Two-Faced by Mandasue Heller

it was obvious that she was really struggling to hold it together, Sammy cleared his throat to remind her that he was actually hearing all this. Smiling apologetically when she jerked her head around, he said, ‘I hope you don’t think I’m interfering, but do you really think there’s any point trying to force her if she doesn’t want to do it?’
    Sensing that he was about to tell them that the interview was over, Kim’s chin began to wobble uncontrollably. She’d come here with such high hopes, utterly convinced that Sammy Martin would sign Mia up without a second thought. But even he didn’t want to know.
    Sammy sighed when the tears that Kim had been struggling to hold back began to trickle slowly down her cheeks. He shoved his chair back and stood up.
    ‘I’ll make some coffee,’ he said, lumbering around the desk and heading for the door. ‘Then we’ll have a chat, and I’ll let you know what’s wrong from my point of view.’
    Grateful that he wasn’t going to turf them out right this second, Kim pulled a tissue out of her pocket and blew her nose loudly.
    ‘Do you have to?’ Mia hissed when they were alone. ‘Don’t you think you’ve embarrassed me enough already without bursting into tears?’
    ‘I can’t help it,’ Kim hissed back. ‘You can’t pick and choose when you start going through the change, you know.’
    ‘ Ew! ’ Grimacing, Mia shuddered exaggeratedly. ‘Do you have to tell everyone about it?’
    ‘You’re not everyone,’ Kim reminded her. ‘And it’ll happen to you one day, so I wouldn’t be screwing my nose up if I was you.’
    ‘ Pfft! ’ Mia snorted, determined that she would never let herself go through something as disgusting as that.
    A little more in control of herself now, Kim wiped her nose one last time and slotted the tissue back into her pocket. ‘I’m doing my best for you,’ she muttered. ‘And you’d best get that slapped-arse look off your face before he comes back, ’cos you’re lucky he hasn’t already told us to sling it.’
    ‘ Lucky ?’ Mia repeated scathingly. ‘Are you kidding me? This place is a dump . I bet he’s not even a real agent.’
    ‘Yes, he is,’ Kim hissed, glancing nervously back at the door. ‘That photographer wouldn’t have given us his number otherwise. Anyway, just behave and let’s hear him out. You’ve hardly got much choice, have you?’
    Exhaling loudly, Mia swivelled her chair from side to side. Her mum could say what she liked, but Mia had no intention of listening to a word that Sammy fat baldy bastard Martin had to say.
    Coming back just then, carrying a small tray bearing three steaming cups and a plate of biscuits, Sammy laid it down on the desk between them.
    ‘Sorry, I’ve run out of coffee so it’s tea, I’m afraid. And there’s no milk. But I have got sugar and sweeteners, so take your pick. And help yourself to biccies.’
    ‘No, thanks, we don’t take sugar,’ Kim lied, reaching for one of the cups.
    Resisting the biscuits, even though the sight of them made her stomach grumble because she’d forgotten about dinner before they’d come out, she sat back in her seat and forced herself not to grimace when she took a sip of the hot bland liquid. She couldn’t wait to get home for a fag and a lovely sweet cuppa. And then she’d be straight on the phone to order herself a kebab – but only when Mia had gone to bed, because she didn’t want to go putting temptation in her way.
    Looking serious now, Sammy said, ‘Look, I’ve been having a good think about this, and I reckon there’s a chance we could work something out.’
    ‘Really?’ Kim gasped, immediately cursing herself for sounding so grateful.
    ‘ If ,’ Sammy said, emphasising the word as he looked straight at Mia, ‘ you can convince me you’re willing to drop the attitude and really work at it.’
    Arms still folded, Mia flicked him a yeah, whatever glance.
    Giving her a chance to climb down off her high horse, Sammy