A Change of Plans
"It's almost showtime." Monty tells Mattie excitedly clapping his hands together.
"Yeah, and almost all of the models are here, well, almost all of them." Mattie observes looking over at the group of models.
"It looks like two of the females are missing." She notices. There were supposed to be eight models in total, four men and four women. They were all dressed in swim wear ready to do the photo shoot showcasing the swim line from Jabot's Summer collection. All the men were present but two of the women were missing.
"Hopefully, they will show up soon. Maybe they are running just a little behind." Monty guesses.
"Hopefully, they show up soon." Mattie says starting to worry. "They should have been here already." She looks down at her watch. She then pulls out her phone and decides to text one of the models.
"Where are you?" She texts the model named Kianna. She waits for a few moments and then gets a text back and frowns when she sees it.
"What?" She texts back. "How did that happen?"
"What's the matter?" Monty asks.
Mattie texts the model back and frowns even more when she sees her response. "Ryanne too?" She asks.
She gets another text back and then grimaces.
"Ugh!" She exclaims.
"What's going on Mattie?" Monty asks again as he sees her put her hand to her head. "Tell me."
"Great, just great!" Mattie exclaims. She then shoots the model another text and looks at Monty.
"Well, apparently, our two remaining models, missed their flight this morning from New York." Mattie informs him. "They were at some party last night and overslept…"
"Really?" Monty asks.
"And they were supposed to be from a top-notch modeling agency…" Mattie shakes her head. "Yet, this is the type of professionalism, they show." She shakes her head again. "We would have been better off finding more local models. She puts her hand on her hip. "Now we are short two female models…" She looks at Monty.
"What are we going to do?" She asks. "It's getting closer to the start of the shoot and we don't really have time to try and scrounge around and find some models." She thinks for a minute. "Or do we…" She then sighs. "I wish my mom's modeling agency was still around. If so, we could get some people from there…"
While Mattie and Monty were trying to figure out what to do, Valentina strolls up to them.
"Hey guys." She greets them. "Are you ready for this photo shoot? " She glances over at the models. "The models look great. And like they are ready." She observes. "But..." She looks them over… "Aren't you missing a couple of them?" She asks.
Monty nods. "Yeah, the last two models missed their flight, because they partied and overslept."
Valentina's eyes widen a bit when she hears that news. "Yikes." She says. "Well, that' s a bummer…" She observes. "And I just saw Lauren who's headed this way to touch base with you guys before this shoot begins."
Mattie frowns when she hears this news. "What are we going to tell her?" She asks Monty.
He sighs. "Well, we definitely need to tell her the truth about the models not being here." He rubs his face thinking. "Maybe we can still do the shoot without them…" He muses.
"But it's going to be totally imbalanced." Mattie tells him. "We really need four women for this shoot. It provides better symmetry for it." She insists. "I wish there was someone I could call…" She thinks for a bit more, while Valentina eyes a rack of swimsuits near them.
"These are some great looking swimsuits." She says running her hands over one of them. She then picks up one and holds it against her body and looks at Monty and smiles.
"Don't you think this bikini would look great on me, Monty." She asks coyly. "I think that I have the figure for it, what do you think?" She questions him.
Monty gives her a smile. "Yeah, I think you would look good in that suit." He replies honestly.
Mattie frowns when she sees Valentina flirting with Monty again. She was always doing this, and it continued to irritate Mattie. She was extra annoyed by it today, because she still hadn't figured out what to do to fix the situation with the models.
Just then Lauren heads over to the group of young people.
"It looks like we are getting ready to roll." Lauren tells them with a smile. "The photographer is here and is getting ready for this shoot." She looks around the dive bar.
"I like this theme you guys came up with." She tells them. "Very bright and it screams a fun day at the beach." She pats Mattie on the shoulder. "Good job guys." She tells them. She looks over at the models. "And it looks like you've made some good choices regarding the models." She tells them. "They look great and ready to rock this swimwear collection, which I hope will also end up flying off the shelves at Fenmore's." She expresses optimistically.
"There's a problem." Monty informs her.
"Oh?" Lauren raises her eyebrow. Monty and Mattie then tell her what happened to the missing models.
"That is a problem." Lauren responds. "And we may not be using that agency again." She says. She then looks at both of them.
"Hmmm… so what do you guys think for a backup plan?" She questions them.
"We were thinking of having the shoot continue without the other two models." Monty informs her.
Lauren nods. "Yes, that is a possibility. And we have a great photographer who can make things work, even though we are shorthanded…." She looks over at the group of models. "Though, there's twice as many men as there are women and that is a bit glaring."
"Yes, and we were definitely trying to go for symmetry and balance." Mattie informs her. "It's why we wanted an equal number of women and men for this shoot." She then looks at Monty. "But given the fact that we are shorthanded, we'll have to make do." She glances over at the models. "And I can ask Lydia and Sasha if they will also model some of the suits that the other two were supposed to wear…"
Lauren nods, listening to her backup plan. "That may just have to do..." She tells her.
"We'll make it work." Monty promises Lauren.
