Chapter 6
“How was your trip?” Aaliyah asked me when she picked me up from the airport.
My smile grew. “It was a lot of fun!”
“Well, give me details!” She merged into traffic and then glanced over at me. “Why are you holding out?”
I sat back in my seat and sighed. “I don’t know where to begin…”
I told her about the expensively bland dinner and the underground club on Friday night, all the things I learned during the workshop, followed by the cocktail hour, and then all the amazing content I secured at the Sunday brunch. But I saved the best bit of news for last.
“Bowen wasn’t there, but I made some really good connections,” I told her. “There’s a lingerie company that wants to do some stuff with me. They said they were going to send some paperwork for me to look over this week.”
“Nina!” Aaliyah gasped. “That’s amazing! Oh my God!”
Her excitement only fed into mine. “And that’s not even the best part…
” I leaned forward, the seatbelt restricting me, but I wanted to see her whole face when I told her.
“When I got off the plane, I checked my email and RL Fashions sent me a brand ambassador modeling offer that includes participating in a national campaign and a commercial.”
“What?” She looked over at me with wide eyes. “Nina!”
“I know!”
“Nina!”
“I know!”
We both screamed.
“What did you say?” she asked excitedly. “What happens next?”
“I didn’t say anything yet. You called and I came outside, so I haven’t responded. But…” I looked down at my phone, exhilaration causing my hands to shake. “RL Fashions is growing into something big. This brand is…” I exhaled.
“I’ve heard of them. They do T-shirts, right?”
“That’s what I thought!” I exclaimed. “Up until a few weeks ago, I thought RL Fashions was just a T-shirt brand. I saw a couple of casual pieces, but I didn’t research anything more about them.
And now, I want to get their contract and hear them out before I look up anything.
I don’t want to be swayed before hearing them out first.”
“I like that plan,” Aaliyah agreed. “Do your research after you gather the information from them.”
I nodded. “I’m going to formulate my thoughts and opinions, meet with them, and then research other people’s experiences with them.” I sighed. “But if everything is on the up-and-up…”
“You were born to be in the limelight, Nina. This is huge, and I can’t wait to see how this and every other opportunity you get continue to grow your brand, your success, and your bank account.”
I threw my hand in the air. “Amen!”
We squealed excitedly.
“Okay, now tell me what’s going on with you,” I insisted, changing the subject. “What’s going on with your dating life?”
She sighed loudly. “I’m not any closer to getting a boyfriend.”
“What about—”
“I know what you’re going to say, and no,” she interjected, but her lips curled into a smile. “We’re just friends.”
I rolled my eyes. “Yeah, okay.”
“I’m serious.”
I stared at her with my lips pursed until she glanced over at me and laughed.
“Well, then, who is at the top of your list?” I inquired.
“No one,” she whined. “I’m starting to think my soulmate was swallowed.”
My head fell back, and I let out a loud cackle.
Aaliyah dropped me off at home and after kicking off my shoes, I sat on the couch with my laptop.
“Here goes nothing,” I mumbled as I pulled up the email that I’d quickly read after landing.
Dear Nina Ford,
RL Fashions is a brand that is continuing to evolve from streetwear to casual chic styles.
As we grow, we want our marketing to do the same.
Your style caught our attention and then reviewing your stats on social media confirmed that you would be an asset to our team.
We would like to invite you to be a brand ambassador model with RLF.
In an official capacity, we would like to speak with you about being a model and exclusive style consultant.
We understand how exclusivity may impact any current deals or contracts you’re a part of, so we would like you to review the contract attached.
Please take the week to consider and then meet with our fashion scout Lori Smith on Friday to discuss further.
If you accept the offer, I look forward to speaking with you soon.
Sincerely
Remedy Rose
Chief Creative Officer, RL Fashions
I had an even bigger smile on my face than I did the first time I read the email. Taking my time and absorbing the words, I was a mixture of excitement and nerves. Most of the email filled me with happiness. But the word “exclusive” made me nervous.
If I fulfilled my contracts and then went with the RL Fashions deal, I’d only have one source of income.
Putting all my financial eggs into one basket felt risky.
My first instinct was to decline the offer.
But I didn’t know if I was operating out of fear or logic, so I pushed down my initial reservations and opened the attached contract.
