by Sienna Hart
“No sir, but if you just give me a chance, I can . . .”
He closed his case and stood up. He held his hand out again and shook my hand. My heart sank.
“It was nice meeting you, Elise.” He smiled that brilliant smile. “You are a very pretty girl.”
“Sir? I’ll do a shoot for free.” His laugh was hearty and in any other situation, I would have loved it.
He walked up to me and put his hand under my chin, lifting my head up to meet his stare. God, he was beautiful.
“I will see you tomorrow morning at seven AM.” I was confused. “I like to see fresh new talent, Elise, and I think you have what it takes . . . and yes, I will pay you for the work you do.” He handed me a business card and leaned down and kissed my forehead like a father to a daughter, before walking past me and out the door. My jaw dropped open and I looked over at my friends. They all ran over to me giggling and screaming and we all jumped up and down like teenagers.
* * *
I was so nervous that I didn’t sleep much. My thoughts were racing with what I should do and what I shouldn’t do, how I should act, what I should wear. The only experience I had was watching reality shows on television back home as I wished I was one of those girls. I shut my alarm off before it was time and got up to get ready for my first day.
I arrived at the address on the business card Sean gave me and I went inside. The building was a little run down and smelled like stale cigarettes. I followed the taped up signs written on paper with black marker that read ‘Models’ with an arrow underneath it designating the direction I should go. The door to the room was open and I stood in the doorway, not knowing if I should knock or just go in. There were half naked women walking around. A photographer was on one wall snapping pictures at a rapid pace. I couldn’t see the model from where I was standing. She was behind a white sheet pinned up with nails in the side of the wall partitions.
“Mmmm yes. Just like that. A little more of that, baby. Looking sexy as hell. Mmmm.”
I looked around for Sean but couldn’t find him from where I was standing. I crept into the room and walked toward a bare wall. A woman rushed up to me and grabbed my hands. She held my arms out and looked me up and down.
“You’re Elise Shay?” I nodded, still trying to figure out what the woman was doing. “You’ll do. Come with me.” I followed her as instructed and went to a small dressing room crowded with too many outfits on a hanging bar. There were three vanity tables crowded together and two other women in there doing their makeup. One of the women sat there completely naked. I tried not to stare as the woman started sifting through the clothes on the hanging bar. She shoved a couple of things into my arms and told me to try them on.
* * *
“Be on set three in five minutes.”
I could barely turn around with all the clutter. I looked at the others who sat within an arms length of me. I had to dress in front of them and whoever else decided to enter the room. I looked at the clothes she gave me and realized there wasn’t much to them so it really didn’t matter who I dressed or undressed in front of. I took a deep breath and removed my shoes. I glanced at the others and they were watching me through their mirror, sizing me up and comparing me.
“Well, this isn’t awkward.” I said looking at them watching me. They rolled their eyes and turned away briefly. I removed my dress and picked up a black leather bikini. “It’s just a job, Elise,” I mumbled. I took the suit off the hanger and looked at the bottoms. It was tiny, but something about it stirred me. Surely I wasn’t going to enjoy this, was I? I felt weird, but at the same time, the bottoms looked great.
I sat at the vacant desk and looked at myself. I roughed up my hair a little, and watched the makeup artist get to work.
The door swung open, and the woman snapped at me.
“Your five minutes is up!”
I jumped up and followed her out, looking for set number three.
The photographer greeted me with a smile when I approached him. His eyes cascaded down my half naked body. I felt vulnerable and glanced around for somewhere to hide. I could still back out.
“It’s just a job,” I mumbled over and over again. “I can do this.”
Chapter 4
“Very nice!” The photographer got behind the camera as I walked up to the white sheet lying on the floor.
“We are going to do a shoot for some potential clients using sexual poses and bondage. You ok with that?” I nodded skeptically afraid that if I didn’t comply they would fire me on the spot. I needed to prove I was professional and could conquer anything put in front of me.
Just as I took a breath ready to pose as instructed, a man walked up onto the set, wearing nothing but a leather thong. My eyes grew wide, realizing I wasn’t going to be doing this shoot alone. The man walked up behind me and put his arms around me. His hands spread wide covered my stomach, and his chin rested on my shoulder. The photographer began shooting rapidly.
“Very nice. Work the camera. Relax your body, Elise. You’ll do fine.”
The man behind me pressed his body up against mine. It felt slick like oil. I posed with him, trying to relax and look like I had done this before. Just as I started getting into it, the clicking stopped and the photographer waved his hand up.
Two assistants joined us with ropes in their hands. They began to tie them around me, knotting them strategically as they worked the prickly rope around my body. They held my arms above me and tied them to a hook that dangled just over my head. The ropes bit into my skin, and my suit loosened up as they pulled my arms higher.
The assistants walked away, and the male model walked up to me and pressed his body into mine, facing me. He smelled so good. He wrapped his arms around me and pressed his forehead against mine. I heard the rapid clicking of the camera again as he slid down my body still staring into my eyes. He knelt in front of me with his arms around my waist. He grabbed my bottoms with his teeth and pulled them from my skin. He looked at the camera with a snarl, and the clicking got faster.
