Page 101 of Strut

“Time to warn the family, I guess.” I made a quick call to Tui, who I knew would be up for milking, and brought him up to date. I asked him to call Lachlan, and then to wake my parents with the news before some bright spark in the family alerted them to the fact their son was trending naked on social media. I’d make a follow up call later when my brain wasn’t spinning.

After that, I called Tim and Marco who’d sent more than a dozen texts between them and stalled them from coming over to hold my hand. The last thing I needed was a room full of people feeling sorry for me.

When I was finally done, Hunter confiscated my phone and shoved me into the shower while he organised breakfast. I emerged from the bedroom feeling somewhat human and for some reason ravenously hungry. I inhaled two pancakes dripping in butter and maple syrup and some toast. Only when my plate was clean did Hunter tell me the new post had gone up, and I spent the next fifteen minutes trying not to throw up.

Things moved quickly after that. Within an hour, a few big model names, men and women, had reposted #modelsMeToo with comments of their own.

Putting up with ‘fuck tucks’.

Being told you don’t need a change room.

Being asked to show your tits.

Getting unsolicited dick pics from booking agents.

And the list went on and on. Many more were adding supportive comments and sharing the new post, and the buzz was growing. It was a strange feeling to be simultaneously pleased about the responses and disgusted by what they described.

There were still plenty of arsehole comments as well, but I’d prepared myself as best I could and Hunter buffered me from the worst, checking through threads before letting me look. Implying how the images had been used to cower me seemed to have struck a chord. I could only hope.

I sighed and slumped on the couch. “This hanging around is driving me crazy. I don’t even know what we’re waitingfor. Even if Kip’s idea works and more people come on board and start to question the rumours and photos, it still doesn’t solve my problem. I still don’t have a job or a visa, which means I can’t stay, and I have no fucking clue what I’m going to do.”

“Well,” Hunter hedged. “That might not be entirely accurate.”

I narrowed my gaze. “What do you mean?”

He winced. “I might’ve done something while you were in the shower. Don’t hate me.”

I crawled onto his lap and eyeballed him. “That depends. What did you do?”

“I talked to Mel again.”

I narrowed my gaze. “Mel?”

“To be fair,shecalledmeafter seeing the photos.”

“And?” I gave him a hard stare.

“I told her Cage had cut you loose.”

I let out a frustrated groan.

“I know. I know. And I get that I was out of line.Youshould’ve been the one to tell her. I’m sorry.”

The anguish in his eyes made it hard to stay mad. “Okay, I’m listening.”

His worried frown smoothed. “She wants me to tell you that Melt will sign you tomorrow if you want to stay.”

“What?” I rocked back on his knees and stared at him. “But... is she crazy? No one is going to want to book me at the moment. I’m a fucking pariah.” I slid off his thighs and slumped on the couch beside him.

“She’s well aware of the... difficulties, and she doesn’t care. She’s furious at Cage, but she also said to tell you that she really does want you on their team. And Melt would be a very different agency to work for, as you know.”

“Which is hardly an issue if I don’t have any work,” I pointed out. “Look, it’s a kind offer and I love that Mel’s got my back, but it doesn’t really solve anything.”

“It would give you time, Alec.” Hunter wriggled onto one hip and rested his arm along the back of the couch.

“To do what? I told you what happened yesterday,” I reminded him. “That first photog had already made up his mind before he even saw me.”

“But the second one was better, right?” Hunter pushed.

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