Author's Note: This story is completely fictional and did not happen. All characters and names are fictional and were made up. I do not make money from these stories. Please do not copy and plagiarize my work.
This series is written for my friend Breadloaf. The celeb choice; plot and setting were entirely his idea. Thank you to him for allowing me to share this with you all!
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Miami, Florida
Clear blue skies greeted anyone walking outside to feel the blazing hot sun now fully radiating yet another afternoon in southern Florida. Springtime weather washed away what had proven to be a quiet winter outside one tall office building along the Brickell Avenue road. Blinding sunlight cast reflections across the windows on the higher floors, but nothing could block out the metallic shiny gold letters spelling out 'Gold Modelling Co'. What the building once was, did not matter anymore. A new business had rolled into Miami with a few million dollars on the early budget to begin growing with fashion modeling. Word had already spread about 'the Gold company' as a nickname, all from word of mouth within the fashion and modeling industry across the country.
The company itself had laid foundations down towards the end of 2021 with early investments linked locally in the Miami area. The Gold name belonged to just one of many businesses connected within the fashion industry. Whoever was leading the charge from management appeared to have some connections with key agencies back in Los Angeles. The inner workings of the company did not matter to one woman who was strolling her way down the sidewalk, ready to enter the sliding glass doors. The wind rustled through her long golden hair, blowing past a pair of black sunglasses that shielded her eyes from the glaring sunlight. A white T-shirt was the pick of the day, slightly revealing her flat stomach to go with a pair of stonewashed denim blue jeans and red stiletto heels.
Miami was a place Hannah Ferguson knew all too well. Before signing with Gold Modelling Company, she had spent quite a lot of time over the years. Her purse bounced against her left shoulder as she continued her path down the sidewalk and approached the office. This was far from her first visit in the past month since signing a new contract with an agent for the company. At twenty-nine years of age and feeling the pressure from her glory days beginning to fade, Hannah felt that she had to make a drastic move regarding her career. She could have stayed in Los Angeles and continued modeling lingerie and clothing lines, but she knew modeling into her thirties with no real connections could be a hard road. The days of her Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Edition photoshoots were long gone and she did not have the staying power of other models from her generation.
A hard road through life was something she felt all too familiar with at times. Hannah felt she had forged an iron will after a tough upbringing, but she kept these feelings contained to herself. With no commitment in life with a boyfriend or any family on the horizon, only her career was the main focus. When she walked through the sliding glass doors of the corporate office, a cool breeze was felt through an air-conditioned building. White marble floor cast reflections for anyone walking past. A large black desk was in the center of the room, but at this point Hannah knew where to go without having to request aid from a receptionist. Upon signing her name on the contract to join Gold Modelling, Hannah was advised by her long time agent who was now joining the company under a supervisor role. Richard Sheffield had long been a known name within the fashion industry, working for nearly three decades now.
Hannah had first met the older man when she signed a contract with a smaller agency back in Los Angeles over eight years ago. Since then, Mr. Sheffield as she had come to know was reliable in finding her work that generated easy paychecks for quick gigs. Her ex-boyfriend had known the man, as they had shared dinner many times back in Los Angeles. Sometimes those memories felt like a lifetime ago, all while his hair continued to grey and the wrinkles grew deeper on his face. There had been a time when her ex once accused her of sleeping with Sheffield for favors. How he came up with such a rumor had only baffled Hannah, yet now she had to wonder what if she did make such a decision? Taking an elevator up to the eighth floor, Hannah crossed her arms over her busty chest while standing there by herself. The walls of the elevator were painted black, fitting with only a metal safety bar shining in metallic silver.
Richard's office was away from the typical cubicle offices, as he had now since retired as a working agent and taken his position further up the corporate ladder. Hannah had made the assumption that he had to be mentoring some younger agent as his successor. That was just the kind of man he was, from all her observations over the years. While he had a family, Hannah was given the impression that Richard cared about his legacy to some extent within his line of work. Her boyfriend was once in the position where the man could have properly mentored him, but that became a lost opportunity. Hannah could easily guess that with this new job, he would be looking for a new agent he could mentor. Last night Richard had called her and asked her to visit his office for a Tuesday afternoon visit. Her eyes scanned the white walls down a series of hallways. Stomping her heels across the marble floor, Hannah passed by several people.
Each office door was black with a tinted mosaic white tile across the front that offered a dim view of what could be happening in the room. Each name was engraved on a gold plate directly below that blurry window. When Hannah reached Richard's office, she could see a shadow move from within the room. This was enough for her to see he already had company upon her arrival. Who could the person be? It was easy to take guesses but before she decided to knock on the door, Hannah's curiosity sparked. The hallway was empty apart from any other person, so she took it upon herself to quietly shove her right ear up to the door. Richard's old voice was only brief. It became impossible to make out any words from him, all through the door itself. This was a waste of time, Hannah thought to herself. Rather than trying to eavesdrop, she stood back up and raised her hand to knock on the door.
"That must be her. Come on in, Hannah!"
An all too familiar voice called out her name, causing Hannah to softly giggle before clutching the metal doorknob. She twisted it, opening the door and stepping inside. Her eyes were immediately greeted by Richard's other guest in the room stood across from the desk. A tall man in a black pinstriped suit with a shiny red tie. His face was clean shaved with slicked back dark brown hair. He offered a friendly smile while the door quietly shut behind her. Richard was standing in his white shirt, evidently taking his jacket off earlier before her arrival.
"How are you doing today, Hannah?"
The older man offered a smile and stepped around to place his hand on her shoulder. Smiling back at Richard, she flashed her full pearly white teeth and nodded before replying.
"I'm doing fine today, thank you."
"Hannah, this is Jeffrey Odomes."
His hand extended, welcoming her to shake it. His dark brown eyes glared back at her. Hannah offered a smile to the man, noticing that he had to be close to her age.
"Please call me, Jeff. I've heard a lot about you from Mr. Sheffield, it's good to finally be meeting you."
"I hope what you've heard has been all positive."
Richard began to laugh.
"If there were any bad stories to tell this man about you dear, believe me, I'd have to think hard to remember them. Hannah knows how to avoid trouble, that's for sure."
The old man's words made Hannah blush for a moment. Jeff's eyes studied her face, all before Richard began to speak again and took their attention.
"Mr. Odomes here is an agent in the company. He's looking for someone to represent and that's why I called you here today."
Smiling back at him, Hannah's easy guess was correct. There was no need to brag, but she felt satisfied that she could read this situation easily.
"He's looking for a model to represent. Someone that he can get to work in the fashion lines. That's why I called you up, I've recommended you to him."
Before Hannah had a chance to reply, Jeff spoke.
"Mr. Sheffield here tells me that you're one of his best models he had back in L.A. You're not one who likes to get into trouble and waste money playing P.R. games."
Giggling again, Hannah knew from that choice of words, Jeff had to be referring to the last model he worked for. She was eager to learn what this drama was, but business had to come first. Placing her hands on her hips, she smiled back at him, almost smugly.
