Page 112 of Take Hold of Me

“She told me all about her furniture line and how that is faring. She is doing really well,Maman. Her design company was recognized by Forbes.”

“Do you want to design furniture, too?”

“No.” I need to voice my inner passion. Rubbing my still cold hands on my thighs, I respond, “I want to be a stylist.”

Maman’s eyebrows go up. “Well, that certainly does make sense. You’ve always loved fashion. You’ve learned so much working in the industry for so long.”

The fact that she did not laugh at me gives me hope. Hope for what, I am unsure. “You do not think I am being silly?”Hisfinal words referencing fashion as being shallow still sting.

Now she frowns. “Why on earth would I think that? You have a great eye and I’m sure you’ll be able to help many people.”

I rush to embrace her. “Thank you.” Sitting back, I retrieve my cell phone and open up my Instagram account, explaining about how it started and what I do on it.

“You really are great at this, Emsy. I never would have thought to make the suggestions you did. And your followers, they seem very happy with your advice.”

I take a moment to bask in her praise. “They are. I even got to help a person on the movie set as she was getting ready for a date. I felt ten feet tall.”

She places her index finger to her bottom lip. “What are you thinking about doing with this?”

“I am unsure,Maman. Besides, it is not as ifMonsieurPrice would allow—” My words stop.

“What do you mean, Emsy? You employ the Agency, not the other way around.”

Goosebumps break out across my arms. My breathing hitches. I have not spoken about that day in his office to anyone. Not even…Anyone.

“What aren’t you telling me?” Maman places her hand on my tense forearm, her eyes shifting between my arm and my face.

I need to come clean to her. I scheduled an appointment with my attorney in LA to discuss Monsieur Price and Wade. If am going to take them on, I need to find the words. Starting now.

“The Agency has been sending me out nightly to different events, you know. They have me go out with a bodyguard to raise my profile.”

My fingers fold and refold the tissue as I keep talking. “Since Stacy went out on maternity, I have had a few meetings with Monsieur Price. Alone. In his office.”

The tissue shreds in my hands but I keep pulling at it. “He. Uhm, he,” I look past my mother into the dining room. Out the window overlooking the garden.

“What did he do, Emilie?”

Eyes fixed outside, I start, “He—” I fist the tissue shreds in my hand. “He touched me and threatened me with Wade’s photos from all those years ago. He said Wade is protected because he is a highly respected photographer in the industry.”

My eyes drop to my hand, which I open to reveal the mass of shreds. Without looking up, I mumble, “I am so ashamed. I do not know how I could have let this happen. I never met with him by myself ever before.” I continue rambling until Maman’s arms wrap around me.

“Shhh, Emsy. You have nothing to be embarrassed about at all.” She rocks me in her arms as we both give in to tears.

“So, you see I have to continue to go out on the dates the Agency schedules. If I do not, he will release the photographs and no one will believe me about Wade.”

“No. This won’t happen. And you know why? Because what Price did to you is much worse. So what if photos of you from ten years ago are released? You are proud of your body and now, at your age, you can handle the improper attention they would get. But he—” she spits out the pronoun, refusing to say Price’s name. “He must be exposed for what he did. And that Wade, too.”

I pull back from her, considering her words. Warmth spreads through my extremities. “You are right. I do not care about those photos. Whatever. Topless, or in a bikini or lingerie, there is not much difference.”

She agrees.

“But ifMonsieurPrice did that to me, I bet he has done it to other models, too. Younger ones. And that is not a way to behave. Not to mention what Wade did.”

“He still hasn’t paid for what he did to you at the after-party.” Her head bobs. “You need to talk with someone in authority about this.”

“I already called the attorney who negotiated my contract renewal. We have a meeting set up.”

“I’m so proud of you.”

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