by M. Clarke
“Nathan Cross.” She said my name as if we were old friends and offered her hand. “My name is Cassandra. I’ll be taking care of you today. Let me take you to the back. This way.” She gestured with her hand, and I followed by her side. “I have to say—” she tucked a strand of her brunette hair behind her ear “—it’s a pleasure to meet the sexiest man alive.”
“Thank you.” I grinned as we proceeded down the white polished tiles.
The sound of her heels clicking echoed down the quiet hall until midway.
“I hope you’ll be the male model for the Sexiest Couple Alive. I think you’re in the lead,” she continued.
“Really?” Not wanting to see pictures Troy posted of Olie, and others that might have shared the photos, I stayed away from social media, so I had no idea who was still in the race.
“The last time I checked. Some other model named Josh is second, I think.”
I glanced and admired the veteran models I recognized, representing perfume and cologne lines hung on either side of the beige walls. “Josh McCann?” I asked.
She craned her neck sideways as we turned the corner. “Yes. Do you know him?”
I smiled. An image of the way he could cock one eyebrow came to mind. “He’s a good friend of mine.”
“Well,” she huffed lightly. “I hope you two are friends after this competition.” Cassandra snorted, like she’d told a funny joke.
“Nothing to worry about,” I stressed and wondered why I even bothered to explain. “Do you know who’s in the lead for the female models?”
She nodded. “Olivia Hunt, Jessica Simms, and Clara Maine. It’s pretty close. I saw a picture of you and Olivia on social media. It’s horrible what Troy did to her. A man like that deserves to rot in jail. I can only imagine what she went through. It was a good thing he admitted those pictures were fake. Anyway...” She gave me a shy grin, brown eyes sparkling. “As you can tell, I’m a fan.” She giggled softly. “Well, here we are. We’re all set up for you.”
We entered through a double glass door already wide open. The tall backdrop of a city covered most of the back wall, light fixtures set on either side, and the table in the middle held two large cameras and equipment.
“Welcome, Nathan.” A man appeared behind the shadow of a pillar situated next to the backdrops. Then two more men I hadn’t seen before came behind the screen. Uneasiness pricked through my skin, giving me goose bumps. Something set off alarm bells. I wasn’t sure if it was being in a new environment or the thought of Olie and me being separated, leaving her with no protection.
“I’m Hank.” He offered his hand to shake with a pleased look and assessed me at the same time. When he finally let go of my hand, he shifted his attention to the other two. “This is Bobby and Noah, my crew. And you already met the lovely Cassandra.”
“It’s nice to meet you.” I lifted my hand in greeting.
Hank continued. “We’re going to shoot with a different background. Today’s session is for the ad, and the next time we meet will be for the commercial shoot in LA. And I have to say...” his eyes roamed about my body again the way a woman’s would. “The suit hugs you well. Absolute perfection.” His eyes glistened, and his lips spread from ear to ear, still checking me out.
Cassandra cleared her throat, looking at me nervously. My face flushed a little, and I smiled. Having both genders gawk at me wasn’t a big deal, but everyone else seemed unsure what to do as their eyes gaped between Hank and me.
“So, let’s do this.” Hank clapped his hands and spit out orders. “Cassandra, get the cologne. Bobby, check the lighting. Noah, fix the backdrop.” His voice softened when he turned to me. “Nathan, please take your mark in the center.”
Hank pulled his long blonde hair back, re-tied it into a ponytail, and picked up the camera. After he fidgeted with the camera, his eyes beamed when Cassandra walked back in.
“Nathan.” He smirked. “Meet the cologne named after the Sexiest Man Alive.” He waggled his brows. “It’s divine. The scent will drive both males and females crazy for you, though you don’t need it with your looks.”
Cassandra placed it in my minds. “Before we start, I forgot to ask you if you wanted anything to drink. We have water, sodas, iced tea—”
“No, thank you,” I interjected. “I’m fine.”
“Sure. Let me know if you do.” She backed away.
“What do you think?” Hank asked. “Do you like the look of it?”
