016

016
MAYA

If anyone would tell me that the CEO of Grey Textile and Clothing would ask me to be his model, I would call the person a big liar. But surprisingly he asked me to be his model.

He even told me to drop the formalities and call him by his first name, Silver. It was like I was dreaming. But what bothered me was that Liam didn’t look too happy about the whole thing.

It made me feel bad because if not for Liam, I wouldn't have met Silver and indulged in conversations with him enough for me to be his model.

I didn’t want to accept the offer at first because I felt I wouldn’t do well, but Eve drew me aside and spoke some sense into me.

She told me that I would be paid well and finally get the chance to get myself a new apartment. A new apartment meant that I wouldn’t be reminded of Lucas and Chloe’s betrayal anytime I entered my house.

Also, it meant that my standard of living would improve and I would be able to have three square meals. When Eve took me to the dressing room and began what she called my transformation, I was nervous.

But when I saw how beautiful I looked when she was done dressing and making me up, I became confident that I could get the modeling over and done with.

When I came out of the dressing room the first time, I didn’t expect to get the reaction I got from everyone present in the hall.

Surprisingly, I liked the way they all admired how I looked. But all that didn’t matter because the one person I expected to admire me more didn’t. That was when I knew that I had fallen for my boss, Liam Taylor.

Thinking about it, I realized I had fallen for him right from the day he helped me out at the bar, but I knew he didn’t feel the same way towards me even though Eve kept telling me he liked me.

Even when I asked him how I looked, he was reluctant to compliment me. I guess Silver noticed this and complimented me to save me the embarrassment. 

Eve noticed this and gave my hand a reassuring squeeze. I had a feeling that Eve and I were gonna be good friends. When the photo shoot commenced, Silver and Eve began telling me postures to make. The postures weren’t as difficult as I thought it would be. It was quite easy for me.

I thought I would just have to dress up in the outfit I wore at first, but I became exhausted after I changed into a series of outfits. I let out a huge breath of relief when Silver announced that the photo shoot had come to an end. Eve chuckled at my reaction.

“ Don’t worry you’ll get used to it, “ Eve said to me which made me frown a bit.

“ I thought it was gonna be just a one-time thing, “ I said to her as we walked back to the dressing room.

“ Maybe you should have listened to Liam and read the contract before signing it, “ Eve said with a chuckle as she closed the door of the dressing room and ordered her assistant to begin packing up.

“ What do you mean? “ I asked her with my brows creased and a frown evident on my face. I hoped it wasn’t what I was thinking.

“ The contract you signed is that you’ll be the model for Grey Textile And Clothing for the next five years. Which means the contract would expire in five years, “ Eve explained as she walked up to me and began to help me undress and clean my makeup.

“ What? At least you should have briefed me on it before you let me sign it!! I feel betrayed. So I have to do this every day. “ I whined and faked a pout.

“ Oh common!! It’s a good thing that the contract is for that long. You’ll keep making good money and have a choice to even resign from your work as Liam’s assistant because the money you’ll get from us would be way more than your pay as an assistant and no, you'll only get to this when we have new outfits we wanna advertise,“ Eve said to me.

“ You mean by signing the contract Silver is gonna pay me more than eight thousand dollars? “ I asked and she paused while helping me unzip my dress which made me turn to look at her.

“ You mean Liam is gonna be paying you eight thousand dollars for just being his assistant? “ She asked with creased brows and a smile.

“ Yeah, he is. Why do you look surprised? “ I asked her.

“ Because Liam has never paid that much to any of his assistants before. The highest he has paid is four thousand dollars, “ Eve said and helped me unzip my dress.

I was dumbfounded after I heard what Eve just told me. When I first saw the amount I was entitled to be paid every month if I started the job, I felt it was too good to be true.

“ I also know that you are sad because he didn’t compliment me on how you looked and was busy operating his phone throughout the photo shoot section, “ Eve said, giving me a knowing look. I sighed.

How could this girl be so good at reading me so well? It was obvious that he was ignoring me because as my boss he was supposed to be there while the photo shoot was going on. But no, he was busy operating his stupid phone.

“ He is my boss, Eve, I don’t expect anything more from him. It’s no big deal, “ I said tiredly as I changed into the outfit I wore when I came for the photoshoot.

