Chapter Thirty Six

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I stood in front of the full length mirror in my bedroom assessing my outfit choice for the day. It was my first day going to work with Nina and Andrew and I was super nervous. I had chosen a cream full neck sweater tucked into a short brown plaid skirt, black stockings, brown two inch heeled boots and a brown trench coat . The weather was a little chilly thus the many layers. My necklace hang over my sweater since I couldn't go anywhere without it.

Nina was having a meeting with the whole cast and crew and since I was part of the crew I needed to be there. They were starting the shooting of a new movie and I had been prepping for it for over a month. I was still skeptical about going back to work but Nina assured me that it would be so much fun I would barely consider it work. I highly doubted that it was going to be fun but I tried to look on the positive side of things.

My phone dinged with a message in my coat pocket and I took it out. It was a message from Simon.

Simon🩺: Good luck on your first day.

We had become close over the past few months when we had ran into each other two more times at the café. He had told me he lived nearby thus why he was there a lot. We had exchanged numbers and had quickly become friends. I had even met his girlfriend, Natalia, she hadn't like me at first seeing me as a threat to her relationship with Simon but once I assured her I would never get between them she eased off and we got acquainted. We didn't paint each other nails or go shopping together but we were civil enough with each other than she didn't glare at me each time we met.

Me: Thank You.

I replied simply. As much as Simon was my friend I didn't want to get too attached for two main reasons. Natalia was the first one and the second was that I felt like getting too close to him would be an insult to David's memory. I didn't want to make any male my close friend for that reason and besides he lived in South Africa only going to a Kenya for visits while for me it we stage other way round. Andrew didn't count because he was married to one of my friends and I knew him from way before I met David.

Picking up all my stuff and putting it in a small gucci bag, I picked up my sketch book with all my hand drawn designs and left the bedroom.

"I thought you had changed your mind. I was about to come and drag you out."Nina commented when she noticed me.

She was laying out breakfast for all of us dressed in black jeans, a black t-shirt and white converse. Her hair was in a simple pony tail and her face was make up free. Andrew was seated one of the stools serving himself dressed similarly but instead of sneakers he was wearing boots. Just like the ones David... Nope, I'll stop myself there before I dig myself into a hole that would take forever to dig me out of. It was too early to be sad, today was meant to be a good day and I would make sure it was exactly that.

"Good morning to you too. Morning Andrew."I greeted him as I say next to him putting my stuff on the empty stool next to me.

"Morning."He mumbled back his face stuffed with the waffles Nina had made.

Living with them was amazing. They treated me like their child and I soaked it all in just without taking advantage of their kindness.

Nina served me a plate and I immediately dug in feeling famished and succumbing to the urge of eating my feelings, stress eating remember. With the day I was about to face I'd gladly eat three portions.

"You look nice."Nina complimented.

"Gotta make a good first impression."I replied.

"You have nothing to worry about. You will do great and if you anyone bothers you feel free to rat them out and I will deal with them personally."

"Running to my mama at the first sign of trouble."I teased.

"I gotta protect my cub with me being the mama bear I am."She said pinching my chin with her thumb and forefinger making me roll my eyes at her.

"One more eye roll from you young lady and you'll be getting no dessert with you dinner this evening."She threatened playfully in a weird tone, probably trying to sound like a mom.

"Not the dessert. Daddy tell her."I whined in a baby voice turning to look at Andrew with big eyes and pouted lips.

"Don't get you father involved."Nina scolded keeping up her act.

"Stop getting me in the middle of your little mock acting session."Andrew demanded strictly but I could see the smile hiding at the corner of his lips meaning he wasn't actually mad.

"But daaaaad."I drawled on.

Andrew picked up his now empty plate and put it in the sink before leaving the kitchen as he gave us both the stink eye. Nina and I burst out laughing before we finished our breakfast. I helped her do the dishes after so we didn't leave any messes behind. Nobody wanted to come back hone after a long day a work to a sink full of dirty dishes. Any other time Nina would have left them and I cleaned up after they left but now I was going with them so there was no doing that anymore.

After we were done, we all grabbed our stuff and piled into their rented white Honda Civic with me in the backseat. I tapped my nails on the sketchbook on my lap in a rhythmic manner in attempt to calm my nerves. It wasn't working but the view outside was better at taking my mind of things.

We got to the studio after a thirty minute drive and parked outside. There was a lot of action going on all around and with people running around some with equipments and others running errands. The bosses were barking orders and those on the receiving end running around like puppies trying to do what their masters had told them.

"If you ever shout at me like that, I'm taking the next flight out." I warned Nina watching a man dressed in a long black trench coat yell orders and a couple of people who looked just about ready to shit their pants.

