“That’s correct.”
“ThisisGabriella?”
“Yes, I just said so. What is this regarding?”
“My name is Courtney,” the woman responded. “I’m calling regarding the delinquent balance on your Visa card.”
Embarrassment flooded her in one hot wave after another. She looked across at Jesse, who watched with polite curiosity. “How did you get this number?”
“Ma’am, this is a collection agency. It’s our business. Now, I want to know how much you can pay today.”
“Today?”
“Right now. I can take a check, Gabriella, right over the phone. Can you pay the entire amount?”
Jesse continued to watch. Her mouth went dry. Pretend she was talking to a reporter; that was it. Make him believe it.
“Gabriella, are you there?”
“I’ll need to call you back.”
“Not until you make a payment. We’ve been patient with you for months now, and if we don’t get something, I’m going to have to turn it over to our legal department.”
“I’ll call you,” she managed, her voice grating. Then she punched off the phone. Let this Courtney woman go to her legal department. At least they wouldn’t find her tonight.
“Sorry,” she said to Jesse. “Now, where were we?”
“Problems?” he asked, his expression quizzical. Again, she had the feeling that this was a man who could read her mind.
“The media never gives up.” She forced herself to sound bored and reached for her wine with sweaty fingers that felt suddenly dirty. “This is excellent chardonnay.”
“Would you like another?”
“Thank you, but one is my limit.” She took another sip for courage, and because she was quaking from the inside out. “You said you wanted to discuss business.”
He nodded and smiled again. “This is difficult, for a number of reasons. For one, you’re not only beautiful, you’re refreshing. I’m not sure I’ve ever met another woman quite like you.”
Not a good beginning. Too much of a build-up. “Thank you. I’m pretty ordinary, actually.”
“There’s nothing ordinary about you, Gabby. You could do better than Killer Body. Much better.”
So that was it. “Killer Body isn’t an end,” she said. “It’s a beginning.”
“But there are bigger beginnings, and I can help you find them.”
“You invited me here because you want to represent me?”
“I’m good at hooking up people, and I have some contacts that would be perfect for you.”
Then why didn’t he use them for his wife? First, the horrible phone call, now this. A bad night all around. No reason to waste another moment here. She put down her glass.
“All I have to do to get you for an agent is bow out of the Killer Body competition, perhaps?” She pushed back her chair.
“Wait.” He held up his hand. “Before you make a hasty decision, you should know there’s money involved.”
“How much money?”
“I’m used to advancing my clients whatever they need to set themselves up while we’re launching them.”
