Photo Finish

The Last Straw

     "Good morning!" Em exclaimed, jolting me from my slumber.
     It was around seven o'clock, and I was late for work. I leapt from my sheets and to the kitchen, scarfing down the eggs and bacon my brother had made.
     "Morning, sleepyhead," he called from the couch. "It's about time you woke up."
     "Why didn't you guys wake me sooner? Why didn't my alarm go off?"
     "It did. Seven times."
     "And we tried to wake you too. Seven times." Emilia walked out of my room with a sweater dress and beret. I took them, my mouth still full of food, and ran to the bathroom to do my makeup. After a good five minutes, I walked out looking like a goddess. With all of Em's lessons, waking up late could be conquered within minutes.
     "You've gotten quicker. Now get gettin'!" Damon exclaimed.
     I smiled and ruffled his hair. "Thanks, little bro."
     I ran out the door, sliding on some nice black heels. At the curb, I waited for Lucas to pick me up. I lingered for a bit longer before the bus came to the stop a few feet away. With a sigh, I figured he wasn't coming and sulked into the bus.
     As soon as I entered the building, a nerdy looking man taller than I was came rushing up to me with a giddy smile on his face.
     "Hiya, Yao!" Greeted the new intern enthusiastically.
     "Who are you?" I asked as politely as I could.
     "Oh, sorry. My name's Julian." The young teen shook my hand through a plethora of papers.
     "What are you interning for?" I walked with him to the dressing room.
     "Oh, I'm—"
     "Hi, Ms. Yao. You look lovely today," one of my fellow directors called to me, cutting off the young man's words.
     "Hi, Tray," I replied with a delicate wave of my fingers.
     The ginger male scurried hastily behind me, catching papers as we went. Matte was waiting on his phone in the back. I flopped elegantly on the couch, catching his attention.
     "Hey, Matte."
     "Hey, girl. Who's the intern?"
     "Julian, and I'm not an intern. I'm Yao's new manager."
     "How nice — wait, what?" I exclaimed, jumping from the sofa.
     "You didn't know? I'm sure I left you a voicemail," Julian said, shuffling quickly to his phone.
     "Why does a manager need a manager?" I asked, glancing back at Matte, who just shrugged.
     "You're not a manager anymore. You don't have anyone to manage."
     "What do you mean? My boyfriend should be here any minute—"
     "He's been here, Laurraine," Matte piped up.
     I turned to the stylist. "What?"
     "You didn't know? He's been here since an hour ago. He's talking with Mr. Singer now."
     I stomped out of the room like a bullet. Julian dropped his things and ran after me. I hopped into the elevator and pressed the top floor. Just making it as the doors were closing, the redhead hustled in. We rode to the top floor. I could tell the "manager" had something to say as we ascended, but he was too out of breath to do so. As soon as he could mutter a few words, I bolted out. I heard him sigh and fly after me. Soon, I was in front of the CEO's door. I kicked it open and rushed in. He was alone behind his desk.
     "Where's Lucas?" I asked venomously.
     "Back door. He ran out with Monica."
     In a shrill voice I cried, "What?"
     I ran out again, passing Julian as he went towards Singer's office.
     "You'll get used to it," Singer advised the boy.
     Julian whipped around and began tailing me tiredly. I descended in the elevator once more with the man by my side. This time he was able to say a couple things.
     "Why are we running around, Yao?"
     "Looking for my deadbeat boyfriend. And it's 'Ms. Yao' to you," I snapped as the doors shifted open.
     I sprung forward and into the set area. I was about to go towards the back door, but skid to a halt upon seeing two figures. They were in plain sight this time. It must've been about time to just come clean for him. My body shook with rage. He really was cheating on me.
     "Ms. Yao!" Julian exclaimed, coming up behind me.
     Lucas turned around, his fairy-like getup attracting me. He looked amazing. Why did it have to be then? When I hated him so much, he had to be good-looking. He gave me a smirk, and that immediately brought me to my senses. In a moment of anger, I lunged forward. I grabbed his ear and took him outside. Dribbles of rainfall began to cascade in a light mist around us.
     "Why did you do it?"
     "I don't know what you mean."
     "Bullshit. Why were you making out with Monica in plain sight?"
