Meeting with the Boss

Hailey

The butterflies dancing in my stomach were making me jittery.

I was used to walking runways, but walking into the building of the ad company that had helped launch my modeling career to the next level was nerve-wracking. I knew I was on the older end of the modeling spectrum. My days as a model were numbered. Few models got to keep working into their thirties. It wasn’t exactly fair, but it was the business. Maybe they were going to tell me my contract was being tossed out the window because I was too old. I wasn’t what they were looking for, or I was too difficult to work with. My own insecurities had offered up a litany of reasons for the rather sudden meeting.

I was meeting with the CEO, which was only making me more nervous. Terran Maddox had a very colorful reputation. I knew of him vaguely but had never been all that interested in getting to know more about him. I was convinced he was like the rest of the men who were wealthy and held positions of power. That was not the kind of man that interested me. I didn’t want to be any man’s arm candy. I wanted a partner. I wanted to move mountains together or maybe just some hills. 

Terran Maddox was the consummate playboy. I had seen picture after picture of him on that stupid yacht of his. Most of the photos I’d seen were on the phones of fellow models who wanted to show off who they were dating. He never “dated” anyone. He had a good time with beautiful women and kept moving. I dismissed Terran and his wild social life. None of that mattered.

In the back of my mind, Mandy’s words were floating around. She told me to stay positive. She was the glass-half-full part of our friendship. I was the half-empty. There was the chance I could be offered a new job, or my contract could get extended, or maybe I was up for a raise. Although those things would generally go through my agent. She was trying to keep me from worrying, which I appreciated. 

“Stop freaking yourself out,” I whispered as I stepped into the elevator.

There was truly no point in worrying about it another second. I would find out shortly. I stepped off the elevator and walked toward a receptionist’s desk. She directed me down a hall where I met a polite young woman, Lena, who identified herself as Terran’s secretary.

“Hi, I’m Hailey Hollis. I have an appointment for nine-thirty.” I did my best to be friendly.

It was something I had learned was necessary when speaking with other women. A lot of women made immediate assumptions about who I was based on my looks. Kill them with kindness was my motto. It usually disarmed them, and we could have a normal conversation.

“I’m so sorry!” she said, looking mortified.

“For?” I asked, my mouth going dry. Had I been fired, and the secretary had just let it out of the bag? Did everyone know except for me?

“I was supposed to call and cancel the meeting. I’ve been trying to reschedule all his appointments and missed yours. It has been a crazy morning. I am so sorry!”

“The meeting is canceled?” I asked.

She nodded her head. “Mr. Maddox was pulled away at the last minute and won’t be in at all today.”

“Oh,” I mumbled for lack of anything better to say.

She looked horrified. “Can you come back tomorrow at the same time?” she asked, her voice hesitant.

I sighed and nodded my head. “Sure, is everything okay?” I asked, genuinely concerned for him.

She smiled. “He’s fine. Just one of those meetings that tend to pop up at least once a week. I’m truly sorry. I’m usually more on top of things. I don’t know how I missed it.”

“It’s no problem,” I assured her. “Don’t worry about it.” 

“Thank you for being so understanding,” she replied with a smile.

“It’s really no problem. Lena, do you know why he wants to meet with me?” I hoped she could give me a hint now that I felt we had established somewhat of a relationship.

She shook her head. “I really have no idea. He doesn’t usually meet with the models. Not to say that’s bad or good.”

I laughed nervously. “Well, I guess I’ll see you tomorrow and find out then.”

“I’m really sorry,” she said. “I hope I didn’t completely throw off your schedule. I’m sure you’re very busy.” 

“It’s fine. I’m off today. I’ll see you tomorrow, same time.” I smiled and waved before I walked away.

I made it halfway down the hall when an attractive man in an expensive suit stopped me. I immediately assumed he was one of the executives, and I didn’t want to be rude by blowing him off. I took a deep breath and put on my best friendly face.

“Miss Hailey Hollis,” he said with a pleasant smile.

I smiled back. “That’s me.”

“How are you?” he asked, his tone very congenial.