Page 145 of Plus Size Player
She was silent, and if it wasn’t for the faint sound of the radio in the background, I would’ve thought she’d hung up.
“Nina, sweetheart.” She paused. “Are you talking about this contract or are you talking about Russ?”
I swallowed hard. “I guess… both,” I said slowly, reflecting on what I’d said. “All my eggs are in this RLF basket, so I have no choice but to hope it works out. And all of my eggs are in Russ’s basket, too.”
“The contract is a matter of business. Your uncle will help you figure out if you’re getting the short end of the stick. But you didn’t go into the contract lightly. You’re smart and you did what was best for you. All of your eggs in that basket made sense because of what they told you. If they do something underhanded, that’s a reflection of them, not you.”
I nodded, taking in what she’d said. “That’s true.”
“But with that man of yours… that is a matter of the heart. And if Russ is as great as you say he is, all of your eggsshouldbe in his basket.”
“I know. It’s just… unnerving.”
“That’s because you’ve never done it before.”
I let my head drop back against the cushion. “And this is the first time I’ve ever wanted to do it.That’sunnerving.”
“Sounds like you’re in love, sweetheart.”
I closed my eyes and exhaled, letting out a noncommittal groan. “Mom, please.”
“And if you love him, that means he’s earned your love. So, he’s not going to let his company do wrong by you.”
“I know he’s going to do what he can.” I sat with that for a moment. “But if everyone wants me gone except for him and he refuses to fire me, then all of the hypothetical quid pro quo, sleeping your way to the top rhetoric would hold some weight, and then that would negatively impact him. And I can’t let him go down like that. I won’t let him go down like that.”
“Do you believe he feels the same way about you?”
“Yes, I do.”
“Then what are you worried about?”
“I’m worried because I don’t have any control over anything.”
“Do you trust him?”
“I do. I trust him.”
As the words came out of my mouth, I realized how true they were. I knew it when Russ and I talked about it over the weekend. But as I talked to my mother, I realized the anxiety I felt had nothing to do with him and everything to do with my lack of control.
“Who is the new model?” Mom asked, interrupting my thoughts.
“I don’t know.”
“Well, whoever she is, she isn’t you.”
I smiled. “That’s true,” I murmured.
My mother always poured into me and reminded me who I was. I could always count on my parents. My eyes started welling up as I thought about how blessed I was to have their love and support.
“So how are we moving forward?” Mom asked.
“I’m going to do everything I can do. I’m not going to roll over and just give the job away. If they want to choose someone else, I’m going to make it the hardest decision they ever had to make.” I exhaled, feeling lighter. “I just needed to vent and get it off my chest because I was stressing. But now… not so much.”
“That’s my girl!”
“Thank you, Mom.”
“You don’t have to thank me. Honestly, thank you! My daughter is living her dream, and I am so proud.”
