The Writer & The Player #Wattys2016

Chapter 6

My red pumps tapped against the concrete steps that lead to the building where iCon was located on the 24th Floor. 

And if I wasn't feeling self conscious enough already from my clothing, my stomach decided to make matters worse and growl every 10 seconds.

 When we got back to the hotel after the 'damage control' meeting, I rummaged through my luggage to find something more professional to wear. I let my sleepiness state of mind cloud my judgement of fashion sense when I put on my black denim jeans and white blouse on this morning, forgetting my professionalism along the way. So I found myself rummaging through my suitcases haphazardly, in desperate search for my black skater skirt, sky blue button up shirt, gold belt and my black pumps, which I couldn't find.

The black skater skirt was something I've only ever worn once, and there was a perfectly good reason for that. We had a staff photoshoot a little while back for Trend, and Regina demanded that everyone bought the same Alexander McQueen Skater miniskirt that tore a $350 hole in my wallet, and wore it on the day of the shoot. God knows why we needed a staff photo. It was a gorgeous skirt don't get me wrong, but not my kind of skirt. It was that little bit too short, and on the day of the photoshoot, lovely mother earth decided to give out the biggest winds New York City has ever seen which resulted me into spending my day self consciously keeping my hands firmly placed behind my knees to keep it from flying up.

But today it was all I could find in the 5 minutes we had to get ready. And this was iCon. I didn't have a choice to look second best. 

We were here for a quick interview that, as Rafael put it, 'was a deal signed a long time ago and was needed to be over and done with as soon as possible.' It was a big deal to be featuring in iCon Tonight to be airing on TV, but Rafael's concern was that Zac had already had to much negative attention from the media that the interview may only backlash.

We made it to the top of the stairs and were met with 2 glass doors and a warm lobby where white plush couches and a receptionist at her desk sat in stillness. My hair finally stopped flying around as I clutched the back of my skirt, then patted down the fly aways in my hair, composing myself from the windy breeze that was outside. 

"You know the skirt is fine, you can stop being so self conscious." I hear a familiar, yet annoying voice say from behind me. Instinctively I send a glare to Zac and strut forward, trying to ignore his presence. But he stays right behind me, much to my dismay.

After a moment I realise I didn't know where I was actually going, which is when I felt Zac's hand at the small of my back, making me shudder. He guides me down a hall to the left until we are met with two elevators.

My pumps lightly tapped against the marbled flooring of the foyer, as I waited impatiently for the elevator to show up. My eyes glance over to the stairs in contemplation. I wasn't handling being at such a close proximity to Zac very well and being in a confined elevator for 24 floors up was not going to help my situation.

 Just as I considered the irrational idea for climbing 24 floors of steps, the elevator dinged and opened. We piled in together as the doors shut in front of us and the air tightened. I hated elevators.

The elevator stopped at the 3rd, 7th, 11th and 14th floor and before I knew it, that confined space I was so worried about just got 10 times worse. I was pushed to the back of the elevator in a Zac and Rafael sandwich as business men and women filed into the tight elevator space. I was the meat.

I was convinced that Zac could hear my heart pounding or at least see it rising in my chest. I subconsciously tried to make myself feel smaller as Zac's arm pressed up against mine. He was in a gorgeous white button up shirt with the sleeves rolled up stylishly and black business pants.