Mace
you’re full of shit. she was quiet… mostly
No one could hold their laugh anymore, and I think Stel kicked Macey from under the table.
“We can start this meeting whenever you girls are ready.”
We all turn our phones off before placing them face-down on the table and turning to Florence.
“As you all know, we lost a model, and The Core Eight is down to seven.”
I feel everyone glance at me, but I only keep my face neutral as she goes on.
“I was fine with leaving it at seven, but rumors about a replacement have been circling the media, so we may as well usethe publicity now that eyes are on us. I wanted to come to you guys first since–”
“I vote Mel!” I blurt.
Florence bites back a smile, clearly at my excitement, before turning to the rest of the group. “She’s a baby model and doesn’t have the two years here to qualify. She–”
“Come on, Florence. That rule is kinda dumb, and while she’s only been here a few months, she’s getting us a lot of attention,” Quinn voices, and I smile to myself.
“She’s also getting into physical altercations with her peers.” Florence counters as she reminds us that Mel fought Helena. It was apparently very messy, but I can't feel bad for Helena.
“She’s alsonotsabotaging her best friend,” Coral voices, and the room falls quiet.
“True,” I voice, and Coral nods with a smirk.
While I haven't spoken to Helena, I’m glad Florence pulled her contract, and she isn’t allowed on the property because, at this rate, I’m sure she’ll pop up and force me to speak to her, but I refuse.
Florence says she’ll think about making Mel one of The Eight and goes on about a few things she wants us to do as a group, but when she gets to scheduling them, I glance at when I have my meeting with Vincent, and I don’t want to speak up, but I need to.
“Um, I can’t do Tuesday.”
She opens my shared calendar, but on the big screen, and I feel everyone's eyes on me.
“You’re meeting with Vincent, as inMoore?” Nin’s face lights up, but when she looks over at Florence's glare, her face drops.
“What is your meeting with him about?” Florence glances back at her laptop, and she asks casually, but we all know this is far from casual, and after this morning, I can tell she’s upset with me.
“I’m taking his offer and meeting to sign the contracts.” A few of the girls gasp, and when I look around the table, they look likethey’resigning with him.
“Oh my goodness! Congrats!” Nin starts before pulling me in for a hug.
“Weneedto throw a party. I call dibs on planning this one!” Royal grabs her phone and starts typing something. The rest of the girls congratulate me, and I thank them all before looking back at Florence, but she doesn’t look at me.
“Alright, well, this is the only day that everyone else can do the photo shoot, so move your meeting or–”
“I can’t.” I laugh softly at how ridiculous that even sounds because she knows no one justmovestheir meetings with Vincent.
“So you won’t be in it. Problem solved.”
I open my mouth, but she shuts her laptop.
“Meeting's over. Have a good weekend, girls.” She stands from her seat, and when she walks out, I’m still stuck in place.
“What’s up her ass?” Coral looks around the room for an answer, but I don’t try to think of one as I rush out of the room.
“Florence.” I follow after her, and she doesn’t slow down for me, and I know she’s my boss and the freaking CEO, but she’s never like this with us, especially not me. “I think that was very unfair. I can’t–”
