Later that evening; Simone was sitting on the sofa with her legs and feet across Emmett’s lap. “How was your first day as a modelling manager?” Emmett asks, massaging Simone’s feet.“Interesting” Simone remarks closing her eyes, enjoying the foot massage she was getting. “There were men and women coming in today wanting to be signed up; thinking they could be the next Leona Simmons. They got a rude shock when they realised how hard I worked to achieve what I did. Time will tell who can make the cut.”“I’ve told you before and I will tell you again; you are one extraordinary woman” Emmett says, giving Simone a smile.“Is Lester planning anything for his birthday this weekend?” Simone asks, opening one of her eyes to look at Emmett.“How did you know it was his birthday this weekend?” Emmett asks, stopping the foot massage. “I only told you it was coming up. Lester doesn’t tell anyone when his birthday is. He doesn’t like people making a fuss for his birthday; even when he had heaps of
The following morning; after giving Emmett a kiss at the private elevator; Simone heads to the common elevator to go to the third floor. “Ricky; what are you doing here?” she says, giving her brother-in-law a hug. He’s been spending most of his time at Sandy’s place and hasn’t seen him in a while.“I was dropping Sandy off and decided to come and see you too” Richard states, hugging her back. “Sandy will be here in a moment. Apparently, the caramel lattes are to die for at the café outside” he adds with a laugh.“I’ve been meaning to call you and Barry to thank you for doing the office space” Simone states, getting into the elevator with Richard when the doors open. “It’s perfect.”“Your payment and name were thanks enough” Richard smiles at her. “With you signing onto Peterson Properties; we have had a few followers of yours booking in to get renovations done.”“Really?” Simone asked shocked. “I put a virtual tour on twitter yesterday. I didn’t think they would act so quickly.”“Tyro
“Is Ricky still here?” Simone asks Tiffany and Katrina.“I think he left after he told me you wanted to see me in your office” Katrina answers, taking the empty chair in front of Simone’s desk.“Thanks for coming in” Simone smiles, picking up the paperwork Angela gave to her. “I wasn’t sure what her intentions were. Every one of the models we have, come from her management agency. That’s why we all knew each other and worked at Lively Design Studios.”“Speaking of which” Tiffany grins, opening the emails on her laptop. “Guess who asked if we could supply models for the up-and-coming Spring runway show. Wait until Angela finds out she’s lost their contract.”“You’re kidding?” Simone gasps, her eyes going wide. “I’m not concerned with Angela. That’s between her and Mark. I never thought Mark would want to come to me.”“Mark didn’t have a say” Tiffany laughs, turning her laptop around for Simone to read. ‘We took a vote. 7 to 1 to use your models in our next runway show.’ “Mark was outvo
Simone was fuming by the time her; Tiffany and Katrina were on their way to see Angela. She had Tiffany contact two other management agencies with a proposal while she spoke with Gloria. They agreed to the terms and asked ‘where do I sign?’ Gloria was doing up the paperwork and sending it to them for a signature, while she confronted Angela.“Thank you for seeing us on such short notice” Simone kindly states, following Chelsea into the small meeting room.“Ms Berry was surprised you wanted to see her so soon. She was willing to fit you in” Chelsea responds with a smile. “Can I offer you a tea or coffee?”“No thank you” Simone replies as the assistant turns to leave.A moment later Angela walks through the doorway. “Leona, good to see you” Angela says, giving Simone air kisses on each cheek. “I take it you’ll be accepting my proposal.”“Not entirely” Simone states; a small glint in her eye. “I’ve read your proposal and will be submitting my own proposal for you to sign.”“What I offere
Simone felt numb as she entered Emmett’s office. She couldn’t lose her father; he hasn’t met his granddaughter. ‘He is only 52; how can he have cancer’ she says to herself. “I have to go to Saint Anthony’s Medical Hospital. Dad’s just come out of surgery to remove a cancerous cell from his bowel” Simone says her voice flat and expressionless. “They just called me to tell me he’s fine and the surgery was a success.”‘What the fuck?’ Emmett screams in his mind. “I’m going with you” Emmett says, grabbing his jacket and keys. “You can’t go there by yourself.”“I’ll be fine. You have a business to run” Simone objects, walking out the door.“You do too.” Emmett calls out, chasing after her. “I’m not going to argue with you. I am going; whether you like it or not.” Simone wasn’t in the mood to argue either, she nods, stepping onto the elevator with Emmett; “come here” he murmurs, putting his arms around her.The trip to the hospital was a quiet one. Emmett held Simone’s hand, drawing circles
Simone walked into the office two days later with a man, wearing a baseball cap sitting on one of the chairs. She has been away tending to her father and as he was on the mend; Emmett and her decided to come back to work. There was an uneasy feeling in the pit of her stomach; as she watched him eyeing each of the models as they walk past, pulling the sleeve of his shirt down on his arms. “Rach; who is that man?” Simone whispers to her receptionist.“I don’t know; he came in yesterday and just sat there” Rachael explains, starring daggers at him. “He won’t leave when I ask him. I had to get Katrina to escort him out yesterday.”“I’ll ask him to leave” Simone says, walking over to the man; “Can I help you?” she asks.“I’m waiting for someone” the man states, hiding his face with his cap. ‘That’s not a good sign when he is trying to hide his face from me’ Simone tells herself.“I’m sorry but you can’t be here” she explains as the elevator doors open. Rebecca and Robert walk out. The man
“You were brilliant today; handling the situation with Rebecca” Emmett says, crawling into bed next to Simone. “I was turned on at your decisiveness. I need to see it more often.”“I needed to be” Simone answers, turning to face Emmett. ‘He wants to see decisiveness; I will show him decisiveness’ she grins inwardly. “Angie only cares about the bottom figure; she doesn’t care about the wellbeing of who she was managing. The moment Rebecca was worried about the man following her; she should have alerted the authorities and at least told Beck to hire someone to protect her, if she didn’t have someone able to do that.”“And that is what makes you a good boss and her a shitty one” he says, giving Simone a peck on her nose.“Maybe so; the only way to handle entitled people like her, is put them in their place” Simone states, raising an elbow on her pillow. “She actually had the nerve to think I would accept a proposal that will kill my agency before it started.”“From what Tiff was saying;
The next morning; Jason was walking up to the front of the office building, holding Rebecca’s hand. Neither saw the man standing in the shadows, concealing a knife under his jacket. “I’ll get her new boyfriend and Rebecca will be mine again” he snarls under his breath.“Kat” Jason calls out, reaching the front of the office building and embracing his sister, before patting his pocket. “I’ve left my phone in the car. I’ll be right back, you will be fine with Kat” he says, giving Rebecca a kiss before turning back to the car.Jason waved to Emmett and Simone as they drove past, to park their car. Out of the corner of his eye; he saw Rebecca’s stalker glaring at him. ‘He wants to have a go? Let’s boogie’ he murmurs to himself. Pretending not to see him, he opens his car door and retrieves his phone.Just as he shuts the door; Rebecca screams out Jason’s name; at the same time, he round kicks his assailant; who was running up behind him.Falling to the ground, the stalker drops the knife