“Whoa,” I breathed as the fifteen-page document popped open on my computer screen.
I spent the rest of the night going over everything in the contract, taking notes on what I read, and marking anything I had a question about.
I reviewed the brand deals I had currently, and all of them required me to film fashion content for them.
I still had content to film before I’d fulfilled my duties.
I was almost done, so it would be about the time I’d look for additional work.
But it had been a while since I’d had just one stream of income.
RL Fashions was paying well. The contract alone would provide me approximately the same amount as the five deals I had, combined.
So for similar pay, I would be doing a little less work.
There would be less organizational stress from running my own business, but a lot more oversight because I’d be working for someone.
I would get exposure in a way that would take years to do on my own.
But because of the fact that there was a no-compete clause, a nine-month commitment, and an intellectual property element, the deal gave me pause.
I didn’t know what to do.
I’d ignored all calls and texts and climbed in bed.
I wanted to sleep on it before I made a decision.
I spent Monday batch creating content. I went through all of the clothes that were sent to me, and I created videos until close to midnight.
I started back up first thing Tuesday morning.
It threw off my typical schedule, but I didn’t feel like I could fully consider the RL Fashions offer until I got things off my plate.
By Wednesday afternoon, I took a brief break from editing and scheduling my posts to return text messages from Aaliyah and Jazmyn. After dinner, I confirmed my comedy-show date with James for Thursday night. It was on my calendar, but I’d almost forgotten about it.
It’ll be a good way to clear my head before my meeting on Friday, I told myself.
But Thursday night as I drove to the comedy club, the meeting was the only thing I could think of. And since I didn’t talk about work with my dates, I picked up my cell and called my best friend.
“Hey,” I said as soon as Aaliyah answered the phone.
“Are you okay?” she wondered groggily.
My face twisted in confusion. I glanced at the clock to make sure it was before eight o’clock. “Are you asleep?”
“Yeah. I’m exhausted. Between trying to date, having these pointless-ass conversations on the app, and going to work, I’m beat.”
“Oh, sorry! Go back to sleep. I didn’t mean to wake you. The sun was still out so I thought you might be up.”
She let out a sleepy laugh. “What’s going on with you? Is everything okay?”
“You know what…” I shook my head as I turned at the light. “I’m fine. I’m meeting The Funny One downtown to watch a comedian he’s into.”
“James is The Funny One, right?”
James Stansfield was a little younger than me at twenty-seven years old.
He was an electrician by day and a comedian by night.
He kept me laughing, and he was really handy.
I never allowed him in my space; however, when I needed the lights in my closet, I consulted with him about how much something like that should cost. He was hilariously helpful, and I appreciated the role he played.
He was funny. He kept things light, and nothing was ever serious with him. With me still struggling with my decision and what I wanted to do about the job offer, I needed to just laugh the night away.
“Yeah. That’s him. The Funny One.”
“Well, don’t stay out too late,” she advised. “You have a big meeting tomorrow.”
“Oh, I definitely won’t. He wanted me to go back to his place so he could cook for me when the show was over, but I already told him I was making it an early night.”
“If the show is at eight, it sounds like you would’ve gotten back to his place at ten o’clock.” She sucked her teeth. “He was planning on feeding you more than just food.”
I nodded. “He was definitely hinting that he wanted to feed me dick.”
“I’m proud of you for saying no. I know you say sex is the great stress reliever.”
“It is. But I wouldn’t jeopardize my work for The Funny One,” I scoffed. “Can’t let a man get in the way of money.”
“Weren’t you late to work because of your date with The Fun One?” she countered.
My mouth dropped as I parallel parked.
“That’s different,” I protested.
“How?” she pressed
“Because…” I started, racking my brain for an explanation.
“Because you like The Fun One,” she teased.
Even though she couldn’t see me, I shook my head. “I’m not doing this with you.”
“Mm-hmm.” Aaliyah’s intonation let me know she was calling bullshit. “You know what’s interesting… Since having sex with Russ, you’ve completely lost interest in The Funny One.”
Feeling my cheeks heat up, I shook off the realization. “I don’t know what you’re trying to insinuate—”
“You know exactly what I’m insinuating!”