Ch. 5
CHEYONNE
Another day another damn dollar. I strutted into my establishment wearing a cream pants suit and six-inch pumps to match.
My hair was flowing down my back with Chinese bangs to cover my big ass forehead in the front.
Out of the many compliments I received as a model, I had an all-time favorite.
I never really gravitated toward Barbie’s, but Bratz dolls were my girls.
People would call me one simply from my chubby cheeks, big lips, and big eyes.
I thought it was the cutest thing. I even had one custom made in my image.
“Good morning, Ms. Afor,” the receptionist greeted me.
“Good morning, Halona. How are things this morning?” I spoke back.
Halona had been around since I opened this agency.
She was the face people saw first. As a Caucasian woman, she was exceptionally beautiful and housed a lot of features that could land her as a model as well.
I even offered to help her enter it and she declined it.
Apparently working for me was enough to satisfy her.
“They’re good. Your nine o’clock is here by the way. I gave the files to Deena.”
“Thank you. Send them up once Deena calls down. Is there anything I need to take care of while I’m down here?” I inquired. Once I was upstairs and in my office, I didn’t leave if it wasn’t necessary.
“Nope. We’re good for now. Oh, did you want anything for breakfast? I’m getting ready to put an order in from Jo Americano,” Halona asked grabbing her notepad.
“Sure. I’ll have an egg white, spinach, and feta wrap with a mango, dragon fruit lemonade refresher. I’ll send down the company card with Deena. Get the entire staff whatever they want,” I rattled off.
“Will do. Thank you, boss lady!” Her smile extended from one side of her face to the other.
“No problem. I’ll see you later and call if needed.”
She gave a subtle nod as I walked off toward the elevators.
LOL Modeling Agency was a three-story building that consisted of eight studios in total, and a hell of a rooftop scenery.
We were located on the west side of the city.
Thankfully we were in an area that didn’t consist of much traffic, so the clients didn’t mind traveling this far out.
Pressing the button on the wall, the doors to my left opened.
I stepped on and pressed the third floor.
There were only four offices and two conference rooms on this floor.
It held me, Toneshia’s office since she was coo, Winston who was head of A&R, then Vernon who was H&R.
We each had an assistant who worked on the same floor as well in their cubicle.
Second floor held the studios while the first floor was for the agents, interns, and everything else. It was a pretty oiled machine.
The doors opened on my designated floor allowing me to step off and into a space that spelled of nothing but sweet caramel.
That was Deena’s doing. She knew I had to smell something soothing but sweet at the same time to operate properly.
It was like a fetish of having something I couldn’t while I was booked.
Strutting across the open floor, I made my way to Deena’s space.
She held up the files as she spoke on the phone.
She’d been my assistant since I started, and she did her job well.
I grabbed them from her and kept it pushing.
She would come see me as soon as she wrapped up that call. She always did.
Entering my office, I dropped my purse off in my wardrobe closet and picked up my slippers. I wouldn’t trade my pumps out until after my appointment was over. Taking a seat at my desk, I began to look over the files. There were two in total.
Opening the first one, I immediately fell under a spell.
This little girl was so darn adorable it didn’t make any sense.
She was under a year old, but she looked like a living baby doll.
She would get picked up in no time, I was sure of it.
The second was of a little boy who was just flat out handsome.
He looked to be around three or four years old.
From the way his parents dressed him, you could tell he had swag.
Noticing that they were siblings, the wheels in my head immediately started to turn.
“Knock, knock, boss lady,” Deena spoke softly coming through the door.
“Who are these adorable children, Deena?” I questioned without looking up. I’d seen cute kids but these two made you fall in love instantly.
“Those beautiful babies belong to the Atkins family. Their names are Essence and Cordell. They’re your nine o’clock. Halona informed me that they’re here and waiting. Should I go get them?”
“Yes, and see if they need anything beforehand,” I replied.
“Yes ma’am.” She walked away with a small smile on her face.
