Irene at the media. This chapter is dedicated to jayclassic62. Happy birthday girl 😻

IRENE

Seated in the exquisite limousine with Desmond by my right hand side being all lovey dovey with his girlfriend Ayomide and Eugenia by my left hand side going through my email from the tablet given to her for business.

It was Friday night and we just landed minutes ago. The week went well, I had no other encounters with Theodore. Just a few stares he sent my way and the glares I sent his way and I was content. A limousine was sent to pick us up from the airport and drive us to our assigned hotel. It was the biggest in Lagos and one of the biggest in the country. That was were my shoot would be taking place the following day.

The forty-five minute flight from Abuja was not as tiring as it should have been owing to the fact that we were used to it. Most of my projects were in Lagos and I flew from Abuja from time to time.

Mum had suggested I moved to Lagos but my memories in Abuja would not let me leave and I was fine with flying over whenever I wanted to.

Desmond's chuckle got me peeping into his phone. He was still on call with Mide but I couldn't hear a thing she said because he had on his air pods.

Desmond and I had always gone with each other to our work stations. It was a tradition we had started years ago and still stuck with it. We only went against it once in a while when we both happened to be occupied.

The vehicle came to a halt and I took a quick glance at the building before us through the tinted glasses of the limo. 'Welcome to Imperial Hotel and Suites'
was boldly written across the large pillars at the top with light of different colours causing it to glister so much. The sight was beautiful. I couldn't help but take my time to look around the vast compound from where I was seated in the limo.

The door was opened for us by one of the bodyguards we took around when we had to work.

We got down and we were greeted by the flashing of cameras and the roaming around of paparazzi that wanted a minute or two with Desmond and I. The bodyguards successfully helped us inside the hotel blocking out the paparazzi.

At the reception, the receptionist handed us a key and one of the workers led us to our suite taking the elevator and two others helped with our luggage. Desmond was done with his call and was just typing away on his phone.

"Zion and Kiki are sending their regardsregards." he said as soon as we stepped out of the elevator. I nodded my head in acknowledgement. We were on the seventh floor. The worker showed us to our suite and opened it for us using a key card. As soon as we got in, he handed the key card to us, took a curt bow and left the other two repeated his actions when they dropped our luggage.

Our presidential suite had two vast bedrooms with adjoined bathrooms, a large living room, an enormous dining hall and an exquisite kitchen area. It also had a pool and a miniature study. They really did pick out the best of rooms for us.

After putting things in order, We decided Eugenia would take a room while Desmond and I take the other.
After a warm refreshing bath, I slipped into my pajamas and put on my hair bonnet. I stepped into my blue fluffy slippers and walked to the window. The sight from there was wow. I could almost see the entire island. I stood there for a while watched the movement of vehicles that almost seemed invincible, their headlights giving them life.

The city was full of life. After all, it was a Friday night. I also watched the twinkling of stars and my mind drifted to back in the days when my dad and I would sit and stare at the night sky singing twinkle twinkle, little star.

I felt a presence beside me and turned to see Desmond standing beside me staring at the night sky too.
His neatly trimmed hair was wet, an indication that he was fresh from the shower. A drop of water from his hair made its way to the bridge of his nose.
Mide was indeed lucky to have someone like Desmond as her boyfriend.

We stood there beside each other watching the twinkling of stars in the night sky silence our only witness.

•••••

I was up as early as five am the next morning. The shoot was to begin by nine am. After a well deserved breakfast, we made our way downstairs taking the elevator as the venue for the shoot was on the ground floor.

Walking into the vast area where the media men were setting up, I saw other people discussing and laughing about a thing or the other. They seemed to be the assisting models.

I took calculated steps to the managers table and sat right in front of the unsuspecting middle aged man.

He beamed as soon as he sighted me. "Irene. Isn't it rather too early to be out here." he said glancing at the wall clock behind him. It read six forty five am. "It's good to be punctual." I shrugged.

