14. THE CONTRACT
THE CONTRACT
DIARY ENTRY
So much has happened lately that I’ve decided to keep a journal.
Where do I start? I met a guy. Then lost him. And now, I’ve got him back… sort of.
His crazy-ass father is keeping us apart with threats and manipulation.
Karson’s amazing, but I don’t even know when I’ll see him again. I miss him. But that doesn’t matter because Dad’s life depends on us staying apart.
His father’s a ruthless bastard and will stop at nothing.
It’s kinda hard to stay positive with all this going on… and my contract starts today! Honestly, I just want this nightmare to be over. Then we could go back to how we were before his father went completely unhinged. But we need to wait. I know we can get through this.
Time to get ready!!
Ivy x
IVY
I was happy when I’d woken up that morning, not just because of my contract either. I’d video called with Dad the night before. Sure, he didn’t say anything, but when the support worker held the tablet up, he gave me a beautiful smile. It’d filled me with joy.
Seeing his old smile made me think it was a sign from the universe that he knew, somehow, that I was succeeding in my career and that I’d met someone special.
I stepped out of the shower, dried off, and rubbed in my moisturizer before slipping into my favorite white top and faded Levi’s shorts.
Attempting to stifle a yawn, I ran the comb through my hair. I’d gone to bed early to be at my best for the day, but I’d barely slept at all from excitement. As I smiled to myself in the mirror, a current of energy rushed through me.
I can’t believe it’s happening!
Even though the situation with Karlos was toxic, it wouldn’t sour it for me. “You’ve got this,” I said out loud as I walked into the kitchen. I pulled up a stool as the smell of something delicious wafted my way.
“Hey, Ivy,” Suki and Sass said together. “You’re just in time. Lila’s making banana pancakes. How do you make them again, Sass?”
“Two ingredients. Banana and oats. Well, three if you count the water,” she said, leaning against the countertop with her arms folded. “Mix it together and throw it into a pan. That’s my kind of cooking.” We all chuckled.
“Thanks, Lila, they smell incredible!” I smiled, admiring her new light buzz cut.
“Pleasure. We wanted to do a fun breakfast to celebrate before your big shoot today.” She flipped another pancake.
“Yeah, it’s brilliant. I’m excited for you, Ivy,” Suki added, pressing her hands together in a prayer motion and drawing them up to her face.
“Thanks, girls. I can’t believe it’s happening!” I laughed, clapping my hands together.
Suki’s face turned serious. “And while you’re on the shoot, if you run into that super-hot model from Byron Bay, you HAVE to slip him my number.” She giggled but sounded half-serious.
“I know, right? I’m low-key obsessed with him on Instagram.” Lila grinned sheepishly.
“I hate to burst your bubble, girls, but there are no male models in this campaign.”
“I guess you’re off the hook then,” Suki chuckled.
“Anyway, you’re the best for spoiling me this morning. And I promise I’ll cook dinner this week. Sorry I’ve been so slack lately.”
“No, no.” Sass faced her palm toward me.
“That’s fine, Ivy. Not necessary, seriously.
Given last time you cooked, we had to stage an intervention.
The time before that, you set the fire alarm off, and we ended up ordering takeout anyway!
You just stay out of the kitchen, girl, for all our sakes! ” Sass grinned.
Everyone laughed, and I grimaced at the memory. “I followed the recipe! I literally don’t know what went wrong… so very, very wrong.”
“Hey, guys, come and get it!” Lila said before we sprang into action, carrying plates, cutlery, maple syrup, and a large bowl of fresh blueberries to the table.
We wasted no time finishing. I needed to get going, and the girls had a group shoot for a luxury car advertising campaign.
“Good luck, Ivy. You’re going to kill it, right, Suki?” Olivia asked, flashing her a smile.
“One hundred percent!” said Suki. “Just don’t forget us when you’re at the top.”
“Exactly, or no more pancakes for you,” Lila added, wiggling her finger at me.
“It’s going to be fabulous,” Sass said, her brown eyes shining with excitement. “Have fun.”
“Thanks, Sass, I will,” I replied, a thrill rippling up my spine. “And good luck with your shoot today, girls.” I glanced out the window to see my ride pull up.
I slung my bag over my shoulder, did a quick check that I had everything I needed, and was headed for the door when Sass intercepted me with a flying hug.
“Tell me everything tonight!” she exclaimed, releasing me.
“Try to stop me!” I grinned.
***
I hurried outside and into the back of the Uber.
“Good morning. Park Tower?” the driver asked.
“Yeah, if you can drop me out front, that’d be great.
” I leaned back, staring out of the window, letting myself dream about the future now that I had this career-changing contract.
Those last magical hours with Karson flashed through my mind, until the phone he’d given me pinged, pulling me back into the moment.
KARSON: Morning, beautiful. You’re going to be amazing today! Have fun and go get ’em!
I held my chin high and smiled. There’d been a lot to think about after everything he told me on his surprise visit. Finding out he wasn’t a player or a liar was a game changer.
When he said he loved me, I knew he meant it… I just wished his father wasn’t so crazy!
Focus, Ivy, I told myself sternly as the car slowed to a stop. I sucked in a deep breath as I stared up at the towering building.
