“I know that’s not true. She’s an incredible woman, and it’s obvious the feelings are mutual. I fought my attraction to Peyton, too. Thank goodness I came to my senses. I can’t image my life without her.”
“Our worlds are too different,” he protested feebly. “She lives in the spotlight in New York. I live out of it in Indiana. It would never work.”
“You’re right.”
Gage’s brows slammed down at Noah’s comment.
“It one hundred percent won’t work if you don’t try.”
Gage thought about Noah’s words as he watched Brooklyn throughout the day. He pictured his life without her, and it was bleak and lonely. He’d grown accustomed to seeing her face before he fell asleep at night and the first thing when he woke in the morning. Being with her was the best part of his day.
Brooklyn opened the French doors and stepped onto the veranda. She turned to him, and he followed her like a needy puppy. He had a feeling he’d follow her anywhere. Coming up behind her, he slid his arms around her as the ocean churned and palm trees swayed with the breeze.
Realization crashed over him like the waves slamming against the shore. He loved her. He loved Brooklyn Fontana.
Chapter Twenty-Five
Brooklyn and Gage stood on the dock and waved as the boat carrying his coworkers and their wives motored away. She wiped a hand beneath her eyes to dash away tears. She’d become so close with the women, and even though they exchanged contact information and hugs, she would miss seeing them every day.
Out of the corner of her eye, she gazed at the man next to her. As hard as this was, she wasn’t sure she’d survive when he walked away. He’d become one of the most important people in her life. His steady, calm competence had provided the balance she needed during the most hectic time of her life.
He smiled down at her, and her heart flipped in her chest. Oh, how she loved him.
They returned to the bungalow to gather their belongings. They were flying back to New York in the Hurst Enterprises jet with Stella, Clark Hardy and his assistant, two security staff members, and two of Gage’s coworkers, who were currently in Miami. The five remaining contestants and the rest of the crew would fly back in a jet the network rented.
They stopped to say goodbye to the island staff and thank them for their work during the week. She spoke with Judy, the boutique manager, who was excited about the new products they’d soon be selling. On top of Peyton’s suits, her sister-in-law created designer candles that would be a fantastic seller, and her business partner made gorgeous jewelry that would be a hit. And Judy was delighted to be an official retail partner of Harmony! skincare products.
“Brooklyn, there you are.” Stella came rushing toward them, rolling a giant suitcase behind her. In her other arm, she clutched her iPad and a cup of coffee. Her stuffed laptop bag hung from her shoulder, and her glasses were askew.
“Here, I’ve got that.” Gage took the luggage from her.
“Thanks.” She sighed and pushed her glasses up her nose. “Everything’s set for the return trip. The hotel has the correct number of reservations, so we’re good to go.”
They’d survived the week with a few wardrobe malfunctions, a couple of run-ins with drug runners, lightning, a rogue snake, and Linc’s disappearance. She was still worried about the makeup artist and hoped he’d only needed some time for himself. She didn’t want to consider the alternative.
Gage informed her that Austin and Abilene had been under surveillance, so they weren’t responsible for the snake or Linc. That didn’t mean they weren’t behind the earlier events in New York.
The boat arrived, and Gage loaded their gear before he helped her and then Stella aboard. The trip across the bay was uneventful—thankfully. After their last passage, that wasn’t a given. She’d always taken it for granted before. Never again.
Once they unloaded, Gage insisted on carrying the suitcases, despite her protest. Knowing she wouldn’t win the argument, she marched ahead with Stella at her side.
“Hey, look at this.”
Gage had stopped at a newspaper kiosk. She moved beside him and scanned the headline.
Local student’s body washes up on the beach.
She read the following line and gasped. “Dominique Fisk.” She looked up at Gage. “She’s the one who wanted to interview me.”
“Yeah.” He deposited the luggage in a heap and ducked into a bait shop for change.
“What are you guys looking at?” Stella leaned down to read the headline. “Dominique Fisk? That name sounds familiar.”
