She looked stunned, and said in a quiet voice, “I never knew I looked like that. I actually look sexy.”
“I take it you’re happy?”
“Yes.”
I turned to Clare.
“Are you happy?”
“Oh, yes.”
“Kendal?”
“All good.”
“Kendal, sign the release and get a CD.”
THE NEXT SHOOT WAS Allison, and she was my kryptonite: five-ten with red hair, green eyes, alabaster skin, and freckles. She was a slightly taller version of Peggy. Allison wanted to do a bedroom scene. The photographer for this one was a young man who was a complete control freak. I suffered through forty-five minutes of him moving us and then yelling at pretty much everyone. Allison was very tense, and it showed in her work.
I called a stop, which apparently the talent wasn’t supposed to do. I took Allison aside.
“Look, this isn’t working. You’re way too tense. What can we do to make this better?”
She was pissed.
“Hell, I don’t know.”
I looked her in the eye and waited her out. I’d learned from my mom how to get people to talk. She finally spilled it.
“My boyfriend thought up the concept, and this morning he freaks out after he hears about you and Adrienne. He’s worried something’s going to happen.”
“Is he here?”
She wouldn’t look me in the eye.
“Which one is he?” I asked.
She didn’t say but glanced at the photographer. Shit.
“Wait here, and let me see what I can do to fix this.”
I got Clare and Kendal’s attention and we stepped out into the living room.
“Ladies, we have a problem. The photographer is Allison’s boyfriend. He’s freaked out about what I did with Adrienne last night. He has Allison so tense that she isn’t going to deliver with him doing the shoot. To be honest, I’m not sure she can do it with him in the suite.”
“I guess we pull the plug on this one,” Clare says.
“Why don’t you just get another photographer?” Kendal asks.
“I wish, but my budget doesn’t cover that. Plus, we only have 45 minutes before I have to let people leave for this shoot or pay them overtime, and that’s not allowed for a portfolio shoot.”
“Clare, I need you to be a bitch on wheels,” I told her. “Get rid of lover boy for the next hour. I also want you to clear that room. Only Allison, a photographer and I will be in the room. Kendal, you hire the photographer from the first shoot, and have her in there as soon as Clare takes care of Allison’s boyfriend.”
“But she isn’t in the budget. I can’t hire her to do a second shoot,” Clare whined.
“David didn’t tell you to hire her, he told me.”
Clare had her ah-ha moment and got the boyfriend and everyone else out of the room. I went back in and smiled at Allison.
“Okay. Clare is earning her money. We only have a short time, so I need to relax you. Get up on the bed, take off your robe and I’ll be right back.”
I went into the bathroom and grabbed a bottle of lotion. She had on cute panties and bra that had a lot of lace. I started giving her a back rub and heard the camera start to click. I could feel the tension going out of Allison. When I got to her butt, I lifted her hips up and nipped her. The look she gave me was perfect. I buried my face between her legs, nosed the crotch to the side, and licked her. I knew that Allison was close, and that was all it took for her to push her over the edge. As she climaxed, I scooted back so the photographer could capture the moment. Allison looked beautiful.
I rolled her over and scooted her towards the headboard so she was partially sitting up, and I stuck my tongue in her belly button. Allison got a startled look on her face and grabbed my hair with both hands. She bit her lip and let her head go to the side when I slid a finger into her soaking wet sex. I added a second finger and brought her to a quick orgasm. I crawled up, kissed her, and then sat beside her. She laid her head on my stomach and looked up at me with adoration.
“I think we have it,” the photographer said.
Allison and I followed her out and to see the results. Allison’s boyfriend was let back into the room and he put his arm around her protectively. The photographer ran through the shots and I was waiting for her boyfriend to kick my ass. I was surprised when he was smiling. Kendal got the releases signed, and I was off to the next shoot.
ALLIE WAS DARK-SKINNED and very sporty. Her shoot idea was to take it to the park and do three activities. I wasn’t as excited about this shoot because the temperature had dropped from a balmy 51 degrees on Sunday to 44 today. Don’t get me wrong: Chicago was normally in the mid-30s this time of year, so it could be worse.
First, we were going to jog down Lake Shore Drive, then ride bikes, and finally rollerblade. I had a great time with Allie. She didn’t take herself too seriously, and while jogging she turned it into a game of tag. The photographer loved it. The bike ride was fun, and we got some nice shots.
Rollerblading was a completely different animal. I had never done it before, so they got many shots of me as I ran into things, fell down, pulled Allie down; you get the idea.
KENDAL CHECKED US OUT of the Hard Rock and we went to Ford’s Chicago office on Superior Street. It was in an area of town where there are high-end stores with a mix of expensive condos and apartments. We were a little early, so I met with the nutritionist. He went over my blood work and showed me what I need to be taking. He recommended that I take MSM because I exercise so much; MSM has anti-inflammatory effects. Because of my joints taking a pounding, he recommended taking it in combination with glucosamine and/or chondroitin.
Other recommendations included a daily multivitamin and a couple of other supplements. He gave me a 90-day supply.
The first meeting of the day was with Clare and the account rep for Range Sports. The plan was for me to be there Friday afternoon. Devin was going to teach me how to snowboard. He wanted to have me proficient enough not to fall down for the shoot.
We went over the scheduled shoot, and I was going to be doing some fun things. Besides snowboarding, I would get to go sledding, snowmobiling, camping and hunting. At least, I would pretend to do sledding, snowmobiling, camping and hunting. The rep and Clare would go out a day early and work out anything that came up.
Then Clare gave me a list of do’s and don’ts.
“Most of what I’m going to tell you is common sense, but there are a few you need to hear because of your age. No drinking, drugs, or late nights. On most shoots there will be parties; I’d recommend you not go to those. Be very aware of getting enough sleep.”
I wasn’t partying anymore, so that wouldn’t be hard.
“Now, some I’m hoping you know, but I have to make sure. No sleeping with the client’s sister! If she climbs on you and forces you, wear a condom.”
“No worries, I always wear a condom,” I said.
Clare just shook her head and continued.
“The client pays for travel. If they pay for first class, you’ll not cash it in and fly coach. We want you as well-rested as possible. Finally, and these fall in the ‘it’s just a good idea if you want them to use you again’ category. Be on time. Listen to what you’re told. If you’re uncomfortable for any reason, get me. Do not confront the client.” She made sure she had my attention. “Did I remember to say it’s a bad idea to sleep with the client’s sister?”
“I heard, ‘be sure to wear a condom.’ Now I’m confused. Who do I talk to if you’re the one that’s confusing me?”
“Good question, even if you are being a smartass. If you need anything, call Deb. She’ll take your call the first time. If you want a second time, be sure you really needed to talk to her.”
The next meeting was with Deb and her staff. To my surprise, Tom was in the meeting. After my talk yesterday with Deb about what other business had been generated, she had contacted Tom and they had formed an alliance. Kendal signed three of the models yesterday. The thrust of the alliance was to find income streams for new models to help them pay their bills until they were making enough through Ford to make a living.