“I don’t need your help, Devin. And also, I told you, my art is just a hobby.” Camille was twiddling her thumbs as she stood in front of him.
“So make it more than just a hobby,” he suggested, and Camille shook her head.
“You haven’t even seen it yet. What if it’s absolute crap?” Camille gave a nervous laugh, but Devin wasn’t laughing.
“I know it isn’t. I know you have some hidden talent in you that is waiting to come out. I won’t be doing it as a favor; I’ll just help you get a lucky break. What’s wrong with that?”
Camille bit down on her lip, smiling unabashedly at him. She could feel her stomach churning; he was looking at her in that same way again.
“Guys, this is amazing. I had no idea, Devin!” Shayna had appeared next to them, and Camille turned, surprised. She hadn’t expected Shayna to suddenly change her tune, she actually sounded like she was impressed.
Camille smiled as Shayna gave her an obvious wink.
“Thanks, Shayna. I’m glad you both like it,” Devin said, and then turned back to Camille.
“She’s right Devin, this is amazing,” Camille told him. Then Devin’s face changed, as he looked past her. Camille turned to look as well.
“Oh great, there she is. I should introduce the two of you.” Devin hastily walked away from them, towards a woman who was standing across the room.
“Oh my gosh. Is that Evangeline Fox? Did you know that she’s the one who photographed him?” Shayna was speaking excitedly beside Camille.
Devin had reached the woman by now and had leaned in to speak into her ear. Camille noticed the way Devin’s hand gently touched her waist. There wasn’t anything overtly sexual in their relationship, but even from a distance, Camille could tell that they knew each other intimately. It was more than just a photographer-model connection.
They had started walking towards her and Shayna, and Camille needed no introduction to this woman. She had known it instantly; Evangeline Fox was Devin’s ex-girlfriend.
***
The best word to describe Evangeline as she walked towards Camille was elegant. Evangeline was in a long navy velvet dress that clung to her body and had a slit at the waist, so that every time she took a step, her long pale legs were revealed. She was slender to the point of perfection. She was wearing a dark bejeweled choker on her neck and matching long earrings. Her makeup was dark and silvery, and her hair was long, brunette and fell like a satin curtain around her shoulders.
Evangeline took small tender steps in her high heels and Devin walked beside her, talking into her ear. She held out her hand to a few people who crossed their paths, and they all kissed her hand like she was a queen among her subjects.
Camille felt too small, too nervous, and could feel her neck burning up with jealousy. She felt like she was no match for Evangeline Fox’s grace, charm, wealth, and incredible talent.
“She is absolutely stunning, isn’t she?” she heard Shayna’s voice beside her, and Camille shook her head to set her brain straight again.
“Yes… yes, she is,” Camille admitted, her nervous smile twitching a little.
“Do you think they’re friends? Is Devin going to introduce her to us?”
Camille gulped; she didn’t want Devin to introduce them, as she was afraid of how Evangeline would look at her.
She had not looked at Camille yet. Instead, Evangeline was allowing Devin to simply lead the way. She kept her attention focused on the other guests at the gallery - waving, smiling and extending her hand. She was the perfect hostess, absolutely flawless, and it was easy to see why Devin might have been attracted to her. Maybe he still was.
“Yes, they are friends,” Camille replied dejectedly to Shayna’s question. She wished she could disappear. Evangeline and Devin were close to them now, and all Camille wanted to do was run away.
But then she looked at Devin - at his handsome face, the face of a man she felt safe around - and she felt a little better. She didn’t know if she could trust him or what he wanted from her. All she knew was that she felt uplifted around him; confident and happy.
But he was with Evangeline Fox.
“Camille, I would like to introduce you to my photographer, Evangeline, Evangeline Fox,” Devin said. He had placed a hand on Evangeline’s waist as he made the introduction. Evangeline’s eyes finally rested on Camille. She had an icy cold stare - gray eyes and no smile. At that moment, when Evangeline first laid eyes on Camille, it was clear that Evangeline despised her.
Camille knew instantly that Evangeline had seen her earlier when they first came into the gallery, obviously from a distance. She had watched Devin with her, and she knew that they had come to the gallery together. Yet, she made a show of not noticing Camille and being disinterested in her.
Evangeline raised her eyebrows and extended her hand to Camille, still without a smile on her face. With Evangeline’s long fingers floating in front of her, Camille wasn’t sure if she was meant to kiss her hand or shake it.
“Hello, Evangeline. This is a lovely exhibition,” Camille said nervously and took her hand softly and gave it a shake.
“Hello, darling, Devin warned me that he was bringing two unexpected guests.” Evangeline’s voice was polished and sophisticated. She used small curt words, and her tone was as icy cold as her stare.
“And who is this charming young woman?” she asked, turning to look at Shayna. Camille could sense Shayna’s anxiety beside her.
“This is Camille’s friend, Shayna,” Devin told her, and Camille looked at him for support. But he had no idea the effect that Evangeline had on Camille. He was only politely making introductions.
“How lovely. Hello, Shayna.”
