Chapter 007: The Stripper Becomes A Model

The phone ringing loudly woke Riele. She checked the caller and it was Charlotte. She glance at the clock, it was 9 am. She didn't need to be told what to do.

She took her bath and came out in less than ten minutes. She searched for a gown to wear and she picked a flowery sleeveless gown. She wore her heels to go with it.

She had to board a taxi to get to work because she knew the bus had left and she had to find her way to work.

"I guess I was exhausted after last night," she told herself when Charlotte called again. She picked up the call and the voice that welcomed her was Charlotte screaming her name and asking her where she is.

"I will be right there, it will just take a second," Riele explained.

"A second uh? Well, just for your information, Mr. Handsome is angry. So I will advise you to start preparing the speech you are going to give to him," Charlotte warned.

"Thanks, girlfriend." She hung up as she thought of the speech to give Kim.

****++****

"So you are saying it's your dream to be a model?" Kim asked the young lady in front of him without glancing at her because his eyes were glued to the file in his hands.

"Yes."

"What do you know about modeling?" He looked up at her, his attention focused on her. 

"From my perspective, I will say modeling is a platform where people get to be satisfied with their looks and bodies thereby revealing to the world that no matter what or who you are, you are beautiful and they should appreciate themselves more."

"Do you think it's fair for modeling to be for thin people?" He asked.

"Modeling isn't for thin people, but for people that are fit. If modeling was for thin people then it's not living up to its name because people that aren't thin will doubt their worth which isn't fair."

He was impressed with her answer. "So why did you choose this modeling industry?"

Because a cute CEO like you exist? I mean what other reasons would I have? She muttered to herself, staring deeply at him. He shifted his gaze away from her and back to the file.

He looked up at her when he saw that she hadn't responded to his question. "Are you still here?" He asked.

"Um... I chose this industry because I doubt I would qualify for other modeling firms."

"Have we met before... Miss Madison Corel?"He asked her as he placed his hands on his jaw staring at her and waiting for an answer.

Madison stood there trying to remember if she had had any encounter with him but she hasn't. "None that I know of," she answered.

A knock was heard on the door and through the transparent glass door, he knew who it was. "Come in!"

 Riele entered with her head bent low. "I am sorry about this morning," she started to apologize.

"Is this the resumption time?" He asked, staring sternly at her.

"That's why I am apologizing."

"And where is the model you were supposed to get in touch with?" He asked when he saw her come in alone.

If you'd just let me explain before bombarding me with questions, you will know where he is, but no. Riele thought.

She cleared her throat before speaking. "He was um..."

Kim gestured to her to stop talking because of the call that came in. While he was answering the call, Riele was glancing at the lady in front of her. Is he replacing me with her? Oh my God! I can see why Charlotte told me to get my speech ready.

"Ok. Thank you so much for contacting me."

The moment Kim ended the call, Riele fell to her knees pleading.

"I am so sorry, sir. I know I haven't been a good P.A ever since you took over and I know I don't deserve a second chance, but please do not replace me or send me out of here."

Kim was shocked that he looked at Madison to see if she understood what the drama was all about, but Madison looked shocked too.

"You know what, you are right!" He  decided to play along. "I see I have been very lenient with you and that is why you don't regard me. That's why you do whatsoever you want because you know I am a fool who wouldn't do a single thing about it, isn't that right?"

You are right about you being a fool when you decided to take Kim Utter as our model. And lenient? Seriously? Riele thought. 

"Not at all sire. I will never think of such a thing." 

She wondered how her head was thinking something different, but her mouth uttered something else. Isn't the head and mouth supposed to work together?

"I see," he said as he stood up from his chair and stood in front of his desk folding his arms across his chest as he balanced and stared at Riele who was still on her knees. "Just so you know, I have exchanged your position with Charlotte which means, she's now my P.A while you take over her position as the instructor."

"What?!" Riele asked in shock.

"Do you have a problem with that?" He asked.

Riele shook her head and stood up. I just suffered my knees for nothing.

Ruthless jerk!

If only he knew what I had to go through last night to get him his model, he won't treat me like this.

"This is Madison, she is the new female model."

Riele walked closer to the girl to see if it was the same Madison or someone else.

"Madison?"

"Nice to meet you again, Riele." Madison greeted with a smile.

"What are you doing here?" Riele asked.

"Are you even listening when I am talking to you?" Kim  asked.

I should probably ask you the same question. Riele answered in her mind. 

"I am the new female model has Mr. Kim aforementioned." Madison told her.

"But how?" Riele was about to question her when Kim gestured for her to leave.

She bit her lips so hard that they almost started bleeding. No one has ever treated her so rudely before not even Mr. Owen.

She was everyone's favorite, but why things are different with him, she couldn't understand. She was about to take her to leave when Kim called her attention.

"And one more thing," he said, throwing her a file. "Tell Charlotte to bring that guy to my office as soon as he gets here."

"Who is he?" Riele asked.

"It's not your business anymore. Your business is to take care of the models in your care. Now leave!"

He went back to his seat while he gave some information to Madison.

Riele left, but she made sure she bang the door so loud that he could tell her annoyance from it. She handed the file to Charlotte who was looking at her and the file.

"Why are you giving it to me? Shouldn't you be the one in charge?"

"Not anymore," Riele answered. "He said you should bring whoever that guy is to his office the moment he gets here."

Charlotte opened the file and the picture she saw shocked her. Riele noticed how frozen she became in nanoseconds.

"Are you okay?" Riele asked.

"Charlotte, I think this is for you,"  One of the staff told Charlotte and she excused herself to see what was going on.

Getting there, she saw the guy she saw in the picture standing right in front of her.

He was a tall and muscular man. The shirt he wore hugged him so tightly like they were made for each other, his eyes were dark brown and due to the lights that were reflecting into them, they glowed. His lips were damn beautiful.

She had to clear her throat to get her attention back.

"I guess you must be Jay, right?" She asked. The guy nodded. "Right this way," Charlotte gestured for him to follow after her which he did. He caught her whispering something to someone so he took a glance at the person.

It's her. He said to himself with a smile before entering the office with Charlotte.