Twist of Fate

by Faver, JD

  Mel held her breath, afraid to look at Helmut. His hand gripped hers just a little too tight.

  “Congratulations, Mel,” Alain said. “Your artistic lens has captured the subject in perfect repose.” Alain held out his hand to Helmut.

  Helmut wasn’t breathing.

  Mel cleared her throat, clutched his muscular forearm. “Helmut Engle, this is Alain St. Croix, the designer.”

  Helmut hissed in a breath through his clenched teeth. He clasped the hand Alain offered and glared down at Mel, his jaw working.

  “I suppose that Mel has told you about my offer.”

  “No,” Helmut said slowly, his deep voice rumbling like thunder in his chest. “Mel has not discussed it with me.”

  “Alain, let me talk to Helmut privately.” She pulled Helmut to the end of the room to stand beneath his almost nude portrait. “Are you angry with me now?” She gazed up into his eyes.

  “I do not understand why you would do this. This... this...is unseemly. I have no clothes on and you display me for everyone to see.”

  Mel heaved a huge sigh, aware that others were staring. “I know that you don’t look at yourself as I look at you, but to me, you are so beautiful. Photographing you is my way of appreciating you. I’m an artist with my camera and the photographs I shoot of you are just my way of capturing the way you look at different times. Haven’t you seen paintings of beautiful nudes? Or statues of nudes?”

  He nodded, making a growling noise deep in his throat.

  “Please don’t be angry with me.”

  He raised his hand and let out his breath at the same time. He brought his hand down on her shoulder, wrapping his fingers around it. “I am not angry with you. I am embarrassed.”

  “Everyone thinks the shots are great. I was hoping you would like my work.”

  He squared his shoulders. “I know I am not the sophisticated city man you deserve. I am just a simple farmer. But I am a modest man and I don’t understand why you would show my body to strangers.”

  A flood of remorse washed over her. “I was wrong,” she whispered. “Tomorrow I’ll have the photograph removed from the show. Will you forgive me?”

  He breathed a relieved sigh. “Of course I will forgive you.” He leaned down to brush a kiss against her lips and she arched up to receive it.

  When they turned back to the gathering, another round of cameras flashed, capturing them in front of the image Helmut found so distasteful.

  Mel gripped Helmut’s arm. “Alain St. Croix wants you to represent his line.”

  “What does that mean?” Helmut frowned at her.

  “It means that he wants to pay you a fortune to be the face of St. Croix designs.”

  He gazed at her intently. “I do not understand. Why would he pay me a fortune to be his face?”

  She smiled up at him, stroking her fingers over his jaw line. “Because your face is so much better than his.” She sighed as she spotted ZiZi advancing upon them. “And this woman wants you to represent her men’s fragrance.” The confusion on his face clutched at her heart. She wanted to take him by the hand and run away, but she also wanted to bask in the glory of the show she had worked so hard for.

  “We’ll sort it all out later. Stay beside me and don’t let anyone coerce you into any commitments. If someone wants you to agree to something, just say that you’ll think about it. Promise me.”

  “I will think about it.”

  She hugged against him, taking care not to smudge her make-up onto the tuxedo. “That’s my guy,” she whispered.

  “I am your guy?”

  She looked up at him, a tight band around her chest. “I hope you are.”

  His face suddenly cleared. He stood beaming down at her. “I am your guy, Mel.”

  Clive Orrington, the gallery owner, called her over to autograph copies of her book. She kept Helmut in her wake, maintaining a grip on his hand. When she took the pen and began signing the large books, Helmut stepped back to give her room.

  When she glanced up, Alain had cornered him and they appeared to be deep in conversation.

  Gina Hobart-Constanza offered her a flute of champagne. “Mel, your male model is oozing so much testosterone he makes the rest of the men in this room look like a fruit salad.” Gina was the head of Constanza Modeling Agency and had contracts with most of the up and coming young stars of runways and covers.

  “That he does.” Mel hoped that Helmut was holding his own against Alain’s persuasive charms.

  “I’ll take one of those books,” Gina said. “Make it out to ‘My dear friend, Gina’.”

