Heaven's Empire

Interview

I signed the contract, of course. It's been over six months since I scrawled my signature onto the dotted line, and in those months, my life has changed completely.

Once I had signed, Kensa reappeared, her eyes lingering on me for a moment. It was a strange job interview, that was for sure, I remember thinking.

"You've called no one," she remarked calmly. "Any other girl approached by this brand would be on the phone to their agent within seconds, and their friends and family within the hour. Why have you not called someone?"

"I have no one to call," I replied truthfully, and she considered me for a moment. "My mum is probably unconscious on the sofa, she'll be lucky to wake up before the evening, given the drinking she's been doing. At some hour of the morning her boyfriend will come over to beat her senseless, or awake, at least."

"Your father?"

"Dead for a year now." He died whilst serving a prison sentence for armed robbery, but I refrained from mentioning that bit.

"I'm sorry," she murmured, continuing: "You are an only child?"

I nodded, taking a deep breath before saying:

"Look, I get it. It was nice of you to scout me, bring me here, et cetera, but you don't want someone like me."

"Why wouldn't the agency want someone like you? You're beautiful." She states incredibly matter of factly.

"But my mum is an alcoholic and my dad died a criminal. Plus you'll think I'm only in it for the money, not to mention I am totally inexperienced." I stood up, shrugging on my coat. "Don't get me wrong, it's been nice, but I get it, I need to go."

"You are not going anywhere," she said surprisingly fiercely. "Heaven's Empire hasn't found a new model for two years now, and I doubt we'll ever come across one like you again. I don't care if you're a rough diamond. You have no faults - we have the funds to polish you, and as long as you are prepared to work with us, I have no doubt you will shine. Please, sit down."

Reluctantly I did so. It wasn't like I didn't want the job. It was just that I considered it a fleeting fancy; a dream that would never be mine.

"Where do you live at the moment?"

I gave the name of the estate, which she didn't seem to recognise.

"Tower Hamlets." She did her best to hide her emotions, withdrawing a file from one of her desk drawers and adding a note to it, asking impassively: "I take it your mother is not expecting you home?"

I shook my head.

"Have you ever been absent without her noticing?"

I nodded, thinking of the most recent occasion:

"I go to the library, mostly, when she's high. Or if Rex - her boyfriend, that is - comes home in a foul mood. He'll be there tonight, of course."

"How do you know?"

"Pay day. Mum's unemployed benefits come today. He'll be there." I said with certainty.

"Where do you go to school?"

"Nowhere, currently. I can't afford a place at college."