Fashion Model

Kate sat in the waiting room with several other women, each one waiting anxiously in their seats in the modeling agency. When she saw the ad in the paper, she was a bit skeptical at the thought of being a one time fashion model. The ad basically said that the photographer would look over each woman's resume, before coming out and selecting the perfect woman for an important assignment. Kate shrugged it off at first and went to keep looking...

Until she saw how much this one time gig was going to pay. $500,000 in cold, hard cash!

Needless to say, Kate immediately drove down to the modeling agency, filled out the resume and forms, and waited patiently.

"Don't get your hopes up, shrimp." Kate heard a voice next to her say. Turning to her left, Kate saw the receptionist walk over and sit down next to her. Kate glared at the woman for the "shrimp" comment.

"I was the first one to fill out one of the forms for this little contest." The receptionist, whose name was Barbra, gloated. "Jacqueline Dubois is more likely to pick out a real woman for the winner."

Kate was just about to say something when the door slammed open. In stepped the photographer, Jacqueline Dubois, as she looked around the waiting room.

"Ladies!" Jacqueline said in a thick French accent, removing her sunglasses from her emerald green eyes. "I have looked over your paperwork, and I have made my decision! The woman I choose to be my next project is -"

"Mrs. Dubois!" A voice interrupted Jacqueline. The entire room turned to face a mousey brunette with glasses enter the room and run up to Jacqueline.

"What is it, Mary? What do you want?!" Jacqueline asked, raising an eyebrow at her assistant.

"Mrs. Jones just called." Mary said, gulping a bit. "Little Susie just came down with the chicken pox, so she won't be able to come in for the photo shoot today!"

"What?!" Jacqueline screeched in terror. "But the deadline for those photos are tomorrow morning! And Jacqueline Madeline Dubois is never late on a deadline! Where in the world are we going to find -"

Jacqueline stopped her tirade the instant she laid eyes on Kate. The photographer's eyes went wide as she looked the little woman up and down, scratching her chin in thought.

"You! Madam!" Jacqueline said as she pointed to Kate. "What is your name?!"

"Um, I'm Kate Ambers, Mrs. Dubois." Kate introduced herself.

"How old are you?"

"Twenty-four-years old."

"Height and weight?"

"Um..." Kate stammered, blushing a bit. "I'm 4'3" and weigh fifty-five pounds."

This earned giggling from the other women in the room as Kate blushed a little deeper.

"Silence!" Jacqueline snapped, causing everyone to instantly stop. Jacqueline made a square with four of her fingers, forming a frame around the little woman in front of her. After several seconds, the photographer smiled from ear to ear.

"I thank all of you ladies for coming," Jacqueline called out, "but I believe that I found the perfect model for an extremely important project! I bid you all adieu, and will call the runner up to come in tomorrow for the secondary project."

The other women sighed as they left the building. Some were furious that they apparently lost the gig. Others were heartbroken. And yet others merely shrugged as if to say, "You can't win them all."

Only two of the original ten remained: Kate and Barbara. Both women stood there in shock at what happened.

"D-do you really mean it?" Kate asked in bewilderment. "I got the job?!"

"Well," Jacqueline admitted, "you didn't get the modeling job, that was Caroline Smith. You did however get a very important assignment!"

Barbara was completely dumbfounded. Not only did she lose to one of those idiots that left, but she also lost a potential modeling gig to this shrimp?!

"You see," Jacqueline explained, "we had recently got an order from a clothing catalog to model their goods."

"Oh, I get it." Kate said, connecting the dots. "You want me to fill in Mrs. Jones while she's taking care of her daughter."

"Not... Exactly." Mary explained as she rubbed the back of her head. "The catalog is for toddler and baby clothes. We need you to fill in for Susie."

"... What?" Kate asked flatly, her face turning a light pink. Barbara heard what was said as well, but she was still too flabbergasted at this whole ordeal to even crack a smile.

"Now, hold on!" Mary began, "Let us - "

"Yeah, no." Kate interrupted as she turned on her heel towards the door. "Thank you for the offer, but I'm not sure this job is right for me after all."

"I'll quadruple the paycheck!" Jacqueline cried out desperately.

Kate stopped in her tracks, a stunned look on her face. She spun back around on her heels to face Jacqueline. "Come again...?"

"I have made millions with this company." Jacqueline explained calmly, "I have also made quite the reputation for never missing a deadline. I am willing to quadruple the paycheck from the original $500,000 if you agree to do this."

Hearing this immediately snapped Barbara out of her stupor, the receptionist shaking her head before glaring daggers at the back of the little woman's head. Not only did she lose her first step toward a modeling career, but she lost out on the chance at $2,000,000, too?!

Kate, however, was quite conflicted. On the one hand, if she took this job, then she would be modeling clothes made for toddlers and infants. It would be down right humiliating if anyone who knew her saw those photos! On the other hand, $2,000,000 was a lot of money...

Kate thought about this for a few minutes before finally coming to her conclusion.