“She’s been trying to set up an interview with me about a designer I used to work with.”
Stella straightened and gasped. “David Pacella? Now I remember her. She’s left messages, but we had so much going on, I didn’t have time to respond. I planned on getting in touch with her after the fashion show.”
“She approached me when I arrived on Friday. She is,” Brooklyn winced, “was producing a documentary on David. I told her I’d help her out.”
Gage returned with quarters, which he dropped into the dispenser before removing the paper. He held it so they could read the article together. Two men out fishing found Dominique last night. She’d been stabbed and dumped in the water. There were no suspects, but the investigation was in the early stages.
Brooklyn thought about the woman with boundless enthusiasm and a bright smile. She had her whole life ahead of her. Her light had been extinguished before she truly had the chance to shine.
Chapter Twenty-Six
Monday morning, Brooklyn entered the room where the five remaining contestants waited. “Welcome back to New York City. We had you working on your portfolios and comp cards because we have a very special guest today. She’s the founder and CEO of a major worldwide management company she built from scratch. She went from a one-person operation to overseeing offices in New York, Los Angeles, Toronto, Paris, London, and Sydney. She knows the modeling business better than anyone I’ve ever met, and she’s represented me from the time I was fifteen years old. If you want to make it in this business, this is the woman you want to impress. Ladies, please welcome Ginny Hurst, the CEO of Hurst Entertainment.”
The girls clapped and cheered as Ginny walked out wearing a navy-blue pinstripe suit with a white and blue silk shirt beneath. She looked both poised and professional, and Brooklyn marveled at how amazing her mom was. She was so proud of her.
“Thank you for the warm welcome, Brooklyn.” She stood beside her and eyed the contestants. “With one look, I can tell each of you brings something unique to the table. First impressions are important. I would book every one of you based on appearance, but that’s not all I look for when signing someone. There are several factors we consider. There are the obvious markers of posture, professionalism, height, and beauty, but we also want to know that you’re pleasant to work with and show energy and commitment. I’ll tell you right now; you need to have thick skin. There will always be people who don’t know you but will ruthlessly pick you apart and try to knock you down.”
“You can’t take it personally,” Brooklyn added. “And you can’t let it affect your modeling. I’ve had people call me an ice queen because of the color of my eyes or disposition and others who’ve criticized everything from my height to my weight to my hair. You name it.”
“But how do you handle it?” Genie asked. “I would break down in hysterics.”
“You learn to let it go, or it will destroy you,” Brooklyn advised. “You need to be confident in your own skin. Don’t let people you don’t know diminish your self-worth.”
“That’s excellent advice,” Ginny agreed. “Also, in this day and age, an online presence is essential. You become exceedingly more valuable if you’re out there on social media marketing yourself on Instagram and other platforms. Suppose a potential client sees that you have a million followers. That would put their product in front of a million people. It’s a tremendous incentive and might make the difference in
you being selected for a shoot, campaign, or runway gig. And ladies, I can’t stress this enough—punctuality matters. Time is money. If you arrive late, you might as well not show up at all.”
Ginny eyed each of the contestants. “We’re going to have one-on-one interviews. Pretend that you’ve just arrived in New York and want my company to represent you. Show me what you’ve got. Prove that you have what it takes to be a top model. I want you to impress me.”
#
Olathe was so nervous to talk to Ginny Hurst. She was one of the most influential people in the fashion world. Her company repped the biggest names in the business, including Olathe’s idol, Brooklyn.
“Olathe, you’ll go first.”
She almost threw up on the spot. Instead, she steeled her spine, stood, and picked up her portfolio. She’d worn her hair in a ponytail with minimal makeup. Her blouse and cropped pants were comfortable. She hoped she didn’t look too casual.
With a deep breath, she walked into the room. Ginny sat at a table and didn’t look up when she entered. Olathe figured it was a test, so she politely said, “Good morning, Ms. Hurst. I’m here for my appointment.”
