by M. Clarke
“Just couldn’t help ourselves.” Troy smirked.
I wrapped my arms around my stomach, fighting the rising bile.
“I’m Troy McIntosh by the way.” He extended his hand to Nate. This guy was unreal.
Chapter 8
Nathan
Matthew spotted me from inside his office through the wide open door.
“Nathan, come in.”
“Good morning, Mr. Knight.” I greeted Jenna and the others with a wave of my hand.
“Have a seat,” Matthew said and sat down on his black leather seat. “So...” He gave me a huge grin. “Congratulations.” As if on cue, everyone in the office stood and started clapping.
I raised my hand with a smile. “Thank you. I’m very humbled to be chosen.”
“You deserve it,” Jenna said.
“I agree,” one lady muttered.
“We’re happy it was one of Knight Fashion’s models,” another one added.
“I have to agree with that,” Matthew said, bringing me back to him.
“I’m very honored to represent Knight Fashion.” I sat up tall and rested my hands on my lap.
Matthew looked at his cell. “Sorry, I have a meeting with my brother in ten minutes. We’re meeting the new photographer together. Actually, Max is giving him a tour, and I’m supposed to join them at the studio downstairs. As you already know, Kelly is moving on to another assignment. She requested a transfer. I already wanted to assign her to another project in New York City, so it worked out.”
I arched my brows in confusion. Just that weekend, she’d wanted to try to work things out. “When did she do that?” I immediately wanted to take back my question. It wasn’t professional of me, but I was so curious it slipped my tongue.
“About a week ago. I’m not supposed to give you information regarding other employees, so you didn’t hear that from me.”
“I have no idea what you’re talking about, Mr. Knight.” I grinned, thanking him silently for trusting me.
Matthew looked over at Jenna with a shrug and then back to me. “The theme for Knight Fashion’s cover is the swimsuit. Mr. McIntosh will be taking individual shots of you today for our magazine. He will also be shooting the underwear line, so you’ll be quite busy. Also, you’ll be receiving an email regarding your schedule. In two weeks, when you head out to New York, you’ll be shooting for other magazines. The Sexiest Man Alive title will change your life, Nathan.”
“Wow. Thank you for this opportunity.” I felt grateful. “I never would have guessed in my wildest dreams.”
“Dream big, Nathan. Knight Fashion will open many doors for you.” He gazed at his watch. “I have to go, but I’m going to make this quick. Between you and me—I haven’t told the others yet—but we’re doing a competition for the Sexiest Couple Alive. It will go out on email soon. This is something Knight Fashion started to get our models out there. The more hype we have, the bigger the models become, the bigger Knight Fashion becomes. Not that we’re not big, but we’re always searching for ways to stay on top.”
“That sounds wonderful. How will it be done?” I asked, relaxing a bit, and sitting back into my seat.
“Social media. Consumers will vote. The top male model and the top female model will be the Sexiest Couple Alive. They will grace not only the cover of Knight Fashion, but many top magazines as well.”
I narrowed my eyes in confusion. “So, then they don’t have to be a couple per se. The voters will be pairing them up.”
“Exactly. This is going to be fun. So, my suggestion to everyone is to get on media sites and ask people to vote.” Matthew stood up and put on his suit jacket. “Sorry, Nathan. I don’t like to be late for meetings.”
“No, that’s okay. I understand.” I stood when he extended his hand.
“Again, congratulations.” He shook my hand and then let go. He stopped midway out the door and turned to me. “Oh, Jenna will go over the contract with you, along with other business related issues. Since you’ll be modeling for the other magazines, we need to make sure your agent is okay with it.”
“Great, thanks,” I said and headed to Jenna.
On my way to the Knight Fashion studio, I ran into Josh and Isla. The three of us rode the elevator down together.
“How was your weekend?” Josh asked with his usual friendly tone when we got off the elevator.
“Fine,” I said tersely. “How was yours?” I looked at both of them.
“Dinner was great with Olivia.” Isla smirked. “How was your dinner?” I wondered where the sarcasm in her tone came from.
