Chapter 7. Photo Session

On Monday morning, Sienna prepared herself to work at home as usual.
She always opened her flower shop in the garage. People came and gone in the neighborhood. She just had to be patient for waiting any customers to buy her flowers.
However, she was doing this as a passion. She loved creative ideas. She thought flowers were pretty when they were being decorated well. She had been decorating many bouquets since she was still in college. But she only made it serious in the last two years.
It was also the first time she met Jonathan. They got to meet each other at the local festival. Sienna was there to showcase her bouquets to the folks. Then she ended up meeting a nice man.
Her dad was the first person she told about her meeting with Jonathan Brown. And second, Aunty Milla, who was being skeptical about Jonathan’s job. With Aunty Milla, it was all about money and money. While Estelle didn’t make such a big deal. She just congratulated her.
Aunty Milla doubted if Jonathan would make a decent money from being a teacher. Even if that was the truth, Sienna felt that her aunt didn’t respect her boyfriend. And that annoyed her.
Whenever Aunty Milla brought up the topic of paying bills before the due date, Sienna had to take a deep breath. She felt annoyed that her aunt kept on demanding her like that.
Meanwhile, Estelle was still better off. She just told Sienna this morning that she would consider her advice on seeking a new job on the internet. That little brat was finally growing up to be an adult in this world. Sienna was proud of her.
Around nine a.m. at home, Aunty Milla came at her. Sienna was decorating a bouquet for her first customer at the time.
“I am busied, Aunty! Don’t come anywhere near me to pick a fight, please!” Sienna snapped defensively from her desk.
She slightly glanced at her customer, the neighbor next door, a woman in her late thirties. That woman was giggling along with her.
Aunty Milla pretended to clear her throat as she crossed her arms. She also looked defensive when her niece said that. At the time, Aunty Milla was wearing a navy-blue trench coat.
“I am in no business to pick a fight with you, little brat,” Aunty Milla muttered. “I just want to tell you that I won’t be home until five p.m.”
Sienna immediately glanced at her again. “Oh, where are you going?”
“I have to go to the grill party in the city. My high school friends will be there,” she said happily. “So, I want you to look out for Estelle. She seems serious about looking out for a job.”
Sienna chuckled. “I’m glad that she listens to me. Sure, I will guide her. Just go to your awesome party, Aunt.”
Aunty Milla grinned at her. “Alright, I have to call for a taxi now,” she said while typing on her phone. “Goodbye, Sienna.”
Sienna gave her a nod and shouted out, “Bye, Aunt! Have a nice party!”
After her aunt went away, Sienna gave the fancy handmade bouquet to her customer.
Five minutes later, Estelle suddenly came to see her. She was wearing overalls denim jeans and a white shirt. She shouted out while smiling cheerfully, “Cuz! I have very good news!”
Sienna blinked at her, surprised. “Really? What’s that?”
“I’ve just got accepted for my first job ever!” She was jumping on her own feet as she got excited.
Sienna smiled happily for her. “Oh, my God, finally! Tell me, what’s the job?”
“Promise, you won’t laugh,” Estelle warned her.
After Sienna wiped her hand with a cloth, she quickly left the desk to see her.
“Okay, tell me,” she looked at her solemnly.
“A photographer wants me to be his freelance model. He wants me to come to his photo studio, like right now!” Estelle told her.
Sienna narrowed her eyebrows, bewildered. “Right now? Isn’t that weird?”
“Why would it be weird? It’s urgent, he said. The photo model cannot make it today, so…”
Sienna looked at her worriedly. “Well, I just want you to be careful. You said you’ve applied for a freelance model, right?”
“Right. Isn’t that great, Cuz?” Estella wondered.
“People can always put up a false vacancy these days on the internet,” Sienna was worried for her safety as she told her. “I just want you to investigate the employer who offered you the job. He could be a scammer…”
“No, he is not! I’m sure,” Estelle convinced her. “I have checked his online presence. He is credible, Cuz. I can trust him, but if you are not assured about it…”
Sienna immediately grabbed her phone on the desk and shouted out, “Right, I will have to escort you there by myself.”
Estelle looked at her, excited. “Oh, wow! You will? Really?”
Sienna turned to her and said, “Yes, I am. I will not let anybody kidnap you. Aunty Milla can be mad at me. And I don’t want to deal with her bad anger management anyway!”
Estelle chuckled and murmured, “Okay, let’s go together!”
***
They both went to the photo studio, which was located in the middle of the crowded Manhattan. As soon as they entered the building, Sienna was surprised to see Maddie in there.
Maddie waved at her from the receptionist's desk. She exclaimed noisily, making people gazed at her way, “Oh, my! Look who’s here! What a coincidence! Miss Sienna Moss, hello…”
Estelle glanced at her cousin for a second. She wondered how they got to know each other. “Who is she, Cuz?”
