19. Payton
CHAPTER 19
Payton
I ’ve started browsing for baby stuff already. I know, I’m early, but I’m almost six weeks along. It’s scary to think that I have a baby growing inside me already, but I’m overjoyed at the thought, and I can’t wait to meet my little bean.
I still haven’t told Silas yet. I hate keeping it from him, especially as he knows that I’m different. I’m unable to contain my happiness, and I’ve not stopped smiling since I found out the news. Well, once I got over the initial shock.
I’ve gotten to see my bean already, I had a checkup with a private clinic, and they assured me that everything was right on track and the baby was progressing well. I have honestly never been more relieved in my life.
My hand moves to my stomach, something that it’s been doing a lot recently, and I can’t help but imagine what bean is going to look like. I imagine her, yes, her, a mixture of Silas and I. My long brown hair, and his beautiful green eyes. She’s definitely going to be the apple of her father’s eye.
The protective way Silas is with me, I can only imagine how he’s going to be with our baby. And I’m looking forward to seeing the man that I love become a father to my child.
I’ve decided that I’ll move base, instead of living in New York, I’ll finally buy a house and settle in Seattle with Silas. It’s what I’ve always wanted, as much as Dahlia thinks that I didn’t have dreams back when I was sixteen, I did. My dream was to marry the man I love and have his children. I guess I didn’t lose that dream.
It’s going to be hard being away from Bianca, especially after we’ve been living together for so long, but it’ll be good to be close to my family again. They’ll only be a two-hour drive from me. I think it’s the best decision for us all. Maybe, just maybe, I can tempt Bianca to move with me.
“Pay, we have to go, Jerald’s waiting,” she tells me, pulling me from my thoughts. I reach for my purse and follow her out of the apartment. She sees the way my hand is gently caressing my stomach and smiles. She’s the only one that knows about the baby, as my best friend, and roommate, there’s no way that I could have ever kept it from her. Besides, I was bursting at the seams to tell someone, and I want, no need to tell Silas face to face. He deserves that.
Fifteen minutes later, I’m walking into the lobby of one of New York’s most exclusive hotels.
“Ah, Payton,” Jerald says with a smile as he kisses my cheek. “Come, follow me,” he instructs, and I dutifully follow him as he walks toward the hotel’s restaurant. “No Bee?”
I roll my eyes, he always says that we’re joined at the hip. We are, but we also do things alone too. “She’s shopping.” Bianca has an obsession with handbags and shoes; I’m pretty sure she has a full storage unit dedicated to them. When we finally settle down somewhere, she’s going to need to buy two houses, one of those just for her possessions.
He shakes his head. “It’s a good thing that you don’t like to shop, I’d hate to see what your apartment would look like.” We take a seat, “Would you like something to eat?”
I give him a grateful smile, whenever we have meetings, or he sees us, he always makes sure that we’ve eaten. It’s one of the many reasons that Dahlia adores him. “No, thank you, but I wouldn't turn down a cup of tea.” I usually drink coffee, but since I found out that I’m pregnant, I’ve turned to drinking tea.
He orders a coffee for himself and tea for me, when the server brings them down to us, he gets down to business. “I had a very surprising call about you six weeks ago.”
I raise my brows as I bring my cup to my lips, six weeks ago?
“I’m your agent for Global Model Management. Saying that, you and Bianca are more like my family. You girls have treated me like a father, and honestly, I see you as my daughters. So this call I got was a surprise, and I had to do a little digging as well as trying to figure out what to do next if you decided this was something you’d want to do.”
I’m so confused. “Jerald, what are you talking about?”
He chuckles softly, “I’ve started a new company, McAndrews Management. I’m not just a modelling agent, I’m an agent to movie stars, sport stars, and anyone else who needs me.”
I nod. “Okay, so you’re branching out. That’s good, you’re a great agent and manager.”
He gives me a soft smile, the one he only reserves when we’re not talking about business. “Thank you.” He grins as he drinks his coffee, “The phone call I received was from Kelvin Matthews.”
My breath catches in my lungs, and I’m thankful that I hadn’t had any drink in my mouth, I'd have spat it out. Kelvin Matthews? As in the freaking movie star? The amazing director Kelvin Matthews?
“Uh huh, thought that may make you speechless. Kelvin wants you to star in his new movie.”
I roll my eyes. “Yeah sure.” Why on earth would a talented director want me, someone who hasn’t ever had an acting class in my life, nor have I done any acting. I’m a model for cripes sake, one that stumbled into this world purely by accident.
“Payton, I’m being serious. He wants you to fly out and audition. What do you say?”
“Seriously?”
Jerald nods. “Seriously, Pay. This is a career change, but one that could be life changing.”
I’m stunned.
“I’m not sure they’re going to want me,” I admit, I haven’t told Jerald about the baby, and I hadn’t planned on, but this job opportunity is amazing, and I doubt they’ll want a pregnant woman filming.
