My Contractual Love

Chapter one

Neema

I groaned as my phone buzzed by the bedside. The screen lit up and I expected to hear the ping of a message, instead, Release Me started playing as my 7:00 a.m. alarm went off.

I stretched out my hand and pressed the volume button on the phone. Five minutes later, the alarm went off again and I let out an expletive, now my sleep was ruined. I shouldn’t have snoozed the damn alarm.

I reluctantly pushed the sheet and comforter away and got out of bed standing beside the bedside table and stretched like a cat letting out a loud yawn. I rubbed my sleepy eyes and then headed to the washroom.

The water was very cold and I let it run for a minute or two before remembering that heating had been cut off a few days ago. That meant I had to either heat my washing water in the Russian heater or embrace frost queen’s fingers.

I heard my phone buzz in the bedroom and realised that I didn’t have the time nor luxury to boil water for my bath. If I had to make it on tie to the studio it means that a cold shower it is.

The moment the cold water hit my back I let out a muffled shriek and cussed internally wondering why I did not wake up earlier. I took the shortest shower in history and zoomed out of the bathroom like I was on fire.

My teeth didn’t stop chattering as I applied the last of my lotion on my legs and hands before wearing my midnight blue dress and white blazer. I finished off with my nude flat shoes and admired myself in the mirror.

Hopefully today I will get this modelling gig that had great benefits. With the money I could use it to pay our heating bills and have it reconnected as well as get some medicine for mum.

I grabbed my phone and my handbag that had my small portfolio and headed for the door.

“Good luck sis,” a voice said behind me.

I looked back to see Naomi my younger sister on the sofa a book in her hand. I let out a smile and opened my arms.

She came and hugged me. I gave her a forehead kiss which was not that difficult as she was shorter than me by almost five inches.

She squeezed me tighter and then let go.

“Look after mum, I will try to be back as soon as I can,” I told her. She nodded and then I opened the door.

The eight O’clock morning air hit my face and it felt both cool and refreshing. I walked to the train station and boarded the first train to the city.

My interview was for ten a.m. but as I didn’t have money for fuel I had to resort to taking the train. Otherwise I would have slept for a little longer.

The carriage I was in had three other passengers and we all minded our business. I pulled out a book from my bag and started reading. The last stop was the city and I wasn’t worried.

When the train pulled up at the last station, I got off and joined the mass of people alighting from different trains. I went up the escalator to the street level and started my short walk to the offices where I was to be interviewed.

I stepped through the revolving glass doors and went straight for the front desk where a blonde young lady was busy on the phone.

She saw me and smiled pointing at the seats. I took a seat and waited for her to finish.

“Sorry about that, good morning to you.” I got up and approached her.

“Good morning,” I replied shaking her outstretched hand. “I am here for the modelling interview though I am about an hour early.”

“That is okay, you are actually the third person to arrive, there is a lady being interviewed as we speak, as soon as she is done you may enter. What was your name?”

“Neema Michaels,” I answered secretly happy that I would hopefully be done by noon and head back home. She looked at a list to her right and ticked my name that was closer to the bottom.

“I hope you have your portfolio with you, unless this is your first time trying out to be a model.”

I nodded but didn’t tell her this was my first rodeo. I went back to sit and a few minutes later two other ladies entered. I heard they also were here for the interview and they sat across me.

They discussed in low tones and one of them looked at me for a short while then looked away. Ten minutes later, a tall and petite lady dressed splendidly walked past me and out the door.

The receptionist pointed at me and told me to go in.

“Third door on your left,” she told me.

I was apprehensive as I took my first step down the hallway and finally stopped at the light brown wooden door. I took in a deep breath and then knocked twice.

“Come in,” a rough voice said. I turned the handle and pushed open the door my heart beating a little fast.

“Have a seat,” a much kinder voice said.

In the room were two men, my eyes landed on the first man. He was tall figure even though he was sitting down. His broad shoulders gave an imposing figure.

His hair was thick and unruly, peppered with grey, swept back from a forehead. He had a tan on his face and his eyes looked hard and uninviting. I assumed he was the one with the rough voice.

Even his appearance was that of an outdoor lumberjack, from his blue faded jeans, to the shirt that had seen its share of days.

The other man was of average height, with a slender build. He had a youthful glow, and I felt more drawn to him. His hair was neatly combed, soft to the touch, and fell in gentle waves.

His eyes looked kind and inviting, and I could see a sparkling mischievous glint in them. I felt at ease and when our eyes met I smiled.

“You have never modelled, have you?” the darker man said in a matter of fact voice. I felt all my hopes be dashed, I hadn’t even opened my mouth and he had already passed judgement.