His hands slid underneath my bottoms from behind. He grabbed a hold of my ass and then fed his fingers around my sides underneath my bottoms. His fingers hooked around my straps and I felt them slowly being pulled down my body. I wanted to scream for him to stop but was afraid to. I put my head back and opened my mouth. I tried to imagine a fantasy to try to get through it.
The model slid back up my body and slid his hand into my hair. He grabbed a handful and forced my head back further. His face slid along my neck, and he moaned while his teeth sunk into my skin.
My body responded, every inch of my skin warm and humming, prickling, and the thought of being taken by this man aroused me. I gasped as his mouth slid down my neck and between my breasts, dancing over my skin. The photographer clicked his camera so fast, moving and running from side to side.
“Oh my god this is fucking beautiful. Yes. Make love to her. Force yourself on her. She is yours for the taking. Gorgeous . . . yes!”
I couldn’t believe this was arousing me so much. The model slid his hands up under my top and cupped my breasts. His mouth brushed mine and he squeezed. I gasped again as he smirked.
I wanted him to kiss me. I wanted his tongue deep in my mouth, and I wanted his hands all over my body. Just when I leaned in to take that kiss he was teasing me with, I heard the clicking of the camera stop.
“Okay, people. That’s a wrap.”
The model let me go and walked away grabbing his towel and wiping his chest. I stood there, still tied up, actually upset that he could just walk away after such a performance.
The assistants untied me and walked away with the props. I rubbed my wrists, still indented with the ropes and started accepting the fact that it was . . . indeed . . . just a job.
* * *
I came out of the dressing room after changing into my next barely-there outfit and I looked for Sean. I was hoping he was around to watch me work and give me an idea how I did. I really needed to work a f
ew more jobs to catch up on my rent and to pay Megan back what I owed her.
The photographer was motioning me over to start the next photoshoot. Everyone else seemed to know where I should be and what I should be doing, so I went through the motions and let them mold me into whatever they wanted me to be.
Well into the afternoon and five costumes later, I was getting the hang of the way things were handled. When it got tough or awkward I pretended I was playing dress up like I used to with my mother’s clothes when I was little and it helped me get through it. The other models looked at me like I was a threat, so I didn’t get much of a big, healthy welcome from them, but I didn’t plan on being there for long.
By the end of the day, I was tired and happy to leave. Sean still didn’t show up, but I still had his card so I called him as I left the building. When his voice mail sounded I didn’t know what to say.
“Hello . . . this is Elisa . . . You interviewed me last night and I had my first photo shoot today. I did really . . . um . . . things went really well and I was hoping to talk to you to see how I did. I’d love the opportunity to do it . . . to work with you . . . with the photographers again. Thanks.” I blurted out. Just before I hung up I remembered I didn’t give my number. “Um . . . please call me at 555-212-3218. Thank you.”
* * *
“So did he call back yet?” Isabel was just getting to the restaurant that day. We all waited for her before ordering lunch and decided to have a few cocktails while we waited.
“Not yet. It’s frustrating not knowing. I just wish he’d call me to tell me I sucked or something.”
“I’m sure he’ll call. Sometimes it takes a few weeks.”
“Weeks?” I dropped my head onto the table. “This is killing me.”
“Did you at least get paid for the shoot you did?”
“Yeah. They paid me cash before I left.” I glanced at Megan knowing what her next question was. “I have it.” I picked up my bag and fished my one fifty out. “I just wanted to hold it for a little while. I am forgetting what having money feels like.”
I handed all of it to her and smiled.
“Don’t you worry, hon. You’ll be making so much money you’ll never have to worry again very soon.” Isabel was always so reassuring; I loved that about her.
* * *
My cell phone rang just as I was getting back to the apartment. I answered it while fumbling for my keys.
“Hello.”
“Elisa Shay?”
“Yes this is she.” When I realized it was Sean my heart skipped a beat.
“Elisa. I went through your photos from your shoot last week and I submitted them to a few clients.” I held my breath. “We had a call from a perfume company and they are very interested in your portfolio. We may have a deal.”
“That’s wonderful!”
“If you are interested I’d like to see you in my office tomorrow morning to set up the preliminaries and talk business.”
“Yes sir.” My heart was beating so fast. “What time?”
“Eight o’clock.”
“I’ll see you then.” I hung up my cell and stood there for a moment. I jumped up and down screaming with excitement. The front door of our apartment flew open and Megan stood there with her mouth gapping open.
“What’s wrong?”
“I got the call.” Megan grabbed my arm and pulled me inside.
“Tell me everything!”
“He said a perfume company liked my pictures and wants to make a deal using them in their advertising campaign!” I started jumping around again, and Megan joined me in my joy.
“Do you know what this means?” She grabbed my face and looked directly at me.
“What?”
“I don’t have to pay your rent anymore!” She laughed and I slapped her arm playfully.
“Oh god. A huge weight just lifted off my shoulders.”