Lauren nods and smiles. "Good." She then thinks and starts to say something when Valentina makes an offer.
"I can help." Valentina offers. "I could be one of the models." She suggests.
A surprised look comes across everyone's face when she suggests that.
"Uh… we want professional models." Lily interjects.
"I've actually done a little modeling in the past..." Valentina reveals. "Some print work here and there for some local department stores back home." She informs them. "I'm not a complete stranger to the camera…"
She then looks at Lauren and smiles. "And I would be honored to rock some of these swimsuits for Jabot and your store, Mrs. Fenmore."
Lauren smiles. "That's a nice offer, Valentina." Lauren says graciously. "But you don't have to do that. We didn't hire you to model…"
"But I don't mind…" Valentina insists. "It would be fine. And the shoot could use an extra female."
Lauren thinks for a moment and looks at Valentina and smiles. "Well, you are a very pretty girl… with a very nice figure."
"Thank you…" Valentina smiles.
"And a couple of years ago, my son and Kyle Abbott actually ended up doing the same thing, when we had an issue regarding a couple of missing models." Lauren recalls. "It was on a short notice, just like today and they stepped up and the photoshoot ended up being a success." She thinks again some more and smiles again.
"It may just work." She looks at Valentina and nods. "Yeah, if you want to, go for it." She tells her.
Mattie's eyes widen.
"But we will definitely pay you for this, the same wage we were going to give those other two models." Lauren promises her. "We'll add it on to your regular pay for your next paycheck." "You do not have to do this for free."
"Cool." Valentina says. "I always appreciate extra money."
"Okay…" Lauren says. "Pick you out a couple of suits and there's a makeup artist here too, and you can see her as well." She instructs.
"Thanks for helping Valentina." Monty tells her gratefully. "This wasn't what we intended…, but we appreciate your help."
"Not a problem Monty and I'm going to wow people in these suits. You'll see. I'll have you drooling." She teases him. He laughs.
Mattie frowns when she sees this exchange. "Uh…. Yeah Thanks Valentina." She tells her halfheartedly, not pleased with how this day of the photo shoot was going so far.
"You're welcome." Valentina says. She then looks at Mattie and gives her a smirk. "You know we are down two, models, you could strap on a couple of these suits as well." She suggests. "And we could have that balance and symmetry you desperately want."
Mattie frowns at Valentina's suggestion.
"I mean surely there is a swimsuit here that would fit your uh...figure…" She picks out a one piece and puts it in front of Mattie. "Maybe this one. I could see you in something like this." Valentina then looks her over and makes a gesture with her hands. "You know something more conservative and less sexy…" Valentina laughs. "We are trying to appeal to multiple demographics, and there are people out there that probably have your tastes." She laughs. She then looks at Monty and winks.
Mattie looks at him as well and was annoyed and a bit embarrassed that Valentina was talking like that about her, especially in front of him. She was becoming even more annoyed with Valentina due to these comments.
"My tastes?" Mattie snips, pushing the suit Valentina was holding away from her. "I can rock a two piece, two just fine…" She claims. Monty raises his eyebrows when she says that and a hint of a smile dances at the corner of his lips. An amused look also comes across Lauren's face.
"Okay, then let's see it then …" Valentina challenges her. "And wasn't your mother a model?" She asks. "Maybe she taught you a thing or two…"
Mattie tries hard not to roll her eyes at Valentina's antics. "Yes, she was, and my grandmother was a famous fashion model."
"Drucilla Winters was a fabulous model." Lauren interjects. "Very stylish and lovely."
"Yes, Grandma Dru was a great model." Mattie adds. "But I just…"
"You don't have the will for it…" Valentina asks.
"I just…I didn't come here today planning to model…" Mattie tells her. "And I don't really…" She sighs, a bit caught off guard by what was going on. Lauren could sense that and jumped in.
"And you don't have to model if you don't want to..." Lauren assures her. "Valentina's offer was nice, and I appreciate it, but you don't have to do the modeling if you don't want too." She repeats. "You weren't hired to do that." She pats Mattie's shoulder. "You can manage things like you originally intended to, with Monty." Lauren smiles. "We can make it work with three women and four men. That's not exactly balanced, but a lot of things aren't. And they still work out." She laughs.
Monty nods. "Yeah, we got this, Mattie." He tells her. "We'll oversee things with the photo shoot, it is the set of collections we are in charge of after all." He smiles at her reassuringly. Mattie looks into his eyes and smiles at his encouragement. She nods.
"Well, it's settled then."Lauren declares. "You two continue to manage things with this shoot. And you Valentina, can grab a couple of these swimsuits, and I'll introduce you to the makeup artist. Lauren smiles again at Monty and Mattie and heads away with Valentina, who turns to look back at Monty and smiles.
"Drooling…" She calls out to him. This does cause Mattie to roll her eyes.
"Well, that was cool of Valentina." Monty remarks gratefully. "She may have just helped save this shoot." He predicts.