“Kelly and I broke up after dinner,” I said matter-of-factly.
Their eyes widened in dismay. We had reached our destination but paused outside the door.
“What happened?” Josh asked. “I never liked her for you, but breaking up sucks no matter which way you look at it.”
“No, it doesn’t. Not if you don’t like the other person,” Isla countered, crossing her arms.
I knew Isla didn’t like Kelly, but her attitude showed how much.
“Well, good for you,” Isla continued, patting my shoulder. “Sometimes, you hook up with the one from your past just because you know that person was always the one for you, but you didn’t know it yet.” Then she locked eyes with Josh. “Couple trapping. We need to hurry.”
“Okay.” Josh winked. “In two weeks. The week after Thanksgiving.”
“Huh?” I raked my hair back, feeling baffled. “Am I missing something here?” I asked, chuckling. In two weeks, Josh and I had planned to go skiing in Big Bear.
Isla patted my arm. “You’ve been missing it since Olivia came to town.”
I dismissed her words. I still had no idea what they were talking about, so I changed the subject. “Are we going in or what?”
Isla turned to the double door and entered.
What the fuck!
I wish I hadn’t seen what I saw. Olie lay half naked on the bed, making out with a man. Every bit of hope of reuniting with her flew out the door within an instant. Then it got worse. He turned, and I saw Troy McIntosh, her ex-lover, or I should say seemed more like a lover.
I didn’t know what felt more like a punch in the gut, catching them making out or finding out Olie still dated the guy. Come to think of it, I realized why he looked familiar. He’d been leaving Olie’s apartment the day she asked me to come over in the morning. I felt like a fool. She’d asked me to come to hang a painting on the wall? Why didn’t she ask him since I was sure he had been at her apartment that morning? What kind of game was Olie playing?
The name should have clicked for me when Matthew mentioned Mr. Macintosh. Too busy thinking about being grateful and too stuck on the thought of being Sexiest Man Alive, I didn’t put two and two together. But what the mother fucker!
Olie stiffened when she saw us. Turning her back toward us, she cowered from embarrassment. Good, she should be embarrassed. That was utterly unprofessional. I didn’t think Troy, a well-known photographer, would take such a risk. Maybe he just didn’t give a shit.
When Troy offered his hand after he introduced himself, I took it. As much as I fumed in anger against Olie, I had to be professional. Troy was going to take pictures of me all day. Josh seemed at ease, but strangely Isla didn’t. Was I missing something? As Olie’s roommate, surely Isla knew Troy well enough. I brushed off the thoughts. After our individual shots, I was paired up with Olie on the bed.
“Both of you get down on your knees, face to face. A bit closer.” Troy ordered, clicking away with his camera. “Nathan, place your arm on her anywhere you want.”
Olie became rigid when I placed my hands on her hips, and so did I. The feel of her half naked body distracted me, not to mention I too was practically naked. My dirty mind remembered all sorts of stuff I used to do to her. The feel of her soft skin, the scent of her perfume, and just her closeness drove me insane. But when instructions from Troy reminded me of his presence, I fumed in rage.
Havin
g the opportunity, I whispered harshly, “I guess you don’t need me to help you hang your paintings anymore.” What possessed me to say those words? Anger brewed inside me and wouldn’t let go. Then I realized it wasn’t Olie’s fault. I was the one unable to move on with my life with Kelly. Apparently Olie was doing just fine. I couldn’t handle myself when Olie came back in my life.
“It’s not how it looks,” Olie whispered back, unable to meet my eyes. She was hiding something, and I wasn’t sure if I even cared enough to ask anymore.
“Focus on the camera, Olivia,” Troy snapped.
I didn’t like the tone he used with Olie. I glared at him, which he didn’t notice since it looked more like giving a serious expression to the camera.
“Why do you care?” she whispered sharply. She met my gaze briefly and focused back on Troy.
