Chapter1
Have you thought more about my offer?
Kelissa smiled, holding the phone in her hand and reading the text a few more times before she answered.
I have, she responded coyly.
And?
That was the big question.
Give me a minute, she texted back, then opened her phone’s front camera while she wandered around her studio apartment, trying to decide on the perfect backdrop. She went with a sunny sky over a sandy beach, posing in front of the matte poster and angling the camera until the backdrop looked real. She smiled, one manicured finger against her lips as if she was thinking, her glossy, corkscrew curls framing her face perfectly. But it wasn’t her hair or her rich chocolate skin that her followers noticed. It was her striking green eyes, which were in stark contrast to the rest of her coloring.
As a child, she’d hated being the only one in her family that didn’t have dark, soulful brown eyes as she’d always thought of them. But when her father had showed her a picture of her mother and pointed out that she had her late mother’s eye color, she’d embraced them and had even gone out of her way to play them up. People started noticing, and before long, she’d gone from a handful of followers to a quarter of a million. She was on the cusp of realizing her dreams of modeling, she could feel it.
But first, she had to get out of Pella, a tiny town less than an hour southeast of Des Moines, Iowa.
She admired the photo again, loading it onto her Instagram account and using a filter to make her eyes pop even more. She wrote a caption underneath the photo, a little vague for everyone but David, but she thought he would get the hint.
Wondering if I should take the plunge and fly off to San Diego? Kelissa wrote. Could one decision really change everything?
She posted the picture, laughing and excited to see what kind of attention it brought. The more comments she got, the higher priority her post was given. If she garnered enough attention, it would appear at the top of her followers’ feeds, making her account an attractive prospect for advertisements. She was already a brand rep for a few small companies, but Kelissa Knight wasn’t interested in just making it. The two to four thousand dollars those accounts brought in a month paid the bills, but she had big dreams, and she wasn’t willing to settle.
I think you should say “Yes,” David replied directly on her post, his post already buried by twenty other replies.
Less than two minutes after she’d posted and already she had over a thousand “likes” and now thirty responses just since she’d received the notification that David had commented. The general consensus was the same, but Kelissa wasn’t really looking for opinions to help her make a decision. She already knew what she was going to do. She just didn’t want to seem too eager. If she’d learned anything, she was the one in power, and if she appeared reluctant, David Rogers would be sure to sweeten the pot. His offer was already pretty sweet, but men like David were used to getting what they wanted, and a plane ticket to San Diego plus room and board was nothing compared to what she knew she could get out of him.
Have you made your decision? David texted directly.
I don’t know, she played, I don’t think I can just leave home and hope things go well. And I’m not looking for a serious relationship right now.
It doesn’t have to be serious. I need a pretty lady to show off at the holiday fundraisers and I wouldn’t mind some company at night, too.
I’m down for the fundraisers and friends with benefits, she said, a thrill of excitement coursing through her.
Being alright with it was an understatement. David Rogers was sexy as hell, and one of San Diego’s most eligible bachelors. She’d been crushing on him for a while, and that first time he’d commented on her account three months earlier was the most exciting thing that had ever happened to her. She was being honest when she said she wasn’t looking for anything serious, but that didn’t mean that she hadn’t fantasized about tall, and handsome David for some time.
It didn’t matter that he was white or that he wasn’t normally her type. There was something about the soft bronze of his skin that said he was just as comfortable in a suit as he was outdoors that enticed her. He had dark brown hair and brown eyes that drew her in and made her heart race.
At twenty-two, this was the first time she’d fallen this hard for a virtual stranger, and she had every intention of taking him up on all his offers, including the wild, no-strings-attached sex she knew they both wanted. She just couldn’t let him know that. She had to play it cool or she might lose him to the next wannabe model sharing her photo on Instagram. Kelissa was more than just a pretty face, but her face was what she was selling, and this was her future at stake.
I would pay you. Not just room and board.
I’m not a prostitute, she replied, though she knew he wasn’t going there. She just wanted to keep him on his toes and make sure that he knew exactly where they stood.
I’m not paying for sex. I’m paying for your company. Multiple orgasms are free and at your request.
Her stomach clenched and her knees felt weak. This man had her feeling all sorts of ways, and she was grateful that there was a screen between them. If he’d been in the room when he said that, they would be in bed already.
“Play it cool, Kelissa,” she said out loud.
Sounds good.
Would five thousand be enough?
Per month? Kelissa wrote back before she could stop herself. He’d shocked her with that number. She was expecting to get paid for being on his arm at every major fundraiser in San Diego during the holiday rush, but she didn’t think he’d pay her five thousand dollars a month plus her room and board in his mansion.