Mattie shakes her head. "I guess." She replies skeptically. "Though…I can't help but wonder if she has ulterior motives, for doing this." She finds herself blurting out.
"What do you mean?" Monty asks a bit surprised, by Mattie's accusation.
"I mean Valentina seems to crave attention from people, especially you…" She finds herself telling him.
Mattie shakes her head and then rolls her eyes. "I mean she kept talking about how she wanted to make you drool by wearing the swimsuits… I mean she's so it sounds like she really wants…" Mattie looks into Monty's eyes, which had a curious expression in them. She stops herself and changes what she was going to say. "She just uh… really seems to like attention… and…" Mattie fishes for words, that wouldn't give away too much of what she felt about Valentina and her constant flirting with Monty.
Monty smiles and then waves his hand. "That's just Valentina. It's just her personality." He tells Mattie. "And she's very smart and ambitious…"
"Oh, she's ambitious alright…" Mattie states sarcastically. Ambitious to get you for herself. She thinks to herself.
A thoughtful expression comes across Monty's face. He thinks about saying something, but Boyd comes over and asks about the photo shoot. They fill him in on what is going on. They all talk a bit more about the shoot and then it starts to get underway. The models start to assemble to work with the photographer. Valentina joins them shortly. Both Monty and Boyd smile brightly when they see her. Boyd sucks in his breath. She was wearing a blue swimsuit with a triangle bikini top and cheeky bottom. She looked great and the swimsuit really showcased her curvier figure. She smiles at the men and then winks at Monty.
"She looks great." Boyd says.
"Yeah, she does." Monty admits smiling. Mattie frowns when she hears the men praising Valentina's looks. She then sighs and continues to watch the photo shoot. The models including Valentina ended up doing a great job and Valentina fit in well with them. They end up changing into other bathing suits, with Valentina opting for a black one with a halter bikini top, and a more moderate lattice side bikini bottom. The photographer takes several different photos of everyone separately and together, directing them throughout the shoot.
Once they are done, he says something to Lauren and smiles. They chat for a bit. Valentina then runs over to the other three young people after the shoot is done with.
"That was fantastic!" She exclaims. "I had fun doing that." She admits to them happily.
"And you looked like you had fun." Boyd tells her smiling.
"Yeah, lady you looked great." Monty praises her. "And you fit in well with the rest of the models. If I wouldn't have known better, I would have thought you've been doing this for a while." He gives her a big smile.
"And you came through big for us today." He tells her in an appreciative manner. "You helped us salvage this shoot."
"You're welcome Monty." She replies. Valentina then steps closer to him and pulls him into a tight hug surprising everyone. Mattie can't help but cringe when she does this.
"As they say teamwork makes the dream work." She says hugging him close to her. "And we're a team right."
"Uh…yeah..." Monty says. "We all are."
Valentina gives him another squeeze and Mattie watches annoyed, while Boyd watches wistfully. She then releases him. She lightly rubs his shoulder and looks into his eyes. "Yes, we are." She then turns to Mattie and gives her a mischievous smile.
"Right Mattie?"
"Yes, we are." Mattie responds trying to keep her composure. "And hopefully next time we will have our ducks more in a row and find more reliable people for our projects, so that one of us doesn't have to resort to desperate measures." She states her tone, a bit harsh.
Valentina brushes off her harsh tone. "Yeah, but as we will learn in the world of business, things don't always go as planned and when they don't you've got to improvise. And people have to step up." She looks at Monty again. "And I'm one that is always willing to step up to get the job done." She looks him in his eyes. "I always work hard for what I want." She coos.
Monty nods. "I believe that."
Just then Lauren comes over and smiles at the group. "That shoot ended up going well." She informs them proudly. "And Valentina you are a natural, at this modeling thing." She informs her. "The photographer said you took some of the best pictures from the group."
"Thank you, Mrs. Fenmore."
"And even though we were short one female…" Lauren continues. "It still looks like everything will turn out just fine." She assures them. "So good job team."
Everyone smiles. Lauren then turns to Mattie. "Hey Mattie, I had wanted to talk to you about some of the ideas that you brought me the other day about this project. They sound pretty good and I just wanted to pick your mind a bit more about them."
Mattie nods. "Sure, Mrs. Fenmore." She then walks away with Lauren to talk. As she's walking away, she glances back at Monty, Valentina and Boyd. Valentina is standing close to Monty and putting her hands on his arm.
She just loves to put her hands on him. Mattie thinks to herself. She then tries to focus and turns her attention back to Lauren. Mattie was glad that the shoot had went well. But she didn't like that it seemed like Valentina used it as a way to try and impress/get closer to Monty. That annoyed Mattie and made her concerned about what Valentina may do going forward to try to get closer to him. She seemed to want him, and Mattie did not like that at all.
She tries to shake off these feelings, but she couldn't. She also didn't care for how Valentina tried to upstage her at the shoot. As Lauren was talking to her in the back of her mind Mattie was also wondering if she would have more to worry about besides just doing her job, with Valentina around. She decided to table those thoughts for now and focus on Lauren and what she was saying about her ideas.