The bottle felt cool to touch. Rectangular in shape, a similar shape to any other cologne bottle except the top was gold and in the center read Alive in gold. “It looks great. I’m still getting used to the idea of having a cologne designed and scented after me. Opening the top, I sniffed—musky and a hint of sweetness. “I love it. What’s the tagline?”
“Make a woman come Alive.”
I nodded, liking the meaning behind the name.
Hank gazed down to the camera and adjusted the lenses while he continued to speak. “Now, place one hand inside your pant pocket and hold the bottle with the other. Make sure the name faces me. Angle your body sideways and give me a seductive look.”
I already knew what he wanted and had posed to his command even before he finished his directions.
“You’re a pro,” he exclaimed. Click! Click! Click! “I heard you were easy to work with. Everyone knows everything in this industry.” Click! “Look at the bottle.”
I peered down as instructed. “Unfortunately, we’re all nosy.”
Hank chuckled, still shooting away and threw more orders. “Step back. Turn a little to the right. Tilt you chin up. Bobby, Noah, switch the backdrop. Cassandra, get a bottle of water for Nathan. Nathan, we’re taking a five-minute rest.”
“I already did.” Cassandra raised the bottle in the air and brought it to me.
“Thank you.” I swallowed a couple of gulps not to be rude, even though I wasn’t thirsty.
Hank changed the lightings and exchanged words with Bobby and Noah, and then he showed me the pictures he took on the camera.
“They turned out great,” I complimented.
“Great? No. Freakin’ fantastic. The model had something to do with it, but it was mostly me.” He chuckled. “I’m just joking.” He snorted, and I did the same.
Hank’s laughter died, and his tone changed. “We’re going to do the same shots with different backgrounds just so we get a variety.”
“Sounds good.”
“Come sit with me.” He gestured to the table.
“I’ve been in this industry about ten years.” He sat on the edge, and I did the same. “You seem like a nice guy, so let me give you some advice.” He continued before I could protest, not that I would have. “It’s not easy to stay on the right path. Be careful who you choose as your friends. Don’t talk shit about anyone ‘cause word gets around. Never sleep with anyone to get to the top. Careful which projects you pick. As big as you are now, be aware how you represent yourself in public. And finally, there are always new faces ready to take your place. You’re still young, and with your new title, you’re going to get big real fast. I’m sure you have projects lined up. Make sure to invest wisely and save your money. I sound like a father, but I’ve seen models take it for granted, buy lavish things, and before they knew it, they don’t have jobs lined up and no income. It’s a shame, but it happens.”
Though I knew and thought about everything he’d said, I appreciated that he even cared. He was right. Not many gave a shit about you in this industry, but I’d be holding tight to the ones that seemed genuine, even Hank. “Thanks. I’ll keep your words in mind.”
“The set is ready,” Bobby said.
Hank raised his hand to Bobby. “Thanks.”
After another round, we took a longer break while Hank went to his office to make a phone call. I reached inside my pant pocket to take out my cell since I had the ringer off to text Olie. My heart cramped. Eyes shot wide. Chills skidded down my spine, and every nerve shot alive in te
rror. There was a one-word text, not from Olie, but from Isla. “Troy.”
Chapter 25
Olivia
When Nate left, I rushed back to my bedroom to get dressed. Afterward, I made several phone calls. My plan had to be perfect. I had planned a surprise dinner for Nate after we would be back in Los Angeles, before he moved out of his apartment. The apartment filled with so many of our memories together. Nate had assured me we would make happy ones at his new house, the house he hoped one day we could raise our family in when the time was right.
“Olivia, hurry up.”
“I’m sorry, Isla. I’m almost ready.” I slipped on my shoes and grabbed my purse on my way out of my room. Having Nate with me, and being happier than ever before, I’d been distracted. So much in love, every step I took, I floated off the ground.
Isla sighed, shaking her head in a scolding playful way. “I guess I can forgive you. We can be stupid when we’re in love.”
“So then, you must be in love.”
She knitted her brows in confusion and then realized I was talking about her. “What? No. I’m not in love with Josh. How many times do I have to tell you? Come on, let’s go.” She brushed me off.