Relax, you’ve got this, girl! This is it. Adore Designs. The pinnacle of modeling success. And I was a part of it. This was my new beginning.
With an excited smile, I made my way into the busy foyer, where a tall blonde woman dressed in an expensive-looking pale-blue suit stood waiting. She gave me a quick once-over before striding toward me.
“Ivy Lawrence, yes?” she said frostily, without waiting for a reply. “I’m Veronica, Adore Designs Agency Director.”
“Hi, that’s right, I’m Ivy. It’s good to meet you. I’m excited to get started!”
“You won’t be starting,” she said coolly, her glacial stare sending a chill right through me.
“Excuse me?” I managed. What the hell’s she talking about?
She crossed her arms over her chest and pulled her shoulders back. “It’s come to the panel’s attention that you cheated in the contest. You should not have won this contract. We have information that you stole from another contestant and destroyed her swimwear.”
But that’s between Katarina and Ingrid… it has nothing to do with me! I stared blankly.
Information? What information? It made no sense—
“You inflicted damage on another contestant’s belongings, which prevented her from competing. You are disqualified,” she told me matter-of-factly, as if her words hadn’t just shaken my world.
No, no… I CANNOT lose this contract! “No! That’s not true. None of it is true. You need to check your facts!” A hot spike of heat prickled up my neck, my muscles tensing as a small crowd gathered, watching the scene unfold.
“Your contract and prize money have been officially canceled,” she informed me.
“But I…”
My jaw hung slack+, blood rushed in my ears as I stood there gaping at her. How is this happening?
“I did nothing, I swear! It wasn’t me. Ask the other girls who were there! They know. Please… I need this contract. I worked damn hard for this, and I haven’t done anything wrong—”
“Before you continue.” Veronica held the flat of her palm upward. “We have a witness. One of the other contestants, Katarina, saw you cutting up the bikini. She’s submitted a full report.”
“Not true,” I said with a shiver, shaking my head in denial.
“Miss Lawrence, this conversation is over. Gerard, see her out of the building and have her name removed from the guest register.”
The tired-looking security guard shuffled over. He tipped his head toward the revolving doors, gesturing for me to leave.
“Oh, and Miss Lawrence.” She stared down her nose. “We don’t tolerate this sort of behavior. We have a code of ethics in this industry. You violated it. You won’t work in this industry again. Your name is ruined. There are no second chances.”
“Please.” My eyes welled up with tears. “I didn’t do it. I can’t lose this contract.”
“You should’ve thought about that before you cheated.” She glared at the security guard. “Gerard.”
“Let’s go, miss.” He smiled sympathetically. “I’ll show you out of the building.”
I walked shakily toward the door, wiping away the tears spilling down my cheeks.
***
Standing on the sidewalk, I stared up at the building, trying to make some sense of what had just happened.
Why would Katarina do this to me? I reached into my bag and pulled out my phone. Maybe there’s a way to fix this.
Katarina had been the one who’d cheated at the contest. I knew she liked to play games, but this? This seemed like too much… even for her.
There must be a reason she’d suddenly lie after all this time.
With a shaky hand, I pressed Call. It rang twice. “This is Katarina,” she said in a silken tone.
“Katarina, it’s Ivy,” I blurted out. “Why did you make a false report about me and say that it was me who cut up Ingrid’s bikini? You know it wasn’t me. Why would you say that?” My voice cracked as I tried to hold back the tears.
“Look, Ivy, I can’t say much,” Katarina said, her voice growing suddenly small.
“But I will say that the man who contacted me wanting information about you was very persuasive—like, so persuasive that he left me with no choice but to make a statement about you. It was actually pretty scary.” She sniffed miserably.
What man? Who would do this? Surely Karson’s father isn’t behind this?
“What are you talking about, Katarina? Why would he want you to lie about something I played no part in?”
“Look, I don’t know, all right. Anyway, he wasn’t all bad. He gave me enough money for a divine Prada handbag. Which, in fact, I need to buy before I start work,” she said with one final sniff.
“Katarina! WHO WAS HE?” I demanded. “What did he say?” But in my heart, I already knew the answer.
“All I know is he wanted dirt on you. But I didn’t have any. But he told me if I didn’t say it was you who cut up Ingrid’s bikini, that he was going to…” I heard her crying.
“He was going to what, Katarina? Please, just tell me.”
“He said he’d pay a visit to my family. And I knew he was for real coz he knew way too many things about me. It was creepy. I’m sorry, Ivy, but I didn’t know what else to do except agree to his demands.”
I was speechless.
“Now if you’ll excuse me, this has been a lot, I need some retail therapy. Good luck.” The line went dead.
My lip trembled as I wrung my clammy hands together.
His father really was insane. Karson needed to know about this! I pulled out the phone Karson had given me and hailed a passing cab.
I sagged back onto the seat, and my hands lay lifelessly in my lap as I clutched the phone.
Unable to believe the horror that had just played out, I sighed and tapped Karson’s number.
But there was no answer.
What the hell am I going to do without a contract? Karson left me some money, but it’s his, I don’t feel right using it.
But one thing was clear.
If I wanted to keep a roof over my head… I had to find a job.
Fast.