     Lucas burst with somewhat of a mad frenzy. His eyes were deranged and his smile held a crooked nature.
     "Because I couldn't take it anymore!" He cried.
     My heart sank. I promised never to look back, but how could he say the exact words to me as Evan did?
     "Was I really that horrible? I put everything I had into this relationship!"
     "Yep, and that's how I've been so successful."
     "What?" I asked, hurt and confused.
     "Wait," he started, amused. "You think I actually cared about you?"
     "Well, yeah. At the party and in the rain..."
     "Sorry, sweetheart, but I never cared about you."
     "You lied to me?"
     "I haven't been this popular in years! Of course I lied to you. It was either me and my career, or getting thrown under a bus of scandals by Louise."
     "It still doesn't make it right!"
     "Don't act like you're better than me, all high and mighty, 'It's not right!'" He mocked me. "Face fact, Yao, you are just some girl who's good at photography. Who cares if you're smart or talented?"
     "You did. Isn't that why you pretended to care about me? So you could take advantage of my good nature? I cared about you! I really did! And it's sad to think that a horrible monster like you could ever fool someone like me, or maybe it was me that was naive enough to be fooled?"
     "It's both, Yao. You are a stupid, naive little girl who can't tell the difference between love and lies. You're too much of a Virgin Mary, too pure for this world."
     "So what?"
     "'So what?' I'll tell you what! Because of that, you will always be two steps behind everyone! You will always be taken advantage of! And you will always lose in the end!"
     "Then why lift me up? Why protect me from the rain so many times? The bouquet, you ran after me with a bouquet last night for our anniversary!" I paused. "You even lied about that, didn't you! You were the one who kissed her!"
     "No, I wasn't, but I did kiss back."
     "You're despicable. You didn't even care about me when you arrested Mr. Lanping, did you? If it wasn't for me, who was it for? No, let me guess. Your career? I probably would've gone to jail for a crime I never committed, so you arrested my enemy first. Why are you so cruel?"
     "You're right. I did it for me, because that's all that matters! I will only ever care about myself because I'm more important! I'm a worldwide supermodel! No one will ever be good enough for me!"
     I smirked and looked past the conceited jerk. Standing a few feet behind him was his new girlfriend. Her face said it all; shock and horror.
     "You've been played too, you know. I'd dump him while you still can. You don't want to end up an idiot like me."
     Lucas turned. "Babe."
     "Don't you 'Babe' me!" She shouted and took a step back as he reached for her. "Is all that true? You don't care about anyone but yourself?"
     "No, of course not. This woman has been stalking me for two years already. She's threatened my reputation and even blackmailed me just to get with me. I needed to tell her some convincing lies so she could finally leave me alone so I could be with the one I love and that's-"
     "You know," I interjected, walking past him. I wrapped an arm around the female model's shoulders, holding her close in the cold rain. "I can finally tell that you're a terrible liar. Last night we went home together, you didn't actually do it with me. You made up another lame excuse and left."
     Lucas gulped. I held the girl tighter and tilted my head with a cocky grin.
     "You don't deserve Miss Billings. You didn't even deserve me. I should've just left you to Louise when we first met. Maybe he would've molested you instead?"
     "You! Don't fill her head with nonsense! Monica--baby--let's go back to the shoot, okay? It's cold and wet, and you're makeup's running."
     "So I'm not pretty enough for you just because it's raining and my makeup is running a little?"
     "I don't think either of us were ever pretty enough for him. He's just a scumbag with a scam artist's agenda. Let's go."
     Monica nodded and we walked back toward the company doors. She walked in, but I stayed behind. I looked back to the infuriated model.
     "Hey, Mr. Supermodel, we're through!"
     "You can't dump me!" He screamed as I pulled open the glass doors. "I own you!"
     "No you don't, you never owned me! There was no contract to ever finalized anything! Remember? You told me I could leave whenever I wanted to. Well, now I'm leaving. Bye-bye!"
     I heard him howl in anger. I laughed maniacally at his fuss. Julian came running in with two towels and makeup rags. He wrapped the linen around the model, then went for me. I held my hand out to stop him. He gave me a confused look.
     "Please, Julian. She needs it more than I do."
