Page 85 of Take Hold of Me

My stomach contracts. What does he mean? Turning around, he waves a stack of papers. What is that? I take a couple of steps toward his desk, keeping close watch on him.

“I do not understand what you mean.”

“Oh really? Maybe this will help you.” He pushes the pile across his desk.

I close the gap, staring down at the papers. They are photographs. Of me when I was fifteen-years-old. Topless. In all kinds of compromising positions. My mouth drops open as my eyes seek his.

“What a nice photo shoot.” He grabs and stuffs the photos into his middle drawer, which he locks before pocketing the key. Before he removes his hand, he adjusts himself. “Now that I have your attention, this is what we’re going to do.”

I gag, trying to keep my breakfast down.

He laughs, the harsh sound filling the imposing room. “Sit down.”

Without thought, my body does what he commands.

“Let me spell this out for you. I representyou. Hell, I basicallyownyou. If it weren’t for me and what the Agency did for your career throughout the years, you’d be a nobody with her tits—and more—on display in some porno magazine. This Agency discovered you. We made you. Now it’s time for you to pay us back. And you will do what I say.”

My hand flies to my face. What is he saying? “But I thought Wade—”

“Is a fantastic photographer with a stellar reputation. The industry adores him. He is untouchable. However, you…”

Even though I am sitting, a wave of dizziness comes over me when his voice trails off.

“Listen, no one but me need ever see those photos of you.” He waves his hand toward the drawer. “I just need you to follow orders. You’ve been such a good girl for Stacy, going on shoots, never complaining. Never tellingher‘no.’ Although, I have to admit, that did turn me on.”

He adjusts himself again. My eyes stray to the door.

“You’ll leave when I’m finished with you. Now listen to me, Beautiful, you’re never going to say ‘no’ to me again. When I tell you to go on a publicity outing, you go. I know how to steer your career so you remain a hot commodity for as long as possible. That’s all I’ve been trying to do here. And this is the kind of thanks I get—refusals and negotiations.”

“All I want is for you to succeed. When you succeed, I succeed. It’s a win-win. Now, I can squash that little Geonna like a bug.” He drums on the top of his desk. “Or, maybe, I could bring her onboard the Agency once her contract with the television show runs out. I bet she wouldn’t have any attorney make such imprudent demands as yours did.” His fingers drum on the desk. “Dropping Greta’s PR firm for a puny startup? Really?”

He stands and circles the desk, resting his butt on it while looking down on me. “You want more control over your schedule? Sure thing, Beautiful. If that’s what it’ll take for me,” he leans down, his arms landing on the arms of my chair, “to bring you to heel, then I’m all for it.”

I try to remain still but lose my willpower and squirm backward. A helpless squeak comes out of my mouth.

His hand cups my cheek and my breathing seizes. “Such flawless skin. It’s no wonder the photographers love my pliant beauty.” His index finger cuts across my bottom lip.

I need to get out. Get to Wills. When the stench of onions from his lunch lands in my nose, my hands fly to the armrests.

“But you want to stay the industry’s top model, don’t you? That’s what you’ve always wanted. And I’m here making sure you stay there. So do as I say and we’ll both be happy. Here’s what I need you to do for me.”

He spends the next half-hour telling me about all my new publicity dates, with something scheduled for every single day. I do have Thursday off for the movie shoot, after which I am expected to go to some party to celebrate my little cameo. Throughout, he takes sick joy in reminding me that he has all the photos taken of me when I was a teenager. About how I would not want them to become public.

How if they do become public, I would be even more in demand with certain venues. But the big houses would drop me like a rotten potato. Wade, of course, would never be touched by any scandal.

“Do you have any questions for me, Beautiful?”

How can you do this to me? How many other models do you treat like this? I cannot form a coherent question and shake my head.

“Believe me, I don’t like having to do this. So let’s just keep this between us. I know you’ll do the right thing in order to keep your place in the industry. You’re a smart girl.” He reaches out to shake my hand.

I cannot touch him or agree to what he just did. I slip my hand under my thigh, which only causes him to smirk.

“God, had I known you had some fire behind that sweet act you put on, I would’ve personally taken you under my wing ages ago.”

My heart is beating so fast that I give in to my need to flee his office. Without saying anything, I grab the straps of my purse and bolt to the door, desperate to leave this awful man behind. I turn the lever and escape.

Running down the empty hallway, I duck into the ladies’ room. If I want those photos to remain buried, I need to get myself under control. I brought this on myself by going to Wade’s flat so many years ago. Feelings of shame and embarrassment bubble over and replace the shock of how I have been backed into a corner.

Gulping enough air to slow my heartrate, I walk over to the sink and splash cold water on my face. The woman peering at me from the mirror is pale, but otherwise looks just like me. Even though I feel so far away from my true self in this moment.

I inhale a deep breath and close my eyes to erase what happened back in that office. So long as I do what he says, I will keep my career going and the photos will stay buried. No one else need know of this.

Not even Wills.

I push my shoulders back. This is who I am. It has to be.

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