PRIVATE LESSONS
989 Words
“Well? I’ve taken every training class you offer."
“Yes, that’s right. You’ve done all the group training. To be client-ready, you also need individual training, one-on-one, with Mr. Estella."
Jade fought the anger that was growing inside her. “And how much does that cost? Another two thousand dollars?”
“My, you’re the jaded one, aren’t you, missy? It so happens that personal training with Mr. Estella is free."
Jade was taken aback. “Free?”
“You have to be personally selected by Mr. Estella."
“Oh. And how does that work?”
“By asking for an interview. Would you like me to schedule one for you?”
“Yes, of course." She added, “Please."
Ms. Cynthia went to a desk calendar and opened it. “Let’s see...Mr. Estella has an open slot three weeks from...”
“I want an interview now. I don’t want to wait three weeks."
Ms. Cynthia stared. Jade’s heart was beating hard with anxiety, but she intended to hold her ground. She wasn’t going to let herself be pushed around anymore.
The woman ran her pencil down the calendar. “There has been a cancelation for six-thirty tomorrow night - would that suit you?”
“That’s perfect,” Jade said.
Jade turned to leave, then looked back. “Thank you."
Ms. Cynthia blew smoke out of the side of her mouth. “The pleasure was all mine."
* * *
Romeo Estella, the owner of the agency, was a handsome man. In his forties, he had a swarthy complexion, long sideburns, and a droopy mustache. He was always immaculately dressed. The only time Jade ever glimpsed him was on the elevator or passing through the hall to his office. He was always with a beautiful young girl or two, who were decked out in expensive designer outfits.
For her interview, Jade wore what she thought was her best outfit, a pair of skintight white jeans that showed off her long legs, and a top that revealed her flat stomach. She spent her last three weeks’ pay to have her hair styled and splurged on a professional makeup job, even though she could have done it herself now.
She took the bus to the agency. For some reason, she did not want her father to know what she was doing, so she told him she had to work at the mall. The weather could not have been worse. It was pouring down with rain, the wind blustery. Even with her umbrella she was wet from the knees down when she arrived at Next Superstar.
Ms. Cynthia let her right in - she didn’t have to wait.
“Well, Ms. Brownie, it’s a pleasure to meet you,” Mr. Estella said. “Please have a seat."
She sat down on his leather couch. His office smelled of cigar smoke and musky aftershave lotion. He closed the door, then pulled up a chair and turned it backwards, sitting directly across from her. He was so close their knees were almost touching. He wore a lot of gold jewelry. She noticed that he had a Rolex watch.
Taking her computer card from her sweaty hand, he glanced at the front, then the back, then looked her up and down, pausing to admire her figure. His gaze rested on her bare stomach. “You have a fresh look. There’s a certain innocence about you that’s appealing."
“Thank you."
He set the computer card down on the coffee table, then looked into her eyes. “I know I don’t have to tell you how competitive the modeling profession is, Allen."
“It’s Jade."
“Right. Jade. To make it in this business, you have to bring out your true self, your uniqueness." He motioned to her. “You know what I mean?”
Jade nodded.
“The camera picks up what you’re thinking, what you’re feeling, your...attitude. That’s really what it’s all about. Attitude." He moved his hands a lot when he talked.
He glanced back down at her stomach. It seemed like every time he looked there his droopy mustache gave a little twitch.
“With my personal coaching,” he went on, “I bring out the model’s uniqueness." He peered down at her knee, then reached out and put his hand there. Gazing into her eyes again, he said, “Would you like to receive personal coaching, Jade?”
“Well...” She wanted to brush his hand away. “I’m not sure I...”
“Would you like to go on photo shoots in the Caribbean? In Paris? In LA?”
“I...”
“To own expensive clothes? To have so much money you can buy whatever you want without giving it a second thought?”
His hand slid up her thigh. Jade looked down at it, unable to move. She abruptly rose.
“I don’t like you touching me,” she blurted. “I’m only sixteen."
He looked up at her, frowning with disapproval. “You’re acting like you’re twelve. Professional models have to be mature."
For a second, Jade felt an impulse to repress what she was feeling and try to act more “mature,” but then she realized it was just more manipulation. Everything was crystal clear to her now.
“This agency is just a scam,” she said. “I know what you’re doing."
“And what is that?” he said, raising an eyebrow.
“I’ve seen those other girls...”
“What other girls?”
“The others...” Jade realized that she had no concrete evidence of anything this slimy man did. “I want my money back. I spent two thousand dollars here, and I want it back!”
“I’m afraid that’s out of the question."
“Really? Then I think I’ll go to the police and tell them what you just did to me."
- Writer
