Chapter 183 - Just Do It!

Andrzej felt uncomfortable. Not only did he not expect such a turn of events (he was really sure that J. Acutti would like to withdraw his cooperation proposal), but also the photographer felt Mrs. Janka's watchful, suspicious eyesight.

"Nowicki? Has something happened that I don't know about?" she asked.

Andrzej did not want or intend to inform his boss that the handsome Italian wanted to seduce him, but he used rather disgusting methods. There was nothing to brag about or to remember, so the photographer ignored Mrs. Pasek and turned to the Italian business delegation.

"Yes, this solution is satisfactory for me. I am ready to discuss the last details and sign the contract."

From the corner of his eye, Nowicki noticed that Mrs. Janka's eyes widened with surprise and her assistant made a gesture of joy and victory, although he tried very hard not to let anyone notice it.

"Are you sure?" Mrs. Janka asked.

"Yes," said Andrzej. "I do it for myself. At first I was reluctant, but after reflection, I decided that it could be a good experience for me as a photographer and… an interesting adventure. I will not be a permanent model, but this experience will help me better understand the problems faced by the models I work with."

Janina Pasek smiled warmly at him, but there was a bit of anxiety in her eyes. Perhaps it was the apology from the Italians that made the woman feel some doubts.

Andrzej Nowicki, on the other hand, did not have them anymore and he was relieved when he informed the people of J. Acutti about his decision. He did not lie, he really considered participation in this project a potentially good experience, and the thought that he might have lost a contract with such a reputable and luxurious company worried him a little more than he wanted to admit to himself.

Getting paid with your looks wasn't bad, as he sometimes thought before. As a photographer, he knew that maintaining a beautiful body and face requires a lot of sacrifice and effort on the part of models and actors. Most of these people weren't idiots either. It is true that some of them neglected their education, but not everyone had the talent and aspiration to become an astrophysicist or aviation engineer.

Not every job required great intellectual skill and a diploma from three universities. Most of the people in this world have been doing very well without higher or even high school level education and led normal, ordinary lives. So the models didn't have to graduate from college either.

Their work, however, required a good physical condition, as they often had to pose for photos for hours wearing clothes not suited to the prevailing weather conditions. Often the models were shaking from the cold, having to smile happily or dripping with sweat from the heat, being a hair from overheating the body. They sat motionless for hours, letting themselves be put on thick layers of makeup that made their skin barely breathe, and hairdos so crazy they contradicted the laws of gravity and the aesthetics of normal people. They wore shoes that were impossible to walk on and spent the whole day wearing them. There were so many similar examples...

The world of ordinary people said it was easy money, but nothing was easy about modeling. It's been months, years of hard physical exertion, sacrifices, disappointments and tremendous stress just to get a one in a million chance. And this was the really chance for a model in a million other models. The rest of the models, as in any other profession, were doomed to live gray lives for not too much money. Consequently, their work and wages did not differ much from office workers.

Most probably, however, Andrzej wanted to turn into a model to get to know Dominik better. Śliwiński sometimes posed professionally for photos, as for this yogurt advertising campaign. Nowicki was self-critical enough to know that he did not have the acting talent himself and would not play in the movie, but since there was an opportunity to try another variant of Dominik's work, it was also an opportunity to get to know the challenges that Śliwińksi faced better. It's like 'walking in someone else's shoes'.

"That's great!" pleased Andrutti on the lips of the interpreter. "Then let's move on to discussing the details..."

***

In Poland, there is an idiom "joyful like a lark", which refers to people in such a good mood that they sing from the very morning, or give the impression that they will start singing at any moment. Dominik Śliwiński was the embodiment of this idiom today, and he was so bursting with joy that he actually found it difficult to sit still, and from his mouth, completely unknowingly, the words of various joyful songs from five different languages ​​came out, although people who knew these languages ​​would probably say words do not belong to their language.

This, however, was absolutely irrelevant to Dominik, because Dominik was wearing a wedding ring with a beautiful amber eye resembling the color of Andrzej's eyes.

It didn't take much for the guy to be happy. He was satisfied with good food, good sex and someone you love above your own life. Dominik Śliwiński now had all three points secured, so why would he be gloomy? Dominik was just still in a state of wedding intoxication.

Additionally, in the morning, Dominik received an e-mail inviting him to participate in a Hollywood production. The test shooting was excellent, everyone liked the young Polish actor very much and even his delicate, barely audible eastern accent was not a problem, because he was playing an officer from this region of the world. This accent was therefore an asset, not a disadvantage, as it added authenticity.

A contract was also attached to the message. Seeing the number of zeros, Śliwiński decided that he and Andrzej definitely had to buy a new car.

Dominik was happy just like that. He was happy with the fullness of his heart, so much it hurt. So much so that singing at home was not enough. He was bursting with energy that he wanted to share with someone.

To his surprise, he thought of his mother. Christmas had gone calmer than he had expected, and he seemed to have really come to an understanding with his mother. Certainly it is hard for her to accept the otherness of her son, but she herself said that she lost him for seven years and does not want to lose him for longer.

Dominik, however, was afraid to call his mother. One day is not enough to completely and permanently rebuild the relationship that had been broken for seven years and Śliwiński did not dare to impose himself on his mother. They saw each other on Christmas, a day when all deeds and neglect are forgiven, but now Christmas is over and everyday life has become gray.

But if Dominik gives in to his fear and doesn't call his mother, there will be no progress in mending their relationship. One day is not enough to get back to normal, but if Dominik doesn't have the courage, the second day simply won't be. The most difficult step is the first step, and this is what Dominik and Andrzej have already taken at Christmas. Now is the time to take step two.

The young actor boldly picked up his phone, and although his hands were shaking, he called his mother.

Helena Śliwińska picked up after a few moments. During this time, Dominik probably thought ten times that he should give up the connection. But if he chickens out from talking to her mother, how will he be able to protect himself and Andrzej from the real threat?

"Hello, mom..." the actor spoke timidly.

"Dominik, has something bad happened?" he heard his mother's worried voice on the other side. Has it already come to the point that a phone call from a son equates to some bad event for the mother? Yes he thought so. After all, what could she expect if he hadn't spoken to her for so many years?

"No, Mom. On the contrary. I'm calling with messages that may please you."

He heard his mother take a deep breath and felt as if he had made a mistake in saying those words. After all, the information that would please his mother the most will never fall from his lips.

"I got a contract with Hollywood," Dominik added quickly, enthusiastically, trying to shake off the thought that he had disappointed his mother, who most wanted to hear from her son, that he was no longer gay.

"Really? That's great!" his mother replied, and she sounded quite sincere, but Dominik couldn't help feeling he could hear the disappointment in her voice.

"Sorry," he blurted softly.

"For what?" his mother asked and the actor felt ashamed that these words had come out of his mouth at all, but...

"For not being what you wanted me to be."