"You just have to make sure that you make enough sexy eye contact with the judges. Remember don't overdo it."Morgan had said that for the umpteenth time that morning.
She had lost track of the number. It didn't make her feel any less at ease. Her body had chosen this day of all days to have a panic attack.
"I feel nervous. So nervous. Can I take some water? Maybe it'll help me calm down." Her voice was raspy.
He nodded. Phoebe quickly drank some water to relieve her parched throat.
"And don't forget those new poses that we learned together. Incorporate them into your style. It'll make you unique. What else?" he said, looking at his phone's screen to read out some more.
"Also do not…" Morgan continued reading the do's and don'ts regardless of her panicky reactions.
Her mind was far away from whatever he said. She had thought it would be so easy until she got here.
The models she had seen were far better than her.
Their tanned beautiful looks had floored her confidence. They looked breathtakingly beautiful while she looked ordinary.
That was if ordinary was the word to qualify her second-hand clothes which she had gotten downtown.
"We don't have time for this, Phoebe. Get yourself together! In ten minutes, you are going to enter that room. And you have less than three minutes to showcase your talent and all I have taught you. Don't blow this up in the air." Morgan said looking at his wristwatch frantically.
"I know but I am trying here. Morgan, I am. It's just that…" she looked around into the sea of blue eyes that looked back at her.
Most of them didn't pass the audition. Some were trying to keep their calm. Others who couldn't control themselves wailed uncontrollably. She felt pity for them.
"Just take a look at the type of models Loukas rejected and take a look at me. I feel like if he could reject them, I have no chance at all. In fact, I should walk out of that door before making a big mistake." she whispered, underestimating her capabilities.
"If you feel this way when you haven't even entered that room. It is a bad sign, Phoebe. We have gone through the rudiments of this audition and all you need is perfect body language to communicate to them. Nothing more."
"However, your jitters could make our plans crumble within a second. Loukas Hamilton does not bite! Look at me!" Morgan shook her and spoke in a stern voice.
He couldn't let her go in this way. Phoebe was a good model but with these last-minute panics, she would fail even before she started.
What could be done to help her calm down? Something struck him as he looked her in the eye.
"You know who's going to win this audition no matter how many of them have failed? That's you, Phoebe Gardner. You will win because you are so much different from the others."
" It doesn't matter how they failed, I know you will win this. When those panic attacks come again, remember that you have 5000 dollars at stake if you lose. Remember that you owe someone that large an amount of money." he said.
Phoebe swallowed as Morgan reminded her of her outstanding debt. It was enough to make her brace up. She had to pay the money back soon.
The deadline was close and only a deal with Loukas Hamilton could save her right now.
Her one year's salary couldn't have amounted to 5,000 dollars so she had borrowed from…
"Who is the next person? Please come in." A tall gorgeous male model said at the door.
"I am the one." Phoebe managed to speak without stuttering.
"Are you ready?" He asked.
Phoebe nodded, not trusting herself to speak because she wasn't a bit ready.
"You may come in. It's time." he beckoned to her.
, "You can do this Phoebe Gardner. I trust you. Don't let me down." Morgan smiled and patted her shoulders as she turned around willing her legs to move.
You have to win this Phoebe. You must. For yourself. For Mama. For Zen. She encouraged herself as she got closer to the door.
Suddenly someone whispered to her in the hallway.
"You can do this. Don't be afraid." The model smiled at her.
"Thank you." she mouthed back.
He didn't know it but he had boosted her confidence for which she was grateful.
He grinned at her. For him to be so happy, he must have won the audition, she thought. Phoebe braced herself to win also. There was so much waiting for her if she won this audition.
_______________
After performing Phoebe smiled at the judges before studying Loukas Hamilton who had dressed in brown chinos pants, a Calvin Klein designer top, and Versace sneakers to go with it.
"Oh my gracious lord." she gasped as he raised his head to look at her.
Loukas looked so gorgeous. The tabloids did no justice to his handsomeness. He had dark eyeballs staring back at her. Phoebe found it difficult to breathe as he studied her critically. What was going through his mind?
"Can he just announce it and let me go?" She tried plastering a smile on her face which was easy for her because she did that at her job in the restaurant.
She had gotten used to it even though she didn't like the job.
"Miss Phoebe Gardner?" Loukas called her name.
Phoebe moistened her lips before answering him.
"Yes, that's me."
Why did he have to call her name? Was it for confirmation? And why was her body reacting to the sound of her name from his sexy brown lips?
" You didn't pass the audition. You may exit the room now." Loukas announced through the microphone placed before him.
"What!?" Phoebe couldn't believe her ears.