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be seated,” he urged.

      She sank into a padded leather seat. “If it’s bad news for Tiffany, please say it straight out, Mr. Wilding. You don’t have to let me down easily.”

      His eyebrows lifted. “What makes you think it’s bad news?”

      “I love Tiff with all my heart, but I don’t know what advertisers are looking for. She doesn’t seem to fit the pictures I’ve seen in magazines.”

      “No,” he agreed, and Cassie’s heart sank. Though she might not be entirely comfortable with Tiffany’s desire to become a model, her niece had experienced enough hard knocks and disappointments. The practical side of Cassie’s brain said that was real life, but it didn’t keep her from wanting to keep real life from intruding again for a while.

      Adam had been punching buttons on his computer, then gestured at the TV where photos of Tiffany began appearing.

      “Tiffany wouldn’t be a typical teen model,” Adam said, “but that’s okay. She has something special, a uniqueness that we like and these confirm what we saw in the picture you submitted. She’s also cooperative, is highly photogenic and able to follow directions, which was the main reason we wanted to do a practice photo shoot. Once Logan is in Seattle full time, we plan to do this with all prospective clients.”

      “R-really?” Cassie managed to choke out. Having prepared herself for bad news, she wasn’t sure how to react to the opposite.

      “Absolutely. Naturally Tiffany’s bio didn’t contain much information, so now I need to ask a few questions. Who is her legal guardian?”

      “I am. My sister has, uh...problems. I’ve had custody of the kids since last August.”

      “What kind of problems?”

      Cassie gave him a narrow look. She had a passion for privacy and it wasn’t easy to talk about Marie being an alcoholic at the best of times. “Why do you want to know?”

      “You don’t have to answer, but all sorts of things affect a model’s career and his or her agent can function best by knowing the gritty details. I’m sorry if it seems intrusive. Frankly, I already know something is going on. While Tiffany is young in many ways, there’s a look in her face that suggests she’s been through quite a bit.”

      “I guess I understand.” Becoming a model was so important to her niece, Cassie knew she would have to explain. “Marie, my sister, started drinking after the twins were born and it became progressively worse.”

      “They’re twins?”

      “Yes.”

      Adam smiled a high wattage smile that practically knocked the sandals off Cassie’s feet.

      “My niece and nephew are twins, too. Is your sister likely to sue to regain custody if control of income becomes an issue?”

      Nausea threatened at the idea. Cassie honestly couldn’t say what Marie might do. The court had declared her unfit, but she could be very convincing when she wanted to be.

      “I’m sorry,” he said quietly. “I can see it’s upsetting to talk about, but for Tiffany’s sake, it needs to be considered.”

      * * *

      ADAM HAD SEEN Cassie Bryant’s face turn pale and wondered if he should consider not moving forward. Presumably Tiffany had a decent home with her aunt since she appeared to be a well-adjusted kid. Having a career as a model wasn’t worth taking a chance on upsetting her stability.

      Still, if she was determined, they would simply find another agency. At least Cassie didn’t seem to have stage-mother instincts. He hadn’t told her, but the practice photo shoot had also served in finding out if she would try to interfere or coach Tiffany.

      “My sister would have the fight of her life if she tried to get her daughter’s money, but regardless, I’d want it put in a trust so it couldn’t be touched until Tiff is eighteen or older. With a third-party trustee or something.”

      The comment told Adam that Cassie wasn’t interested in having access to the money herself.

      “The contract can specify how the fees will be paid,” he said. “You should have a lawyer set the account up.”

      “My godfather is an attorney and he helped with the custody arrangements, so I’m sure he’ll be able to protect any earnings Tiffany might have until she’s no longer a minor.”

      Adam nodded. “Good.”

      “Then this means you want Tiff as a client?”

      “Yes, but there’s something else I want to discuss.” He clicked forward to the close-up shots of Glen that Logan had taken as unobtrusively as possible. “I believe your nephew would also make an excellent model.”

      Cassie sat up straight as an arrow. “He isn’t interested.”

      “You haven’t asked him yet.”

      “He’s going to medical school.”

      At her adamant statement, Adam’s gut tightened. No kid should have his or her life laid out by the adults in their lives, no matter how well-intentioned the plan. He’d been through it with his father, and just that morning, his sister had mentioned how Dermott was encouraging his eight-year-old granddaughter to become a doctor.

      Perhaps this was Cassie Bryant’s attempt to salvage Glen’s future after life with a difficult mother, but he was only thirteen and should grow up to make his own choices.

      “I see.” Adam controlled the impulse to say she shouldn’t put such rigid expectations on any kid; it wasn’t his place, even if he disagreed with her. Besides, he knew little about the situation. “College and medical school cost a great deal.”

      His comment may have hit home since Cassie began digging her fingernails into the palm of her hand. He realized she was pretty in an understated way, though she’d made no attempt to jazz herself up. To him, a huge part of a woman’s beauty came from attitude—an inner something that made him sit up and take notice. He didn’t know about Cassie—it was as if she was concealing herself behind a carefully constructed mask.

      “I know it’s expensive,” she said at length. “I’ve started a savings account for both their educations.”

      “They might not need it if they become successful as models. By the time Tiffany and Glen graduate high school, they could have enough in their trust funds to pursue a career of their choosing.” Adam hadn’t been able to keep the emphasis off their, but Cassie didn’t seem to notice. “And this is one of the few options they have at this age to work,” he added.

      “I don’t know if he’ll be interested,” she said, “but I’ll discuss it with him.”

      At least that was more than Adam’s parents would have been willing to consider.

      “Why don’t you talk to Glen right now?” he suggested.

      Cassie’s mouth tightened and he wondered how she’d present the idea to her nephew. Positively or in a way that would make it appear unattractive? Glen was an engaging adolescent who might have an opportunity to make a decent amount of money; Adam hoped his aunt would play fair.

      Half an hour later, she returned. “Tiffany is excited, which is no surprise, and Glen wants to think about it.”

      Adam had an impulse to speak with Glen himself, to ensure the youngster had been adequately informed about the possibilities. But that was a knee-jerk reaction to his parents’ plan for his life. Having this particular problem with objectivity wasn’t something he’d anticipated in his decision to become an agent. He and his partners had weekly bull sessions where they discussed issues, so he should bring it up at the next one.

      Adam continued questioning Cassie on various details, including the kids’ health and whether their father might prove an issue in the future.

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