  Mel opened a book and inscribed the flyleaf as instructed.

  Gina watched Helmut chatting with both Alain and ZiZi.

  “Tell me who is representing your delicious man-hunk.”

  Mel tried to control the clutch in her stomach. “No one. I’m the misguided person who got him into this mess. There is no one directing his future, at the moment.”

  “Too bad,” Gina cooed. “I could do great things for your boy.”

  Mel snorted. “Alain wants to sign Helmut to an exclusive contract and so does ZiZi. All Helmut wants to do is go back to his farm.”

  Gina tapped her long acrylic nail against her champagne flute. “Perhaps that can be arranged. Tell me, when I can meet with him? And don’t let him sign anything before I have a chance to look it over.”

  Mel shook her head. “He isn’t interested in all this. He can’t be bought, Gina.”

  Gina grinned. “Everyone has their price, my friend.”

  #

  Helmut gazed across the gallery at Mel. She was talking to a sleek, dark-haired woman wearing glasses. They both turned to stare at him. Mel gave a little wave and the dark woman raised her glass to him in a salute.

  Helmut tried to focus on the heated discussion going on between the man, Alain and the lady named ZiZi.

  “But of course he cannot represent both lines, Zizi. You are out of your mind.” Alain threw his hands up in exasperation. “It’s impossible.”

  “Very well, then. ZiZi shall merely outbid you for his services. Helmut, darling, wouldn’t you rather be known as the Hombre man than the St. Croix man?”

  “Silly woman,” Alain hissed. “You just asked if he would like to be the man man. Hombre means man in Spanish.” He made a guttural sound in the back of his throat. “Just look at how perfectly he appears in the St. Croix tuxedo. He is a natural for my line. I will make him famous. His image will be on billboards in every major city around the world.”

  Helmut took a step away, wishing that Mel would come and tell him they could leave. He watched as she signed her book for someone else, smiling as she handed it back.

  The lights shone down on her glossy dark hair and contrasted her milky white skin. The silver dress clung to her slender curves, making him want to slide his hand inside the slit cut into the slim skirt and stroke the smooth skin of her thigh. Slip his hand inside her panties and...

  “So, what are you thinking, Helmut?” Alain asked. “Are you ready to sign my contract?”

  “Don’t be ridiculous!” ZiZi cried. “ZiZi will make you famous.”

  Alain made the scoffing sound and crossed his arms across his chest.

  Helmut wished he had an inkling of what Mel wanted him to do. She had told him that he was her guy. Her man.

  Helmut gazed down at both of them. “I will think about it.”

  #

  Mel had turned her cell phone off the night before. The ringing was driving her crazy. She didn’t want to talk to Alain and she didn’t want to talk to ZiZi.

  She crawled out of bed, out of Helmut’s arms to make coffee and to check the slew of messages.

  There was a tap at the door. Alain! I’ll kill him. Mel tiptoed to look out the peep-hole.

  A wave of relief washed over her when she recognized Gina giving her a grin and finger waggle.

  “Morning,” she sang. “I brought breakfast.”

  Mel pulled her into the
apartment, glancing down the hall to make sure that Alain wasn’t lurking in the shadows.

  Gina went into Mel’s kitchen and selected a plate from the cabinet. She opened one of the bags and arranged Danish pastries on the plate. “I brought bagels too.”

  “Thanks,” Mel said. “I’ll need to make something more substantial to sustain Helmut.”

  Gina giggled. “Like what? A side of beef?” She helped herself to coffee and a Danish.

  “No, I planned ahead.” Mel went to the refrigerator and removed smoked ham her deli had sliced especially thick just for Helmut. She placed a carton of eggs and a loaf of wheat bread on the counter.

  “Don’t let him get fat,” Gina cautioned.

  “As if,” Mel snorted.

  Gina glanced around. “So where is the gorgeous demi-god? Don’t tell me he’s sleeping in.”

  “He was checking out my bathroom a few minutes ago.”

  “Awww. And I wanted to go peek at him sleeping. That shot of him stretched out in bed was gorgeous from the highlights in his hair to his massive manroot.”

