Janessa the Model Pt. 3

When I woke, I didn't recognize my surroundings. I sat up quickly banging my head on the edge of the office desk next to me.

F*cking great. I'll have a huge bump with a bruise for my photo shoot in three days. I hoped Luca had staff who used editing software. Either that, or I'd have to cancel. Make-up can't make a lump disappear. 

I decided to get up and wander around the top floor. I wondered what company was moving in. As I traveled down the hallways, I saw that there were two other rooms. I walked through the half-built gym with its ergonomic padded floor, by the full wall of mirrors, then beyond to a locker room.

Excitedly, I raced to the showers to see if they were on. The water was running! I checked if there were any towels nearby and as my luck would have it, they were stocked. I clasped my hands together in thanks.

In every shower stall there were shampoos and soaps. I couldn't believe it. I hopped in and scrubbed myself, joyfully. After I'd washed my hair, I rinsed and turned everything off. I was out and toweling myself off when I heard a noise.

I crouched down behind a bench in the dimly lit locker room. I tried listening as well as I could, but my heart was pounding in my ears. When I saw the shadow approaching, I was terrified. Could this be a security guard?

My braided hair was on my suitcase, both of which were conspicuous. I was cursing myself for thinking this would be a good idea. I watched as a tall figure crossed by the locker room door. As he glanced in and out of each room, I was shaking harder.

When he arrived at the locker room door, I watched his fingers feel around for control of the lights. The switches flicked on and off but thankfully, they weren't working. When I saw him walk in, I could tell it was Luca. I held my breath as he ventured closer. 

"Who's there?" I heard him ask. As he walked a few more steps in, he scanned the shower, noting the dripping, then twisting the handles. He shook the water off his hands and continued. He was nearly on top of me now. 

"Show yourself!"

I had to tell him. I was caught anyway.

"It's me," I meekly admitted.

"Janessa?" Luca said with a gasp. I nodded. "What's ... Why?" He couldn't find the words.

"I don't have a place to stay," I confessed. "Chase and I divorced yesterday. He locked me out of my bank accounts. All I have is what is in my suitcase."

"Oh, Janessa I'm sorry," he said, exhaling. "But divorced yesterday? Was it after the shouting and all?"

"Shortly after that."

Luca averted his eyes from my towel-covered body and asked, "I have a place where you can stay. Would you be comfortable with that?"

"Yes." I sighed, grateful that he offered. "Do you know someone?"

"It's mine. I have an extra room toward the back of my flat. It's just an efficiency but you'd have your own space."

"I don't know," I said, feeling ashamed to be in this position. "Isn't that pushing boundaries too much? I feel like I'd be freeloading."

"It wouldn't be. I'm offerin'. Besides, you won't be there for long. I'll put these photos out there and you'll be flush, straight away."

I thought about it for a minute and realized I didn't have much choice. Chase had robbed me of not only material things, but my dignity. 

"Yes, please. I'd really appreciate that," I said softly, hanging my head in shame.

"Good," he whispered. "Would you like to head over there now?" His voice sounded fatherly as I brought my chin back up and nodded.

"Yeah, I'm kind of a mess."

"Alright, after you, then."

We rode over to his place in Manhattan. It was unassuming but classy. Once we were inside, he introduced me to his roommate Johnny. I nodded to Johnny, noting that he seemed much younger than Luca. Perhaps they were intimately involved.

Somehow, Luca could tell that I didn't want to spend too much time with the pleasantries. He showed me to my room.

I lugged my suitcase in there and set it down. The place only one room except for the small bathroom. The bed was in the back right corner with a bureau next to it. The small kitchen consisted of a small sink and a sliver of space to dry dishes.

"Yeah, so the fridge is full of food but tell me if ya have a cravin' for somethin'." He chuckled, holding his hands together. I could see he was happy to be providing this for me.

"It's great. Thank you, Luca." I smiled. "I feel like I shouldn't though."

"What for?"

"Chase says I need to lose weight. What do you think? I've been wanting to get another professional opinion."