     Julian gulped and wrapped the second towel around Monica as well. I hugged her and led her to Lucas's dressing room. Matte was waiting, doing his nails. I knocked on the open door with a smile. The stylist jumped to his feet, waving his hands to dry them.
     "I have someone who needs a little help. You mind?" I asked, leading her into the room.
     She fought me a little. Confused, I looked at her.
     "What's wrong?"
     "Why can't we go to my stylist?"
     "Matte White is the best stylist in this company. He'll fix you up quick and good."
     "Okay..." She agreed reluctantly.
     I sat her in the seat and hung back on the couch myself. I put my hair up in a messy bun and looked around.
     "Hey Matte?" I called.
     "Yes, dear?"
     "Is there anything that I could wear? My clothes are soaked."
     "Of course. You're new clothes were just moved in here a few minutes ago. They're on the far rack."
     I smiled curiously and snuck over. On the rack behind Lucas's was beautiful clothing from designers all around the world. I found a couple traditional Japanese dresses too. I took the soft, heavy fabric in my hand and looked back at my friend.
     "What're these for? A shoot? And what do you mean they're 'my clothes?'"
     "You weren't told? The company's taken on a new project, and you're the star. You're staring in a movie, Yao."
     "What?" I cried.
     "Miss Yao, could you please slow down a minute?" Julian asked, bursting in. He stopped, seeing my face. "What's wrong? Do you not like the costumes? We can have them changed right away."
     "No, they're beautiful, but why wasn't I told I was staring in a movie?" I asked, walking up to him.
     "Well, I was supposed to tell you, but you wouldn't slow down enough for me to do so. I know you may be upset, but you will get payed three — no — four times as much as you make now after the movie is successful. Please don't refuse, because you are perfect for the part and —"
     "I'll do it."
     "What?" Everyone asked.
     I smiled, picking out a couple of the clothes. "Let me guess, it's about a girl pretending to be a man for some reason. Right? Of course I'll do it. I don't even have to audition."
     "Thank you, Miss Yao, thank you!" Julian exclaimed. "You'll love your co-actor. He's coming all the way from South Korea to do this movie with you."
     "Really? He must be good."
     "Done!" Matte exclaimed, whipping Monica's chair around. "The cute red puffy look with a matching messy bun."
     "Perfect. My turn!" I called, hopping happily into the chair.
     "What are you thinking? Business natural?"
     "Actress glam."
     "You got it!"
     "What are you going to do now, Laurraine?" Monica asked, curling up in the towels on the couch.
     "I plan to walk right up to Mr. Singer and tell him I'm doing the movie," I replied, watching the bright sparkles being applied to my eyes.
     "I meant about Lucas."
     "He's going on a trip for the rest of his career, Monica. We'll never see him again, so don't worry."
     "Okay, if you say so."
     "I know so, dear, so don't think about him. He's not worth your time."
     "Right."
     "Now, how do I look?" I asked as the chair was spun towards the couch. I smiled snootily and struck a pompous pose. 
     "You look like an actress that's too good for anyone." Monica laughed.
     "Good. Now let's pick out outfits and go see Singer."
     I leapt from the chair and skipped to my clothing. A few pieces caught my eye, but one of the traditional dresses took the cake. I pulled it out and held it up to myself in front of the mirror. It was a bright white color with a pastel pink ombré toward the bottom. The design on the collar and sleeve cuffs were inky blots of flowers like a bouquet.
     "How about this?"
     "Cute. Extra, but cute," Matte remarked.
     "Perfect," I said. I dashed behind the line of clothes and changed. I slipped on the matching socks and shoes and marched out fabulously and struck another pose. "I really need some meme sunglasses, you know?"
     "Right? Anyway, I'll be back. I need to get changed. Thanks, Matte. I owe you one," Monica said, hustling out.
     I smiled, watching myself in the mirror. "An actress, huh? Talented love interest, or at least I'm assuming that's what this guy'll be. What could go wrong?"
     "Nothing, because you've learned your lesson in not dating desperate scumbags."
     "You right!" I exclaimed, pointing at him.
     "Well, Miss Yao. I'll escort you to Mr. Singer's office," Julian said jokingly as he held out his hand.
     "Thank you, sir," I replied, my nose in the air, and placed my palm in his.