Chapter 4 The Rise Of A Super Model
Billy was approaching the doors to Veronique when he heard a car pulling into the parking lot.
He turned around to see the blue Chevrolet Cavalier.
He paused outside the doors as he looked closer, then realized that it was Carry.
It brought a smile to his face. He watched as she locked her car and started towards him.
He decided to wait for her by the doors.
“Carry?” Billy called, but she was still too far away to hear him.
She adjusted the strap of her bag on her shoulder, her grip tightening just slightly as she took it in.
This was it. No turning back now. She looked ahead at the entrance looming in front of her.
Nothing out of place. It felt… controlled.
‘This is where I start my future now,’ she thought as she continued forward.
She noticed someone standing there as she continued forward.
“Carry?” Billy called again, a half-smile breaking across his face that looked more relieved than anything else.
The voice caught her by surprise. “Billy?” she called back.
“Surprised to see you here,” he said as she got near him.
“Is there another Veronique photo shoot that I wasn’t aware of?
” He opened the glass doors to Veronique for her with a quiet, seamless motion, and Carry stepped inside without breaking stride.
The lobby was brighter than she expected—clean lines, polished surfaces, everything deliberate.
“No Billy, I’ve decided to accept Veronica’s offer to manage Veronique for her. Today is my first day,” she said just as she crossed into the main floor. She turned—and the tension in her shoulders eased before she even realized it.
He was walking right behind her, “I was surprised that was you,” he said, stopping just in behind her. “You made a change then?”
Carry let out a small breath she hadn’t noticed she’d been holding. “Yeah,” she said. “I guess I did.” For a second, neither of them moved—just taking in the moment. Familiar ground in a place that didn’t feel familiar at all.
Then Billy nodded once, glancing around briefly before looking back at her. “This place… it’s really impressive,” he said. “First time I walked in those doors, I thought I’d taken a wrong turn into someone else’s life.”
That pulled the faintest smile out of her. “Feels about right,” she said with a smile.
His expression softened just slightly. “You okay with leaving Pimico?”
Carry hesitated—but only for a fraction of a second.
“Yeah,” she said, a little too quickly. Then, softer, “I will be.” He noticed the look on her face, that reflected the conflict of regret and excitement.
Billy didn’t push it. He just nodded again, like he understood more than she’d said out loud.
“Well…I’m glad you’re here,” Billy said gently. That caught her off guard. “After the reception,” he continued, rubbing the back of his neck briefly, “I wasn’t sure how things were gonna go. Mia and I—” he paused, exhaling once, “—that ended not long before the double wedding, you know.”
Carry’s expression shifted. “Billy… I’m sorry. I’ve not been a good friend. I should have followed up with you, except my week was extremely busy.”
He gave a small shrug, but it didn’t quite hide it.
“Yeah. Me too.” He paused for a moment, wringing his hands together.
“She wanted something different. Didn’t really line up with where I’m at…
with the music, with everything.” He gave a faint, almost self-conscious smile.
“Contemporary Christian isn’t exactly what she signed up for. ”
Carry nodded slowly. “That’s not an easy thing to walk away from.”
“No,” he agreed. “It’s not.” Then he looked at her again, more directly this time.
“But dancing with you that night?” he added, a little lighter now, “that helped more than you probably realize.” That surprised her.
“I mean it,” he said. “You didn’t treat it like…
anything complicated. You just showed up.
You were present.” A small pause. “I needed that.”
Carry looked at him for a moment, something in her expression softening. “I didn’t do anything much,” she admitted. “I was just there.”
“Yeah,” he said quietly. “That’s kind of the point.
” A brief silence settled—but it wasn’t uncomfortable.
Different from everything else she’d walked into so far.
Real. Then—Billy straightened slightly, shifting gears just enough.
“So,” he said, glancing toward the interior of the building, “you ready for this?”
Carry followed his gaze, taking in the space again. The movement. The people. The expectation hanging in the air. Her grip tightened on her bag again—but this time, she didn’t hesitate. “…I think so,” she said.
Billy nodded once. “Good,” he replied. “Because once you step past that line—” he motioned slightly ahead, toward the inner floor, “—it becomes real.”
Carry let out a slow breath, then she stepped forward. Billy fell in beside her. And just like that—She crossed into it. “Veronique, here I come!” she declared with conviction.
