Chapter 21: My First Big Paycheck
After waiting for half an hour, I was finally called back to meet Vivienne in her office. She placed a file on the table, the contract neatly clipped together, and gestured for me to read it carefully.
"We will be offering you a payment of $20,000 for this advertisement project," she said calmly. "This includes both the photo shoot and the video commercial. If the campaign performs well, there may also be opportunities for future collaborations."
Twenty ... TWENTY THOUSAND DOLLARS?!
Holy crap. That was way beyond anything I’d expected for my first paycheck as a so-called rookie.
If Vivienne was going to pay me $20,000, then that meant the system would give me a $10,000 bonus, right?
[You’re right, Host!]
[Congratulations, you’ve really hit the jackpot today!]
"Does this payment sound reasonable to you, Ms. Orszebet?" Vivienne asked, her sharp eyes watching my reaction.
I immediately straightened my back, trying not to look like my soul had just left my body from excitement.
Without thinking further, I nodded and said, "Yes, Ms. Rosélle. This sounds perfectly reasonable to me."
Seasoned celebrities might earn far more than twenty thousand dollars for a single advertisement, but as a supposed rookie, this payment was already more than generous. It was well above what most campaigns would offer to a newcomer.
Besides, the system would also give me a bonus, so yes, this payment was more than enough for me.
"I’m glad to hear that." Vivienne’s smile carried the confidence of someone who was used to sealing big deals. "Once you’ve read the contract thoroughly, we can move forward with finalizing it."
I gave a small nod and lowered my gaze to the contract. My fingers tightened around the papers as memories from my past life came rushing back, moments when I’d been too naive, too trusting, and had let others handle everything for me. That mistake had cost me my career and my own life.
That was a mistake I would never repeat in this life. Even if I had a manager in the future, I would make sure to read every contract thoroughly with my own eyes.
It took me nearly fifteen minutes to check every clause. Only when I was certain it matched Vivienne’s explanation did I finally take the pen and sign my name.
[Bonus: $10,000 has been credited to your account.]
"Welcome aboard, Ms. Orszebet." Vivienne rose slightly, extending her hand across the table. Her grip was firm, her eyes sharp but approving. "I look forward to working with you."
I smiled, shaking her hand tightly. "I won’t let you down, Ms. Rosélle."
It wasn’t my very first job in front of a camera, but after everything I’d lost, it felt like I was starting all over again.
Rosélle Beauty wasn’t just Helcia’s first step as a model, but it was also my first step back into the world I thought I’d lost forever.
Vivienne promised she would send 50% of my payment as a down payment, but since I hadn’t opened a new bank account yet, I asked her to transfer it tomorrow instead.
Once everything was settled, I left the office with a bright smile on my face, even bouncing a little as I walked toward Mr. Silo.
"Mr. Silo! Do you want some pizza?" I asked, my voice bubbling with excitement.
He blinked at me in surprise, as if he wasn’t sure he’d heard me right.
"I ... I can’t accept any payment from you, Young Madam," he said carefully.
I waved my hand dismissively. "Oh, this isn’t payment! I just want to celebrate my first job. Please, don’t say no this time!"
After all, he had been waiting for me for hours today. One box of pizza was nothing compared to his patience.
I pulled out $400 in cash from the system and bought ten large pizzas, a few burgers, and some sodas.
Was that frugal? Absolutely not. But when life finally gave me something worth celebrating, saving money was the last thing on my mind.
When we arrived back at the mansion, another car rolled through the gates at the same time. Through the tinted glass, I caught a glimpse of Lando.
I quickly lowered my window and stuck my head out. "Mr. Brixton! Welcome home!" I shouted, waving like a kid spotting their favorite teacher. To my surprise, he lowered his window too.
He didn’t say anything at first, but his eyes went straight to the pizza boxes piled around me.
"Are you hosting a party?" He frowned. "I don’t allow outsiders here, so if that’s your plan, take it somewhere else."
I laughed, resting my chin on the car window. "No! These are for the staff. I just wanted to celebrate something good today." I grinned from ear to ear. "I finally got a job!"
"A job?" Lando raised an eyebrow. "What kind of job?"
By the time we both pulled up in front of the mansion, I had already jumped out of the car, waiting as a bodyguard helped him down with his wheelchair.
"I’m going to be a model for a beauty product commercial!" I blurted the moment he was in front of me. "Do you know about Rosélle Beauty?"
"Yes, I’ve heard of them." Lando was silent for a moment before adding, "And what about the deal? Did you make sure the contract won’t hurt you in the long run?"
"Mhm." I nodded eagerly. "I read it carefully."
"What exactly will you be doing? A photoshoot, or a video advertisement?" he pressed.
"Both!" I lifted two fingers playfully in front of his face.
"And the payment? Did you make sure they separated the fees for the photoshoot and the video? Newer companies often underpay their models. You need to make sure you’re getting what you deserve."
I hadn’t expected him to ask about my job in such detail. Maybe it was because he was a businessman, so he clearly knew how these things worked.
"Would you like to read my contract, Mr. Brixton?" I teased, half-joking.
To my surprise, he actually nodded. "Yes. Let me see the contract." He extended his hand, and without thinking twice, I placed the file in his palm.
As he flipped it open, I leaned closer and asked, "Do you have high cholesterol, Mr. Brixton?"
He lifted his gaze, looking a little offended, probably because my question sounded like something you’d ask an old man. But ... wasn’t he kind of old?
"No, I don’t," he said flatly.
"Good!" I clapped my hands once and started pushing his wheelchair inside. "Then let’s eat pizza and burgers with me! There’s no way I can finish all this by myself!"