Page 114 of Plus Size Player
It was so busy at the shoot yesterday, we didn’t get a chance to talk. “How was your weekend?” Jonah asked as we headed toward the building.
“I celebrated with my cousin and her friends,” I answered. “It was a good time. How was yours?”
He told me about some club he went to on Saturday and then a book he read on Sunday. I was listening to him but as soon as we walked into the studio, Remedy was yelling.
“No, no, no! This is not happening! Not again!”
Jonah and I stopped in our tracks.
I looked around and noticed Jacqueline in the room across the hall. Elbowing Jonah, I moved in that direction.
“What’s going on?” I whispered.
Matias frowned. “A storm is moving in, and we were supposed to shoot up on the roof again.”
“I don’t want to do this in the rain, but if that’s what they want…” Jonah shrugged. “It’s their campaign.”
I nodded in agreement.
If they wanted to experiment, I was cool with it. I just hoped they had some hair ideas that weren’t going to leave me looking a mess after being rained on all day.
“This place is huge. They’ll figure something out,” Taisha murmured.
“Change of plans,” Remedy announced, strolling into the room. “We’re shooting everything inside first and we’ll be doing roof shots after the storm passes. Ladies, you’re in hair and makeup first.”
She didn’t give us a chance to respond before walking off.
Three hour later, we were finishing up our final outfits in the studio. The storm rumbled over us for an hour, but the photographer just turned the music up. As the storm dissipated, the mood in the room noticeably shifted.
“Okay, it’s not raining, you look good, and these are the last shots with this look. Let’s have some fun,” she called out. “Dance!”
It would’ve been awkward if I weren’t with some of the silliestpeople. It also helped that Russ had gotten a call and stepped out. So, when the song’s throbbing beat pulsated through the room, I started rolling my body. Jonah wasted no time getting behind me and mimicking my moves. Whatever he was doing caused Taisha to burst out laughing and grab my hands. We were having a good time, and the photographer was smiling as she snapped photos.
“Now freeze and look at me,” she demanded.
We all stopped mid-move and directed our attention to the lens. Breathing hard, we were posed like human mannequins. Taisha and I were still holding hands. Jonah was behind me with his hands on my hips. Jacqueline was damn near on Matias’s back. It was chaotic, but I was sure the pictures were going to look good.
Suddenly, the hair on the back of my neck stood up and I felt Russ’s presence. I tried to keep my eyes focused on the camera, but instinctually, my gaze drifted to the right.
And there he was.
His stare was lethal, and to anyone around him, he might’ve looked like an involved CEO. But I felt the way he was looking at me all day. Each time I was partnered with Jonah, Russ’s expression hardened. With each mid-shoot conversation with Jonah, Russ’s body language was stiff. But with Jonah’s hand on my hip, Russ was outright glaring. He said something to Remedy and then marched out without another look my way.
My stomach sank.
“Got it!” the photographer cheered as she wrapped up. “One more outfit change and then I think we’re done.”
We thanked her and headed to the designated space for us to change.
“Nina, can I speak to you?” Remedy asked just before I left the main studio. “Jonah, you too.”
I looked at the other models exiting and then back at her. “Yes, of course.”
“You’re doing a great job,” she started.
“Thank you,” we said in unison.
“I just wanted to remind you of the no-fraternization policy.It’s in place for a reason and the rest of the executive team and I wanted to make sure you were reminded.”