He frowns. “What the hell are you talking about?”
“I’m pregnant, Jerald.”
His eyes light up, and he smiles widely. “Congratulations,” he whispers, his hand coming across the table and squeezing my hand. “Now it all makes sense. You’ve been so tired lately, I had thought you were staying up late talking to your boyfriend.”
I blush because that’s exactly what I’ve been doing. “I’m not sure they’ll want a pregnant woman in the movie,” I tell him and instantly feel crushed. I haven’t got the job, never thought about having it, and yet I feel as though I’ve lost something.
“I’ll talk to Kelvin, but I’d still go for the audition. How far along are you?”
I shake my head. “Not even six weeks yet.”
His eyes glint. “Then no one needs to know yet.”
I sigh, God, he’s giving me hope when there really shouldn’t be any.
“Pay, I suggest flying back to Seattle and auditioning. The movie is actually being shot in Seattle, so you’ll be close to your family and Silas. There’s no harm in trying it, if you don’t like it, then no harm, no foul. But you may just surprise yourself.”
He’s right. Jerald has never steered me wrong before, and I trust him. “When is the audition?”
He smiles. “You have three days to prepare.”
I narrow my eyes at him. “You don’t give me much time, do you?”
He smiles. “No, but you’re extremely talented, Payton. You’re going to knock their socks off. Just try to have fun.”
I nod. “Thank you.” I still can’t believe the confidence the man has in me, he’s always believed in me.
“Now, go find Bee and make sure she’s not bankrupting herself. I’ll talk to you soon, and take it easy.”
I laugh, “Easy, I’m flying to Seattle, then to France. How is that taking it easy?”
He smiles wider. “You could be going somewhere new each week.”
I get to my feet as I shake my head, I quickly bend and kiss his cheek. “See you soon, Jerald. Make sure you get some downtime, you’re always so busy.” I don’t think the man’s had a vacation in years.
“Go,” he tells me as he waves his hand. I’m dismissed, but his voice is soft, and I know that he’s happy for me.
Kelvin Matthews is even hotter in real life. The man is sexy as hell but also really sweet. He put me at ease instantly. I was star-struck when I arrived and shook his hand, but thankfully, I pulled out of that quickly and managed to have a normal conversation with him without looking like a simpering fool.
“Payton, this is Darryl, he’s auditioning for the male lead,” Ethan tells me, he’s the assistant producer. “Don’t be nervous, you’re going to do fine.”
I smile at him, he thinks this look is due to nerves. It’s not. I’ve thrown up three times since I’ve been here, and it’s nothing to do with nerves. This baby is killing me right now. I’m just glad that I grabbed some ginger ale before coming here. It’s managed to finally settle my stomach.
Darryl and I go through our lines, I try to get them down perfectly. I’ve got the same feeling I had when I first started modelling. The excitement, the nerves, the hopefulness. It’s funny that you never know what you want until you push yourself to it.
When it’s time to finally audition, I’m a bag of nerves.
“Payton, relax, we just want to see what you’ve got, okay?” Kelvin says softly, and I nod, his voice is calming, and I start to lose the fear that creeped up inside.
I go through the scenes that they had us audition for, and it’s exhilarating. I’ve never felt a rush like it before. The more we run through the scenes, the more I realize just how much I enjoy doing this.
“Payton?” Kelvin calls just as I’m about to leave. I turn at his voice and see that we’re alone. I start to worry, did I mess up somehow? “You did a great job.”
Relief washes through me, “Thank you.”
He nods, “I’d take your agent up on his proposal, it’ll be good for you and your career,” he says cryptically with a smile as he turns and leaves.
When I get outside, my cell rings, and I glance down and see that it’s Jerald. “Lucky timing,” I tell him as I walk down the street toward the waiting car.
He laughs, “There’s no such thing.”
I roll my eyes as I climb into the car. “So, this proposition?” I ask once I’m seated.
He chuckles, “Smart as always,” he comments. “Remember the conversation we had the other day about how I started my own management company.”
“Yes,” I say, wondering what the hell he’s getting at.
“Well I’d like it if you would be my first client.” He sounds nervous, “I’ll be asking Bianca too. But I know that if you’re on board, then she is too. Both of your contracts run out at the end of this month. Its perfect timing.”
I smile, “Like you even have to ask. I’ll go wherever you go. You’re my agent, Jerald, it doesn’t matter what company you work for.”
He coughs slightly, and I know that he’s close to tears, behind the gruff exterior, he’s a big softy. “I’ve got to go, I’ve a call coming in on the other line.” His voice is louder this time, “Seems like you made a good impression. Try to get some sleep on the plane, Payton. You’re going to need the rest.”
I have my fingers crossed that he’s right, that I did make a good impression on the directors. So much is changing, and I’m ready to embrace it all.
I can’t wait to tell Silas everything.