Page 149 of Plus Size Player

“I want to be clear that the decision to bring on an additionalplus model was a business decision and not a personal one. Your face is still the face that’ll appear in the in-store advertising. But in a couple weeks, Gabriella will be joining you in your appearance at the Bowen stores in Miami. Is that going to be a problem?”

“No.”

“Good.” She gave a definitive nod. “Your response to the email welcoming Gabriella to the team was gracious. Your social media posts have been consistently reaching our target audience. And I’ve heard that the other models have been speculating about the events that took place this weekend. From what Angelica told me, you didn’t engage.” She took a step closer. “We have a board meeting on Friday and we’re selecting our final look. I’m going to nominate you to walk it.”

My eyebrows flew up. “You’re going to nominate me?”

“Yes.”

I was not expecting that.

“Oh, wow, thank you!” I put my hand to my chest. “That would be amazing.”

With a self-satisfied smile, she nodded again. “There will be a vote. But Angelica has been speaking about you to the coordinators as we’ve been putting together the show. Russell’s been speaking highly of you since we brought you on, so even though he doesn’t vote on this, if Angelica and I are for it, he’ll approve it. And I’ll be echoing their sentiments with the board when we finalize the vision. The decision will be announced on Monday and if selected, your events for next week will change because you’ll have rehearsal.”

“Okay.” I nodded. “Thank you.”

She picked up her phone and concluded the conversation. “Make it a good trip.”

I didn’t even get a chance to say thank you or goodbye because she’d already turned her back to me.

“Russell, I have news,” she answered as she walked away.

Knowing it was Russ on the phone with her, I felt warmth spreading through me. Trying to shake it off, I pressed the elevator call button.

When I got home, I posted on social media, packed the clothes I’d gotten from Angelica, talked to Russ for about an hour, and then got a good night’s sleep.

I had an early flight in the morning.

I got to the airport, checked my bags, and then walked to my gate. I saw Taisha sitting by herself and I approached.

“Hey,” I greeted, taking a seat next to her.

“Morning,” she replied giddily. She took her headphones off and rested them around her neck. “How did things go with Remedy yesterday?”

“Pretty good actually.”

“Did she—hey, Matias!”

I looked behind me and waved at him. Not too far behind him were Jacqueline and Jonah. When the five of us were together, I felt the group’s attention shift to me. They all wanted to know what happened with Remedy.

“She wanted to make sure I knew that it was business and not personal,” I told them with a shrug. “She said that it’ll be fine, so I’m going to choose to believe her.”

They mostly seemed satisfied with my answer, and we boarded our flight to Atlanta. They booked me in a seat next to Jacqueline and she managed to talk the entire trip. I’d nodded off for at least thirty minutes and when I woke up, she was still talking. I was thankful they didn’t have us sharing rooms.

“I made it safely,” I told Aaliyah over the phone after checking into my hotel room.

“Okay, good,” she replied, a hint of relief in her voice. “I’m glad you’re safe. There’s a storm here and I was worried about you.”

I glanced toward the window and the sun was shining bright. “It’s clear skies over here. But since it’s raining, does that change your plans to go to the fair with your man?”

“I think we’re still going. He has to work on Friday so today was the only day we could go.”

I smiled as I listened to her talk about his plans for her. It made me happy to hear how happy she was. After the summer she hadand the dates she’d experienced, she deserved to find a man who would love her right and treat her well.

“And what about you and your situation?” she inquired.

I pulled the dress I’d planned to wear to dinner out of my bag. “Which situation?”

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