“I guess my point is ... why would I ever leave them?”
The room was silent for a minute as what I said sunk in. Deb looked at Clare and smiled.
“Slacker.”
“Aunt Deb!”
“We’ll drop the exclusive talk ... for now,” Deb said. “Could we get a discount on the shoot since we’re doing three for one?”
“I’ll tell you what; I’ll do them for free. Just give me full resale rights to the pictures, and Ford can use them to promote the girls as they see fit.”
“Deal,” Clare said. “Would you be willing to do this again in the future with other models?”
I thought about it for a moment.
“But not always for free. I would do it if you come to me. Somewhere within an hour’s drive would be fine. It also can’t conflict with anything that makes me money or my personal life, like my nephew’s birthday or football camps. Just call Kendal to set it up.”
THE PARTY WAS IN ONE of the Hard Rock’s ballrooms. Kendal told me it could hold 300 people. There were two bars set up at each end, and a buffet along the back wall. I remembered Kara’s advice, “Watch what the other models do, and do just the opposite.”
I scanned the room and saw them all talking to each other. They were also hitting the free bars and buffet. I took Ava and Kendal in tow and started to mingle. I made a special effort to meet the people Clare had prepped me on.
One of the cool things Kendal had was an app that scanned business cards. It picks out their contact info and puts it in your contacts on your phone. It also date-stamps it, and you could add comments like where and why you have the contact. Kendal took it a step further and added them to groups. This way, if we need a photographer, all we have to do was look at that group. Whenever she added a contact, Tom and I got the same contact on our phones. Each time she added one, my phone would ‘ding.’ After the fifth one, I turned my sound off. While adjusting my phone, I saw I had a text. It was from Tom, and it said ‘Great Job and Good Luck!’
As I met people, a man caught my eye because he didn’t seem to fit in. He was young, I would guess in his early twenties. He was too short to be a model, maybe five-ten, and he was wearing a suit that didn’t fit him quite right. His face showed signs of him being outside a lot. He didn’t look like one of the predators that Deb had warned me about since he seemed to be hanging back and watching everything. My gut told me to go talk to him, but he seemed a little skittish. Therefore, I sent the girls off to grab a drink and get something to eat. It was almost time for the presentation, so I promised to meet them in a few minutes.
I walked up to the guy.
“Hi, I’m David,” I said, which startled him.
He shook my hand.
“Devin.”
Then he got a big smile on his face.
“You’re David Dawson, right?”
“Yes.”
Now I was even more curious. How did this guy know who I was? Then he showed me the program with my picture in it.
“My sister has a huge crush on you.”
What do you say to that? You don’t want to come off as a horndog to a brother.
“I don’t suppose your sister’s here tonight?” I asked
“Actually, she is. Would you be willing to talk to her? I know it would make her day.”
“What’s your sister’s name? I’ll get her a signed photo.”
I hoped it would show that I wasn’t going to hit on her.
“Her name is Sandy.”
“What brings you here tonight?” I asked Devin.
“Business ... I don’t normally come to these events. I hate getting dressed in a suit and tie.”
Something about Devin, I liked.
“Come with me. I think you need to meet some cute girls who’ll make you wearing a suit worthwhile.”
Ava and Kendal had secured us a table. I introduced Devin to both of them, and he joined us. Kendal had a couple of my photos and a Sharpie with her. She gave me one of the photos, and I made it out to Sandy and signed it.
It soon became apparent that Kendal and Devin had hit it off. He had a firm grasp on business, and they were soon in a discussion about marketing. Ava and I just sat back, watched them, and enjoyed some people-watching.
Then the music stopped and Deb Thomas stepped up onto the small stage. She welcomed everyone and talked about the merits of using Ford Models. She ran a slideshow of many of the recent projects their models had done, either in runway work, print or TV. With each presentation, the models involved would come up and be introduced. She then introduced their newest client, Range Sports.
They ran a video showing all the sporting equipment and clothing Range sold. The video then introduced their new youth line. It was well presented, and when the video ended, Deb introduced the head of marketing for Range Sports. He gave a quick speech telling everyone about their plans, and how they felt Ford was the right company to collaborate with.
“We have the rare treat of having our CEO with us tonight. I would like to introduce Devin Range.”
Devin had the decency to blush when he got up from our group to talk. He gave a short speech and then he went off script for the evening.
“Ford has been great to work with. Tonight, I’ve met the new face of the Range Sports Youth Line, and I’m stealing Deb’s thunder because she found us a great fit who happens to be a nice guy. Play the intro, please.”
It showed shots from my portfolio. When it finished, Devin continued.
“Let me introduce, David Dawson.”
I got up and made my way to the stage. Clare had written me a speech so I gave it, and then I went off script.
“Can I have Sandy Range come to the stage?”
A cute girl who was my age or a little older came up and joined Devin and me. He had a big grin on his face as he watched his sister’s embarrassment.
“Devin tells me that you’re a big fan.” She grinned and nodded. “He asked me to give you this signed picture.”
She hugged her brother and then I got one too. Deb came back up and Devin, Sandy and I went back to our table.
Deb had one other person to introduce. I was in complete astonishment when she introduced Adrienne. I had grown up fantasizing about her. She had been a Victoria’s Secret and Sports Illustrated model. What set her apart was she had DD breasts that seemed to defy gravity. She was also more toned than most models. That was why she was still going strong at age 26.
To be honest, I had no idea what she was saying. I was just drinking in her beauty. She was the classic California girl with blond hair and sun-kissed skin. Rumor was she was in a relationship with a woman, but that there were guys in her past. That at least gave me some hope. Never mind the age difference. Every guy could hope, couldn’t he?
When the presentation was done, they started to play music again, and they had a dance floor that a few couples were using. I asked Sandy if she would dance with me. I’m not sure who was more surprised, Devin or Sandy.
It was a slow dance, so I took her in my arms. She looked up at me shyly.
“Do you have a girlfriend?”
“Yes, I do. Her name is Tracy. I’d love for you to meet her.”
“Really?”
“Yes, why wouldn’t I want her to meet my new friend?”
“Really?”
“Yes, I think you two would hit it off.”
“Really?”
“Uh, Sandy, are you brain-damaged?”
“Shut up! I’m trying to decide if this is a dream or if it’s really happening.”
I leaned down and kissed her. If she was off-balance before, that completely messed her up. I took her back to her brother and he saw the zoned-out look in her eyes.
“Is she always like this? I think she’s brain-damaged.”
She hit my shoulder.
“David kissed me,” she said as if that explained everything.
I looked at Devin and just shrugged. He lost it, which got him a slug in the arm from Sandy.