Page 7 of Legally Yours

She’s a model? For a big shoot in LA… Huh.I ask what kind of modeling she does, and she answers with exactly what I thought she would.

High-end fashion. She actually works formycompany. What are the odds?I try to keep my stare casual, looking around the cabin every so often, but my eyes always fall back on her.She doesn’t even realize she’s married to the CEO of the job she works at.I want to laugh, to tell her, but I don’t. I don’t need that changing our relationship so fast.

“So you said you’re just doing a job in LA? Where do you live?” I ask

“I live in New York, where the company is based.” I pretend to nod like that wasn’t something I already assumed.

“Me too.” I can tell my voice has a lilted, playful acknowledgment to it but if she noticed, she doesn’t show it. I wonder how long we can keep this going.

When we get to LA, there’s a car waiting for her. We take it to the shoot, and when she steps out several people swarm her, dragging her off to go get ready. I merely wave goodbye and take a seat in the back, wanting to see what she can do.

A few people at the shoot recognize me, but most of them just carry on with their professional duties. It’s nice to see people working even when their main boss is here watching them.

The photographer finishes setting up and calls out Cassandra. I tilt my head to the side, not even recognizing her at first.

The woman who walks out is completely different from the one I just married. She’ssexy.Her revealing, fashionable clothes are tucked and tailored to her body perfectly, looking like they were painted on. She’s wearing long, latex black gloves that make her look distinguished and untouchable.

Her eyes, as she stares into the camera, are sodangerous.The deep brown swirl that held a soft, naive vibe has been completely taken over with the neon liquid eyeliner that frames them. She almost has a glare to her, arched eyebrows set in such a way that makes her cheekbones pop.

When she turns around, I can feel my heart in my chest. She’s mesmerizing. Looking back at the camera, she sways her hips to the beat of the loud music, presenting action shots of her perfect body in every which way.

She sits on the ground, platform wedges holding her up as her sculpted ankles bend and the sleekness of her calves and thighs is shown. Her brown legs look impossibly long, even as I dwarfed her in size earlier. The mom jeans and tight sweater were doingnothingfor just how immaculate she looks now in that skirt and half-tucked silk blouse.

Holy hell.

7

CASSANDRA

When I step on the set, everyone is running around. They are a working colony. Masses of people are on the set. Many are moving props, and some are adjusting their cameras.

I take a deep breath. This is what I’ve missed. It feels like I have never left. Being back in this atmosphere cracks a smile out of me, even amid all these nerves rushing through my body. The director of photography rushes up to greet me. He takes my hand and shakes it profusely.

“So glad to be working with you again, love. Please, just go out there and do your thing.”

“Thank you so much! So, tell me, who am I working for right now?” I say with a glint in my eye.

“You’re modeling for Amore Lingerie. The Sweetheart line specifically. There are beautiful, sexy pieces and even a Catwoman collaboration.” He hands me hangers full of lingerie pieces and strappy heels. I peek at the gloves in the bag. A smirk creeps up onto my face.

“Pleasure to be back in business.” I say excitedly. It is truly an honor to be working with this brand. They are known internationally and are featured in nearly every high-end fashion magazine.

I beam at the mound of pieces in my arms as I make my way to the dressing room. Suddenly I hear a voice that is so aggravatingly familiar it coagulates my blood.

“Finally you’re here, honey!” David’s voice sounds. I feel his body weight shift onto my shoulders as he pulls me into a hug from behind and kisses the top of my head.

I am no longer falling for this smooth talk. I know he’s being cunning and deceitful, his body radiates this toxic energy.

“Yeah.” It physically pains me to be such a nice, forgiving person. Makes for an easy and automatic people pleaser. However, I don’t have to be nice to him. I have to be civil.

For all I know, or care, he’s nothing but a stranger to me. I’m just here to go with the flow and give David and Emma a surprise they didn’t expect.Me.

David motions to the lingerie in my hand and looks up at me with a rehearsed smile. “Let’s go get ready, then!” he says with exceedingly overdone excitement.

A short while later, I walk out of the dressing room feeling confident, beautiful and sexy. This set of pink lingerie has lace down my bodice, pink straps coming up from my thighs and sleek tanga underwear.

The strappy heels are platform stilettos and stand out in a bold silver color. I run my painted nails through my high ponytail. I smile and walk confidently over to the backdrop. The upbeat music begins to play, and I finally feel like I’m back in my element.

The music vibrates through my body, and as soon as the cameras are on, I’m blowing kisses into the lens. My back arches on a chaise lounge chair, and the red velvet warms my body from the cool fan blowing air at me. I raise my hands beside my head and pose for the camera.

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