Paul returned after fifteen minutes and sat between Milly and Marcel.
"Have you decided?" Paul asked.
"Well. we can use two themes for each portfolio since I need five. It will be too wasteful to let these other pictures go" Marcel said. Paul thought it was reasonable so he did not give him trouble.
Paul had a hard time choosing and Marcel seemed to have no experience at all so he was of no help. Marcel had never participated in what happened behind the scenes so he was a complete noob when it came to these things.
"Do you have the application forms?" Paul asked once he was almost finished.
"The what?" Marcel asked.
"Don't tell me you were just going to bring the photos to the front desk and leave them right?" Paul asked.
"Big brother, isn't that what I should do?" Marcel asked with wide eyes.
"Who is your big brother? Besides if you don't send an application form what were you expecting to happen when they want to contact you? No phone number, no name, no address. Do you think they'll dream about your information?" Paul asked in frustration.
"Ah," Marcel said when he finally realised the importance of the application form. In this, he should not be blamed either.
Where he was from, no one actually went to the office to submit applications. In fact, he thought he would send it through an email or something. On top of everything, he did not have a phone, nor an address, just his name, so what would happen?
"You finally understand don't you?" Paul said when he saw that Marcel had realised his mistake.
"But big brother, I don't have a phone or an address, at least it's not permanent since I'll be getting kicked out of the orphanage in two weeks, what do I do?" Marcel asked.
"Who is your big brother? If you have no place to live and no phone, how do you expect to pay me for my work? Don't you have money?" Paul asked.
"I do, but I have to find work first right? Why don't I borrow your phone number and studio's address hmm?" Marcel asked sweetly, completely forgetting he was a man.
"Okay, do you know how to use the internet?" Paul asked sarcastically and did not expect the answer he would receive would be a no.
"Come, I'll teach you' Paul said and directed him on how to visit the pages for modelling agencies and downloaded the application forms which he quickly filled and printed before he put them in the portfolios.
"Thank you," Marcel said with a smile again.
"Mmmh," Paul answered plainly.
"Bro, I'll come by tomorrow to check if there's any progress," Marcel said before paying the studio as he was leaving he was stopped by Paul.
"What is it?" Marcel asked.
"Take this, you'll have use for it in the future, I'll keep a copy just in case you lose it," Paul said as he handed him a flash drive.
"Thanks, I'll see you tomorrow, Bye Milly" Marcel said as he waved at the pair before walking out of the studio.
After Marcel walked out the boyish smile on his face disappeared. He had to act his age and not like a 35-year-old woman, it was not easy at all. With a soft sigh, he started walking in the direction of the entertainment district. It would take him more than 90 minutes if he decided to walk there, besides the distance being too long, it was very hot outside. So with Avians directions, he managed to withdraw some money from an ATM and get on a bus.
After thirty minutes he finally arrived and got down at the bus stop. After following the holographic map only she could see he arrived in front of a tall building. He looked at the people who walked in and out of it and looked at the old t-shirt and the washed-out jeans he was wearing and he knew he would get kicked out without a doubt.
After standing there for a while, he had managed to catch people's attention without meaning to. After he realised that a lot of people noticed him he hesitated as to whether he should go inside or just leave As he was debating with himself he saw an older lady smile in his direction as she came to the spot he was standing.
'Avian, did I really manage to get picked up from the street?' Marcel asked incredulously, however, Avian did not reply to his question.
"Good afternoon' the lady said with a smile.
"Good afternoon," Marcel said and returned her smile which made his face become even more eye-catching.
"My name is Linda, I'm a manager at Ladders," the lady said and extended her hand for a handshake.
"Oh, I'm Marcel," Marcel answered politely.
"Oh, is there something you need in our office?" Linda asked as she gestured for him to follow her.
"Oh, not really, I'll just get going," Marcel said before he started leaving making Linda flustered. She thought he wanted to enter the industry that was why he was standing in front of the building.
"No, wait!" Linda shouted abruptly making Marcel freeze in his tracks. He heard as her heels made contact with the concrete as she walked back towards him.
"Is there some-".
"Do you want to join the industry?" Linda asked.
"What industry?" Marcel asked pretending to be oblivious.
"Entertainment," Linda said.
"Ah, I was actually just looking to find a part-time modelling job for a while since I've recently had an emergency" Marcel answer.
"So you're interested?" Linda asked.
"Isn't modelling fashion? How is it entertainment?" Marcel asked blinking his eyes innocently.
"I can make you a very popular singer in a year," Linda said with confidence. Her company was planning on debuting a boy group but they did not have enough members.
"Heh, but I need money now, I'm sorry for bothering you," Marcel said and turned to leave again. This time his hand was grabbed and action that made him reflexively pull it back strongly almost tripping the lady.
"Fine, we'll give you money-"
"Being a singer is too much work, I can't afford to be one because of my current circumstances. If the opportunity comes up later I'll probably take it, but the training I'll have to do together with taking care of my young brother will be too much. I won't sign up for what could end in failure" Marcel explained.
"Okay then, what about we take you in as a model then later in the year you can debut as a musician how is that?" Linda asked.
Honestly Marcel could end up being very famous through music the problem was that he would rather do it as a hobby. Musicians had more obsessive fans compared to any other profession in the entertainment industry. It was easy to manage where he was from but at this time he was certain it would make trouble and inconvenience him tremendously.
"Do you have your application?" Linda asked in a resigned manner when he saw the disinterest in Marcel's eyes. If she couldn't bring him in as an idol then even as a model he will still benefit the company.
When Marcel heard this he happily handed her his portfolio.
"If your interested in working with me you can contact me," Marcel said and left after giving a small wave. Linda felt weird like she had been played, but she was not sure when this had happened.
Marcel was not lucky enough to meet agents at the other four agencies he visited so he just directly submitted his portfolio.
The last company he walked out of was the largest and most influential one but before he left he heard someone shout his name. When he turned around he saw that it was the reception desk and there was a young woman standing there. She looked like she was about twenty years old and she was sucking on a lollipop.
"Hey! Marcel is it? Come here" the lady ordered casually. She was reasonably famous but unfortunately for her, Marcel did not recognise her. He wouldn't recognise the most popular person in the industry if they were standing in front of him, much less her.
Marcel turned around in amusement but did not make any moves of following her orders and instead folded his arms and directly looked at her. If she needed something she should come to me.
"Don't you know who I am?" the lady asked.
"Does it look like I know you? If there is nothing else then-" Marcel left the sentence hanging indicating that he would not indulge her.
"No wait," the girl said loudly and quickly walked towards him in the ridiculously high heels she was wearing. When Marcel saw her shoes he remembered how he died and the expression on his face became unpleasant suddenly.
"What do you want?" Marcel asked once she was close enough.
"I'm Sherry, I need you for my shoot, can you make time for it?" the girl asked.
"Shoot? Are you a model?" Marcel asked.
"No, I'm filming a music video, I'm looking for a male character to play alongside me" the girl explained her attitude changing. She knew even if her song was not good, having Marcel take part in her video will increase views.
"Ah? How much are you offering?" Marcel asked but the girl was not good at negotiations and could only rely on her manager to explain.
"So you want me to work for peanuts? Forget it. If you change your mind let me know by tomorrow or else I might be poached by the other four companies. Marcel said and left the building with a smirk on his face.
Sherina was slightly dazed but after seeing him she was even more determined to have him take part in her music video.
"If the company doesn't want him I'll pay him myself. Give him whatever he asks for" Sherry instructed before she gracefully strutted out of the building.
Marcel has gotten a gig before he was even signed... hehe..
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