Pernicious

|Chapter 9|

Naya's Perpective:

January 9, 1979

Los Angeles, California

"Pose for me, Naya! There you go! Awesome! That looks beautiful! Let's get some more pictures on your left!" Shouts the photographer standing a few feet away. He takes multiple pictures and I give him various poses. I put on the fiercest faces I could make. The various clicks of the camera fill the room and I am almost blinded by the flashes.

"And...Stop! That's a wrap! These are going to turn out amazing! This could be huge for you Naya!" Says the photographer. He walks over to me, camera still in hand.

"Thank you for the opportunity sir! I am very honored by it!" I thank him genuinely. I was truly excited to be photographed by someone that big in the modeling business. My dreams of making it big are finally going to come true!

"You know what success like this calls for?" He asks me.

"What?" I ask.

"I am formally inviting you to the party that is happening tonight in this very building. I would to introduce to some people who would love to have you in their projects and photo shoots! This is your time to shine, baby!" He said while patting me on the shoulder.

"Oh I don't know, sir. Will that really be the place for me?" I said with doubt.

"Naya please come. You're going to regret it if you don't." He said walking away.

I stood there alone, undecided on what to do.

Come on Naya! This is your one chance to meet someone who could sky rocket your career! Just take a risk already! Your life could change!

I decided that it would be best to go. I was already done up from this photo shoot with my hair in hundreds of tight curls and a gold silk tight dress with spaghetti straps. This would be a good look to meet some important people in. Perhaps some of the people there will be interested in having me in their work.

8:00 pm that night

I slip out of a taxi that dropped me off at the tall building I was just at a few hours prior. The chilly, January air wrapped its arms around me.

Burr...Thank goodness I brought this white fur jacket.

I walk up to the bouncer who was holding a little clipboard.

"Good evening, ma'am. Name please?" He asked.

"Bronwyn. Naya Bronwyn." I said leaning over a bit.

He began going through the papers on the clipboard, trying to find my name. He bit his lip and gave out a sigh.

"Sorry Miss, it appears you aren't on here." He apologizes bluntly.

"That's impossible, I was invited by one of the hosts." I started to argue.

Suddenly, the person who photographed me earlier came outside and greeted me.

"Naya! I thought I heard you out here! Sorry sir, I invited her after the lists were made. She's allowed to come in." He said.

"Ok, enjoy your night, Miss. Sorry for the trouble." He finished.

"It's fine." I said as I made my way past him.

"Let me get the door for you." Said the photographer, opening the door for me.

When I walked in, it was like everyone stopped what they were doing. They began looking me up and down at every little detail of what I was wearing. They began whispering to each other and nodding their heads.