They went through each frame, narrowing it down until they selected the best shot from each contestant at all four filming locations. They printed out the photos and went over them one by one, documenting strengths and weaknesses. It was hard to focus when grief was so close to the surface. They should be critiquing Jessie’s pictures, too.
Many of the women had potential, but Brooklyn was instantly drawn to Olathe’s photos. There was a rawness, an honesty that was hard to capture on film. She’d tried to control her emotions, but they were there, and they came through on film. Not only did she look stunning, but she looked vulnerable and, at the same time, strong. It was a rare quality—one that Brooklyn had seen captured so successfully only a few times. Olathe was a supermodel in the making—if she could overcome her friend’s tragic death.
The three agreed on several contestants and talked through the others. They finally came to a consensus on the ten who would travel to Fontana Island for the chance to become the next supermodel.
Chapter Eleven
The announcement of the ten women who would compete for the title of the next supermodel was once again held on the rooftop deck. Brooklyn could feel the nervous tension of the contestants as soon as she exited the elevator. She was nervous, too.
The women cheered when she walked into view. She hated to dampen their enthusiasm, but she had to deliver terrible news on top of more bad news for nine of the hopefuls.
“Welcome, everyone. Before I announce the ten finalists, I have some upsetting news to deliver. As you know, Jessie Park was rushed to the hospital earlier today. She suffered a cardiac event, and I am very sorry to inform you she didn’t make it.”
Olathe gasped, and her knees gave out. Several of the other women cried openly. Brooklyn went to Olathe and helped her to her feet before hugging her. “I know this is hard, and I’m sorry for your loss. The best thing you can do is keep going for her. Can you do that?”
Olathe nodded and wiped her eyes. “I think so.”
“Good.”
She moved back in front of the group and waited for them to gather their composure. “For those of you who are interested, we’ll have cards available for you to sign to express your condolences to her family, and we will send flowers from the entire crew.”
She gave them time to process their emotions and deal with their grief before she continued. “The judges have evaluated the pictures, and we’ve come to a consensus. Without further ado, and in no particular order, the ten girls who will compete for the chance at becoming the next supermodel are….” She paused for effect. “Terica Burr.” She let out a whoop as she rushed to her spot on the stage behind Brooklyn. “Rose Cooper.” The brunette was one of two plus-sized models they’d selected. “Olathe Lovett.” She was clearly devastated at the loss of her friend, but she took her place on the stage. “Nari Kim.” She jumped a foot in the air and hurried forward. “Genie Kerns.” The blonde glided toward the others. “Rubi Hewitt.” Rubi was the other plus-sized model. “Hazel Castillo.” She twirled a circle and strutted like she owned the stage. Soon she was joined by Carmelina Heinz and Alease Beal.
Brooklyn paused. “Based on her interview and test photos, Jessie Park would’ve been one of the ten finalists. In her place, and the final contestant will be Amber Waters.”
The woman with short, spiky black hair screamed as her name was called, and she rushed to the group. That left nine girls devastated as their dreams were dashed. Brooklyn walked to them. “Just because we didn’t select you for this project doesn’t mean you can’t become a model. I saw potential in each one of you. Go home and practice in front of the mirror. Work on your runway walk and your poses, and most importantly, don’t give up. Keep going. Few people make it on their first attempt. I encourage you to come back and try again next season.” If there was one.
She hugged each woman and offered words of encouragement. Then she turned to the chosen few. “I’m so proud of you. You each bring something unique to the table. Work it. Show your stuff. We can’t wait to see what you’re capable of over the next two weeks.”
The finalists celebrated, though it was subdued. Jessie’s passing was heavy on their hearts.
“Tonight, we’ll attend a gala. I know it’ll be hard to feel like socializing after the tragic news, but stay strong and do it for Jessie. Her mother specifically told me that her daughter would want you to continue to chase your dreams, as Jessie was doing. High-profile executives from the industry will be in attendance tonight, as well as sponsors and designers. You’ll want to make your best impressions. I’ll see you in a few hours.”
