Dedicated to S. M. because I live for your comments. Thankyou so much for the support!
~
The Welcome Dinner was a formal event held in the gallery of a nearby hotel, The Redbury. Due to the large capacity of famous patrons arriving, photographers were stationed outside of the venue in large groups.
Tonight had been the night where models could meet the designers, editors and sponsors for this year's event. Whilst it wasn't customary to attend, it was a great way to engage in conversation for future prospects.
For the models, it was a formal evening where the hope for future opportunities was embedded in our mannerisms. However, for Jack, it was an under-the-table business meeting.
Jack was in New York to meet a number of potential clients he wished to work with and hence, accompanied our group along tonight to get a foot in the door with rising designers.
We began getting ready an hour prior to the event. As I fastened my tie around my neck, I tried to ignore the thick tension in the room.
I was currently in the bathroom, making a mess of my tie in the small and humid space whilst Jack sat on his bed, fixing his cufflinks into place.
I sighed as I stared at myself in the mirror again, the tie knotted and a tangled in my hands. Why was it so complicated to do something so simple?
"This cannot be human," I said to myself as I stared at the atrocity around my neck. "It's not even possible to mess something up this bad."
"Need a hand?"
I nearly jumped out of my skin as I turned to face the doorway. Jack was leaning in the frame, arms crossed over his chest as he stared at my tie.
I blushed. "N-no, I've got it."
"We'll be an hour late for the dinner by the time you've gotten that right." Jack walked over to me, poising his hands near my shoulders. "May I?"
"Sure." I sighed in defeat, dropping my hands to my sides.
Jack took the tie in his hands and began unknotting it, looping it easily until it sat neatly around my neck.
"There." he announced, stepping back. "Now you're ready."
"You make it look so easy." I mumbled, not bothering to hide my inner frustration.
Jack chuckled. "Maybe you just over-complicate things."
I looked up and saw Jack's eyes twinkling in humour. For a moment I could've sworn I saw a flash of the old Jack there. The Jack that I loved to joke around with and tease about his perfectionist ways.
My Jack. Not this shell of a man who was afraid to let himself love.
Noticing I was staring, Jack cleared his throat awkwardly. "Um, Claire came by before. She wants everyone downstairs in ten minutes to go."
I nodded. "Right."
"Yep." Jack said, walking out of the bathroom.
I followed after him, admiring his appearance from behind. It wasn't often you got to see Jack dressed formally and decked out in his navy blue suit with neatly-styled waves. I couldn't help but feel my knees weaken.
After spraying on a hint of cologne and fastening my watch around my wrist, I followed Jack out the door and we made our way to the lobby. The elevator ride was just as awkward as the moment in the bathroom had been.
A car was waiting for us when we arrived downstairs. Claire ushered everyone inside and then we were on our way. After nearly thirty minutes of being submerged in traffic, we made it to the venue.
Claire squeezed my shoulder as the valet opened the car door at the entrance. "There's going to be a lot of reps from different magazines here tonight." she said. "Even if you do get re-contracted for next year, it wouldn't hurt to look out for potential career opportunities. Just keep an open mind, okay?"
The thought hit me hard. Next year I could be at a different company. I would be away from-
"Okay." I nodded, and climbed out of the car.
Flashes blinded my visions as my name was shouted across the vestibule. Photographers lined the entryway, paired with the select group of reporters that were documenting the event. I did my best to slip by discreetly with my group.
We were led into the hotel's gallery by a man working the event. Ushering us through the lobby, we entered a dimly-lit room adorned with round, white tables.
I didn't realise I was holding my breath until I let it out. Between the decor, the guests and the atmosphere, the scene before me was so surreal.
This was everything I had ever worked for coming true right before my eyes. I had attended fashion shows in the past but nothing spoke of true success like Fashion Week. Being asked to walk in designers' shows was an honour of the highest calibre.
Our group spread out almost immediately. Serena and Brendon went to greet a handful of editors they had worked with in the past, as did the others. Jack disappeared soon afterwards, leaving me on my own.
"Troye," Claire called me over to where she was standing. "There's someone I'd like you to meet."
I went over to the director and followed her to the other side of the room where a man in a dark suit stood talking to a few people.
His back was turned to us. Claire said, "Charles." and he turned around.
The man's smile was dazzling, dipped in charm and radiant with success. He was dressed in a claret Roberto Cavalli and his Rolex sparkles in the golden lighting; his presence sent a shudder down my spine.
"Troye, this is Charles Worth." Claire smiled, gesturing to the man before her. "He owns Gentry Model Management, the English company. He's just opened offices in Los Angeles and New York."
I offered my hand to the company head. "It's a pleasure to meet you, Mr Worth."
"Troye Evans," Charles smiles warmly, turning to my director with a wink. "You always did have an eye for the charming ones, Claire." The man turned back to me. "But there is no need for the pleasantries. Please, call me Charles."
My eyes widened in surprise. "You know me?"
The man laughed. "Gentry has been following your work for some time, Mr Evans. Your lovely director here even generously sent us a copy of your portfolio. It is quite impressive, I must say."
My gaze snapped to Claire. "You did?"
My director smiles. "Mr Worth is quite a fan of your work, Troye. He was quite honoured to have received access to your portfolio."
"You were?" I looked back to Gentry's owner.
"Indeed," Charles answered warmly. "In fact, I would love to sit down with you to discuss contracting you to my company."
I stepped back, shocked. "You want to scout me?"