“Uh huh...” I didn’t believe her as we paced to the front door together.
“And besides...” Isla swung the door open and froze.
My heart squeezed and fear sliced through me, sending jolting shocks through every fiber of me. I was the deer in the dead of the night and Troy was the headlights beaming, coming straight at me. His eyes pinned me to the spot, just like when he had found me at the apartment in LA. Losing the will of my leg muscles to move, I did the next best thing. My trembling hand yanked the door shut. Troy was faster. Everything moved in slow motion.
“Bitch!”
It was the only word I’d heard in all his shouting. Isla grabbed my arm as she ran. Somehow, Isla slammed against the wall, and I ended up in the middle of the living room out of breath. Troy had pushed Isla out of the way and seized my arm.
“Get out! Get out! Get out!” I screamed. I couldn’t think of anything to say as terror took hold of me. Troy’s hold was too strong. Fighting him made no impact.
“Stop!” Troy demanded to Isla. “Put that down and kick it to me right now, or I swear I’ll kill her.”
Isla had her cell phone out. Hopefully she had texted Nate or Josh, or at this point, anyone. I grimaced and squealed softly from the pain, but I was screaming inside. His hand on me tightened even more.
“Okay, okay, okay. See.” Isla did as Troy demanded and kicked it toward him. “Let her go, Troy. You’re only going to hurt yourself.”
“Shut up,” he hissed. “Go back against the wall where I can see you.”
When Isla didn’t move, Troy shouted again. “Now!” She flinched and backed away.
As Troy reached down for the cell, I jabbed him with my elbow to his rib cage and pushed him off me. I took off as fast as I could, but Troy grabbed a fistful of my hair, stopping me close to Isla. Pain ripped through my skull. I yelped and tears stung my eyes. Fighting back, I swung my arm around and hit a few picture frames. The frames crashed down, shattering the glass. My purse strap slid off my shoulder and dropped out of reach.
“Olivia.” Isla ran to the kitchen and came back with a knife. Her shaking hands couldn’t hold it still, but her eyes were determined. “Let her go, asshole. Nathan will be here any second with his friends. If you go now, we won’t say a word.”
Troy growled. “Do you think I’m an idiot? Do you think I would be here if I knew Nathan was here? I waited outside and watched him leave. Nathan isn’t coming back anytime soon. I have contacts even after Olivia smeared my name. There are people that are very loyal to me. I know exactly where he is. And right now, I have someone pointing a gun at his head.”
“No,” I whimpered. Every muscle and bone quivered. Blood rushed to my face even more, and my heart thundered. It was too much to bear as my thoughts ran wild. I needed to call Nate, needed to warn him. Oh, God! Oh, God! Oh, God! This can’t be happening. Nate! I feared more for his life than mine.
Troy’s grip on my hair and arm gave him the leverage to move me like his puppet. My head twisted to his cold, stone face. “I’ll tell you what, sweetheart. You come with me, and I’ll let Nathan live. It’s your choice. His life is in your hands.” His voice was smooth but filled with so much malice.
“Liar,” Isla spat. “Don’t listen to him. He’s manipulating you.”
My lips thinned, my rage burning through every cell in my body. “I would rather die than go anywhere with you,” I spat. “If Nathan dies, then I die too. So you might as well kill me. I love only Nathan. Why can’t you get that through your stupid ass brain and leave us the hell alone?” Then I did something I shouldn’t have done, but with no regret. I spit on his face.
I saw it coming, but I couldn’t stop it. My head whipped back so hard I stumbled, lost my balance, and dropped. Isla calling my name sounded from a distance. A burning sensation ripped through my left cheek and warm liquid oozed from a cut inside my mouth. I tried to get up, but my body weighed a ton. Crawling away, I tried to reach for my purse.
“Don’t you dare come any closer.”
Those words were not from me. Isla had to be closer to him with the knife.
“What a shame, Olivia. You could have been the next Sexiest Woman Alive with my contacts. Too bad you won’t get that chance. This is your fault,” Troy sneered, coming for me like an erupted volcano—slow but powerful. Every step he took with purpose, calculating, with the look of a killer.
