Chapter 18: PROFESSIONALISM

" What's this? " I asked Sam. I studied the ID he slid down the table to me. He missed and I had to pick it up from the floor. It had my name and the word ' PASS ' boldly written under it.

" A pass card " he responded taking a sip from the bottle of water on his table.

" I can see that, but what do I want to use it for? " Allowing my mouth to take the lead, I felt like I was treading on thin ice or my life was depending on a thread.

" To be allowed into the venue for the event "

" What event? " I narrowed my eyes knowing there will be a catch. Sam wasn't one to beat around the bush. He was direct and just come out to say it immediately.

" The seminar " still not fully explaining what it's about.

" Sam, just outrightly tell me what it is? " I asked getting Impatient.

" Haven't you heard about the seminar? Everyone has been talking about it, how could you have missed that? Oh wait, you were barely at work " Yes he was still angry. Why can't he just let this one go? It wasn't like I decided not to come to work most of the time, just a few days. Days that I coincidentally had Important things to do. I only cancel because what I have to do outside work was equally as Important.

" Don't want to let it go? Plus, I heard about the seminar but I don't think it concerns me "

" Why would you think that? As an employee of this agency, the affairs of the agency concerns you, does it not? Nobody is above that, not even one of our best models " Sam was getting all serious on me and that was scary. On the bright side, he called me one of the best models. He never admitted that and treats me like every other person here. Normally, I would hold on to the word and rub it in his face but I didn't think today was the right day for that.

" That's not what I was trying to Imply. "

" Oh, ok so what were you trying to Imply ?" He made air quotes when saying the word Imply.

" Well, these so-called seminars happen once in a year and it's for the noob model. I'm not new at this so I don't see why I should attend " I saw no reason why he should give me a pass card, indirectly saying I ought to attend. I attended one when I first became a model, it was all about the ethics and rules of modeling, the dos, and don'ts. Five hours of torture and boredom. No electronics were allowed in there and we stared at the face of the speaker, with prompt attention.

" Noob you say? "

" Yes, amateurs " Like people with zero experience about what kind of job they were about to start.

" So, the agency's policy strictly says ' The seminar is for new models only ' that's what you're trying to explain Jeremy? " He sipped on his water again. It seems that was the dramatic pause for this climatic scene.

" Affirmative " I flashed him the brightest of my smiles. Why are you acting so weird? I wanted to ask but it felt as if he was yet to drop the bombshell. One that will make me want to pull my hair out.

" Ok sir, give me a second " Sam walked out of his office giving me few seconds to ponder over his weirdness. Wait, did he just call me sir?

It didn't take him long to return, he looked oddly satisfied. He was holding a book and threw it onto my lap, taking his seat across me.

" Ouch "

" Not like the book can hurt you. Now read it, and tell me why it says about annual seminars "

The book didn't weigh much, I was sure I had a copy. Everyone who worked here did, it was the policy book for the agency. I swore to Sam I read it, but the truth was that I never even got past page 5. My lies were about to haunt me.

" Read it? like right here? "

" Affirmative " he smugly replied, using my previous word.

" Ok, I guess " I was puzzled, not stupid. There was no way I would read the entire book and I don't think Sam was expecting that either. So I skimmed through the pages, flipping through until I found the section about seminars.

It said: ' Annual professionalism seminars happen every year, just as the name points out. It's for new models, those recently hired who don't understand how things work. '

I raised an eyebrow " What exactly am I looking for? it says what I said before. Except for the professionalism part, I didn't know that's what they called it "

" Just keep reading " he removed the cock from his bottle of water and gulped down its content. That bottle was starting to get on my last nerves.

" I didn't come to work to read today " I came to do more Important things, just as you wanted.

Sighing, I continued. ' The seminar is also for employees who are out of line and needs to be reminded about professionalism '. The last sentence there.

I widened my eyes " You must be kidding me? I can't attend this, I'm not out of line and I know about professionalism. It's for newbies. This is not fair Sam " I argued. I should have seen this coming, I definitely want to pull my hair out. Why can't he just let it go for crying out loud?

" I am not supposed to be attending this, I have been here way too long to be treated like a stranger "

" But clearly, that's not what the rule book says"he had a fair point.

" Sam this is an abuse of power "

" I will give you Natasha's passcard before you leave today, give it to her. I hope you still remember how to use yours " Ignoring my complaints, he left me to be angry over what had just happened. I curled my hands into a ball and my eyes trailed after him.

I walked into his office this morning, hoping he would have forgiven me but I can always rely on him to be a royal pain in the ass.