Myfavorite color is green. Emerald, like my eyes… I can’t bite back my smile anymore, and I grab my phone. Someone knocks on my door and tells me my meeting with Florence is starting soon, so I text Liam instead of calling him.
Thank you for paying for my breakfast & for the flowers!
I’m sure he’ll know I got both baskets with the green heart I sent, and I rush off to my meeting with a smile.
“There’s my favorite girl!” Florence pulls me in for a hug, and I silently hope that being her favorite will work out in my favor during this meeting. I look over at Angie, and she gives me a reassuring nod.
We all take a seat, and I pull in a deep breath before spitting it out. “I’m taking Vincent’s offer.” I keep my eyes on Florence, but her face is blank so I go on. “I want to be a Moore Girl.”
She watches me for a few seconds before nodding and leaning back in her seat. “Well, you still have a contract with me and–”
“And I don’t want to leave you, Florence.” I watch her rough exterior chip away as her smile slowly reappears. “I sort of owe you a lot, if not everything I have, and I’m humble enough to admit it. My career took off when I signed with you, but you said you’d never hold your girls back, and I hope that’s true.”
She takes my hand with a smile. “Of course, I meant it, Sage. Do you know how proud I am that one ofmygirls is getting signed with Vincent fucking Moore?”
I smile at her appreciatively, and she squeezes my hand before kissing it softly.
“I feel like I raised you and the rest of The Eight when you came to me as baby models, and I’d hate to see you leave, and I’m so glad you’re not, but I’ll let you if you–”
“I don’t want to.” I notice Angie let out a sigh from beside us, but I ignore her. She thinks I’m going to be doing too much work for both companies since I’m already always booked with the events I get with Magic, but I know we can make it work, and I’lljust do fewer events here and make it up with events I get with Moore.
Angie kicks my foot softly, and I get to the point of the meeting. I grab my current contract with Florence and turn to her.
“Since I’m signing a contract with Vincent, I was wondering if we can alter one thing in ours just so I can work with you both more easily.” I smile shyly at her, but she’s watching me more suspiciously.
“And what's that?” She crosses her arms again, and I pull in a deep breath.
“It says here that I can’t miss a runway show, but–”
“Nope.”
“Florence, let her finish.” Angie sounds like she’s warning her, but I give her a nod and silently let her know it’s okay.
“Florence, Vincent’s contract says I also can’t miss any of his runway shows, and I doubt you two would have a show on the same day, but if you do and I sign both contracts–”
“You’d have to choose.” She watches me carefully as I nod. “And let's say we do have a runway show on the same day. One here in LA for me and one for Mr. Moore in Italy. Who are you choosing?”
I feel like this is a trick question, and I know I should choose her or at least tell her I would, but I’d be breaking a contract by picking.
“She can’t pick. That’s why she’s asking you to alter her contract.” Angie saves me, and I’m glad she needs to be at all of my meetings. “We’re not asking you to completely let her miss your shows because that’s a ridiculous request, but we can–”
“I’m not altering the contract, Sage.” She turns back to me, and I can literally feel Angie's aggregation growing. These two have some… bad blood from the past, but Angie usually gets me whatI want and I love her for it, but I don’t know if that will be the case today.
“Florence–”
“No.” She cuts Angie off again before sliding the contract back to her and turning to me. “You’re one of The Core Eight, Sage. I wouldn’t let any of the others miss a show. The same goes for you. It wouldn't be a Magic Model fashion show without all eight of you. I already lost one girl, but it certainly won’t be a show without you.”
“I’m flattered you think so, but–”
“I don’tthinkso, Sage. I know so.”
My mouth falls shut as her eyes bore into my soul.
“You’retheMagic Model, Sage Loana. I never admitted it publicly because I can’t afford animosity between you girls, although there was clearly already jealousy between you and Helena because, let's be honest, while you girls were friends, jealousy sprouts in all of us, butyou’rethe face of my company.”
I don’t know what to say, but when she turns to her laptop, I know this conversation is over. I glance over at Angie, and she ties her dreads back like she’s ready to negotiate, but I know we’re not going to be able to change her mind. Vincent also said this was a dealbreaker for him. What the hell am I supposed to do when they have a show on the same day?
When I get back to my room, I already want to go home, but I have so many things to do today, and I wish I had this meeting at the end of the day because now this is all I’m going to be able to think about.
