She gets some new opportunities.

She walked around the building to the coffee shop across from Nexus Models’ Midtown office. She sat down with a cup of icy cold brew and waited for Linda. As she sat, she couldn’t help but let her mind drift back to what happened that morning. It couldn’t possibly be true that saying those words out loud was what caused her to orgasm–how would even that be possible? But she had spent so long trying, and until the moment those words slipped off her tongue, nothing was enough to grant her a release. She took a big gulp of coffee. This wasn’t the right headspace to be in before getting some important news.

Linda arrived nearly 30 minutes after they agreed to meet–she spun a byzantine story about client meetings and paperwork and phone calls that she asserted were of career-making importance. Alexa tuned it out until she got to the important part of the story.

“So, anyways, I just got done talking to Ellison and, well, I’ve got good news and bad news. Bad news is the photoshoot for L’Avventura is off, they decided last minute they’re going in a totally different direction. I talked to Lizzy with editorial, they loved you, they’re just going for a different look. I know, total bummer. But the good news is, Ellison was looking at all the headshots, and he just loves your look. So he asked if he could move you around a little and get you for a little shoot for his portfolio next Friday. You can do Friday, right?”

Alexa could barely hold back her relief at the news. A smaller set and a personal project would give her more time to get on Ellison’s good side. “Oh my god, that’s great. Of course I can do Friday.”

“Good, that’s great, because I already told him you could do it. I hope you don’t mind. Anyways, Ellison loves your look; you’re exactly the face he’s looking for. Now we need to make some changes to the hair situation. Now I know you’ve been growing it out for a while, so it’s a big ask, but Ellison wants a little bit of a different look, and a wig’s not gonna cut it. So he was thinking just a little trim, give you some layers, and take a little weight out of it. Plus a little perm job, give you some waves, a little texture, you know?

Alexa was a little disappointed to hear she would need to change her look, but she wanted Ellison to see her as accommodating and easy to work with. She agreed with enthusiasm.

“Fantastic news. I’ll send you the references Ellison sent me, and you can show them to your stylist. When you get that done, send me a quick headshot so we can get the thumbs up for the shoot, alright?”

Alexa said her goodbyes and walked back to her car to give her stylist a call. Luckily, she said she should be able to fit her in between appointments. Alexa looked through the photos Linda sent her. She had been growing her hair out for years at this point; her silky chocolate-brown hair fell straight down to her shoulder blades. She liked the look she saw in the reference images: soft waves of hair, cut with layers to add volume and a slightly shaggy look, and curtain bangs cut to frame her eyes. She was looking forward to a refresh, and a new haircut would be a good way to change up her look. As she was considering how she would look, a thought seemed to push its way into her head from outside.

“Will he like my new haircut?” She asked herself.

The thought bothered her. Who was ‘he’ and why would this stranger’s opinion matter? She didn’t want to think about it anymore, but that damned dream kept clawing its way into her thoughts. The pieces clicked together–she hoped that the man in the dream would approve of her new hairstyle. Why? Was he even a real person? She tried to push the thought aside and move on with her day.