I ignored him with one goal in mind. When my hands touched the purse strap, I pulled it toward me.
“This is your fault. I warned you many times. I get to tell you when we end, not you,” Troy continued with his mad outpour.
I grabbed what felt like a lipstick out of my purse just before Troy swatted it away like a baseball. The item dropped out of my reach.
“It’s too bad we have to part this way. I really liked you, Olivia. You were the first woman I considered marrying. We could’ve been big together.”
“Troy!” I yelled. Still on the ground, I kicked and hit.
As we struggled, Troy straddled me, rammed my head against the floor, and a hand circled my neck. Pain seared through me as my head rung with the vibration of dizziness. Piercing my eyes to his in disgust and terror, I ignored the ache and gritted through my teeth, “I would never marry you if you were the last man on Earth.”
Troy squeezed tighter. My arms flailed, smacking and clawing at any part of his body to set myself free, but with no result. Grabbing one of my hands, he pinned it to the floor. My other hand flew to his choking hand in hopes of stopping the pressure.
His eyes grew cold and dark, so evil, so hungry for revenge. “Then so be it. Nathan is dead anyway. So you can join him in hell.”
“No. Stop. Troy. Think about what you’re doing. Please,” Isla begged with shaky breath. “You’ll be committing a murder, and you’ll go to jail.”
Desperation quivered in her voice. Isla didn’t deserve this. She’d been nothing but a wonderful friend. “I’m so sorry, Isla, for dragging you into this. Go. Run while you can save yourself,” I choked out the words as tears burned my eyes. Troy’s grip tightened.
No!” she screamed, sobbing. “Let her go, you bastard!”
The room spun. My head burned. As tears streamed down my face, white dots flashed before me. The thought of Nate dead on the floor with a gunshot wound to the head gave me no reason to live. My body relaxed, allowing him to do as he would without a fight. But then I thought, what if Troy was lying? What if he had no clue where Nathan was? And what would become of my mom? My mom, my mom...Mom. Isla. Nate.
Nate would find me dead on the floor. I imagined him dropping to my body in agony. The devastation, the guilt, the grief. It would eat him alive. No. I couldn’t let Troy win. Nate and I finally found happiness with each other again, and I couldn’t let Troy take it away
. Fight, damn it. But How? Troy was stronger than me.
“Troy,” I grunted. “Plea…ssse.”
“Say goodbye, Olivia.” He smirked.
“No!” Isla screamed. “Troy, let her go. Olivia! Olivia!” Isla’s cry and her agony echoed through the walls.
Isla charged with the knife like a mad woman, but she stopped when Troy reached out his hand. It loosened his hold on my neck. “That’s it. Come to me with the knife, because you’re next,” he growled.
Air rushed to my lungs, and panic struck harder at the thought of needing to know if Nate was all right and needing to escape. With my free hand, I groped blindly to find anything to use as a weapon.
Troy whipped back to me. Keeping one eye on Isla and one eye on me, he let out a mocking chuckle. “What are you going to do, hurt me with your lipstick?”
If I could have, I would have given him the biggest smirk, but my lips were numb and stung like hell. The bitter taste of my own blood and tears of fear lingered on my tongue. Glaring at him, as his hold on me tightened, I managed to say, “As a matter of fact I am, you piece of shit.”
My arms swung around him, reached for the exposed nape of his neck, and pressed with beaming satisfaction. The ear-piercing, crackling, sizzling noise of the Taser was the last thing I heard before everything in the room blurred out of focus.
Chapter 26
Nathan
“Troy?” I fumed in anger. My jaw clenched. What was Isla trying to tell me? I punched her contact. When there was no answer, I called Olie. No answer. My gut instinct told me to call the police. What if Troy crashed the shoot? Surely other people were around. He wouldn’t dare do anything crazy, would he? The thought of Troy at their apartment slowly crept in my mind, disgusting me. Oh, hell, no!
I dialed Olie and Isla again as I headed to Hank’s office. He was still on the phone. I hated to disturb him, but Olie was important.