#
Gage had planned on asking BeBe to find him a tux for tonight, but Brooklyn beat him to the punch. She had one waiting for him in his room yesterday. “I’ve been working with an up-and-coming designer, and I thought this would look so good on you,” she’d told him.
He’d nervously unzipped the plastic cover, expecting something in fuchsia or neon green or decorated with feathers. Thankfully, it was a standard tux in black. She’d even guessed the correct size.
He put it on, and she’d been right. It felt good. You couldn’t even tell he was wearing a kevlar vest. He wanted Brooklyn to wear one, but there was no way to hide it beneath her gown. When he met her in the living room, his tongue stuck to the roof of his mouth. She looked incredible. Her dress was a light-pink color, and her hair was artfully arranged on her head, with a few tendrils cascading down to frame her face.
He was the luckiest man on the planet to walk into the gala with her on his arm.
A limo waited to whisk them to the event. They could’ve walked faster, but Brooklyn explained everyone arrived that way to give the media the chance to capture them on film. Goodie.
They were in a line of cars waiting to unload. When it was their turn, the driver glided to a stop at the bottom of a set of steps. He left the motor running as he hurried around to open the door. Gage exited first. Flashbulbs exploded at a frantic rate as Brooklyn slid her hand in his and stepped out. Once she was on her feet, she threaded her arm around his, and he steeled himself for the trek inside.
“Smile, please,” she murmured. “They won’t kill you.”
“Says you,” he muttered but did as she asked and lifted his lips in what he hoped passed for a grin.
“You look stunning, Brooklyn.”
“Who’s the handsome man on your arm, Brooklyn?”
“You two look beautiful together.”
“Who are you wearing, Brooklyn?”
“It’s one of my new designs.” She stopped so photographers could snap pictures, and then they were on the way again.
Gage hated this. Hated. It. He preferred to stay in the background while she shined in the spotlight—just another reason why nothing could happen between them.
A group of protestors had been cordoned off to one side. They held signs and chanted against Flawless Face, the cosmetics brand sponsoring the event. Brooklyn told him that the company was often the target of extremists for their old testing practices on animals. They abandoned the methods, closed down their labs, and were now animal-free, but it didn’t stop the diehard activists from continuing to voice their objections.
A woman in a black dress and diamond-studded cat-eye glasses checked their names off a list when they entered, and they passed a large fountain bubbling merrily in the foyer. He was both relieved and disconcerted to realize there was no metal detector. It was good for him, since he was packing heat, but that meant others could be as well. Brooklyn assured him the security team was reliable. It was the same company the network hired to provide additional protection on Fontana Island for the show’s duration. They might be good, but Gage didn’t trust anyone but his coworkers.
The room began to fill as a string quartet played classical music. Wait staff in red vests worked the room with trays of appetizers and glasses of champagne. Brooklyn snagged two and handed him one. He was technically on duty, so he accepted the glass but didn’t imbibe. He
needed to stay sharp to protect her.
It seemed as if everyone wanted a piece of her. People called her name, and she greeted each person with a smile and hug. She was good to include him, but he’d prefer to back up against the wall and observe.
He’d just turned his back to place his glass on a tray when he heard, “There you are, Brooklyn, love. I’ve missed you so.”
He spun around to see a blond man with almost impossibly perfect features whisk Brooklyn in his arms, bend her backward, and plant a smacking kiss on her lips.
Red colored his vision, and he marched forward with purposeful steps, his fists clenching in preparation for a major beatdown. Suddenly, a body jumped in his path.
“Relax, tiger.”
“Out of my way, Jax.”
Jax grabbed his arms to stop his forward progress, but Gage continued anyway, propelling Jax with him.
“I said stop, Gage. There are cameras here.”
Yeah, he knew that. They were all furiously snapping away as they focused on Brooklyn and the soon-to-be-bloody blond.
“You don’t want to make a scene and ruin this for her. She’s already battling to keep her head afloat.”
Like a pin to an overinflated balloon, the words took all the fight out of him. Jax was right. She didn’t need him to storm in and cause an epic scene, especially since he wasn’t really her boyfriend.