Nina chuckled"Don't worry babes I'd never do that to you and besides your not working under anyone. You're your own boss."She replied linking our arms together and leading me into one of the buildings.

"Yeah butter me up with sweet words."I scoffed and she just smiled at me.

The inside was much calmer than the outside with less noise and little movement. Everyone was sitting around a long table talking amongst themselves. There were people of all races and colour all in deep conversation with each other. We walked to the head of the table and Nina asked someone to scoot over so I could seat next to her which I was very grateful for. I didn't need needs I be sitting sitting in between strangers, I needed to warm up to people first.

"Good morning everyone."Nina yelled rendering the room quite, she had quite the set of lungs on her.

"Thank you for that and welcome. It's a beautiful day to begin this incredible journey we're all about to embark on. Andrew darling please lead us in a word of prayer."She requested and Andrew being the obedient husband that he was did just that.

The prayer was short and on point, no offense to those people who pray for hours.

"Okay now we are going to start with some introductions. I know we are many but we have the time don't worry. I prefer if we all got to know each other before we start working just to smoothen things out. I'll start with me. My name is Nina Njambi Mutua and I'm the director and also the producer of this movie. It's a pleasure to be working with all of you. I've already met and worked with some of you and for those that I haven't don't listen to what the others tell you. I really do have a bitchy attitude."She introduced making everyone laugh at her last comment.

After she was done it was Andrews and a few other people came after him before it was my turn. I had never been scared of talking in front of people but there was something about this crowd that made me nervous. Nina gave me an encouraging smile and I stood up to introduce myself.

"Hello everyone. My name is Anisha Kwamboka. I'm going to the the head costume designer for this movie. It's my job to make all the actors look good and I can't wait to work with all of you."I rambled out with every ounce of confidence I could muster before sitting back down.

I could see people giving me curious looks probably because most of them had never heard my name before in the movie industry but I blocked them out like Nina had advised. I didn't catch everyone's name but I did try to at least know who was who from the actors themselves to the technical team.

After all the introductions were done Nina gave out a set in instructions and rules before the main groups divided into sub groups so that everyone could get to know who they were working in close contact with. Nina took my hand and led me to where my people were.

"Joel hey."Nina called out to a white guy who was talking to another three people.

They all turned to look at me with curious gazes, curiosity I could handle but malice was a while different story. Id seen introduce themselves but it had gone into one ear and out the other.

"Nina darling, hello."He greeted in a thick American accent.

They kissed each other cheeks and she greeted the rest before turning to me.

"Anisha love, this is your crew. This is Joel your Assistant designer and that is Carol, Susan and Dan; you are or costume design team."I shook hands with all of them and they all gave me warm welcoming smiles that put me at ease. I hope it wasn't all a facade because Nina was standing next to me.

"I'll leave you guys to it. Be nice to my baby, I will not hesitate to cut any of you if you're mean to her."Nina warned making me groan.

She ignored my complaints before pinching my cheeks and walking away. She liked talking advantage of the fact that she was older and taller than me.

"Hey guys it's nice to meet you all and I'm super excited to be working with you."I said politely once we were alone.

Joel tool calculated steps towards me and stood toe to toe with me his height making him tower over me.

"Just because you're close with our bosses doesn't mean we have to be nice to you."He said with an attitude.

I should have known it was all fake. I looked at the rest and they were all looking at me with the same look Joel had one. I'd never experienced hate before so this was new for me.

"I'm-I'm....." I stammered out not knowing what to say.

Before I could wrap my head around what was happening Joel burst out laughing and so did the rest of them. I looked at them confused wondering what was happening.

"Oh my God you should have seen your face."Joel said once he was done laughing.

"Loosen up sweetheart it was just a joke. We prank all newbies like that and it always works."He expounded explained and I chuckled nervously still weary of them.

"Got me there."I breathed out still feeling very out of place hugging my sketchbook to my chest.

Joel noticed it and plucked it out of my grip. He started going through my work and the rest hovered over him all, whistling in approval every once in a while. At least they liked my work.

"You are amazing. Has anyone ever told you that? I'm sure they have so let me join the club. You. Are. Amazing."He complimented making me smile genuinely for the first time ever since I arrived at the studio.

"Thank you."I replied.

"We are going to be such great friends, I can feel it. Let me show you our workshop."He said linking his elbow with mine and leading me away.

We entered another section of the huge warehouse where there were a lot of fabrics, mannequins, sewing machines and racks and racks of clothes. It was so familiar to me I immediately felt at home.

"Welcome to the dream."Joel invited excitedly holding his hands out in front of him and I smiled.

I was going to do great with them. I removed my iPad from my bag and set started setting up on the des Joel had designated for me. It was right next to his and had a beautiful sewing machine right next to it.

I removed my coat and hung it on the back of my chair and smiled to myself. I was going to be just fine.

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