“That’s great. Come and sit down.” He paused until I sat. “It says you’re five feet eleven?”
“Yes.”
“We’d need to work on your walk before we could put you on a catwalk.”
My heart pounded. Did that mean he was considering me?
He flipped my portfolio shut. “What sort of modelling are you interested in?”
“Anything.” I closed my eyes and took a breath. “What do you think I’d be most suited to?”
He chuckled. “Nice save. Catwalk. High fashion. You’ve got a very distinctive, edgy look. I wouldn’t consider you for catalogue.” He handed me my portfolio. “I’ve got a lot of other candidates to see today.”
My stomach sank. This was the moment when he would thank me and tell me he would be in touch before showing me out of the building.
“But I think you’re what I’m looking for.”
Wait. What? I needed to rewind so I could hear what he’d said again. Had I imagined it?
“Being signed to a modelling agency doesn’t guarantee you work,” he carried on. “Not that I think I’m going to have any problems booking jobs for you, but it’s something to be aware of.”
I nodded like one of those bobblehead dogs you saw on car parcel shelves.
“And you’ll have to be willing to travel, especially to do catwalk work. You could be away from home for a week at a time. Maybe longer.”
I kept nodding. “I’m aware of that, sir.” I resisted the urge to clap my hand over my mouth.
Darius chuckled. “Are you still interested in signing a contract with McKay’s?”
“Yes!” I couldn’t help it. I shrieked the word.
“Excellent. Rose will sort your contract out. You should take it away and read it carefully before signing with us. The offer will be open for a week.” He extended his hand. “It was a pleasure to meet you, Jae.”
I accepted his hand and shook it far too gleefully. “And you, s—Mr Griffiths.”
“Close enough. But try to get used to calling me Darius. Mr Griffiths makes me feel like a teacher.” He shuddered, making me laugh. “Come on.”
He stood and took me through another door into an open-plan office space. Rose sat behind a desk by a window.
“I’m all done with that set of candidates,” Darius told her. “I’m offering Jae here a contract.”
“Right you are.”
He shook my hand again. “We’ll talk soon, Jae. I have a few jobs in mind for you already. Get ready to go to some casting calls after you’ve signed.”
“Yes. Of course. Thank you.”
“And remember, you don’t need to sign the contract today.”
I nodded because I’d lost the ability to speak.
“If you do take it away with you, don’t put it online.”
“No. Of course not. I wouldn’t.”
“I’m looking forward to working with you.” He smiled at me and then turned to Rose.“I’ll see the others out.”
She motioned for me to sit. “Congrats. Let me get a contract ready for you.” She tapped away at her computer for a few minutes.
