Adeline woke up to birds chirping outside her window one Saturday morning at 8:30 a.m. She wrapped her ears with the pillows beside her, hoping it was still nightfall. She spent all day and night trying to find a new contemporary job after her lay-off but was losing hope. Thinking, Adeline always had a dream for modeling. The air was brisk with a hint of coffee due to the Crowns Café. Adeline lived just one story above the Crowns Café.

It was very convenient for her since she used to be always on the go. She adjusted to her side, placed her feet in the silky, comfortable slippers, and headed towards the stairs to the café. After ordering her usual, chi tea latte with soy, she hurried out to purchase a newspaper from the stands. 

“Modeling Opportunities Here – Contact Edmund at (329) 828-3829” Adeline couldn’t conceive it. She instantaneously grabbed her telephone and called Edmund.

“Hello, this is Edmund.”

“Well hello there, my name is Adeline and I just stumbled across your ad in the newspaper. The one about modeling.”

“Finally, a new girl to be seen,” Edmund whispered very deliberately and eerie, “I would like to meet you in person before we begin. Shall we meet at 10:30 today at Crowns Café?”

“That would be wonderful! I will see you then.”

Adeline hung up and hurriedly ran to her closet. After deciphering between the abundant amount of dresses and skirts, she dolled up her hair up and took one last look at herself before heading downstairs. She walked down the stairs with goosebumps – she couldn’t imagine that her next career could be happening any moment now.

She saw a spotless middle-aged man, dressed in a nice black suit with a cup of coffee in his hand. She made eye contact with him and progressed toward him. She sat herself down and showed him her headshots – not that she wasn’t pretty enough in front of him. He admired her, looking up and down. 

“You sure are pleasing to the eye,” he said.

“Why thank you sir. What do you think? Give me a shot?”

“I’ll give you more than a couple shots, my lady. I will give you the address to my studio and we will meet tomorrow at 8 a.m.”

It soon became evening time and Adeline was arranging for bed. She flinched right when she felt her leg vibrating. It was an unknown number. She answered.

The man on the other line seemed very jittery. He introduced himself as Harvey. Harvey was the photographer that endeavored with Edmund. He warned me to be thorough and to really think about the modeling ad before coming. He wasn’t ever specific with Adeline. It essentially seemed like he didn’t genuinely know what was happening either. 

“Edmund and I met each other this morning at the café. He appeared very nice. Althoughnow that I’m thinking of it, I felt slightly uncomfortable at moments.”

“I will see you tomorrow and then surely you will see it more clearly.”

Adeline became more concerned. She didn’t know what to think and didn’t want to assume. After all, she didn’t really know both of the two. 

She met Edmund the next dawn at his studio in the city. There wasn’t much furniture – just a single black leather couch. It alarmed Adeline how vacant the studio was. She met Harvey in person. He was an incredibly lanky, muscular, brown haired, blue eyed man with a camera drooping from his neck. He shook her hand securely. Edmund came out from the corner and said hello. He was hauling a white back drop to the other side of the room. 

“Come on in, my lady. We will start shortly.”

With different backdrops, outfits, and a coffee break, the group finally ended. The shoot continued for about two hours. Harvey left and approached the back corner to make a copy of the pictures.

“You will get these pictures in a couple days, Adeline. I will need to review and edit them before,” Edmund announced. 

Harvey handed over Edmund the disc of pictures and whispers in his ear. Harvey immediately left, leaving Adeline with nothing but a smile and him saying, “Don’t forget.”

Adeline took the 40 minute bus ride back to her apartment. 

A week progressed by and Adeline didn’t receive a phone call about the photographs. She understood that mistakes happen and decided to give Edmund a couple additional days. She commenced a new job right underneath her – a barista at Crowns Café. Day after day, Adeline would watch for Edmund or even Harvey, but each day was unsuccessful.

Adeline stumbled upon a new ad for a modeling gig under Edmunds name. Furiously, after two weeks of waiting, Adeline called Edmund. After three phone calls going straight to voice mail, he finally answered. 

“Edmund, how is everything going? I stumbled upon a new ad but I’m perplexed. I thought I was supposed to receive my pictures in the mail a week ago.”

“Oh yeah, about that Um, Adeline, I’m not too sure what happened. I had the disc, two actually, one at the studio and one with me. However, something must’ve happened to them because I am unable to find them.”

“Do I get a refund? I paid $200 for several pictures and I didn’t secure one. Not one. What are you going to do? What about Harvey?” Adeline preceded furiously.

“Harvey...Harvey...Well Adeline, he no longer works for me anymore. If I have to be truthful with you, he was the one who lost the drives. Both of them. I don’t know what has gotten into him. He has never done this before. How about I make you a deal. What if we go ahead and give you a refund. Not containing money but a new shoot. I’ll purchase new backdrops. What do you think about Wednesday?