“Hello, Evangeline. I’m a big fan.” Shayna gulped like a teenage girl. Evangeline shook her hand as well and then turned to Camille again.
A strange silence hung in the air between them until Devin spoke.
“Camille is an artist herself. She is too humble to show her work to me, but maybe you can persuade her to show it to you,” Devin said, and Camille felt like she would melt into the floor. She didn’t want him to discuss her art with Evangeline. In fact, she didn’t want to be in Evangeline’s presence for a second longer.
A smile suddenly broke out on Evangeline’s face, but it didn’t reach her eyes. Her lips stretched over her face, and she reached over to Camille, placing a long hand on her shoulder unexpectedly.
“You shouldn’t be shy about your work, dear girl. If you are an artist, you must express yourself,” Evangeline said in a wise, rich tone, and Camille felt like she could burst out crying.
“I have to go and talk to Mark. I’ll be back soon. Evangeline, why don’t you give them a tour?” Devin suddenly said and threw a quick look at the graceful photographer before he disappeared into the crowd. He hadn’t even turned to Camille, and she began to feel worried.
The smile vanished from Evangeline’s face as quickly as it had appeared. “How sweet of Devin to have invited you two to the show.” Evangeline held her hands together with poise.
Shayna giggled beside Camille and nodded. Camille stood quietly, staring back at Evangeline’s icy gaze. She wasn’t sure what to say or do in her presence; she felt like the photographer was constantly judging her.
“Come along with me darlings, as Devin said, you at least deserve a tour. See for yourselves how absolutely stunning he is,” Evangeline declared and after turning on her heels, began to walk away. Camille didn’t want to follow her, but she had no other choice. It was too late to not be a part of Devin’s world now.
Chapter Ten
Camille
“Now, when this shot was taken, Devin was especially well behaved,” Evangeline said, flipping her long, lustrous brunette hair back over her shoulder. She had a laugh in her voice as she stood beneath the life-sized portrait of Devin.
Camille looked up. The shot was taken in the middle of Devin cleaning his bike. He had a water hose in his hand that was directed at the b
ike and a frown on his face. His dark brown intense eyes were staring directly at the camera again as if he didn’t appreciate being interrupted by the photography. He was stripped down to just his jeans, and the tattoos on his torso glistened in the sun behind him. His dark hair was ruffled like he had just woken up.
Camille could sense Shayna’s awe; she was thoroughly impressed by Evangeline.
“Is he an unpredictable subject to photograph?” Shayna asked, and Evangeline laughed again.
“Unpredictable in the best of ways. One minute we’d be tumbling in bed together, and he’d be making me scream with pleasure, and then the next he’d be out of bed, his beautiful naked body the perfect subject for my lenses.” Evangeline rubbed her hands together as she spoke, and even though Camille tried not to look at her, she could sense that Evangeline was directing her words towards her.
Shayna shifted on her feet uncomfortably. She knew Camille and Devin had sex on the beach, and that Camille wouldn’t be feeling comfortable with this kind of talk. But Evangeline didn’t seem to care that she was making either of the women uncomfortable. She was rejoicing in it.
“Devin’s body itself is art,” Evangeline added, and Camille suddenly turned to her and smiled. She didn’t want to display her displeasure; she didn’t want to allow Evangeline to feel as though she had succeeded in making Camille feel bad.
“This one for instance.” Evangeline took a few steps to the left. She now stood beside a black and white photograph of Devin. He was sitting on the porch of a house, with a cowboy hat on, and fully clothed. But his shirt was left open so that his muscular torso was bare and available for anybody to drool over.
Camille looked away from Evangeline, embarrassed. She didn’t need to be taken on this tour; in fact, she’d had enough of it.
“This was right after Devin had come back home after a fistfight with one of the other gangs.” Evangeline looked up at the photograph. “His appetite for my body grew every time he was in a fight,” she continued, and Camille gulped. This was completely inappropriate, Camille thought; she didn’t need to hear this. But Evangeline was saying all this on purpose. She wanted to make it clear to Camille that she had been with Devin, many times. And that she’d had everything Camille was now getting. Shayna remained silent as well, but Camille knew her friend would take her side no matter how much she appreciated Evangeline’s work.
“So he threw me on his bed, made me cum and then walked out and sat on the porch with a glass of whiskey,” Evangeline continued, disregarding the silence from the other two women. “I couldn’t resist the shot. I followed him with my camera. I was fully naked!” Evangeline laughed loudly. She was enjoying herself, even though she could see that Camille was suffering. This was not the kind of tour that Devin had intended for her… or had he?
Camille couldn’t stop thinking why Devin would leave her alone with a spiteful and embittered ex-girlfriend. Did he not know what Evangeline was like? Or was he trying to scare her away? Was he trying to push Camille away so that he wouldn’t have to directly break up with her? Break up from what? Was this even a relationship?
“Look at those lines. Those angles on his face.” Evangeline raised herself on her toes, to extend her hand and touch the photograph. Camille watched with contempt. There was no denying it; Evangeline was beautiful and graceful. She was touching Devin’s face, admiring him and her handiwork. It was so clear to see that the relationship wasn’t over in her eyes; Evangeline was still not over Devin.