“That’s Cash Curtis, and they’re just friends. They have been for years.”
Now he recognized the man from magazine pictures. “They dated.”
“Not really.” Jax looked around and then urged Gage away from anyone who could overhear. “They pretended to date for the media.”
Why would any man feign a relationship with Brooklyn? Reality hit him like a ton of bricks. His relationship with her was fake, too. But that was out of necessity to keep her safe. “I don’t understand.”
“Cash wasn’t dating her because he’s dating me,” Jax answered.
Gage’s head snapped to Jax, and suddenly everything made sense. The reason she ended the relationship so easily with Cash was that there wasn’t one. He was gay but firmly inside the closet. The relief Gage felt was monumental.
“Still, she’s my girlfriend now. Shouldn’t I at least seem upset for the cameras?”
“No. Look at them.”
He did, and it was to see them standing apart and chatting like friends. She looked over and motioned for him to join them.
Jax grabbed his arm. “Remember, this is her night. Beat your inner barbarian into submission, Conan.”
Gage chuckled. “I’ll try.”
He walked up to her, slid an arm around her waist, and tugged her close in a blatant show of familiarity. He couldn’t help it. Some cave dweller tendencies were impossible to tamp down.
“Gage, this is a dear friend, Cash Curtis. Cash, this is my boyfriend, Gage.”
Cash narrowed his perfectly plucked eyebrows at Gage as they shook hands. “So, you’re the one she threw me over for?”
Gage wasn’t sure how to answer that, so he didn’t. The cameras were still snapping away, and he’d spotted at least three people shooting video. Meanwhile, he offered a bland smile, thinking that the guy should man up and announce he was dating Jax. It wasn’t fair to Jax to keep their relationship a secret.
“It’s good to see you, Cash,” Brooklyn said. “We’ll catch up soon.”
She maneuvered Gage away, probably worried he’d start throwing punches or something. He might have on Jax’s behalf.
“Cash and I never hooked up,” she whispered.
“Because he’s dating Jax.”
She jerked to a stop, her mouth rounded. “You know?”
“Jax told me. He probably thought I’d cause a scene. I might have,” he admitted with a shrug. “When I saw him grab you and kiss you…I don’t know. Something snapped.” Damn, he’d said too much. He thought he’d see disappointment, or maybe disgust, on her face, but she looked pleased.
“The media doesn’t know about his orientation. I’d appreciate it if you didn’t say anything.”
“I wouldn’t,” he insisted and meant it. It wasn’t anybody’s business but Cash’s. If he chose to share, that was his decision. “But I don’t think it’s fair to Jax.”
“I don’t either, but he’s happy, so that’s all that matters.”
Music played, and he eased her to the dance floor. During one military mission, he’d been charged with seducing the daughter of a corrupt foreign businessman. He’d learned how to dance to get close to her. It’d worked, and he brought her father down before he could destroy an entire city.
Brooklyn came into his arms, and they swayed to the music. It would be so easy to forget everything but her. She fit against him perfectly, and her subtle flowery fragrance teased his senses, driving him wild. He wanted to rip the pins from her hair, fist his hand in her long locks, tug her head back, and feast on her lips. Now that he knew how they tasted, he wanted more.
“I think you made your point,” she murmured against his ear.
“What point?”
“That we’re a couple,” she answered with a smile in her voice.
He eased his grip, not even noticing he’d been crushing her against him. “Sorry.”
“Hey, I wasn’t complaining.” She shimmied against him. “I like it.”
Damn, his body did, too.
#
Gage’s arms were becoming Brooklyn’s favorite place to be. Sadly, duty called. First, her mother arrived, and then the bus transporting the ten finalists. She greeted them, congratulating them again for being selected. All the attendees knew about the show, so they would be approachable and open to chatting with the contestants. She encouraged the women to mingle.
She thought about Gage’s earlier outrage on Jax’s behalf. She felt the same way, but it was Jax and Cash’s decision, and for now, it worked. Maybe Cash would gain the strength to announce his orientation to the world. Perhaps not. He needed to do what made him happy. But it warmed her heart to hear Gage’s concerns for her best friend.