Ginny eyed her with disinterest. It was all Olathe could do to keep from squirming.
“Name?”
“Olathe Lovett.”
“Let me see your portfolio.”
Olathe placed it in front of her and stood back. Jax had helped her select the best shots, and she felt confident that they represented her style. She almost whimpered when Ginny flipped through lightning fast. There was no way she could’ve seen any of them. She slid the portfolio back across the table and glanced at Olathe’s feet. “Did you bring heels?”
“I did, yes.”
“Put them on, and let me see your walk.”
With shaking hands, she dug the shoes from her bag and slipped them on. Then she stood and glided across the floor with the walk Kaycee had helped her tweak. She stopped and posed before turning around and returning.
“Not bad,” Ginny commented. “Why should I take you on as a client?”
With a calming breath, she forced herself to relax. Instead of choking, she bared her soul. “I’ve dreamed of being a model since I was a young girl. My grandmother sewed clothes for me to walk imaginary runways. I’ve worked hard to get here today, and I will continue to work hard, even after achieving my goals. I’m punctual, dependable, and willing to listen and learn.”
“What if I sent you on a shoot where you had to pose nude?”
Olathe gulped. She’d thought long and hard about this issue. She didn’t want to jeopardize her chances, but she had to stay true to herself. “I wish I could tell you I had no problem with it, but I can’t. My parents are wary of me becoming a model, but they support me. I wouldn’t want to upset them by posing nude.”
“I appreciate your honesty,” Ginny said. “Brooklyn has a no-nudity clause in her contracts. It’s not for everyone, but there are plenty of women who have no problem getting undressed in front of the cameras. I respect you for not simply telling me what you thought I wanted to hear. Thank you for coming in today.”
“May I leave a comp card with you?”
“Sure.”
She reached into her bag, withdrew one of the glossy cards, and handed it to Ginny.
“You impressed me, Olathe. You held it together and didn’t let me intimidate you. I admire that. Plus, you are beautiful, and your walk is fantastic. Good luck.”
Olathe floated out of the room, feeling optimistic and energized. She’d held it together, stood her ground, and showcased her talent. Hopefully, it would be enough.
#
Now that they were back in New York, Gage planned on sending Kaiya to speak with Carol Graves, except he couldn’t track down the former model. She dropped entirely off the radar. Ryan added to his stress level when he told him he called the hotel in Miami and discovered the twins had checked out. Their names didn’t show up on any plane, bus, train, or car rental agreements, so they were also off the grid. He didn’t like not knowing where they were.
He’d planned on having Kaiya and Ryan rent a hotel room, but Ginny insisted they stay in the penthouse. There were two additional bedrooms, so there was plenty of space. He liked the added security of having them close. It made it harder to hide his relationship with Brooklyn, but he refused to sleep without her. He snuck back to his room early each morning to keep their trysts a secret.
There was no news on Linc Chadha’s disappearance or the person who murdered Dominique Fisk. With threats still out there, he didn’t plan on letting Brooklyn out of his sight.
#
The five contestants nervously filed into the judging room. They’d made it this far and didn’t want to leave. Brooklyn completely understood. She didn’t want them to go either.
“Ladies, today you met with Ginny Hurst. She’s going to score you on your interviews and will serve as a judge the rest of the week.”
The girls clapped enthusiastically as Ginny waved. “I was harsh with you today, but I wanted you to get a feel for the real world. For the most part, you handled yourselves well. Only one of you offered me a comp card, and that was Olathe. She was also the only one who came prepared with a pair of heels. Alease, you were friendly and outgoing, and your personality shined. Genie, you started shy, but your walk was strong, and I felt your desire to do well. Nari, you were standoffish when I gave you a hard time. I wouldn’t sign you based on your attitude. Carmelina, you did little to convince me you wanted to be a model. I wouldn’t sign you, either.”
Carmelina’s lips pursed, obviously upset with the critique. Nari looked ready to punch someone.