Sienna pretended to clear her throat and whispered back, “Ah, I barely know her actually. She will be Jonathan’s coworker soon.”
Estelle pinched her eyes, suspicious. “Wait, you haven’t told me about that.”
When Maddie approached her, Sienna immediately smiled widely at her.
“Hello, Maddie. I didn’t know you would be here as well,” Sienna tried to sound friendly, although she still felt defensive about everyone who was involved with the Wilson Enterprises.
Maddie looked cheerful like the last time they met at the party. And then she told her, “Ah, I wish I’d be the model here, but no… I’m here to assist Mister Wilson for his photo session.”
Sienna blinked her eyes nervously when she heard that name was being mentioned.
“Da… Daniel? I mean, Mister Wilson is here?” Sienna wondered.
Maddie nodded. “Oh, yes. His photo session is about to end. He will be featured in a woman’s magazine as a successful entrepreneur. But I can’t tell you yet about the magazine’s name. It’s still a secret,” then her finger lingered on her mouth as she made a noise, “shush…”
“Wow, Daniel Wilson? I’ve heard of him,” Estelle shouted after. “I read about him on the internet. He’s like the man of the year in the business world nowadays. A young billionaire.”
Sienna glanced bafflingly at her as she muttered, “I guess I’m not as update as you are.”
“Why are you here? And who is this young energized female with you?” Maddie wondered.
“This is my cousin, Estelle Moss. I’m here to accompany her to be a freelance model,” Sienna informed her.
“Oh, my, such a young face to be a model. This is a great place to start your modeling career, dear…” Maddie slightly tapped Estelle’s shoulder to cheer her.
“I know, right? I have told Sienna that a photographer is a credible man. She just doesn’t believe me,” Estelle muttered.
Sienna chuckled along. But then she slightly gave her a solemn stare, made Estelle stopped chuckling in front of her.
Before Maddie could continue the conversation with them, suddenly Hamuza was seen walking out from the photo room. Behind him, Daniel walked out with the male photographer who dressed in a black shirt and black pants.
Sienna gazed out at Daniel at the time. He looked handsome as always. He dressed in a white shirt while his arm was carrying a gray suit.
“Oh, look! He’s done. I have to say my farewell, ladies,” Maddie waved at them and went away to see her boss.
“Wow, he’s so hot, Cuz! Look at that handsome billionaire!” Estelle whispered alertly. And then she asked her, “What do you say about Jonathan earlier?”
“Jonathan wants to apply for a job in the Wilson Enterprises,” Sienna said emotionlessly.
Unlike Sienna, Estelle looked excited to hear that. “He will have a real stable career in there rather than being a…”
Sienna immediately bulged her eyes out. She thought Estelle agreed when knowing her boyfriend was just a school teacher. Soon, she snapped, “Seriously, Estelle?”
“Oops, sorry,” Estelle murmured. “I didn’t meant to hurt your feeling.”
When the photographer shouted out at Estelle, soon after, Daniel and Hamuza looked at them from across the room.
“See? The photographer recognizes me. He is credible, Cuz,” Estelle reminded her.
“Ah…” Sienna was not focused when Estelle talked to her. Daniel’s eyes lingered on her. She was nervous all of a sudden.
When she came back to her senses, Sienna noticed the photographer who would work with Estelle was the same person who took Daniel’s picture.
Sienna nodded at her and said, “Okay, you will be fine. I will wait for you.”
Estelle immediately approached the photographer to meet him and talk about the job. While Sienna sat down in the waiting room.
Daniel was fixing his sleeves when his eyes kept on staring at her. Then he said something to Hamuza and Maddie. Soon, both of them walked out of the building.
Afterward, he approached her. He smiled and gave her a good nod.
“Miss Sienna. We meet again,” his voice sounded happy.
Sienna nodded. “Well, yes. Isn’t this a strange coincidence? Here we go again,” then she told him, “I’m just here to accompany my cousin. She has her first job as a freelance model.”
Daniel stole a glance at the photo room. Then he returned to her. “That pretty girl earlier?”
“Yes, her name is Estelle Moss,” Sienna tried not to sound awkward when talking with him. She tried to be nice, just like what Jonathan had expected her to be. “I heard from Maddie; you just have your photo session for a magazine.”
“Correct,” Daniel said and he remembered something, “Have you received my invitation card from my man? I’m expecting you to come with Mister Jonathan Brown.”
“Yes, Jonathan received it yesterday. We’ll be delighted to attend your annual party tomorrow, Mister Wilson,” Sienna said while forcing a pretty smile for him.
He slightly glanced at his wristwatch and said, “I really want us to have more conversation, but… my apologies, Miss Moss, I will have a meeting to catch up.”
“It’s okay, Mister Wilson. You’re a busy person,” Sienna said.
Daniel gave her that same intense stare again for a second. Sienna gulped her anxiety down her throat when he smiled. Once he went away, Sienna finally felt relieved.