Chapter six: Laura the poker

Lilac looked at my undisturbed face stretched her hand, got the card, and dropped it on the chair. Irene stood up, and brushed her skirt, "I'll take my leave now," She said and we stood up too, and followed her outside.

Her Prada was already packed in one corner of the house. "Bye" We, waved at her as she got into her car. We turned and came back inside the house, " Girl did anyone ever tell you that you are a bomb? You just blasted everything yesterday and look what you got here! " Lilac spoke with excitement burning in her voice.

"I am not for any reason disturbed or moved by the deal," I replied. "Don't say that. I'm just gonna get pissed off here if you don't sign this deal. Okay, let me go down on my knees Ava. Please Your Royal Highness this deal and let's add more bags to the already existing one," Lilac dramatically said.

"Okay, I'll sign the offer," I said, not because I wanted to make Lilac happy but because I came to my right senses that I needed that money. Not even a billionaire rejects money.

Lilac rushed and jumped on my body, hugging me. "Good girl... we'll call her later in the evening to tell her about it," Lilac said.

Later that day, we got to reconcile based on the deal and I was asked to come the following morning for review. The following day, with the silky pink dress I wore which accentuated my curves, I walked into the massive building.

"I'm Ava Smith, and I have an appointment with Irene" I replied to the receptionist who asked. The secretary made a phone call and she signified that I go in and one of the people there led me to her office.

As I got into her office, she turned her chair to face me as she was watching the window from her office. "Let's get right away into signing this. Tomorrow you'll be casting. It's more like face modeling you know so."

I listened to her as she spoke, "I have just one request and I hope that you do it. I don't want to use my real name to sign this, more like I want to use both but at the same time my real name shouldn't be publicized is that okay with you?"I asked.

"So what you mean is two contracts right?" She asked placing her hands on her chin. " Yes two contracts, "Okay... that's good, but why? Anyways never mind." She flickered her pen and scribbled down some writing on a small blue note.

"The CEO will be here shortly so you wait okay? When he comes we will proceed with signing the contract," Irene said and spun around on the chair.

"Get me some refreshments. Two servings," She said on the phone and dropped it. Immediately a chubby lady with a big and large bust came into the office with two trays filled with raspberry scones and yogurt alongside water.

The lady dropped the tray on the table and Irene gestured for one to be placed in front of me, "thank you," I said while going through my phone.

After waiting for about thirty minutes precisely, the CEO showed up and Irene was notified immediately. "Come with me," she said and I stood up and followed her.

As soon as we got into the Office with the tag written on the door CEO, Irene entered with a smile on her face she greeted. The CEO who was looking down and sorting out some stuff from where he sat looked up at me and immediately our eyes met, my heart skipped a bit.

"No way!" I screamed in my head. The CEO was no other person than the guy at the cosmetics Surgery shop. He kept a blank face and the air in the room started getting hot to me.

"Have a sit, " he said and Irene spoke up, "There's something we need to tell you. Ava proposed that she sign two contracts with two different names as one is her real name and one isn't."

"Why is that so? Sounds manipulative," the CEO threw glances at me as he spoke. " Identity, she wants her privacy and I think it's best we give it to her, remember this is the kind of face that we have always wanted and we can't just let this slide," Irene replied calmly.

My eyes met the CEO's name crafted on the table, "HARVIS".

"That's okay, let's get straight into it," he said and Irene passed the contract to me to review and sign.

After taking some time to read and clarify, I sign it. "Welcome on board here Ava, your service shall be duly appreciated," The CEO brought his hands forward and I had no other option thank to shake his hands.

He squeezed my hands slightly and freed it. "Now I will take you to see your fellow counterparts but I will put you in charge of them."

"There's going to be a lot of hatred man. I don't even like this," I said in my mind but I don't know how the words escaped from my lips.

Irene heard it and she replied, "If you don't have haters, you are not doing well in life". My feet already started aching as we walked. The building was massive, and for one reason which I don't know of Irene avoided using the elevator.

We got into the room, it was a wide and big hall with beautiful ladies in it making it look like a host of angels gathering. "Attention everyone, we bring it you a new member Ava Gray," She used my fake name and that I liked.

"Welcome, Ava Gray it's nice to meet you here," Everyone chorused and some started walking close to me and talking.