“I can only pick one winner, and frankly, it wasn’t even close. Olathe, you were prepared, focused, and personable. You are the winner.”
The other women congratulated Olathe, who looked pleased.
“Okay, ladies, you had a shoot on the island where you dressed as fairies, complete with wings,” Brooklyn reminded them. “You’re the last ones standing. I wanted to view the film and know I was looking at the top five finalists, but that wasn’t the case. Your photos weren’t as strong as I hoped.”
“We had some hiccups,” Jax admitted. “We suspended the ladies in the air, and some had a hard time with heights.”
They went over the photos with the women, and then they left while the judges discussed the scores. When they returned, Olathe was announced as the best picture, while Carmelina had the lowest combined total and was sent home.
Chapter Twenty-Seven
Brooklyn managed very little sleep the previous evening. She was taking advantage of her time with Gage. It was both thrilling and inconvenient to keep their relationship a secret from Ginny, Kaiya, and Ryan. She thought her mom might have picked up on how close they’d become, but she had said nothing.
As with his other coworkers, she enjoyed getting to know Kaiya and Ryan. They were as wonderful as the other COBRA Securities agents she’d met. Gage was lucky to work with such an incredible group of people.
The four remaining contestants stood in front of her: Olathe, Alease, Nari, and Genie. Each one had the potential to win it all. “Ladies, this is an exciting day. Today you’ll be going on go-sees.”
There was a mixture of cheers and groans.
“Judging by the reaction, I’m sure you’re familiar with the term. A go-see is your chance to meet with a person or company casting for a particular campaign, or they might want to add to their book of potential models for future projects. When they have an available job, they will know who you are.”
“I’m awkward talking to strangers,” Nari moaned. “Ms. Hurst described me as standoffish, but I didn’t mean to come across that way.”
“It’s not easy,” Brooklyn admitted. “Most people think modeling is glamorous and that you just show up on a set and start shooting. That’s not always the case, especially in the beginning. You need to learn how to market yourself. There are some guidelines to remember when go
ing on go-sees, and Kaycee will give you the list, but the most important thing is to be on time. I can’t stress this enough. Time is money in this business, and tardiness won’t be tolerated by agents, photographers, or designers. If you’re even a minute late, it could mean the difference between landing the job or not being considered for future opportunities from that person, company, or designer. A good rule of thumb is to be ten minutes early.”
“Some tips are to keep everything minimal, from your clothes to makeup,” Kaycee told them. “When I say minimal for clothes, I don’t mean you walk into a go-see naked.” The girls laughed. “A better choice of words would be neutral. You don’t want to wear a hot-pink skirt and purple feather boa.” More chuckles. “Form-fitting tops and pants are best, but not necessarily skintight. Black is a good choice.” She lifted a shoe. “There’s a good chance they’ll want to see your walk, so come prepared with a pair of heels like Olathe did for her meeting with Ms. Hurst yesterday. Keep your makeup as natural as possible and even your nails. If you have long hair, neatly pull it back from your face. First impressions matter.”
“We’ve set up appointments with four designers and an ad agency.” Jax handed out maps. “They’re all over Manhattan, so you’ll need to navigate to each one by yourselves. You can use the subway, taxis, or you can walk. You’ll have a per diem to use, but you’ll need to provide receipts and return any unused cash. Just be sure you’re back here by five. If you’re a second late, you’ll be disqualified.”
“I can’t stress enough to you how important go-sees are,” Brooklyn said. “This is your chance to promote yourself to the fashion world. Make an impression. Go out there and sell yourselves.”
#
Olathe checked the location on the map again as she navigated Fifth Avenue. She hadn’t traveled outside of Oklahoma before, but she’d always been good at reading maps. She saw the sign for the designer and hurried to the shop, glad to see she was the first one to arrive. She was afraid one of the other women picked the same place to go first, and she’d have to wait in line.
Dressed to Kill (COBRA Securities Book 22) Page 23