I realized at that moment Troy had no idea we had ever been a couple, which also angered me. My day had turned shitty fast, and my emotions were all jacked up. “I don’t,” I finally answered. It was cold of me to say that, but I wanted to feel nothing. I didn’t want to care.
“Maybe that’s the problem,” she sighed.
Again, I had no idea what she meant.
Click! Click! Click! Troy moved fast. Pacing closer to us, he got down on his knees. “Closer. This is supposed to be a sexy picture, and you two are ruining it. I thought I was working with professionals. Snap out of it,” he blew out. “Nathan, tug Olivia’s panty with your teeth.”
Was he serious? He answered my question when he dipped the camera lower to give me an expression that said, “What the fuck? Do what you’re told.”
I rolled my eyes, not liking his tone, but I did as I was told because it was my job. But I really wanted to punch his face, picturing his fuckin’ hands all over my Olie. I had to stop thinking that way. She wasn’t mine anymore.
His request was nothing out of the ordinary. Photographers always directed us to move our bodies in different positions. When I had agreed to do the M. Knight men’s underwear line, I knew I would be parading around half naked. I even knew I would be asked to pose in sexier poses, but I never knew my partner would be Olie. That wouldn’t have been a problem before, but things had changed between us. And for some reason, knowing she was with Troy changed everything.
Lowering myself with my hands still on her waist, I bit the tip of her panties near her hip and slightly pulled with my teeth while keeping my eyes focused on the camera. Olie quivered under my hands and moaned softly, and my muscles tensed from the longing to do more.
Blocking all my emotions, I pretended I didn’t know the woman under my hands. That seemed to help, but it came back full force when we had to press our bodies together lying down. Fuck me! The soft familiarity of her skin burned right through me, killing me with each touch and each stroke Troy commanded us to do. When we locked eyes, as our bodies brushed against each other, my anger subsided. The wall I half-built crumbled between our sweet tender glances. We connected. Our past came alive. The love we once shared flared. I sensed it in the way she lovingly looked at me. The hope, the fear, the regret. It glistened in her eyes under the light that suddenly felt too hot over us.
I wanted so badly to hold her tightly in my arms, to promise her she was going to be fine. That no matter what happened between us, she would always be my first true love. I would never forget and would always love her. No—I needed to be true to myself. How was I really feeling? What did I want? I wanted to tell her that I still loved her, and more than anything, I wanted her back. Be with me, Olie. Be mine forever. You and me, forever. That was what my eyes told her. Can you hear me, Olie? Then reality hit.
“Finally.” Troy sounded agitated, breaking me out of my daze, checking out the pictures he took. “We’re done. Matthew is going to love these. Olivia, get dressed.”
We finally finished the shoot, but it was awkward as hell after that. I was glad it was just this once unless we needed to do a re-take, which I prayed wouldn’t happen. The first impression with Troy didn’t settle well with me. Not only because I found him practically on top of Olie, but his attitude toward her. He acted like he owned her, giving her little respect, ordering her around. What the fuck? It was none of my business, but I knew it was going to stay with me.
“Are you coming with me, Olivia?” Isla asked, hesitantly.
I didn’t bother to listen to what Olie would say; I just walked out the door.
Chapter 9
Olivia
After the session, we got dressed. My heart shattered watching Nate, Josh, and Isla walk out the door. I wanted to go with them, but decided to stay behind to tell Troy to get the hell out of my life, but my courage fled when he gave me an evil I’m-always-going-to-win kind of grin.
“You like this guy. What’s his name? Nathan?” Troy asked calmly, wiping the camera with a cloth.
I fidgeted with the buttons on my cardigan sweater. “No, I don’t. We used to date before you. That’s all.” I didn’t want to tell him anything, but I needed for him to understand that Nate and I were over. Troy could threaten my career, but there was no way in hell I’d let him touch Nate’s.
He furrowed his brow, and then squarely looked into my eyes. “Didn’t look that way to me.”
“I don’t care what you think,” I huffed. “I’m not lying. Nathan is dating a photographer. They’re moving in together. What more proof do you need?” My tone rose with each spoken word.