  “Do not,” Mel pointed a spatula at her, “mention the sleeping shot to Helmut. I’m pulling it from the show.”

  Gina clicked her tongue against her teeth. “You’re no fun. That photo made me cream my panties.”

  Helmut appeared in the doorway wearing only his faded jeans. “I did not know that you had company. I will put on a shirt.”

  Gina rolled her eyes when he had gone. “How can you stand to be around him? I would be jumping on him all the time.”

  “Who’s to say I’m not?” She flashed a grin at Gina. “But, he’s so much more than just a great lay. He’s sweet and gentle and funny...”

  Gina cast a glance over the rims of her glasses. “Sounds like love to me.”

  “No, I just...”

  Gina held up both hands in surrender. “Just making an observation.”

  Helmut reentered, wearing one of the St. Croix open-collar knits in pastel blue and white stripes. He walked over to Gina and held out his hand. “I am Helmut. I am pleased to make your acquaintance.”

  Gina gave him a wide grin. “I’m Gina. I’m going to change your life for the better.”

  Helmut grinned down at her. “You are too late. Mel already did that.”

  Mel felt the warm glow churning around her chest again. She scooped the scrambled eggs onto a plate beside the thick slices of ham and buttered toast. Just like mama never made. She placed the plate on the counter top. “I made your breakfast, Helmut. Come and eat it while it’s hot.”

  He gazed at her like she was brilliant and slid onto one of her barstools.

  “Gina and I have some business to discuss.” She poured coffee and joined Gina on the loveseat.

  They watched Helmut dig into the eggs for a moment and then turned to face each other.

  Gina raised her brows. “What do you think? Is he considering either offer?”

  Helmut grinned at them. “He can hear you.”

  Mel laughed. “We’re talking about the offers you received from Alain St. Croix and Zondra Zaccaretti, otherwise known as ZiZi.”

  “Ah, yes.” He grinned and winked at her. “I am thinking about them.”

  Mel scoffed. “He isn’t taking it seriously. He doesn’t realize that most everyone on the planet would kill to have this kind of opportunity.”

  Gina pressed her hand to her bosom. “Please, don’t kill me here. Photographers would be climbing all over you, begging to photograph you. Let me explain what either one of these contracts could mean to you, Helmut.”

  He turned to gaze at her, his dimples flashing as he shook his head. “I do not let anyone other than Mel take my photograph and only she can climb all over me.”

  “Well,” Gina said, waving a hand in Mel’s direction. “Just think what it would mean to Mel to be tied in to your exclusive contract. I could stipulate that you would only be photographed my Mel Hannigan.”

  Helmut frowned at Mel. “Is this what you want?”

  Mel shook her head vehemently. “I want you to do what’s right for you. This has to be your decision.”

  The cell phone vibrated in the pocket of Mel’s bathrobe. She looked at the number and heaved a sigh. “Excuse me. I have to take this.” Mel stepped into the bedroom to speak to Janissa.

  “What’s going on there?” Janissa sounded strained. “Alain and ZiZi have been calling me at home. They think I’m covering for you. Which I would be happy to do, if you would just tell me what’s going on?”

  Mel sighed. “Sorry. I’m trying to let Helmut decide if he’s interested in either offer without all the pressure.”

  “What’s the problem? Becoming the most sought-after male model in the industry isn’t a bad thing. I mean, think of the money he’ll be getting.”

  Mel shrugged. “I don’t think that money and glamour mean a thing to Helmut. If you put it in terms of buying heavy equipment for the farm, he might take notice.”

  Janissa groaned. “Well, tell him that you’ll count all his money for him so he doesn’t have to. The suspense is killing me.”

  “Me too. But I want him to make the choice on his own. Gina is in with him now, explaining his options.”

  Janissa snorted. “Of which she gets her percentage. Call me when you and Dream-Boat figure it out. I’m holding off Alain and ZiZi. I told them you were showing Helmut the sights of the city.”

  Mel massaged the back of her neck with one hand. The muscles felt suddenly tense and knotted. “I should take him out to see the city. He deserves that much. Thanks Janissa.” She hung up and slipped the phone back in her pocket.

