Page 3 of Exposed

“Have you ever heard of paying attention to where you’re going? Maybe if you stayed off your phone, you’d notice other people,” he spat, moving around me into the elevator. I wanted to curse him out, but I was on a serious show and didn’t need that type of negativity in my space at the moment. I pulled my shades out of my purse and walked out of the building to my awaiting car. I jumped inside and headed back to the hotel to catch a flight home to pack.

Chapter Two

Lauren

One week later, I was packing my things to prepare to head back to Virginia for my new life. The announcement about me becoming the new face of Raven Cosmetics was all over social media. I would not only promote in magazines, online, and host events, I would have the opportunity to be hands-on with the creation of products for my own line down the road.

Hearing a knock on my door, I yelled to come inside as I zipped up my last bag before I placed it at the front door. My mother opened the door and walked inside, holding containers of food.

"Do you need any help?" she asked, walking into the kitchen, putting the food in the fridge. She removed her jacket and purse, sitting down on the couch in the living room. Peering around the room, I sighed in exhaustion before pouring myself a glass of wine.

"No, I have everything, the hotel has my room set, and I'll move into my apartment in a few days.” I grabbed my phone, turning it on silent as notifications continued going off.

"I know we've been tough on you about your life choices. Your father and I love you, Lauren, we wish you'd think twice about moving to another state on your own.” At five-seven, with golden brown skin, full lips, and a button nose, I really took after my father; people called me his twin. Kenny Armstrong, a proud construction worker, and my mom, Vivien Armstrong, stayed at home to raise us. All my life, they'd instilled that school was important, and I should focus on being a doctor or lawyer, something that's reliable and real. Growing up in a household where you didn’t have much and getting bullied at school, my confidence dwindled when the boys only used me for one thing and learning that I didn’t need to try to impress people to get them to love me took a few years for me to grow out of that headspace. I made a lot of my clothes, wanting to be stylish even though we weren’t rich. I wanted to do something that would bring me happiness, and it wasn't my fault that I fell in love with makeup while watching my mother get ready whenever my father took her out on a date. I have one younger brother that's seventeen, Kenny Jr., the class clown that always ends up in some type of trouble. He's excited about this opportunity and wants to move with me, but I told him maybe in a year after I get settled and he graduates school. The last thing I need is to babysit a kid that's at the age of not wanting to listen to anyone.

The small resemblances that I take from my mom would have to be my attitude and maybe never admitting when you are wrong. She told me years ago how she went to school to be a writer and gave up on her dream because she needed to help feed her family, and then, she fell in love with my dad and got pregnant, so all of her dreams went away and she became a wife, a mother, and a nurse. I know she loves her job, but if she was ever given a chance, I wonder if she would take it.

"Do you ever think about writing again?”

She waved me off and stood, putting her hands on her hips, then pointing in my face.

"Grow up, Lauren, there is no future in this fairy tale lifestyle you're doing. How many times do I have to say it to you? Baby, I don't want you to be disappointed." She lifted my chin, caressing my cheek. I closed my eyes and pulled back, and stood up, hugging her.

"I love you, Ma, but I need to do this. I'm not you, and I won't let love distract me from my goals. Mya was able to get her career off the ground, and now she's a famous TV show host and wife to the Governor.”

"She was lucky, I guess, but Mya's not my child. You are, and I hate that you're moving away. If you're going to do this, at least keep me updated with everything, and then, I will be out to visit you once you're settled."

"Thank you, and I'll call you tomorrow after I get in and rest up." My mother nodded, kissed me on the cheek, then headed toward the door. She looked back at me, and I blew a kiss toward her as the door shut. This was my new beginning. I could only go up from here. I picked up my phone and saw a text message from an unknown number.

Unknown: Congrats!

Me: Who is this?

Unknown: Lauren, you're the best!

I figured it was a friend playing on my phone, so I replied back, thanks, and continued cleaning up my living room for the rest of the night.

* * *

Monday morning, I was putting on my makeup in front of the mirror in my hotel suite. Today was my first day of doing a tour of the facility and meeting the Raven Cosmetics team. Danielle emailed a schedule of everything I'd be doing for the rest of the week from blog interviews, radio station visits, and photoshoots, and I was hoping to have a little time to find a permanent place to stay in Virginia. My best friend was planning on moving down here with me next month, and I couldn't wait to have a familiar person around here. Novah was the complete opposite of me, but we've been friends since middle school. Novah Gibbs studied to be an accountant and recently transferred out here to start her own business. Like me, she was single at twenty-five and not looking to fall for the first guy she came across. I snapped a new photo with my favorite pink gloss and posted it on my page. I brushed my hair into a high bun, grabbed my black leather jacket off my bed, and strolled toward the door. Raven Cosmetics had a car waiting for me outside, so I didn't need to worry about a ride. Ten minutes later, I stepped out of the hotel and waved to my driver, Carl.

"Hi, Carl."

"Miss Armstrong."

He held the door open, and I slid inside. Carl's an older gentleman, he reminded me of my grandfather. He was always dropping some type of knowledge and wisdom about life. Driving off into traffic, I send a text to Novah to let her know all of the arrangements were set for her to arrive.

"Are you excited for today, Miss Armstrong?" Carl questioned, signaling to let a driver get ahead of him in the left lane.

"I am, my fans are ready to see what I come up with and I have all my notes in my phone of different ideas for colors and schemes for the layout. This is the first time this has happened where a non-celebrity, non-model has ever won an endorsement deal for a makeup company off of a trending hashtag. Usually, they send you some gifts or something, but I actually got hired as a spokesperson to give my opinion," I told him.

"My granddaughter is a huge fan of yours."

"Really? Tell her I said hello."

Carl nodded and pulled up to the gate of the building and showed his ID. The guard let him inside, and we pulled up to the parking structure of the building. I looked around at the outside construction of the building, and it seemed more like a campus than an office building. The door opened a few seconds later, and I stepped out thanking Carl again. Danielle was standing at the receptionist's desk, and I walked over, extending a hand out.

"Hi, Lauren, you look amazing, as usual," Danielle stated.

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