Billy gave a small chuckle beside her. “That’s the spirit,” he said. “Come on—I’ll walk you in. They’re all probably already here.”
They moved past the empty reception desk into the main office.
The atmosphere changed almost immediately.
The quiet polish of the lobby gave way to something more active—voices, movement, purpose layered over everything.
It wasn’t chaotic… but it wasn’t relaxed either. Everything had a rhythm to it.
Billy moved aside as they entered the main office. “You’ll get used to it,” he said under his breath. “Or it’ll get used to you.”
Carry glanced at him briefly, not sure which one she believed.
Walking in the doorway, she could see the girls gathered near the coffee station.
She pressed forward—and walked straight into laughter.
Cassie, Wendy, and Katie were gathered around the small table near the back, a pink box of donuts open between them.
Coffee cups scattered. Papers spread out in loose clusters.
The energy was completely different from what Carry had just stepped through.
“Hi,” she tried to say, but her voice froze in her throat.
“…I’m telling you,” Wendy was saying mid-sentence, holding up a half-eaten donut, “if we don’t stagger the photo shoots before the Houston show, we’re going to run out of daylight. That skyline shot is everything.”
Katie shook her head, flipping through a folder. “No, the skyline shot is secondary. The rooftop in Dallas is where the real campaign happens. That lighting? That’s what’s going to sell the look.”
Cassie leaned back in her chair, completely at ease.
“You’re both thinking too small,” she said, reaching for her coffee.
“The pre-show shoots aren’t just about location—they’re about momentum.
Each city builds on the last. By the time we hit the west coast, she’s not just recognizable—she’s unavoidable.
” The room went silent. That was when Cassie looked up—and saw Carry. The shift was instant.
“Well,” Cassie said, a slow smile forming as she quickly set her cup down. “Look who decided to join us.” She sprung up and raced over to hug Carry.
Wendy turned, her expression lighting up. “There she is! You are late young lady!” She leapt up and moved over to give Carry a tight hug.
Katie followed, already closing the folder in front of her.
“Right on time,” she added, standing up.
She waited her turn, then gave Carry a big hug.
“So, do I have to call you boss now?” Katie said, then chuckled lightly.
Carry paused for just a fraction of a second—not hesitation exactly, but awareness.
This was different than she expected. Faster. Sharper.
“Well,” she shrugged, then she stepped forward, “Only if you don’t offer me a donut,” she said, and laughed lightly. “Good morning,” she said, sporting a large smile.
Cassie moved in close, filled with confidence. “Morning?” she echoed lightly. “No, no… this is more than a morning.” She gestured around the room. “This is a new beginning.”
Wendy nodded quickly, brushing her hands through her hair as if resetting the energy. “We were just going over the tour structure,” she said. “You’re walking straight into the deep end.”
Katie smiled, having brought over a donut. Her eyes were bright as was her smile, but there was precision behind it. “Photo shoots before every concert,” she added. “Different looks. Different angles. We build the brand city by city.”
Carry’s eyes moved between them, taking it all in—the pace, the certainty, the way they spoke like everything was already decided.
Billy leaned slightly toward her. “Told you,” he murmured quietly.
“This is why Veronica wanted me to check on things over here. That and to welcome you officially before she arrives a little later.”
Cassie caught that—but didn’t acknowledge it.
Instead, she reached for a folder and handed it across the table toward Carry.
“This,” she said, “is your first week.” Carry stepped closer and looked down at it—but didn’t open it up yet.
“You’ll be shadowing everything,” Cassie continued.
“Scheduling, coordination, media flow, on-site adjustments. We move fast here, so you’ll learn faster. ”
Wendy pointed toward the donut box with a grin. “And rule number one—it’s a free for all in the mornings, so grab something before it’s gone. We don’t slow down for meals.”
Katie smirked slightly. “Or sleep. But, so I don’t have to call you boss, I’ll make sure I save you a donut.”
That drew a small reaction from Carry—just enough to show she was still herself. “…Good to know,” she said, then laughed lightly.
Cassie watched her closely for a moment—not obvious, but intentional. Measuring. Then—“Welcome to Veronique, Carry,” she said.
The words landed differently than Billy’s had. Not warm. Not cold. Structured. Expected.