Troy slowly craned his neck, making me shiver. “Come to my hotel room tonight.”
Oh, I’d had enough of his crazy. I stood in front of him, piercing his eyes with mine. “I don’t think so.” I crossed my arms so he could see the intensity of how I felt. “It’s over between us, Troy. You can’t force me to be your girlfriend or sleep with you.” I winced, feeling disgusted at the thought. “You don’t own me. I’m not someone who can be bought or threatened.”
I gasped and felt my body jerk when Troy grabbed the back of my neck. It happened so fast I couldn’t push him away. His green eyes, that I used to love, became so cold and scary.
“I own you, Olivia.” His words slithered out of his mouth like a poisonous snake. “You don’t get to talk to me like I’m nobody. If you don’t come to me before I leave Los Angeles, your career will be over and so will your boyfriend’s.” His eyes became darker. “If you don’t believe I’ll post all those nude pictures of you, then you better think twice. Just keep in mind I was the one who boosted your career. I can easily take it away.”
Troy did help get me many projects, but he wasn’t the only reason my career took off. I managed to jerk away from his grasp, slap him across his face with every ounce of strength I had, and jump back out of his reach. Narrowing his eyes at me, he growled.
“You shouldn’t have done that, Olivia,” he said calmly, gingerly rubbing his face and flexing his jaw. “I’ll make sure to pay you back very soon.”
I didn’t want to hear anymore. Taking a chance he wouldn’t stop me, I ran out of there as fast as I could with tears stinging my eyes.
“Oh, honey. It’s Thanksgiving day. Why do you look so glum?” Charlene placed her arm around my shoulder.
Handing her a mug of hot green tea, I sat next to her. Taking a sip of mine, I met her gaze. “Nothing.” I smiled, but like always, she saw right through me.
“I’m sorry,” she sighed.
“What are you sorry for?” I asked, bewildered.
“Things didn’t go in your favor. Nathan is with that Kelly, right? You still want him back. I can tell.”
“It’s that obvious?” I snorted, shaking my head and feeling pathetic.
“I’m not sure if he’s dating that Kelly.” Mom walked out of her room.
It’s funny how both of them called her “that Kelly.” Mom had such great hearing. Either that, or she was very nosey.
Charlene cradled her mug in both her hands after she took a sip. “What do you mean?”
Mom gave me a long stare. “Don’t get mad.
”
“Mom?” I raised my voice.
Charlene nudged me. “She told you not to get mad. Hear her out.”
I rolled my eyes, assuming she had invited Nate for Thanksgiving. But wasn’t he going to see his parents?
Mom gave me that mother-knows-best expression. “I texted Nathan and asked him what he was doing for Thanksgiving. He said since he had to work the day before, he was thinking of not going home. So, I said if he came over I would make his favorite dessert.” Mom’s lips curled to her ears. “I was so excited when he said yes. But...” The room became dead silent as we waited for Mom to finish. “He backed out at the last minute and told me he decided to go home. He was really sweet about it, and I understood.”
My heart hammered with exhilaration at the thought I could have seen him today. But what made him change his mind? Then it came to me. He had seen Troy practically on top of me.
“What made him change his mind?” Charlene asked, leaning on the armrest.
Mom started heading toward the kitchen. “I don’t know.” She stopped and shrugged.
Charlene rolled in with questions as if she was the one interested in him. I had to laugh at that. “Why didn’t he spend it with that Kelly girl? Isn’t he dating her? Maybe they’re not.” She answered her own questions. “This just got so interesting.” She chuckled under her breath.
I picked up my cell from the coffee table and checked the time. The turkey should be ready according to the directions. Knowing mom was heading to the kitchen to take the turkey out, I stood. “I’ll help you, Mom.”
Mom, Charlene, and I set the turkey in the middle of the table, with the side dishes on either side of it. We poured the wine and lit two long candles on the opposite sides of table. After Charlene said a prayer, we filled our plates with food, but before we ate, it was our tradition to say what we were thankful for.
