Chapter 4 The Rise Of A Super Model #2
Carry finally looked down and opened up the folder.
“…Thank you,” she replied as she scanned through the welcome packet.
“Looks like I’ve got a few things to do before I step into this new role.
At least, I’m surrounded by friends who have my back to keep me safe.
” She moved over to sit at the table. “Katie, would you please grab me a cup of coffee while I review all this information?”
“Of course,” she brightly replied and moved over to get her the coffee.
Billy straightened slightly beside her, then took a small step back. “Well, now,” he started. “It seems like you are in good hands. I’ve got rehearsal in thirty,” he said. “I’ll catch up with you later?”
Carry glanced at him—just briefly—but it was enough. “Yeah,” she said. “I’d like that.”
“Y’all take care of our girl here,” he said with a smile. He gave Carry a nod, then waved once at the others before turning and heading out. The moment he was gone—the room shifted again. Subtle. But real.
Cassie tapped the folder lightly in Carry’s hands. “Alright,” she said. “Let’s get started.”
Carry laid it on the table where she could see everything.
Schedules. Locations. Timelines. Notes. Everything mapped out.
Everything moving. Her grip tightened slightly on the pages—but she didn’t hesitate.
She looked through it all then paused, checking again, then closing the folder.
“So, what about the production numbers? How many bottles are we producing per day?”
“There is a slight decline in Cherry Blossoms. We just don’t have enough supply of the lotus blossoms for the scent,” Wendy said softly.
“It kind of sucks since that’s my scent.
” Wendy’s tone softened just slightly at the end of that, but her eyes flicked toward Katie—and something unspoken passed between them.
Katie set the coffee down in front of Carry. “Yeah,” she added, a little more casually, “a few things have been… off lately.” She leaned back against the edge of the table. “Not just production.”
Carry looked up from the folder. “What do you mean?”
Wendy hesitated—but only just enough to make it feel real. “We heard things were… tense over at Pimico,” she said carefully. “Before you left.”
Katie picked it up without missing a beat. “More than tense,” she said. “You don’t just walk out like that unless something pushed you there.” She tilted her head slightly. “Greg pushed you away from there?”
Carry’s expression shifted—not dramatically, but enough. “It wasn’t like that,” she said, a little too quickly. She looked down at the paperwork to avoid the eye contact.
Wendy stepped in again, softer now. “Then what was it like?” she asked. “Because from the outside… it didn’t look right.” She glanced down briefly, then back up. “Not the way he was handling things, especially at the reception. I remember how upset you were.”
Katie crossed her arms loosely. “You deserved better than being left standing there while he figured himself out,” she added. The words hung there. Not aggressive. Not gentle either. Just… placed. Carry looked back down at the folder again, but she wasn’t seeing it now.
Cassie watched all of it. Every shift. Every reaction.
She pushed off from the table and stepped closer—not abrupt, not forceful—just enough to enter the space.
“Hey,” she said quietly. That alone broke the tension.
Carry looked up. Cassie’s expression wasn’t sharp like before.
It was measured… but warmer now. “You don’t have to sort all of that out today,” she said.
“Or here.” A small pause. “You already made a decision. That’s what matters. ”
Wendy glanced over, reading the shift. Katie did too. Cassie didn’t look at them—but the message landed anyway. Not now. Not like this.
Carry let out a small breath she didn’t realize she’d been holding. “…Yeah,” she said quietly. “I guess I did.”
Cassie gave a slight nod. “And you made it for a reason,” she added. “Don’t let anyone take that away from you—not even your own second-guessing.” That landed differently. Not pressure. Not influence. Support… or something that felt like it.
Carry’s shoulders eased just slightly. She let out a long breath. “Thanks,” she said.
Cassie gave her a faint smile—then stepped back just enough to shift the room again. Right on cue—heels echoed across the floor. Not loud. Not rushed. Deliberate. Every head turned.
Veronica.
She moved into the space like she belonged there—because she did. Composed. Controlled. Already aware of the room before she fully stepped into it. Her eyes landed on Carry almost immediately. And she smiled. “Good,” Veronica said simply as she approached. “You’re already here.”
Carry stood instinctively, almost without thinking. “I am,” she replied professionally.
Veronica stopped just short of the table, her gaze moving briefly across Cassie, Wendy, and Katie—acknowledging them—then returning to Carry. “I trust they’ve started bringing you up to speed,” she said.