Senior Year Box Set

They had me start first. I was glad to see Michael had hired Jackie as our photographer today. We began with my least favorite type of work, catalog shots. I asked the wardrobe gal to roll out the rack of clothes they wanted me to wear and changed on set. Doing so saved a ton of time, and I wanted to get this part over with as quickly as possible.

While I did my job, Adrienne watched me like a hawk.

“Your left hand,” she reminded me.

“I wasn’t ready,” I complained.

“You should always be ready,” she shot back.

“Is she coming on to me? Is that some kind of workplace abuse?” I asked no one in particular.

“Shut up and focus,” Adrienne ordered.

I made the pose correctly.

“Better.”

“That’s the last outfit,” Jackie announced.

“Thank God!” I said as I slouched. “Abuse the new kid for a while.”

Jill came out in a t-shirt and shorts set.

Jackie took a test shot and loaded it onto a TV screen they used to catch any flaws. I looked over Adrienne’s and Jackie’s shoulders.

“Lose the bra,” I suggested.

“He’s right,” Jackie said.

Adrienne walked over to Jill and stood in front of her as she took it off to guard her modesty. Adrienne began to chuckle.

“We’ll be right back,” Adrienne announced and took Jill back to makeup.

“What’s that all about?” Jackie asked.

“If I were to guess, I would say they’re putting pasties on to hide that she’s braless.”

“Oh,” Jackie said without further comment.

When I dated Jill’s sister, I’d discovered that she had nipples that reminded me of pencil erasers, but longer. Jill was similarly built. Her nipples poking through the t-shirt would be a distraction from the apparel. Jade’s main goal was to sell clothes.

When she came back, Jill looked much better.

Adrienne ran her through the poses and explained what she had to do. Jill did well for the first half-hour, but then she started to lose focus. It was a common mistake new models made. Even I sometimes found it hard to keep making the same pose over and over again.

Adrienne spotted it and had Jill take a break to talk to her. That meant I was up again.

◊◊◊

We completed the catalog work in the morning. I was glad to see Michael hadn’t ordered only rabbit food for lunch. They did have stuff to make a salad, which Adrienne chose. But there was also pizza and an excellent potato leek soup.

The afternoon would be ad work. Like Abercrombie, Jade wasn’t against showing skin to sell their clothes. Unlike this morning’s photos, these were supposed to be sexier. I wasn’t surprised when Jackie sent Jill to makeup, and they removed her pasties. This would be when Mrs. Lacier objected, if she ever would.

While we ate, my phone rang. I was confused as to who would be calling me from an international number.

“This is David,” I answered.

“Hey, it’s Alex.”

He sounded upset.

“What’s up?” I asked.

“My dad … my dad was almost kidnapped.”

That got my full attention. I’d experienced the fear when I was in Mexico, and the gang tried to take me.

“Is he okay?”

“He got banged up. They ran his car off the road and actually had him. It was an inside job. Two of his security team were involved.”

That was your nightmare scenario. You trusted your security to keep you safe.

“When did this happen?” I asked.

“Last night. Dad has been piecing it all together. They planned to take you too,” Alex warned.

WTF!?!

“What?”

“They took Dad as he left the parking lot on his way to pick up our dinner. Then they busted into your condo. That was when Dad’s backup team arrived and freed him.”

“Shit. I take it they’re now in police custody.”

“Uh … no. We didn’t call the police. Dad’s people took care of it. Don’t ask,” Alex said before that question popped out of my mouth.

I really didn’t want to imagine how Colombians ‘took care of’ something like this themselves.

“Is it just about money?” I ventured.

“No, it’s … complicated. Dad said to tell you to be careful for the next few days while they … Well, I can’t really say,” Alex said as he danced around what was really going on.

“Alex, tell your dad that my condo is wired for security. There will be a video if he needs it.”

“I’ll tell him. Dad wanted you to know that he’s taking care of any damage they caused.”

“I appreciate that, but I want to make sure you all are okay. Stuff can be replaced; you guys can’t.”

“We aren’t there anymore. I’m not supposed to say where we are until we get the all-clear. Dad doesn’t think they’ll try anything with you. He said you were just an opportunity they didn’t want to pass up. Just be safe,” Alex warned.

“Are you safe?”

Alex didn’t say anything.

“Is your dad worrying your security might be compromised?” I followed up.

“I’ve got to go,” Alex said.

“If he’s worried, have him call me. I have some resources that would help …”

Before I had a chance to say anything else, he added, “I’ve really got to go. I’ll call you when I know more.”

Tony felt he owed me for helping with that rat bastard, Brandon Rigby. If anyone could protect Alex and his family, it was Tony’s people.