  When she returned to the living room, Helmut and Gina looked at her expectantly.

  “What?” she asked.

  “I think we’ve reached an agreement,” Gina announced.

  #

  Helmut was surprised that such a large section of New York City had been preserved as a park. He was surprised that someone hadn’t knocked down all the trees and built more buildings. He was surprised that no one had covered the grass and water with concrete.

  Mel walked beside him, clinging to his arm. She had said that Central Park was a landmark. “What made you decide to sign with Gina?”

  Looking down at her sweet face, Helmut couldn’t bring himself to tell her the truth. He didn’t want her to know he’d only agreed to allow her friend Gina to represent him when she’d told him that it would be a great boon to Mel’s career. The career that meant so much to her.

  He shook his head. “I thought it would be fun.”

  Mel grinned and did a little pirouette, then grabbed his arm again as they continued their walk through the park.

  Gina had been right. It did mean a lot to her. Mel was fairly dancing beside him.

  He was delighted to have brought such joy to her face.

  Her great big photographs and her coffee table book and her magazine ads. These were as important to Mel as the farm was to Helmut, and if it meant something for her to be able to take his picture, then, who was he to deny her.

  Besides, it might bring her to the farm more often. If she had to drive up to take more pictures of him, she might just decide to stay. Particularly when she got a look at the bathroom he was going to have built.

  In fact, his friend Barton should have already gone by the house to take measurements and to discuss the possibilities with the plumber and the building contractor he recommended. By the time Helmut got home, Barton would be able to tell him what it would involve to add on a bathroom Mel would love...with a make-up mirror.

  #

  On Monday morning, Alain was rabid. He paced around her work room, stopping periodically to deliver a rant. “I cannot believe you allowed him to sign with that vulture. Gina Constanza will exploit him.” He slammed his hand down on her editing counter.

  Mel tipped her head to one side, wishing Janissa hadn’t called in late. “Don’t models usually sign with an agent to protect them from vultures?”
/>
  “Aha! You’re saying that I am a vulture?” He pressed his hand against his heart for emphasis.

  Mel opened her eyes wide. “Absolutely not, Alain. I was merely saying that, since Helmut knows nothing of the fashion world, he felt it was best to have someone more savvy to negotiate on his behalf.” She cleared her throat and tried not to break out with a grin. “In fact, it was after talking with you and ZiZi at the gallery opening, that he became dreadfully confused and asked for representation.”

  Alain clapped his hands together, causing Mel to blink. “Aha! It was that ZiZi woman who confounded him with her demands that he become her Hombre man.”

  “Perhaps you’re right.” Mel resisted the urge to roll her eyes and merely nodded her head in agreement. “So, if you’ll talk to Gina, I’m sure the two of you will be able to come to terms.”

  “Terms! I want him all! I want an exclusive contract with Helmut Engle, the St. Croix man.”

  “Yes, yes, I’m sure you will work it out.” She walked toward the door, hoping he would take the hint.

  Alain raked his fingers through his perfectly arranged hair, ruffling it in a most peculiar manner. He paced across the room and took Mel by the shoulders. “I’m a desperate man.”

  Mel heaved a sigh. “No, you’re not. You’re Alain St. Croix and you’re never desperate. You’re always cool and controlled. Remember?”

  He closed his eyes and drew in a slow breath. “I am finding my center.”

  At that moment, Janissa arrived and threw the door open. She slammed the door into him, sending him sprawling on top of Mel.

  Janissa gazed down at the tangle of arms and legs. “Oh, my! Am I interrupting something?”

  “Get off me, Alain! Help me up.” Mel grimaced as Alain fumbled his way to a standing position.

  He stood over her, holding out his hand.

  Mel clasped her arm against her chest. “My wrist. It hurts.”

  #

  Helmut found himself grinning all the time. Mel had returned him to the farm the previous evening and after a vigorous round of love-making, had left again early in the morning. But she had lingered in his arms and told him that she would miss him. She promised to make the drive again Friday after her last scheduled appointment. At least they had a weekend thing.