Continuing going through their photos, I saw how photogenic they were.
That was a good thing in this industry. Seeing that they weren’t shy in front of a camera and could produce quality photos just from being themselves, they would make it in this lane easily.
I had so many favors I could cash in on with these two beautiful babies.
I imagined my offspring having the same effect if I ever had any.
“Atkins. Why do I feel like I’ve heard about these people before?” I said aloud.
The way this name kept ringing as if I knew who this family was, was crazy.
I was rarely in the Springs but over the past year, I felt as if that name had surfaced around the city more than it should’ve.
Nothing was jogging my memory specifically, but the feeling of knowing them wasn’t leaving.
I would know whether I was tripping or not as soon as Deena brought them up.
I shot a quick text to Nesh to see if she knew who they were as well. She knew the city better than I did. She texted back before I could set the phone down good.
Bestie: From what I know, Royce is a nutjob, but his wife is the sweetest. Why?
Me: Someone from their family is here for an appointment. I’ll call and give you the rundown when it’s over. Give me like thirty minutes.
Gap, Zara, H&M, … so many brands popped up as I flipped through their files. This was the first time in a long time where I wanted to step into my agent shoes and take them on myself. I would love to be surrounded by them and the happiness they could bring.
“Alrighty, we have Klarity, baby Essence, and little CJ Atkins. Atkins family, this is CEO Cheyonne Afor. Is there really nothing I can get for you?” Deena asked her. I assumed she’d already asked on their way up like I requested her to.
“No, I promise we’re okay. Thank you for asking again,” Klarity responded.
“If that’s all, then I’ll take my leave.”
“No. Deena stay and take notes for me… that’s if you don’t mind.”
“Of course.”
Standing, I rounded my desk with their files in hand and ushered them to the sitting area of my office.
They took a seat on the sofa that was adjacent to the one me and Deena shared.
I was all smiles as I realized Essence was wiggling her way out of her mother’s arms. She was ready to get down and cause a little hell.
“So, let me start by saying it’s very nice to meet you and your beautiful babies. I can see where they get their beauty from. You are gorgeous,” I complimented them.
“Oh, no ma’am. I see why you walked the runway the way you did. You not only have the height, but you have the face card as well. The internet serves you no justice. Ms. Afor, you are stunning and you’re a chocolate drop too. I just know the men be knocking down your door,” she threw back.
“They wish they could find my door girl. I don’t play with these men or give them a chance to do so. Plus, I’m fresh off the runway. I have to find my footing in this world again. A man would be nice but he’s so far down on the list.”
“I completely understand that. My husband appeared out of thin air and has been working my good nerve ever since. He’s one of my biggest blessings though, so I don’t complain. I’m actually here today because of him. He asked me to get the kids into modeling, especially Essence.”
I could see why he suggested it. They shared children that looked like they handpicked them out a catalog or something.
CJ sat on his iPad behaving like a good little boy while miss Essence was crawling her way around the table to me.
She looked like she gave them a run for their money at home.
I picked her up once she was in reach and she immediately began to play with my pearl necklace.
“He told you right. Can I ask why my agency though? There are plenty of agencies in Sage Springs that could produce just as good.”
“Well, you’re the only Black owned. I did my homework,” she said winking. I smiled and nodded.
“That plays a big part in a lot of the clients reasoning. I guess I should’ve expected that by now. Okay, what are the other reasons then?” I questioned followed by a small chuckle.
“No one has thrown any salt on your name, not even the palm colored folk. I’ve asked around town and your agency get the most praise in the black community.
That says a lot. We’re truly not here for anything other than exposure and the kids possibly going from modeling to acting.
I know bigger platforms can be provided from those that know what it’s like to hustle for it.
I’m just trying to give my kids a widespread of options. ”
“I applaud you for doing so. Modeling was my way of taking care of my family and it became a great career to where I flourished in. I was able to keep our family off the streets, so I did something right. Nevertheless, I can help.”