“We have to go out tonight and celebrate.”
“Oh no. I’m not going out tonight. I have to meet him tomorrow morning early and I’m not jeopardizing that.”
“How about dinner then . . . on me?”
“You got it.” I put my arm around her and hugged her tightly.
Chapter 5
“Here is my full month’s rent.” I smiled gloriously as I handed it to Megan.
“And a week early none the less. I’m impressed.” She looked up from the book she was reading just long enough to take it and slide it into her bra.
“It feels good to finally make it on my own.”
“Well, don’t be going on no big shopping spree or anything. Just because you landed your first ad campaign doesn’t mean you’re out of the woods yet.”
“Well I got my one fifty for the shoot and a check for three thousand for the ad campaign. I am going to bank the rest and live off what I make at the restaurant until I get enough built up to quit.”
“A strategy . . . wonderful.” Megan put her thumb up in the air, never picking her head up.
I spun around on my heel and danced toward the kitchen whistling a tune made up in my head.
“So how is that going anyway?” She asked still reading.
“Really good. I don’t know why Isabel told me to keep my eyes open. Sean didn’t hesitate to pay me what I had coming. The campaign for the perfume company was a two part deal. They did a seductive racy portfolio for the “Dark Seduction” perfume and they want to do another softer spread with me and another woman to promote a new perfume.” I looked over at her and saw her book marking her page and setting it aside.
“Really? I thought you were squeamish around other women in that type of situation?”
“I was in the other shoot too, but I treated it like it was a job and I pretended to be someone else.”
“Want some practice?” Megan had a big sexy grin on her face.
“Thank you so much for the generous offer, but I’ll pass.”
She walked to the kitchen, and jumped up to sit on the counter next to me as I peeled an orange.
“So Isabel said it could lead into other things. Is it? Are you getting any more exposure?”
“Sean set me up on an internet site with my own portfolio and downloads. He also created a blog site for anyone interested in my life as he sees it.”
“What do you mean?”
“He, or whoever he hired, writes short blogs about my life, but most of it is fiction. It’s supposed to grow my fan base. I have a pretty good following so far, so it must be working.”
“When is your next photo shoot?
“Thursday.”
“Are you nervous?”
“Extremely.” I said and ate the rest of my orange.
* * *
I arrived at my photo shoot that afternoon expecting to find people all over the place like I did before. I looked at the clock on my cell when I walked in and saw the place empty. The sets were still there but there was no one around.
“Hello?” No one answered. I walked to the dressing room and peeked into a few other rooms but no one was around. Just before I hit Sean’s number in my phone I heard someone walk in. It was the photographer and a very attractive young woman.
“Oh good you’re here. Go with Anna and get ready.”
The attractive woman floated toward me looking me up and down. Her smile was gorgeous and she took my hand leading me toward the dressing room.
I felt just as awkward as I did at my last shoot and telling myself it was just a job wasn’t working as well this time. Maybe I should have let Megan practice on me.
I took a deep breath and let Anna mould me the way she wanted me to pose. She was very seductive as she wrapped herself around me. The camera let off its familiar clicks in a rapid pace, and the more he clicked, the more I began to feel like I could pull this off.
After a few more outfit changes and a thousand more poses and photos the photographer called it a wrap. I picked up my water bottle and sashayed off the set feeling quite satisfied with the experience I was ga
ining. Just before I went in to change a man standing on the side called me over.
He was very tall, and well-dressed, much like Sean was. His dark skin glowed with an iridescence, like he was kissed by the sun. His features were very distinguished and his hair a deep black, with light brown tips spiked to perfection. His brown eyes crinkled, surveying me. Looking into them was like floating in a deep pool.
“Elise Shay? My name is Michael Chang.” He shook my hand. “I’ve been watching your photo shoot and I have to say I’m impressed with your work. I noticed you in the perfume ad and I’ve been following you online under your Miss Savannah website. You’re beginning to become quite a sensation. The people love you and I would love to work with you.” He handed me his business card. “Call me.”
He bowed his head and smiled as he walked out of the room leaving me standing there speechless.
* * *
“Michael Chang? You met Michael Chang?” Lillian was bubbling over, as if it was her shoot with a famous photographer. Isabel seemed more irritated than happy for me.
“Well, I wouldn’t be shining a gold medal for her just yet. He is probably just using her as an extra or a before shot or something. She probably won’t even be able to handle the kinds of pictures he takes.”
“Wow, Isabel. You are a true friend. Thanks for the vote of confidence.” I wasn’t sure where all of her hostility was coming from but I didn’t like it. Isabel was always very supportive of me and encouraged me to push to be the best. Megan leaned over to me and looked at Isabel.
“She’s pissed because she hasn’t been able to even connect with Michael Chang yet.”
“She’s tried?” I looked at Isabel, surprised at what Megan said. “You tried?”
“So what?” She picked up her smoothie and took a sip, trying to shrug it off. “I’m doing very well the way I’m going.” She looked down and got quiet for a moment, then looked at me. “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean what I said.”