Her hands were shaking. Had she screwed up her chances with this man by being too greedy? There were so many young women on Instagram just like her. Well, not just like Kelissa, but close enough. Would he move onto the next?
She waited, holding her breath as she watched the little symbol that said he was writing his response. Closing her eyes, she counted slowly in her head, trying to remain calm while she waited for her phone to notify her that he’d responded.
When it vibrated in her hands, she was almost afraid to look. When she finally did, she almost dropped her phone.
Ten thousand per month, he’d replied. And ten thousand up front, just for getting on the plane.
Are you serious?
I’ll even include a round-trip ticket voucher so that you can leave any time if you’re not happy. And yes, I’m serious. Kelissa, you’re beautiful, talented and unique. We’ve been talking for months, and I want you here with me. I’m not asking for the rest of your life; I’m only asking for you to commit to mid-January after all the fundraisers are over and I don’t have to attend those godawful, boring dinners alone anymore.
So, three whole months?
Or more, if you want to stay.
That’s a big commitment if it doesn’t work out.
If you are unhappy for any reason, you can leave any time. If you want, I’ll have my lawyer write up a contract so you don’t have to refund any money and you’ll be paid for every day you stay here, even if you skip out before the Christmas rush.
That’s not very romantic.
It’s not about romance. I’m not foolish enough to think I can buy the love of a woman like you, so I’m doing the next thing. I’m buying your company, and if we fall in love, then we fall in love.
What if I get discovered before the three months is over?
I’m hoping that’s exactly what happens. The fundraisers I’m attending are all in the evening and all pretty convenient. You’ll be able to make both no problem, so being discovered won’t interfere with our arrangement. I really do hope you’re discovered, which is why I wanted to offer you something more.
“Is he serious? More than all that?” she said, but she sent a question mark instead, waiting to see what he said before she opened her mouth.
In addition to providing you with a dynamic and stylish wardrobe that I will ship wherever you go once you leave here, I would like you to pose for my real estate ads. You’ll be paid like I would pay any other model, and you’ll be seen on billboards throughout San Diego. You can add that experience to your portfolio and hopefully it will help you take the leap into a lucrative modeling career. Social media is great, but everyone with a phone is a budding model. You need something that makes you stand out from the crowd. You already have the looks, so why not add experience and visibility to that?
She was shaking, her excitement barely contained as the words materialized on the screen of her phone. This was it, she realized. This was the big break she’d been waiting for. But unlike moving out to the West Coast or New York and taking her chances with the sleaze that trolled for innocent, fresh targets, she had a man who she knew and could trust to help her in any way he could. She’d researched David Rogers extensively, and she knew that he was exactly who he claimed to be.
He wasn’t an agent, but he had ties, and as one of the thirty under thirty to watch in America, he was wealthy enough to provide her with opportunities to get discovered that she would never be able to manage on her own. At just twenty-eight years old, David Rogers was a billionaire real estate mogul with a solid reputation that had earned the respect of many of his financial peers. She could trust him, she just had to be willing to take that leap of faith and let it happen.
Her hands trembled as she typed her reply. She didn’t know what to say, but she knew that this moment was important. She couldn’t afford to put her foot in her mouth right now.
She decided to go the straightforward route, and as she typed each letter, she couldn’t help the excited giggles that were bubbling over. This was it. This was the beginning of her big break. She was ready to get out of this tiny apartment and move on to something bigger and better.
If it didn’t work out, she would be right back where she started, but significantly richer. She could make her entire salary in three months while still drawing her payments from the ads she did on her account. Even if this didn’t pan out, she would be far better off, and she knew that not being discovered now didn’t mean it wouldn’t happen soon after. ‘
This was the right thing to do, and even if her father and her friends wouldn’t understand, she knew she had to do it. She would explain to her dad later, when she bought him a big house and paid for him to retire early. For now, she would tell him she was going for a job opportunity and she would be back. They would have to put their weekly dinner on hold for a few months, but she would be back before he knew it, and both their lives would be changed.
She realized she hadn’t hit send yet, but David was still patiently waiting. She pushed the button and let out a huge sigh. There was no turning back now. She’d said yes and that was as good as final.
Great, when can you leave?
I have to take care of some things here and make sure my bills are set up to pay automatically while I’m gone, and then I’ll be on my way.
Send me your bills and I’ll make sure they’re paid for the time you’ll be here.
You don’t have to do that.
It’s not a big deal, he said.
You can take it out of my pay, she offered, cringing even though she was going to have to pay the bills either way.
No.
She shook her head, but she wasn’t going to turn down his offer. She was already in with both feet.
Then I need to let my father know where I’ll be and say goodbye.