"Where is the other model?" I asked.
"She'll be here so... Oh, there she is." his face brightened again and I traced his stare to Desmond. There were two girls beside Desmond. I squinted a bit as they walked towards us. A frown etched my brows as soon as I realized who it was. Uzoamaka Edogo!

I had met her at Desmond party in April and I didn't like her one bit. She was an aspiring model then but now she was fully in the industry. "Her?" I asked with a disgusted look.

"Yeah." the manager answered and greeted Uzo and the other lady beside her who I concluded was her sister as there was slight resemblance between them.

"Are you kidding me?" I flared up. "I'm a supermodel, an award winning model. One of the very best in Africa and I'll be working with her." I ended my statement writing her off with my eyes and words.

"What's wrong with her?" The manager asked confusion evident on his face. "Are you seriously asking me that? Couldn't you at least have given Shade Onam or Chimdi Gentry the contract? Do you even know my net worth?" Shade Onam and Chimdi Gentry were other teen supermodels like me and were also very famous. I was enraged.

"But she..."

"You know what?" I started cutting the Manager short. "I'm out of here." I deadpanned and walked out of the hall awards of the stares I got as the other people present watched the entire scene.

I walked and walked and walked and only stopped when I got to the door of our suite. I made to open it but realized the key card was with Desmond. I walked to the end of the hallway and at a corner, I saw a balcony which I gladly walked to and watched the bustling on the busy streets.

I stood there for a while soaking myself in the comforting silence with the distance sound of blaring horn my sweet disturbance.

I flinched at the feel of a hand clasped around mine. I knew who it was but I didn't look. I felt him staring at me but I didn't budge.

"Irene." he finally called. I still didn't turn. "Hey, look at me." he said tilting my my chin to face him and my entire body followed suit. "If you're going to tell me how wrong it was of me to act like I did downstairs then just go away."

"Oh Irene, you and I have been best friends for almost eight years." he paused and rested his arms on the silver railings. "I understand you. You feel insulted being paired with her but do you know how she would feel?" he paused again and turned to stare at me. "When you got into the industry nine years ago, you did work with really famous people didn't you?" I nodded and he took that as a cue to continue. "They didn't behave like you just did. Just because you're famous today doesn't mean Amaka wouldn't be more famous tomorrow. Your actions today will speak for you tomorrow. So one thing I'll tell you is to go back downstairs and do the shoot." He said and I looked away. I didn't want to apologize to anyone neither did I want to do the shoot with Uzo.

"So?" Desmond's voice came out and I sighed. "I'll do it." I said and he smiled taking my hand in his as we made our way to the elevator and down the stairs.

•••••
Seated in a bright room with Uzo beside me, the makeup artists did finishing touches to our faces as I typed away on my phone.

I opened a post Osaze dropped few hours ago. It was a picture she had taken during the week. She probably hadn't had the time to post it. I liked the post and continued scrolling.

All my friends had a good amount of followers. All ranging in hundreds of thousands. Perks of being friends with Irene and Desmond.

"Irene." I looked up to locate the voice that called out my name. "I'm done with you." The younger looking make up artist said. I nodded at her. Looking away from her, my eyes caught the silver neck piece Uzo wore. It looked really nice and I couldn't help but ask questions. "How much did you get it?" I asked.

It took a while for her to realize I was referring to her. "Huh?"
"The neckpiece." I said. "How much?"
"Oh, my boyfriend got it for me." She replied and I nodded not wanting to ask anymore questions.

I was aware that her boyfriend was shot months ago and had to relocate. It all happened on Desmond's birthday. "It's pretty." I said to her.
She paused for a while as if shocked at my compliment. "Oh thanks." she said.

Minutes later, we were about to start the commercial going through our lines. "Alright let's begin." The director instructed.

"Action!" He called and we began.

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Here's another chapter!
What do y'all think about this chapter?

I mentioned Shade onam from Those little things by lovetori_xo and Chimdi Gentry from 'Deeper' by sawvvy.

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Word count: 1760