Page 8 of Knot for Sale

“That depends,” said Jared. His skin had the rich olive glow of the Mediterranean, but unlike his wife’s accent, his was all New York.

“On what?” I asked cautiously.

Paul still wasn’t looking at me. He picked up the pen he’d so carefully rearranged only moments before, twiddling with it nervously as he cleared his throat.

“We’d like to offer you one more opportunity,” he said. “It’s a bit... unique, as these things go.” He paused for long enough that I started sweating beneath my designer blouse.

Jared gave him an irritated look and took up the conversational mantle. “The Secret Boudoiris recruiting a new crop of models for their Spring Collection. We’d like you to audition.”

“O... kay?” I hazarded, not sure if I should be relieved when the atmosphere inside the conference room felt so stilted. Lingerie modeling had lost much of the stigma it used to have, andThe Secret Boudoirwas a household name—even if it didn’t inhabit the same rarefied perch of commercial success that it had a decade ago.

It wasn’t my dream job by any stretch, but no one could deny that TSB had catapulted a number of models to stardom over the years.

“Excellent,” Jared said. “The auditions will take place on a yacht off the coast of Greece, where you and the other models will be assessed based on your appearance, attitude, and ability to represent the company in a positive light. There will be several investors and other guests present, so it’s vital that you make the best impression possible, if you understand what I mean.”

My stomach dipped unpleasantly. “Is this an image modeling job?” I demanded, using the industry term for a gig that was understood to involve escort duties, if not outright prostitution.Image modeling was where washed-up models desperate for money went to watch their careers die.

Beads of perspiration had popped out on Paul’s balding head.

Clio’s eyes glittered like diamond-edged knives. “We’re offering you a genuine opportunity to become a model for a well-respected company. If you’re not interested, I’m certain there are other girls who will be.”

Jared laid a hand on his wife’s arm, quelling her. “The client will pay you twelve thousand dollars plus travel expenses for the week.”

My breath stuttered. “Twelve thousand d-dollars?” That was more than I’d been paid for a gig since I left England.

“Half up front, half upon completion,” Jared confirmed.

Paul finally looked up, meeting my eyes.Say no, his expression said.

But twelve thousand dollars was life-changing money for me right now. More importantly, I had a past that none of the people at this table knew about. If worse came to worst, this wouldn’t be the first time I’d spread my legs for a powerful man in exchange for security—or at least the illusion of it.

Far from it.

“Done,” I said, wondering what the weather was like off the coast of Greece at this time of year.

FIVE

Emma

THERE REALLY WAS no subtle way to go from ‘Oops, I don’t have the rent’ to ‘Here’s this month’s money, plus next month’s while I’m at it.’