Chapter 4
Invited to the Serene agency that Braxton had also picked for her, Fabiola was currently sitting in an office in front of a woman who was scrutinizing her with her eyes. She looked like she was in her early 40s. On the other hand, Fabiola was trying to get accustomed to the brewed coffee offered to her.
"You're fitted" the woman said "someone is actually going to think you're nineteen" which made Fabiola chuckle "no one is going to believe that"
"Everyone believes what they are told, dear" the woman brought out the contract for her to sign and she read through it. Not her though, she certainly wouldn't believe a lie anymore. A lie was a lie even if everyone believed it.
"You can take it home and consider it" the woman chipped in. She sounded much like someone who thought she had no other choice. Braxton had told her that they were modeling agencies that looked down on models and also bullied them. She didn't want to be a victim a second time but she wasn't also a coward to run away from what would help her.
After much hesitation, much to the woman's surprise, Fabiola took the pen and signed the contract making her a model of Serene agency. Afterall, her new found role is to punish all offenders.
"Congratulations" the woman raised her hand for a shake "welcome to Serene, I'm Lilian Avade"
"Fabiola Tyler," she uttered, shaking her hands. Even if it was for a short while, Lilian actually had a strong grip on her so she gripped her hands as well, as hard, and watched as she withdrew in surprise.
"Did you just say Tyler? I'm seeing the name Thomas here" she looked at the contract that Fabiola had signed, being confused.
"Tyler's my middle name" she said with a convincing tone and Lilian gave a nod of understanding. Afterall, some girls actually have male middle names.
For Fabiola however, the documents she had to provide were prior to her marriage to Braxton or even Dylan, so it still had her name.
****
Later in the day, when Fabiola was telling her new husband about what happened, he shook his head in dissatisfaction "I hope it's not going to be an agency who uses models for self profit. Do you really want to do this?"
"I don't care what it is, I'm just going to use it to step up in my reputation since Serene is like Dylan's agency's rival, it will be of use"
"I will listen to you"
In the coming days, there was a trendy photographer that Lilian wanted to take test pictures of her, his name was Thiago. Standing before him, he had this menacingly look like he was going to murder her but she couldn't care less, if Lilian didn't ask her to take these shots to also build her portfolio, she wouldn't have been here.
Overall, even if he had an odd expression to look at, he was pretty good with his job. He knew how to take them from any angle like Braxton and it was meaningful. As she went through Braxton's teaching's in her head, what she thought doing and did, was laying in the red background, facing the flower by her side.
She stared at the rose in desperation, closed her eyes like she was in a tranquil garden filled with chirping birds, held the flower by her hands like she would lose it, raised her hand over her face dramatically, it was a whole rollercoaster of emotions that she tried her best to portray what he wanted "Now, for the last, i want caution"
Fabiola looked up at him, she really practiced hard but she didn't think she ever did anything pertaining to being careful but then, this must be the obligation of being a model, you have to be ever ready for the unexpected and you have to be able to make people know you can walk that room with all confidence.
He didn't say a word to her even if she knew she did a good job. He just nodded in approval when he finished taking the cautious look of her, facing the flower again and attempting to touch it, but feeling careful and with her expression of being a little scared of what it might hold when she eventually touches it.
Fabiola got into the female restroom to clean her smeared makeup and went to relieve herself. She immediately heard two people walk into the room "Did Thiago call you last night?" One of the girls spoke to the other as she heard them dropping their bags to start over their makeup that she was sure they already had more than enough.
"He didn't, he has been giving me so much attitude these days. Someone should tell him that I can easily replace him"
She couldn't mind these two conversations, anymore. Not until she heard her being the object of the discussion.
"It's certainly because of the new girl, she had a test shoot today. I think she's his new catch since he agreed to do it"
Fabiola raised an eyebrow at the first girl's words.
"Whatever, she should enjoy it while it last"
Just then, a text came into her phone and it was from Braxton "love, how is it going?"
She almost chuckled as she texted him back
"All well, only that I'm now the object of attention by gossips"
"Obviously, a star can't be kept hidden. You dazzle their eyesight"
"Mr Braxton, you have to tell me how you keep coming up with these words?" She texted back
"Let's see, maybe I will tell you my secret today"
Fabiola smiled at the text, the Braxton she saw the first day with a frown was so different from this fellow she had been with these past months, he was teasing.
"Okay, see you at home"
At the same time, she came out and it all suddenly went quiet, the girls were staring at her. She walked up to the wash hand basin to clean her hands, ignoring their stares, before she heard the first one say "I didn't know you were in there, I'm Scarlett"
Fabiola after washing her hands was admiring herself intentionally at the mirror like they weren't present before she turned to face them
"Oh, well, I'm Fabiola" she didn't wait for any more pleasantries before walking out of there, at that very moment.
For all she remembered her husband saying, there weren't many friends in the industry, it was more of steppers that knew how to get on people and more of people who wanted to bring others down, by words and with actions.
Later that day, she still had a casting to attend. Fabiola was wearing a black T-shirt and black skinny jeans.
She and five other models who were recommended by the Serene agency were present. She was very surprised for being recommended but heard an agent say they picked the person's who were really suited to the one's the client was looking for, possibly a fresh face.
Three of the models had already given their walk and went out, leaving just her and two other girls. Among them, she recognized one to be Scarlet's friend who was in the restroom with her.
Scarlett's friend's walk was actually amazing, if she was the casting director, she wouldn't have hesitated to give her a chance but he didn't.
"Have you ever been on the runway?" He questioned her when it was her turn to walk.
"No, I haven't"
"Well, show us what you got"
She did the walk exactly how Braxton had thought her. Back straight, knees out and with her hands swinging slightly.
The casting director stared at her for a split second when she was done before he told her "Go get your measurements, you're going to Canada"
Inside her, was a joyous celebration but on the outside she gave a small
smile, she knew she had definitely stunned him, she worked hard for that walk for days.
****
The Serene agency had their flight booked to Canada for the fashion week that she was meant to be on the runway. Fabiola sat beside Braxton on the plane, who was wearing dark glasses and a head warmer, he insisted on following her and this was the result.
No one knew these two were married, if they did, they would have probably been the show for the whole world to see. Braxton held hands, stroked her hair and even kissed her chin.
All through the ride, they were both blushing like newlyweds which they were and she didn't want it to end but unfortunately, it had to and they had to act like strangers once more.
"I'm staying at the hotel you talked about, room 12, is for the two of us. I will be waiting in the taxi" he whispered as he brushed past her when they got down from the plane.
"Is that Braxton Tyler?!" A woman beside her almost screamed her head off, as she rolled her luggage to follow him but just like a ghost, he seemed to have vanished out of thin air.
"Where is he?" The woman looked around, confused.
"Let's go find a taxi" she suddenly heard Lilian's voice. To be honest, being in the plane with her husband made her forget about her existen
ce, totally!