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I press“None at all”

“Good,” he nods “I wanted somebody who is a raw talent” I try to smile, try to wrap my head around the fact that he thinks I have any talent in at all “If you don’t have an agent, and you don’t model, how did you end up here? I’m just curious”

“I have a friend,” I say “She didn’t think the casting was right for her but she encouragedto lose”

He chuckles “I like that you’re honest about it Why didn’t your friend come?”

I raise an eyebrow and aim for honesty “You don’t hire blondes”

“Not often, no,” he says “I find that dark hair contrasts with e your friend to co I owe her one”

“Why?”

“Because she sent you” He stands again, and comes around the table “I’d like you to be at the Flatiron building to ned, he walks past me and out the door

I take a breath and it feels like waking up “What on earth does that mean?” I ask to no one in particular

May smiles kindly at me “It means you’re hired, dear, for at least the exhibition tomorrow Please, don’t be late”

“Wait though, is that just how he is? Is he always that intense?”

“Oh, yes,” she says “Don’t worry, if you ith hiet used to it He’s very direct and never lies In this business, it’s refreshing”

Handing me a paper with the official details for the next day, May ushersscreen “We’ll see you in the lobby of the building tomorrow”

And then she’s gone I change out of the dress as quickly as I can and leave the store, trying to avoid thearound, liured out that I was picked?

I pullas I hurry towards the subway Fleece is never going to believe this

3

The Flatiron building has always been one of eous architecture and a great neighborhood All benefits for me

I made sure to leave my house earlier than I normally would, and make it in plenty of time Fleece and I aren’t even exactly sure what the exhibition is, even though we spentcall for any details theywe know is that it will be over the top Everything that Andrew Xellu ball of nerves in h what I would be doing with hair and make-up and what to say in case I have any proble

Even though I’ives me a warm smile, and I know that at least part of it is relief that I’ht this way”