*** This work is original and no permission is given to reproduce it elsewhere.
ADAM
The man took Gwen's hand and led her from the room into a hallway.
"It's time to get up sleeping beauty."
"Who are you?"
"I work with Dom."
"How did I get here?"
"You don't remember?" Gwen shook her head. "Well, it doesn't matter. You're here now. That's all that matters. We've been waiting for you. Lisa woke up almost two hours ago."
Gwen entered the room he indicated to see the same female shuffling papers behind the desk. Gwen sat as all the others had done. Julia studied her for a moment.
"Do you have a headache?" Gwen nodded. Julia looked at Joseph, "Get her some water, will you?" She reached into a desk drawer and pulled out a bottle of Tylenol. She took out two pills and set them on the edge of the desk. "Maybe this will help. Are you hungry?"
"A little maybe. What time is it?"
"Two o'clock. We finally decided we'd better wake you."
Gwen glanced at Joseph as he returned with a bottle of water. He was a few inches taller than her at about 5'11". He had dark hair, cut short, and several day's stubble on his jaw. He was attractive. She thanked him with a nod and took the two pills.
"Where am I?"
Julia spoke, "We work with Dom. He had the cab bring you here. He said you were the next big star. We put together portfolios for models and aspiring actresses. You know. Head shots, glamour shots, lingerie shots. The works. Joseph here is one of our top photographers."
"I don't understand. I never told Dom I was even interested in anything like that."
Julia feigned surprise. "You didn't? I thought it was everyone's dream. You're sure you never wanted to be a model? You could make the big bucks. Enough to pay for your schooling."
"I don't know. I mean, I think I would like it, but I figured it would be too hard to get into."
"Well, once we explained it to Lisa, she was all for it. It's pretty much the next step all the girls take who win the contest at the bar. You do remember that, don't you?"
Gwen smiled a ghost of a smile in spite of herself and nodded. She hadn't had that much fun in a long time. Julia slid a piece of paper toward her.
"Look. It's right here in the contract you signed last night. You agree to allow us to use any footage obtained at the bar for advertising purposes. You also agree, if chosen, to participate in a photo shoot at our expense with the resulting portfolio to be distributed to modeling agencies in the city. If you are chosen to model, you would owe us three percent of any monies received. That means ninety-seven percent is for you to keep. A lot of the top models make upwards of ten thousand dollars a day. That would more than pay for your schooling.
"You know, Dom said he had talked to you about it after the contest, but he said you might have had too much to drink by then. Maybe you just don't remember. You can think it over if you like."
"So it's no money up front and three percent of any contract?"
"That's right."
"What would the shoot consist of today?"
"Well, of course we would let you get cleaned up, shower, hair, makeup. We'd have to get you something to eat. We'll provide clothing and lingerie. And the shoot itself would take three or four hours with clothing changes. Like I said, head shots, glamour shots and the works. Most people enjoy it. If you don't, you know this work isn't for you. We'll call you back in a few weeks to look at the portfolio and approve it before it gets sent to anyone."
"So if I agree to do this today, do I sign something else?"
Julia pulled out a second contract and slid it across the desk. Gwen looked it over. It said exactly what she had just described.
"What the heck. I already missed class. I might as well do something worthwhile today." She took the pen Julia offered and signed the contract.
After sharing sandwiches with Joseph, Gwen was brought to an elegant bathroom and left to shower. She dropped her clothes and earrings on the floor and fingered the short silk robe that had been left for her use. There were rows of hair and skin care products on one wall and a bank of mirrors along another wall with makeup and vanity lights. She chose a shampoo and conditioner and body soap and went to the shower.
**************
Brian still wouldn't let her have her clothes when they got back in the truck. She snuggled into him and smiled.
"So you like pictures too?"
"Hmm?"
"Pictures of naked girls? They turn you on?"
"I am a guy."
"Do you look at them on the internet?"
"I used to. Not much lately." He pulled her close.
"What would you do if you had naked pictures of me?"
"Oh, I would look at those."