Page 13 of Cain

A dozen or so people are scattered across the space, some with cameras in hand. Their eyes occasionally flick toward me as I enter, but they don’t care about me. They keep talking to each other, their lips moving with disdainas if they are gossiping about the worst person in the world. I could never get used to this industry. For a brief moment, I regret it all. I regret being here; I regret wanting to become a model. I am not made for this. How can I be?

“Katerina!” Elijah’s voice pierces through the awkwardness surrounding me, snapping me out of my haze.

Elijah Smith.Thephotographer. All the models would kill to have a picture from him in their portfolios. He’s the one who saw me at the photoshoot and invited me to this party. Everyone around me gossiped about how lucky I was to be noticed by someone like him, making me feel awkward under their scornful eyes.

“Hi.” I smile awkwardly.

“Glad you made it.” He pulls me closer to kiss me quickly on the cheek.

Elijah is tall, his pale skin almost sickly in the dim light. He wears an oversized black turtleneck that hangs loosely around his thin frame. His eyes, cold and intense, never leave mine, intimidating me to the core.

“Come on, have a drink.” He pulls me farther into the opulent apartment, leading me to the bar.

“I don’t drink,” I say coyly, taking a seat on the stool before the counter.

“Tonight, you will.” He nods at the barman. “You look gorgeous tonight.” He leans on the bar and checks me out from head to toe.

“Thanks.”

“Why don’t you take off your coat? I’ll leave it in the guest room with the others.”

I shake my head. “I’m fine.” Why do I feel so awkward? It’s almost unsettling, as if I am inside a lion’s den.

“Come on, Katerina.” He pulls my coat off without permission. “If you want to succeed in this industry, you need to have balls and be open for new opportunities.”

My skin crawls. “I guess you’re right.”

The barman offers me my drink. It’s a hot-pink cocktail in a martini glass.

Elijah raises his drink. “To new opportunities.”

“To new opportunities,” I repeat hesitantly, mirroring his gesture.

He clinks the glasses and sips, his eyes never leaving mine. “Won’t you at least try it?” I let out a sharp sigh and take a tiny sip of the drink. It stings my lips. I hate it, but I try to hide my disgust. “Great!” He smiles brightly. “So, tell me, Katerina. What brings you here?”

“You invited me.”

“I mean here in America. Just business?”

“I’d say ambitions.”

He hums, lowering his eyes to my thighs, and I feel a chill crawl up my spine. “You’re right to have ambitions. I mean, you’ve got the whole package.” His gaze drifts back up to meet mine, a smirk playing at the corner of his lips. “But you need to know how to use what you’ve got.”

I gulp. “What do you mean?”

“You’ve got the looks, sure. If you play your cards right, who knows what doors could open for you.”

He steps a little closer, his breath brushing against my ear, and I instinctively pull back. “It’s all about knowing who to charm, how to seduce them. You’d besurprised how far it can get you.” He looks at me and places his palm on my bare thigh. “And you look like a smart girl, Katerina.”

“Uhm, I don’t think you’ve?—”

His phone rings. “I’ll be back soon.”

What the fuck is wrong with him?! Instantly, I feel my blood boiling and, at the same time, my legs shivering in fear. Quickly, I grab my coat and rush towards the exit. That’s enough for me. I’m out of here.

I realize that my phone is still off, so I turn it on to inform Emily, but there’s no signal in the elevator.

When I reach the bottom and step outside, the signal finally returns, and my phone is flooded with Kryštof’s endless texts and missed calls.