LITMIR.BIZ

      Five

      “Gwen, I’m counting on you to tell me what’s going on.”

      The model lifted her head with a defiant jut to her chin. Kaylee clenched her jaw to keep from coming on too strong in the beginning. She didn’t want to start World War Three unless it proved necessary.

      She had called the models into her office one by one. Gwen was the last. So far, she’d struck out. Jessica and Barbie had refused to divulge what had triggered the rift. Hopefully she would have more luck with Gwen, who was more even tempered than the other two.

      “I’m waiting,” Kaylee finally said.

      “What did the others say?”

      “That’s something I’m not prepared to share.”

      Gwen blew out a breath, then tightened her protruding lower lip.

      Of all the models who worked for the agency on a steady basis, this young lady had the most potential. Not only was she gorgeous—with perfect features that enhanced her alabaster skin, big dark eyes and coal-black hair—she had the body to match the face. Unlike the majority of her cohorts, she didn’t have to starve herself in order to remain thin as a stick. It was in her genes. She was a natural. At five foot ten, Gwen seemed to float down the runway or jump off the pages of a magazine.

      “I don’t have anything to say.” No mistaking the mutiny in her voice and features.

      “So that’s the way you want to play?”

      “Are you going to fire me?”

      Gwen’s question shocked Kaylee. Letting any of them go at this point had not crossed her mind. Dealing with temperamental girls and their heightened egos was a big part of her job. While she would like to throttle them when they acted like spoiled brats, she chose to curb that urge and opt for the diplomatic approach. That had always worked.

      Until today.

      Something was definitely going on, something more serious than the petty jealousies that often triggered these outbursts. The girls were three of her top models, and with two important style shows only weeks away, her strategy had to produce results. If none of the three was willing to talk, then she, with Sandy’s help, would have to go in the back door, which was not her first preference. It was her policy to be honest and direct with her girls. She always wanted them to know where they stood with her. She expected the same courtesy from them and for the most part, they complied.

      “Is that what you want?” Kaylee finally asked. “For me to fire you, that is?”

      “Of course not.” Gwen’s response was emphatic, though spots of color surged in her cheeks.

      A warning bell clanged in Kaylee’s head, but again she had no evidence, concrete or otherwise, to give her concern a bona fide name.

      “Is that all you have to say?”

      Gwen nodded.

      Kaylee chose her words carefully. “You’ve made your choice, and I’ll respect it. Having said that, I want to remind you that choices have consequences.”

      Kaylee paused hopefully to let that statement soak in. “And the consequences are not always pleasant.”

      Gwen lowered her head, but not before Kaylee glimpsed a moistening on her thick eyelashes. Suddenly she felt the urge to get up and give the girl a comforting hug. But that would show a weakness she couldn’t allow if she didn’t want this situation to blow up in her face.

      “Can I go now?”

      “You may. But I’ll tell you what I told the others. I won’t put up with any behavior that blights this agency or its reputation.”

      When Gwen stood, her face turned chalk-white, and another alarm went off silently inside Kaylee’s head.

      “Is that clear?”

      “Yes, ma’am.”

      “My suggestion is that the three of you go for pizza—”

      Gwen gasped. “Did you say what I think you said?”

      It was all Kaylee could do to keep a straight face. “If you’re referring to the word pizza, yes.”

      “You’re telling me that we can have pizza?”

      “If that’s what it takes to settle this mess between you three, then I’ll even spring for it.”

      Gwen’s features broke into a smile, but for only a second. Her solemn, troubled look quickly returned, and she shifted her gaze.

      Kaylee smothered a sigh before motioning toward the door. “Go on, get out of here and get back to work.”

      “Yes, ma’am,” Gwen muttered, then fled as if her backside was on fire.

      Feeling as if all the energy had been sucked out of her, Kaylee stayed put. Her leg was also throbbing, which meant she should’ve strapped on her brace before leaving that morning.

      But she hadn’t. On purpose. Some days she simply couldn’t deal with that piece of steel, and today was one of them. Kaylee’s conversation with Gwen, or rather the lack of one, had frustrated her, a rare condition since most of the time she could reason through any problem.

      She considered herself to be one tough cookie who could overcome any obstacle thrown in her path. From age sixteen on, she had borne more than most, but it had given her character depth and strength, both traits she needed to run a successful business, though it still wasn’t as prosperous as she wanted it to be.

      Only when she reimbursed her godfather and mentor, Drew Rush, for the money he had lent her to start the agency would she feel completely successful. Although he hadn’t been sure this business would take off in Houston, he’d told her to go for it, that he would back her 100 percent.

      If the agency continued on its present course, Kaylee would have Drew paid off sooner rather than later. Diversity was the key to her success, or so she’d been told by a friend at the Ford Modeling Agency in New York. She had visited with Emily Austin many times before making the decision to open her agency.

      Emily’s advice had been to lean heavily toward the commercial side of the business rather than the live fashion side, though Kaylee was proud that her models did fashion as well, catering to the large upscale stores in the city such as Neiman Marcus, Saks Fifth Avenue and Macy’s.

      Yet her agency’s focus was on

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