Ring~
A melody of an old, nostalgic song echoed in Layra's quiet room, breaking the silence.
She groaned and turned towards the sound, fumbling with her eyes half closed. It was her phone ringing, and it took her a few seconds to remember where she had left it last night.
Eventually, she reached over to her bedside table and picked up the phone, looking at the caller ID through blurry eyes.
'Ugh... It's already 11 AM.' Layra's first thought was to just ignore the call and go back to sleep, but she saw it was from the modeling agency. And her sleepy mind quickly snapped awake.
'Rebecca? Is this about my contract?' Layra wondered as she answered the phone, sitting up in bed. She brushed a hand through her messy blonde hair and tried to sound professional. "Hello, Layra here."
"Morning, Layra. I hope you're doing well." Rebecca's calm voice came from the other end of the line, making Layra feel both relieved and anxious.
She had been waiting for some kind of news since her last photoshoot, hoping it had gone well. But she was also nervous about what this call might bring.
"Uh, yes. I'm doing alright," Layra responded, trying to sound nonchalant. "So... what's up? Did the shoot not work out, or...?"
She almost asked about her contract directly but held back. She didn't want to sound desperate, even if she was. After being without a job and broke, any chance to land a solid modeling gig was important to her.
And to her surprise, Rebecca chuckled. "Relax, girl. I didn't call to give you bad news. In fact, the client who saw the photos liked your work. A lot."
Layra's heart skipped a beat. Did that mean what she thought it did?
"Seriously?!" she couldn't help but exclaim, a bright smile spreading across her face. "You mean the photos impressed them?"
"They sure did. And that's not all. They've specifically requested that you model the upcoming line of their new product. You've officially got the contract for three months with a very decent pay rate. Plus, if you do well, you'll likely get more gigs from other clients."
At those words, Layra let out a scream of joy. She jumped up from bed, holding the phone tightly to her ear as she almost danced in place. The thrill of being wanted, of having a steady income for months ahead, was a huge relief after all the struggle she'd gone through lately.
"I can't believe it! I... Thank you so much! Oh my God, you've no idea how much this means to me!"
She could practically hear Rebecca smiling on the other end. "I'm happy for you. I knew you had the look they were going for, and I'm glad I could help. Just make sure you nail it, alright?"
"Of course! I won't let you or the client down! When's the first shoot?" Layra was practically buzzing with excitement and questions. She had already forgotten how tired she was from a late night spent worrying about her finances. Now, all that mattered was securing her future in this career.
"Here's the thing... the client is very demanding, and they usually only give a short notice," Rebecca continued in a serious tone, reminding Layra to listen closely. "Sometimes, you'll get a call early in the morning for a shoot the same afternoon. So we want you to be ready at a moment's notice. Are you okay with that?"
Layra didn't even hesitate. "Absolutely! I'm totally fine with it. I'll be ready whenever you need me." She had been through crazier schedules in the past, and she was more than willing to be flexible.
"Good to hear. Now, to answer your question, your first official shoot is scheduled for this afternoon at one. The photographer Frank, who did your last shoot, will be handling it. So you should head to the studio before then. Of course, your contract will be signed before everything begins, just in case there are any last-minute issues."
"Don't worry, I'll be there with time to spare. Thank you so much, Rebecca! You're a lifesaver." Layra grinned into the phone, already imagining her success.
Rebecca chuckled again, sounding pleased. "That's the spirit, Layra. Just keep up the good work, and you'll be set."
Once the call ended, Layra flopped back onto her bed, her heart still racing from the good news. Her life, which had felt like a storm just yesterday, now looked so much brighter.
The last thing she wanted to do was stay idle any longer. With only a couple of hours to get ready, she jumped out of bed and rushed to take a shower.
***
[ Noon ]
By 12:30 PM, Layra arrived at the same studio as before. She was dressed casually today, wearing a white mini-dress with spaghetti straps paired with knee-high black leather boots. The contrast of the two made her look effortlessly cool, with just enough edge to turn heads without looking like she was trying too hard.
Inside the studio, things were already in motion. Frank was barking orders at his assistants, the lights were being set, and there was an energy in the air that was contagious.
As soon as she saw Layra enter, Rebecca greeted her with a smile.
"You're early. Good! Let's go to the office and get your contract sorted out."
Layra followed Rebecca into a smaller room off the main studio, where the contract was laid out on the table. The terms were straightforward enough.
She would model for the client's products for three months, and there were a dozen specific shoots already scheduled, plus a few more that would be added over time if needed. The pay rate was good too. Enough for her to feel safe and even start thinking about upgrading her life again.