists, the famous people and where you get contacts for future fashion shows."

I nod and she takes out from her bag a short black dress, it's simple but I like it. I put it on and I have to admit it fits me pretty well, awesome.

"Madelyn, you have only half an hour to prepare yourself then you'll take a cab and go to the address I sent you by text message" I nod again and she leaves the room.

"Damn you're manager looks like a total bitch" My might-be-friend tells me. I have to figure out her name.

"She is. You're...?"

"Alicia" she smiles. I seat next to her and prepare myself, I decide to slightly curl the ends of my hair and it looks great.

I take my bag and my clothes and go outside of the fashion show. I try to catch a cab but of course luck is not with me today. I continue waiving my hand when someone slightly touches my back. I turn around to face a tall man with beautiful black hair.

He's one of Harry's friends.