Jax had a hard time growing up. He’d been relentlessly bullied and harassed, and he’d even attempted suicide when he was seventeen. Thankfully, he had vital support from his mom, and he was able to get the help he needed. He found his calling in the fashion world, and he was accepted for who he was. Then he met Cash, and she’d never seen him happier.
“Those sign-toting whackos are a menace,” an older woman dripping with diamonds complained as she came inside. Brooklyn thought she might be married to one of Flawless Face’s board members. “I swear, one of them spit at me.” She wrinkled her nose.
Maybe because you were wearing a fur coat when the temps were in the eighties, Brooklyn wanted to say but held her tongue. The woman was fortunate they didn’t throw paint on her, which happened to another model at a show she was in a few years ago.
Brooklyn had been worried when they arrived to see the group of poster-waving, megaphone-screaming activists protesting loudly. She was against animal testing, and one reason she’d accepted Flawless Face’s sponsorship of the show was because of their commitment to rectifying their past mistakes and engaging in cruelty-free practices. Despite their turnaround, the protesters still targeted them. The CEO hoped that by sponsoring the program, the public would see that they were earnest with their pledge to right past wrongs.
She scanned the crowd, happy to see that the contestants seemed to fit in easily. Each one chatted with an industry insider and appeared to be engaged in a lively conversation. It was essential for them to be able to converse with the people who held their future fate in their hands.
A bell dinged, and everyone moved to the tables. Brooklyn took her seat beside Gage as dinner was served. She chose the fish option. It was a delicious creation of salmon with roasted asparagus and a salad with crusty bread. Gage opted for the chicken with roasted red potatoes. Desert was cherries jubilee. Then it was time for the speeches.
The Master
of Ceremonies was Flawless Face’s CEO. Mitchell Cameron took the microphone and explained their motivation in sponsoring the television show and how committed they were to practicing cruelty-free testing. After several minutes, he handed it over to Brooklyn. Everyone clapped as she stepped on the stage.
She thanked the various sponsors and designers in attendance and explained her enthusiasm for creating the show and her dress line. She was just about to introduce the finalists when all hell broke loose.
#
Gage wanted to accompany Brooklyn on the stage, but there was no way to do so without looking either extremely controlling or stalkerish. He settled for keeping an eagle eye on her. She thanked the network and sponsors who came on board to support her. Then she explained about her new clothing line and the inspiration for the show.
Tendrils of unease danced down Gage’s spine, but he couldn’t pinpoint the cause. His eyes roamed the room, looking for anything that triggered the response. When he spotted the suspicious-looking package beneath the stage, he was moving before he realized it, knocking into people and chairs in his haste. He leaped over one that tumbled in his path. This was what had his Spidey senses tingling.
“Brooklyn.” He surged onto the platform and grabbed her around the waist, sweeping her into his arms.
“Gage, what the hell are you doing?” Her tone was high-pitched and frantic.
Ignoring her question, he ordered everyone off the stage and shouted for people to clear the room. He’d just hopped down the steps when the floor rumbled and a deafening explosion rocked the room. Brooklyn gasped and grasped his neck tighter as they flew through the air. He twisted his body to absorb the impact as they hit the ground with a bone-jarring thud.
People screamed as debris and smoke floated through the air. A siren wailed, and a loudspeaker called for everyone to file out in an orderly fashion. His only concern was Brooklyn. She stared down at him with wide eyes. “Are you okay?”
She blinked. “I think so.”
Ignoring the various aches and bruises, he scrambled to his feet with her in his arms and searched for Ginny. He found her huddled behind an overturned table. Grasping her arm, he guided her to safety. Gage settled Brooklyn on her feet, and she hugged her mom. Once they were clear, he wanted to rush back inside and help the injured, but no way would he leave Brooklyn and Ginny unprotected. He kept them covered as sirens pierced the air and the police arrived in full force.
Dressed to Kill (COBRA Securities Book 22) Page 11