Paparazzi

"Come check this Cyn, how did you do it?" Valerie's crisp voice rang out, startling Cynthia who couldn't tell what they were so enthralled with. Cynthia received the phone  Valerie was handing her and her eyes landed on the trending topic which happened to look familiar, "what is this?" She asked. Valerie and her assistant looked at each other then looked at "Cynthia, you don't even recognize yourself?" Cynthia took a second look at the video and photos and quickly handed Valerie the phone and calmly said, "I swear I have nothing to do with this!" Valerie stopped for a second "Cynthia did you come walking through the traffic today?" Valerie asked, her tone agitated, "yes I did, I was late and couldn't wait for it to clear up-" "good, can't you see, this video was filmed when you were walking in the traffic and it was not edited, Cyn do you know what this means?" Cynthia nodded in the negative, "huh girl", Valerie sighed, frustrated, she then held Cynthia's hand as they walked back to the office.

"This video is an original, shot by Timothy Martin,-" Cynthia frowned, she knew Timothy. Being a lover of photography, she naturally knew the pros. "But-" "listen Cyn, did you read the article below the video? He's looking for the agency that you belong to haha funny, you don't even model yet but are making such headlines."

They sat down as Valerie continued watching the video on and on, Cynthia had no idea about what was happening, all she knew is that she had been filmed without permission. "Am I suing him?" She asked in a calm and collected voice. Valerie's eyes shot up and stared at Cynthia then she burst out into a fit of laughter. "Baby please don't give me a heart attack, coming here today, I suppose you had already agreed to be my protege right?"

"Not exactly, I just kind of had respect for you so I had to deliver my rejection personally." Valerie was stunned, has it ever happened, where a beautiful and capable girl with all necessary endowment rejects an offer to be Valerie Summer's protege, no... "So what-"

"Miss Valerie, I really do admire your charisma and appreciate the fact that you took a liking to me but-" "Cynthia, I did not just take a liking, when I saw you, I was reminded of my best friend. I went through your information and realized it was you, her daughter and trust me I have an obligation for you. I know fulfilling it does not necessarily entail hiring you to be a model, but I also consider our friendship when you were a baby girl. You loved the spotlight, you loved to dance, you loved to dress up and all those things we used to do remember runway princess?" Valerie asked, her eyes full of tears,

"you.. you're Aunt legs?" Cynthia asked surprise evident in her eyes. "Yes Cyn," "oh my really?",

"of course, so do you agree with me?"

"I'll.. I'll go think about it." Cynthia said, holding her tears back. "Come on, don't cry, at least we're together. You'll tell me later what you went through after that year". Cynthia nodded and got up. "I'll walk you out,-"

"it's not necessary aunt legs" they laughed, "don't resist it". The two walked out into the elevator. It was already 4 pm and Cynthia knew she had missed schedule at the coffee shop, "you don't have to go there anymore". "Where?" Cynthia asked Valerie as they walked holding hands."the coffee shop." Cynthia wasn't surprised, "you know everything about me don't you" Valerie hummed. As the two ladies stepped out, Jeffery and Drake's black sedan was just leaving the parking space. As the car sped by the street, Drake , who was looking out the window caught a glimpse of the traffic girl.

"Stop stop," he beckoned the driver and jumped out immediately the car stopped moving. "What's wrong?" Jeffery asked but Drake couldn't answer because he had had already crossed the road to the V&M building.

Cynthia and Valerie got to the parking lot and Valerie opened the car and got into the driver's seat. "Are you getting in or not Cyn", she asked smiling at the girl who looked hesitant. Cynthia exhaled and walked over to the co driver's side and got in. "Thank you", she said with a smile. "No pleasantries between us, I do hope you treat me like you would treat your mother okay?" She then started the car on seeing Cynthia nod.

Drake reached the underground parking lot and ran his eyes through the entire place but didn't see what he wanted to see. "Damn." He rubbed his chin in frustration, "what am I even doing?." He walked back trying to understand what he thought he was doing chasing a girl who didn't even know him. As he walked out if the garage, he spotted a red cardillac Escalade leave the garage and enter the traffic. As he stood and watched it disappear, he tried getting his eyes off but couldn't. "Have you been feeling well today?" Jeffery's voice came from behind him.

Drake hummed. "I don't believe you, first, you sleep in then you leave your work half complete and now you're running after strangers on the busy street". Jeffery probed. Drake scoffed and turned to look at Jeffery, "let's get going".

Cynthia and Valerie chatted along the way and as they reached Cynthia's neighborhood, the car screeched and came to a sudden halt. Cynthia got scared with different thoughts running through her head, she turned and looked at Valerie, "What's wrong?" Cynthia asked Valerie, who looked straight at the road street ahead, her eyes full of caution and worry." Aunt- "

"we have to get back", "why?"

"Isn't that your block?" Cynthia looked ahead toward her block and her heart skipped a beat. The entire area of the street and Infront if her apartment building was flooded with paparazzi. "What am I going to do", Cynthia asked panicked, she had not yet even decided whether she would take on the role but she was already exposed. "Let's go to my place". "No," Cynthia blurted out without thinking twice. "I'll just go through the rear and I'll be okay".

"You sure Cyn?" Valerie asked, concern etched on her face. "I'll be okay." Cynthia said with confidence, "okay, but still think about my offer, let it be positive". Cynthia nodded and got out. Valerie watched her leave and made a phone call immediately Cynthia's silhouette disappeared.