“ Stop with the pretense Maya. You can talk to me. Have you fallen for Liam? “ She asked with a teasing smile. 

I was skeptical about talking to her about it at first but I felt that maybe if I had someone to talk to It would be easier.

“ The truth is, I think I have, but I know I don’t stand a chance because there’s a big gap in our social status and Liam always gives me cold treatment. Not like I expect anything more from him anyway so it’s fine, “ I said to Eve and faked a smile.

I didn’t know when this feeling developed to this stage but all I knew was that it was today it started getting to me. Is this how unrequited love feels? It was a terrible feeling.

I also felt a bit better after admitting it to Eve and was no longer in denial about it. Eve looked at me for a while with an unreadable expression on her face and sighed afterward.

“ Look, I won’t be a part of two adults not being open about how they feel. So, since you are shy or afraid or whatever it is you think you’re doing. I’m gonna talk to Liam and ask him if he likes you, “ Eve said in a sing-song tune and giggled.

“ What? No!! Don’t do that. Just let this whole thing slide, “ I said to her.

“ I’m done with packing everything Ma’am. We can leave now, “ Eve’s assistant said to Eve as she began to carry the travel bags in which she packed all the outfits I used for the photo shoots.

“ Alright then, you heard her Maya, let’s go, “ Eve said with a smirk as she half dragged me out of the dressing room.

When we were out of the dressing room, I began walking straight to Liam and our eyes met. He took that as his Cue and stood up, knowing that it was time for us to leave. But Silver walked up to me which made me stop.

“ You see!! You did great during the photo shoot. You were born for this Maya, “ Silver said with a big grin on his face.

I reciprocated the grin although I was shy. I wished that Liam could be nice to me like Silver was. 

“ I didn’t want to disappoint my boss, “ I answered Silver and noticed him frown a bit before masking it away.

“ You didn’t disappoint anyone, Love, “ Silver said and winked at me.

Love? Did he just call me love? Wait, was he trying to flirt with me or he was naturally this nice? I asked myself as I faked a smile because I didn’t want to make him feel bad.

Through the corner of my eye, I could see Eve and Liam having a serious conversation. They both had serious looks on their faces and Liam kept sighing and massaging his forehead making it difficult for me to ascertain what they were talking about.

“ Maya, are you listening to me at all? “ Silver asked as he tapped me and that was when my attention went back to him.

“ Seems like your attention is divided, “ He said and turned to look at Liam’s making it obvious to me that he knew my attention was there.

“ Uhm, I’m sorry I’m just exhausted, “ I said to him.

“ Alright then, we’ll see each other around, “ Silver said and walked over to talk to his Assistant whom I didn't even notice till now. His assistant stood a safe distance from us as he waited for Silver.

I walked up to Liam and Eve but they had already stopped whatever it was they were discussing when they saw me walking to them.

“ Let’s go, “ Was all Liam said as he began to walk away from Eve and I. 

I looked at Eve with creased brows and she looked at me with Sadness written all over her face. 

“ I’m sorry Maya, but he said he doesn’t like you, “ Eve whispered to me with a sorry look on her face.

“ I told you not to ask him in the first place, “ I whispered to her angrily and scoffed.

I angrily walked out on her and went to the car Liam and I came to the photoshoot in. When I entered the car, Liam was busy with his phone and didn’t even acknowledge my presence.

This was all Eve’s fault. I told her to forget about it but still, she went ahead to ask Liam and now he was annoyed. Most of all I felt embarrassed due to the fact he may have thought I was the one who told Eve to ask him if he liked me.

When I entered the car I placed my phone on the space in between where Liam and I sat, trying to adjust well and settle on the seat in the car.

When Liam was treating me as though I wasn’t in the car I wanted to pick up my phone which was on the seat and pretend to be busy with my phone too.

But my phone beeped with a message and the sender was Silver. Liam looked at my phone and scoffed. I picked up my phone ignoring him and read the message Silver sent to me.

I didn’t even know how he got my number. He sent funny videos of me making mistakes during the photoshoot which made me chuckle.

While I was chuckling as I saw the videos, Liam asked me a question that I found really surprising.