Page 57 of Wild Blades

“And you gave up modeling when you caught him cheating?”

“Yeah. Also, not strictly because of him.” I can feel my voice becoming lighter as I get the opportunity to talk about my business. “For years I had been studying for my business management degree. Evening studies, between shoots, I squeezed in my assignments anywhere I could. I knew what I wanted to achieve and wanted to do it before I made the switch. It was all part of my long-term goal. I knew I wouldn’t model forever. Every model has an expiration date. I chose to leave the industry myself and go out on a high note. I studied business management, accounting, marketing, internal and external communications, and crisis management. I loved it all. When I qualified, I poached two publicists from an agency in New York to help me set my business up in Canada. I worked in between modeling contracts, day and night, to make it happen. Then I moved back to the city I grew up in.” Smiling, I continue, “It has been one of the best decisions I have ever made. I loved every minute of traveling the world, meeting people from every corner of it, the food, the culture, everything about my job was exciting, but I finally feel settled for the first time in years.” I copy Wade’s position, folding my arms and resting them on the tabletop. “Retiring from modeling was inevitable. It would have happened sooner rather than later, and I’m happy I did it when I did. The timing was perfect and when Michael cheated on me it gave me an out of sorts. Does that make sense?”

He nods.

“And we are about to open a new talent management agency. The PR side of the business is called KRPR and we’re opening KRTM in the next couple of months. It will be a talent agency with a difference.”

“How so?”

I shift into sales mode, feeling excited about my audacious goal. “We’re going to focus on people who are visibly different. We’ll be a full-service talent agency ensuring models, actors, and sports personalities are managed, represented, and publicized in the slickest and most ethical way possible. Right from the start, I’ve been committed to working with brands who were ready to change the face of fashion; different is beautiful. Our mission is to show the world exactly just how beautiful it looks, no matter the disability, color of someone’s skin, or gender. At KR Talent Management, we are going to change the face of media and fashion.”

I’ve had dozens of inquiries already. Clients and brands are leaning into the underrepresented, and we are signing talent quicker than we can hire agents and managers.

“Wow. That’s pretty cool.”

“Isn’t it just?” It’s the best idea I’ve ever had. “And the added bonus, my friends and family are here. I love being able to drop in for coffee or take my niece to have waffles. It’s the best feeling in the world. I never knew how much I missed them until I returned home.”

“I remember you said your mom and dad are archeologists. Is that right?”

“Yeah.” I scrunch my face up. “It’s weird right?” When I was growing up, my friend’s parents were doctors, teachers, and lawyers who worked in offices, but what my parents do is… different. “They’re currently living in London and working for The British Museum. I haven’t seen them in a while.” I’mhoping to visit them next summer. “They met at college and have been inseparable ever since.” Separated from their children but not from each other. “They are super eccentric,” I explain when there really is no need.

“And you lived with your grandmother? Isn’t that what you said the day we met in the boardroom?” I love how interested Wade seems in my life, something Michael never cared about.

“My parents won a grant to dig in Cairo, and left me and my sister, Dana, with my grandmother, and that was that.” I never did understand how they could leave us. “My grandma was very special. She loved us like her own.”

“A bit like Gretchen with me?”

“Yeah.” I ask my next question. “Do you not speak to your mom at all?”

The mood shifts between us. “Haven’t spoken to her since the day I left home.”

“That surprises me. Your mom is never out of the gossip pages. I would have thought she would use your fame to climb the celebrity ladder.” It’s an honest observation.

“She didn’t need to after she signed that stupid television deal.” Looking less than pleased about that, Wade runs his hands across his cleanly shaved jaw, which I much prefer to the stubble he grows sometimes and imagine how his soft face would feel between my thighs.

Stop it, now not.

I watchedRich and Reckless in Canadaonce and never again. I’d rather lick toxic paint and die a slow and painful death than watch a bunch of rich women teeter about in high heels while they boast about how wealthy they are.Classless cows.

I can only guess how it makes Wade feel. “It gives your team easy ways to screw with you. Like the fight with Zane?”

“Zane is a prick. He’s the worst.”

I've met Zane a few times. But from what I’ve seen of him, I think he’s full of shit. Underneath lies a deeply insecure man who covers up those insecurities by saying hateful things.

Wade adds, “Daddy is always bailing him out of trouble with women.”

I lift my eyebrows, interested as Wade spills Zane’s secrets. “Paid a one night stand he got pregnant to keep quiet about it, apparently.”

That is scandalous. Daddy clearly has a thick checkbook to keep that under lock and key. I can’t deny I’m loving the gossip. Just as long as it doesn’t involve Wade, I’m here for it.

He then says, “I don’t want to ruin my day. I’ve had a nice time with you today, so let’s not talk about Zane Edwards.”

“You’ve had a nice day with me?” I point to my chest. That surprises me. He wears a virtual shield, making it difficult to get close to him, but he’s right about today. It’s been great.

“Yes. Best day in a while.”

I feel myself smiling brighter than sunshine.

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