Luca's face was a mixture of melancholy and shock.

"You're barely seven stone. Under one hundred pounds, yeah?"

"Yes."

Again, Luca's face was wrought with emotion.

"I think that's far too small," he said. "You look beautiful, clearly. But you can gain more and still be lovely."

"Thanks for your opinion. I'll be sure to eat," I assured him. He smiled at me, but I could tell he was thinking about it as he stared off into the distance.

"You do that," he said softly then he snapped out of it and said, "I've to get these photos on my computer so we can publish them."

"Okay, Luca."

He left, closing the door. I sat alone in the open room. It was filled with all sorts of photographs of nature and different shots of the city. Some were black and white, others not. They were all well done.

I walked to the refrigerator and glanced at all the magnets on there. It seemed like there was one for every state he'd been to. Nearly all of them in the U.S. and several cities in the UK.

I felt sick after all the drama, but I had to eat. I settled on a turkey sandwich with lettuce, tomatoes, and pickles. He had a wide variety of fruity, healthy drinks there. I grabbed a can of coconut water. 

Once I was finished eating, I washed the dishes in the small sink. The place was cute and sufficient for me at least for now. I turned on the TV and did my best to zone out. 

***

A little while later, I heard a knock on the door. I opened it and stood Luca waving.

"Come in," I said. "What's up?"

"Have a look at this." In his hand he was holding a rectangular piece of paper with vibrant green letters that said, 'Really World.'

"What is this?"

"It's an invitation to go to the Really World showcase. It's over the next three days."

"What's Really World?"

"I think it's a game or a game company. I'm not sure if you're into that or not."

We both looked at one another, curiously. 

"I'm not usually," I said.

"Neither am I," he echoed.

"But I'm into trying it out," I said. 

"Yes, and I feel like we're supposed to be there. Maybe it has a fantastic backdrop for some pictures."

"That would be awesome. Should we go there on Monday?"

"Let's go tomorrow.

"Okay," I said with a smile.

***

When I went to bed, it was strange not having my own mattress ... not to mention living in my boss's home. Shame hit my stomach like a lead balloon. I turned on my side and stared at some of the pictures on the wall. Soon they became blurry through my gathered tears.

My life hurt right now but I wasn't sure if this was the first time. All of this felt so familiar to me. I decided to look at every single photo to get my mind off the pain. As I focused on one of the pictures across the room, I admired the brilliant crimson leaves on the single tree in the middle of a field.

At once I felt dizzy, like someone else joined my body. Then it hit me, and all came back. I remembered everything. All the sims, Chase's game, how many we had to go through. I wanted to tell Luca right away, but it was 11 pm. I hoped he was up because this could not wait.

I carefully took the picture down and walked out the door. Luca was to the left in a side office on his computer. When I came up the stairs and stood in the doorway, he turned to me.

"Oh, hello. Can't sleep? I've just the thing--"

"Look at this picture." I handed it to him. A slight look of confusion crossed his face but then he studied it. After another few seconds he snapped his head up to look at me.

"Janessa! You found it!"

We heard Jimmy mumbling. I leaned closer so we could talk quieter. 

"So do you think that invitation is the way to get out?" I asked. 

"Yeah. We need to go that event," he said. "And eventually make numpty grovel. That's the real point of all of this, ain't it?"

I thought about it for a minute holding my chin. I began to pace. He was right!

"You're a genius Luca!"

"Am I?" he asked, shining his nails on his shirt with a suave smile. 

"Oh, yes! For us to win, it isn't only about escaping. He needs to grovel. Like, in the vampire one, if we didn't hear him beg we'd be on that carriage for eternity."

"Yeah, and if he hadn't done it at the end of the airline one, you'd have most likely drowned."

"Geez, you're right."

"Yeah, we can't have that happen again. What we must do is what Luca the modeling agent would. We must drag Chase's name through the mud and then we must rub his face in it when he comes crawlin' back, yeah?"

"That's exactly it. Let's get those photos out there!"