“Every time I take a photograph of Devin, and try to sell it, it’s gone before I bat an eyelid. Women love having framed photographs of Devin hanging on their bedroom walls. I have some clients who have an entire collection. They just can’t seem to get enough of him.” Evangeline turned to Camille and smiled. Camille forced out a smile and nodded.
“It’s easy to see why. These photographs are stunning,” she replied, lifting her chin up.
Evangeline raised a neat high-arched eyebrow. “As is Devin,” Evangeline said, and Camille kept the smile on her face. Try as she might, Evangeline wasn’t going to see Camille drool over him. She wasn’t going to do it for Evangeline’s pleasure.
“If he’s invited you here, he must think you’re really special,” Evangeline remarked suddenly, and a frown appeared on Camille’s face.
“Camille is a great artist,” Shayna said nervously. It was obvious that Shayna’s defensive mode was on; she was trying to protect her friend’s dignity.
“I’m sure she is.” Evangeline reached for Camille and placed a cold hand on her arm. She had a gentle, brittle touch like she could break any moment. It made Camille’s skin crawl. “And I’m sure he sees something more in her too. Big boobs and parting legs.” Another loud laugh exploded out of Evangeline. Camille felt her cheeks flush and her neck grow hot. She roughly pulled her arm away from Evangeline and then felt Shayna’s hand on her shoulder.
“Don’t say anything,” she said through gritted teeth, just loud enough for Shayna to hear.
“There you girls are,” Camille heard Devin’s voice behind her, and then he appeared. He walked straight past Shayna and her and over to Evangeline, placing a small quick kiss on her right cheek. Camille’s face was still burning up with rage. She couldn’t believe Evangeline had just said that right to her face… and then laughed!
She wanted to disappear.
She wanted Devin to come to her rescue, to stop kissing Evangeline politely on her cheeks, and to take her away from this place. But he still couldn’t sense her discomfort. He seemed proud that his ex-girlfriend and his new maybe girlfriend were getting along so well.
“I’ve been giving them the tour,” Evangeline said, leaning on Devin’s arm, as he shifted his gaze to Camille. She could see the pride in his eyes, and also a certain sense of satisfaction. She knew she wasn’t smiling; she couldn’t keep up the act.
“Well, Camille doesn’t seem to have been enjoying it,” Devin replied, and without warning, took a few steps towards her, placing himself directly in front of Camille. She had to crane her neck up to look at him, and when their eyes met, she could feel a flush of happiness flooding her body. Just the sight of him made her feel like everything was going to be fine. Nothing could go wrong now.
“I enjoyed it. The photographs are lovely,” Camille said in a quiet voice, and then Devin suddenly bent his head and kissed her on her lips. The kiss came out of the blue. It was short, and it took her by surprise, but when they parted Camille was gasping for breath. She couldn’t believe he had just done that. It was the perfect payback for Evangeline. Camille’s heart was beating so fast that she thought she might faint.
From the corner of her eye, she could see Evangeline’s face twisted in rage. Her pale skin had suddenly darkened; she couldn’t stand watching Devin kiss anybody else.
“So is it business as usual?” she asked in a high-pitched voice. Camille smiled when she realized that Evangeline was desperate to interrupt them and bring the attention back to her. Devin turned to look at her, and Evangeline smiled weakly. She had folded her arm over her chest and perfect small breasts. Camille raised her chin, confident again, and studied Evangeline’s nervous flushed face.
“As in, do the proceeds from the sale go to the same charity?” Evangeline asked, and from the look on Devin’s face, it seemed that Evangeline had asked him a very obvious question. Camille smiled when she realized that Devin had no idea the political battle that the women in his life were playing. He was just confused.
“Yes, obviously,” he said with his brows crossed and Camille placed a hand on his shoulder to distract him from Evangeline again.
“What charity? You donate the money raised here to charity?” Camille asked, and Devin turned to her. He looked flustered and at a loss for words.
“It’s nothing. Maybe I should go find us all some drinks.” Devin started walking away from them. Camille’s hand dropped to her side, and she looked at Devin as he weaved through the crowd. She had no idea what had jus
t happened. What was the meaning of that reaction? Why did donating to a charity embarrass him?
“Really, Camille. You shouldn’t be prying,” she heard Evangeline’s clipped voice, and she swung her head around to look at the woman.
She was still standing with her arms crossed over her chest; her feet planted firmly on the ground. Her long pale leg had appeared through the slit in her velvet dress, and she had the appearance of a villain in a superhero movie, with her dark silvery makeup and lips. Camille looked back at her with her eyebrows crossed.
“It was just a simple, innocent question.” Shayna was the one who answered, coming to her defense.
Evangeline was grinning again; fluttering her long lashes from Camille to Shayna and then back at Camille.
“Do you always have your sidekick answer for you?” Evangeline asked, and for the first time, Camille heard the malice in the other woman’s voice. Until now, Evangeline had done a good job of pretending to be a civil and courteous hostess. But she couldn’t pretend anymore. There was rage dripping from her voice.
BABY FOR A PRICE Page 42