After some time, Irene said to them, "This is now your new team leader from now on." I noticed the expressions on their faces were now changed. "You stay over that table there but I am thinking of getting you a better office for yourself alone," Irene said to me.

As she went out, I followed her behind as I only came to get the contract signed before resuming fully back at work.

As I got home, Lilac was already back at home and she kept my food already, Lilac was more like a wife and I was wondering why she wasn't married or dating yet.

"How did your job go? Do you like it?" She asked.

I rolled my eyes and hissed, "I don't. I have just one problem there at work. The CEO."

"And what about him?" She asked with curiosity flooding her tone. "I don't like him, the first place I landed in we met and he tried to woo me. Today he acted like he had never seen me before and that I liked but I am not comfortable in any way," I said.

"This is the most surprising thing I have heard today. Don't be afraid. Just do your job and avoid getting into any trouble," Lilac said like an elder sister would.

"Don't worry, I'll be fine," I replied.

The following day, I woke up, took a cold shower, dressed up, and went to work. As I sat down in the office, my designated position, one of the models walked up to me and grabbed a sit beside me, "Hi my name is Laura, welcome to work and ... it's nice to meet you, Ava," she said with a smile in her face.

"It's nice to meet you too,"

"I feel jealous that you just got promoted on your first day at work, don't get mad but did you sleep with the CEO?" My eyes widened at her question and my blood boiled at the same time. It was her bluntness and boldness for me.

"Why did you ask? Did you sleep with him before getting a job?" I managed to control my provocation by keeping my tone calm.

"Yes..we all did. You can't just get a job here without going down with him," Laura said without any atom of shame coming from her.

"That's really surprising," I muttered. She looked up at me, " Your case is more surprising. Maybe he isn't just ready to get down on you because I know he will, certainly."

"Hey, can you just shut up your mouth? See let me tell you something, I didn't apply for this job, it was brought to me at my doorstep and I was coerced into doing this mind you. I can't trade my body because I want some little cash. Don't get me started," I replied, my voice stern as I spoke.

"It's not always as easy as you think it is." Laura snapping.

"Hey, can you please get out of this place before I embarrass you?" My tone was low and icy as I shot a glare at her.

She raised her hands, kept a funny face, and moved away, as she left, the door opened and Irene came forward to me. "Hello, I hope you are having a great day at work today, the CEO wants to speak with you."

My heart skipped a beat immediately after she said that, and immediately, I remembered all that Laura had said to me and I exchanged glances at Laura who wasn't far away from me.

"Are you okay? You seem not too good," Irene said and I shook my head, "No I am okay. I'll be coming now," I said coming out of my chair and adjusting the short gown which I wore.

Soon we arrived at his office, "You can go, Irene," he said and Irene nodded and swayed her hips as she moved out and shut the door behind her. "Welcome here Ava Smith, it's nice to have you here. I guess you can remember me."

"Of course, I remember you, may I know what use I am here? Why did you need my attention?" I asked and he bent his head to the ground and shook his head slightly before looking up at me.

"Now, there are just a few things I want to say to you. I want you to know that I liked you from the very first time I saw you...."He said.

"Tell me something I don't know," I sarcastically mocked. In my head, I said, "Does this guy know that I even have kids? Is it because I am still so young?"

"Hey, no disrespect or whatever but I want us to go on a date if you don't mind," he slouched on his chair.

"I'm sorry to decline that offer because I won't do that. Thank you." I replied, keeping my voice calm. "Hello.. I'll plead that you watch your tone," He said and I snapped back a him, "I also pray so that you keep this business strictly formal." I snapped back at him and his eyes widened in surprise.

I stood up abruptly," I'm sorry I'll have to to withdraw the deal which I signed because I can't do this."

"No, you can't and you won't do that, forget about what I said earlier. You can now go back to work."

I feigned a smile at him and stood up, leaving his office, and went back to my seat my shared office.

As I sat down, the Laura lady came back again, "What did he say? I was expecting to see you sweat or tiptoe. That man is truly something else if you go down there."

If there's one thing I hate is someone not minding their business, I try as much as possible to not intrude or pry into someone's affair but in my case, it is always the reverse.

"Man, we didn't do anything. I'm tired of this bullshit talk you have. And we never will do anything. If you want to, go ahead to his office and knock and tell him how badly you want him so bad and that will do justice."