"It is my understanding that your contract at your current agency ends this year," Charles says. "It would be my honour if you gave me an hour of your time to draw up a new contract with my company. That is, if you wish."
"Wow," I breathe. "I, um..."
"You don't have to give me an answer right now," Charles says politely. He takes a business card out of his blazer pocket. "This is my personal cell and email. Feel free to call me when you've made up your mind."
His eyes twinkle. "Don't wait too long, though. I never waste a chance on a pretty face."
Bending slightly, he lifts Claire's hand to kiss it sweetly. "Claire," he says with a tender smile. "Always a pleasure."
"Charles." Claire nods courteously.
Charles steps by me, squeezing my arm gently. "I hope to hear from you soon, Troye." he says, eyes sparkling as he disappears into the crowd.
Once he's gone, I let out a breath I didn't know I was holding. "Wow." I breathe.
Claire watches Charles move about the crowd, earning smiles and laughs every direction he turned. The man attracted attention the way light attracted a moth. It was brilliant and mesmerising all at once.
"He started his company when he was only seventeen," Claire explains. "Now he's in Fortunes 40 under 40, owns a portion of Miami, was formally invited to the Royal Wedding and owns his own fashion empire."
"A big shot, I get it."
Claire turns to me. "You could work for someone like that, Troye. The name Charles Worth on your resume will open so many doors for you. Two year contract, hell even one year contract, and you'll have designers contacting you from every direction."
"I already do," I reminded her. "My name is already big in this industry."
"It could get bigger," Claire entices. "What you have achieved in three years is amazing, absolutely incredible, but there are other roads to consider."
"What about the position you were looking at for me next year?"
"Head of Personnel." Claire nods. "We'll discuss it the following Monday we get back to California. For now, I advise you to keep your options open."
"You say that a lot," I joke. "It's like you don't want me to stay."
Claire squeezes my shoulder. "I've worked with you for a long time, Troye. I've seen you blossom and grow into the model and the person you are today, hardships included. I would hate to lose you at the company, I really would, but we're not the only agency competing for you. With everything you've been through, you deserve to have a happy ending."
I send her a small smile. "Thanks Claire."
"You're welcome. Now go mingle, this is a business dinner after all." she winks, pushing me lightly towards the crowd. With a laugh, I walk off.
***
The evening had gradually moved on from being a formal event to a more relaxed dinner. Having greeted all of the guests within the space of two hours plus eating a three-course meal, I needed a break.
As the guests were starting to get up again, I escaped out to the terrace. Leaning against the rail, I breathe in the cool, night air and bask in the gentle wind.
"Everything okay?"
A voice snaps me out of my thoughts. Looking sharply to the right, I watch as Jack steps closer towards me, shadows falling behind him.
My gaze shifts back to the hotel garden before me. "Look who's finally shown up."
"I'm sorry," Jack says, stopping short of me. "I had some people to greet."
"You couldn't even sit next to me at dinner?"
"I didn't come here to socialise." Jack says.
It was late and after chatting non-stop for the past few hours, I was beginning to tire of the exhausting events.
I nod, moving past Jack to leave. "Okay."
"Troye, wait." Jack grabs my arm. I stare at his hand on my body, frozen in place.
With a sigh, Jack drops his arm by his side and places his hands in his pockets hopelessly. "I thought you wanted to talk."
"I'm tired, Jack." I say honestly. "You're right. I did want to talk but right now-" I sigh, running a hand over my face in defeat. "I just need a break. All I need right now is for this trip to run smoothly."
Jack's look is apologetic. "I don't mean to make things hard for you."
"I know you don't," I say, unable to hide my sadness. "But honestly Jack? I don't know how much longer I can keep this up."
"Keep what up?"
"This." I gesture between us, hopelessness painting my features. "To keep convincing you to love me."
Jack's voice is barely audible. "You don't need to convince me."
"How am I supposed to go and meet another man tomorrow night, when all I want is right in front of me already?"
Jack swallows. "I think it would be in both of our best interest's if you moved on."
"I don't want to move on."
"You should."
"I can't give you what you deserve."
"You promised!" I shout and Jack stares at me with wide eyes, silence falling between us.
I clear my throat. "You promised to help me."
"And on that note-" Jack reaches into his pocket and pulls out a slightly-crumbled piece of paper.
He holds it up in front of me. "-I move to have our agreement terminated immediately."
Slowly, I take the piece of paper from him and stare at it. It was the contract Jack had drawn up weeks ago when he'd first agreed to help me fall in love again. It seemed like a whole different lifetime ago now.
"You can't be serious." I say.
"We've broke-I've broken the terms of the contract." Jack says flatly. "And therefore it no longer serves a purpose."
"So that's it then?" I rip the contract into pieces and throw them back at him. "You're just going to walk away with no real explanation?"
"If you remember correctly, we didn't have to provide a reason for terminating our agreement."
"Oh, bullshit!" I exclaim angrily, the night being the only witness to mine and Jack's growing argument. "Is this really the way you want things to go? What does this mean, Jack?"
"It means," he says. "That we go back in there, hold our heads high and we do our jobs."
My voice was broken. "And for us? You said you loved me."
There was anger and there was pain. There was love and there was sorrow. It was a kaleidoscope of feelings we had never been able to face until now. Watching them pass through my best friend's eyes, I felt utterly hopeless.
Jack lifts his chin, strong and poise as his eyes burn in pique. "There is no us."
He walks back towards the doors to the gallery, pausing at the entrance as he looks back and says, "And it's because of how I feel that there won't ever be."
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