M For Moscow

05 | so it goes

The following day started early for me, but I couldn't say the same for everyone else.

Three in the morning, and I was making myself a cup of hot cocoa since Luka's kitchen seemed to detest coffee. As I was warming the milk on the stove, my thoughts drifted to my brothers and how they used to beg me for hot chocolate just like this.

It was the second day in Moscow and I had already starting missing them on the first. How am I supposed to spend every day away from them when I used to spend every day with them?

"Couldn't sleep?" a voice startled me from behind. I turned to see a sleepy Luka making his way towards me. He propped himself on the counter with his elbows, one hand rubbing the tiredness from his eyes.

But that wasn't what I was concerned with. "Um, you're naked." I reminded him in case he didn't realise, the wooden spoon pointed to the shadow of his abs.

He laughed and looked down at himself. "Yeah, sorry about that. Forgot to tell you I sleep shirtless." he said with a playful wink.

I mouthed an 'O' and continued stirring, afraid the milk was going to burn, when really, I wanted to avoid the distraction. Just as my thoughts resided, he interrupted us again.

"Can I have a cup?"

"Sure." I replied, never taking my eyes off the pot.

"What are you thinking about?" He supported his head with his palm and his eyes were as focused on me as I was, the milk.

"Just...stuff."

"What kind of stuff?"

"Personal stuff."

"Can I know about it?"

My head shot up in annoyance. The guy was clearly not taking the hint, but maybe, maybe it wasn't too bad of a thing to tell him. And I didn't have to tell him the whole truth, did I?

"Karina offered me a job." I stated matter-of-factly. It wasn't exactly what was I thinking about, but it was something that had been on my mind quite as much.

Quite a man of action, Luka quirked his eyebrow before tossing his head to the sides as if contemplating my options. "And? Did you take it?"

"I told her I'd consider it."

"Tsk. Well, Karina's business is a big one and it has many contacts and connections that will be good for you, if you choose that path of fame. But, you'll have to be careful with her and the people in that industry."

"'Careful'? What do you mean?"

"It-it's not my say, Macy. She is my sister, you know."

"And this is my life, Luka." I said, a little bit too harshly.

He suddenly threw his arms to the side in defeat. "What other options do you have, Macy? You have no special skill. No special talent, whatsoever. I mean, as far as I can tell, the only asset is your face, so why not become another one of her clients?"

As his words shocked me like an earthquake, he spiralled across the room. With his hands on his head and his feet shuffling on the floor, I knew he felt guilty, and yet, what he said was necessary.

"You're right." I admitted, taking the pot off the stove and switching off the power. I didn't dare to look him straight in the eye, so I watched him out of a corner, where the colour had drained from his face.

"No, no, Macy. I'm sorry, I didn't mean-"

"You're right." I repeated, making eye contact. Where his were a sea of washed-up regret and guilt, mine were a pair of acceptance and truths and a single tear could not be seen. For the first time, just as day broke through the windows, with a shirtless man and two cups of hot chocolate, I felt more of myself than I have my whole life. "Which is exactly why I'm taking the job."

***

I didn't have a lot of nice clothes back home. My favourite outfit was a pair of flats and a breathing red dress, given to me by my aunt before she passed away last June. Other than that, most of my wardrobe were my mother's, passed on from woman to woman. I always told myself that my daughter, if I was ever blessed with one, would never inherit the clothes I wore before and that she would be able to pick whatever item or jewellery she wanted. That would mean how successful and wealthy I'd be, until reality set in and the money saved for art school was used for my brothers' tuition.

Here I had a real chance of rewriting my future. Of providing that privilege for my daughter. Of drafting her university application letters before she could even learn how to walk.

It was all at that touch of a doorbell.

"What?" she snapped. Once realising who it was, she groaned and started walking away from the door. I quickly followed her inside after closing it behind me.

Karina, who looked worse than my brothers after a mud fight, was rummaging through her kitchen drawers, like a tornado gone wild. She only stopped when she found a pill bottle and downed a couple as if it was her breakfast. Then, she turned to face me across the counter with her mascara smudged, lipstick in all the wrong places, and an incredibly large hickey the size of Africa on the collarbone of her neck.

"Can I...help you?" she asked me, shutting his eyes. I tried to hold my breath at the reek of the alcohol smell that seemed to follow her everywhere.

"Y-yes." I answered, feeling my eyes start to water. "I have, um, I have come to a decision."

"Is that so?" she catechised. Without the slightest care in the world, she lighted up a cigarette and blew a dollop of smoke in my face. "And what would that be, pumpkin?"

"I have taken you up on the job offer, or, uh..."

"Investment?"

"Yes, that." I replied, pointing two fingers at her and winking.

She ignored it before taking one long, hard look at me and...smiling. In an almost sinister-like way. But I told myself it was the hangover.

"You've got yourself a deal, pumpkin. Welcome to Gold's Dolls. We leave in fifteen."

***

hello lovelies!

not sure if you know this but I'm a big, BIG Taylor Swift fan. I love all her music, her personality, everything about her—she's basically, like, my idol. So, I decided to name this chapter 'So It Goes' after one of her songs from the Rep album, as it sounds almost like the start of something and this is the start of Macy's career.

I know the heat between the characters, like Macy and Luka isn't super hot yet, but I want this book to be more than just the romance and more of a peek into what it truly is like behind the curtains of a model.

Anywho, I hope you guys are enjoying the story so far. If you are, don't forget to vote, comment, share—anything is appreciated!

Lots of love,
Mel