It’s October first. You don’t technically start until the fifteenth so if you want to take these two weeks to tie up loose ends, you can.
I’m going to tell my dad I’m going for a job for three months and I’ll visit when I can. That doesn’t take long and I want to get settled before I have to start working if that’s alright with you.
The sooner you’re here, the better.
She couldn’t help but smile at that.
I can leave any time after tomorrow since it’s Saturday and he doesn’t work tomorrow.
Monday, it is.
I can’t wait to meet you, she typed too excited to hold that in. I know this is about business, but you’re my first super fan and I’ve been wanting to see you in person for a long time, now. Don’t think I’m just using you for my career.
I know, he replied. But you can use me, too. He placed a winking face at the end of the text and her heart fluttered.
He seemed like such a nice, down to earth man. She hoped he was like this in person. She was doing this for her career, but she was also doing this because she’d had a crush on David for a long time. She wanted to meet him and spend some time getting to know him while she chased her dreams. Maybe it wouldn’t lead anywhere, but the hopeless romantic in her held onto the possibility that she could find more than the answers to her career hopes and dreams in sunny San Diego.
Maybe she would find true love.
*
The woman behind the counter waved her forward, and Kelissa shoved her two suitcases forward with her foot while she struggled with her carry-on and her large purse. The woman smiled patiently, but Kelissa could tell that she was annoyed that Kelissa was taking so much time. Her smile didn’t quite reach her eyes and she looked bored. Kelissa kept moving, trying not to rush and risk toppling the entire pile again and taking even more time. She was already one extra-long security line away from having to run to her gate, and she wasn’t wearing the right shoes for that.
“Name, destination and identification please,” the woman said as Kelissa put her bags up. “One bag at a time, miss. That’s too heavy.”
“What?”
“The limit is fifty pounds.”
“It’s fifty pounds and two ounces.”
“That’s above the limit.”
“Okay. So, what do I do?”
“You have to shift something over.”
She handed the woman her ID, staring at her as she tried to figure out exactly what she was going to move that was two ounces. A bra, maybe? But her suitcase was packed tight, and it had taken her sitting on it to get it to zip up. Opening it right there in the middle of the ticketing area was a disaster waiting to happen. And she wasn’t even sure why two ounces mattered.
The woman was typing, completely ignoring Kelissa as she did. Kelissa pursed her lips together, dragging the first suitcase off the scale and putting the other one up. She groaned. It was fifty-one pounds, and packed just as tightly as the other suitcase. Her carry-on case was pushing the limits as well, and she didn’t know if she could fit anything else in her purse.
Her only choice was to throw something away, but she’d spent so much time packing and unpacking the night before, she knew that there was nothing she was willing to give up. She didn’t have much in her account right now; her payments from her sponsors wouldn’t hit the bank until Tuesday. But she was willing to pay a few dollars to avoid having to throw away a personal item.
“How much is the overage?” she asked, digging in her wallet for her card.
“Fifty dollars,” the woman said.
“For less than two pounds?”
“Fifty dollars per bag.”
“You’ve got to be kidding me,” Kelissa said, hand on hip, scowling at the woman.
The woman stopped, looking up at Kelissa with obvious disdain. Kelissa’s ID was facedown and the woman hadn’t even started typing in her name yet. She was too busy giving her crap about her luggage.
Someone in the line behind her shifted and grumbled under their breath, but Kelissa had been waiting in the line long enough and she wasn’t about to hurry up because someone else was impatient.
“Have you found my ticket yet? Maybe I have an extra suitcase paid for already and we can just average the weight out as if it were three suitcases.”
“That’s not how it works.”
“Have you found my ticket?”
“Have you redistributed the weight in your suitcases yet?”
“I can’t.”
“Why not?”
“They’re full and I have nowhere else to put the stuff. It’s under two pounds.”
“It’s above the limit.”
Kelissa scowled.
“Did you find my ticket yet?”
“We’re dealing with your luggage right now.”
“I’m dealing with my luggage right now. Your job is to find my ticket and I don’t see you doing your job. I would like to get my ticket and move to the side so I can see if I can pull something out and fit it in my purse. Maybe a bra or something.”
“Does it have an underwire?”
“Of course, they do.”
“Then you can’t carry it on.”
“You’ve got to be kidding me.”
“There’s heightened security this week, and there’s no metal allowed.”
Kelissa was trembling now. The woman at the desk still hadn’t typed in her information and she was running out of time. It was almost as if she was enjoying it, which infuriated Kelissa. She wasn’t going to stand there and let some bleached blonde, spray tanned, miserable woman who hated her job ruin her trip.
Don’t let her get under your skin, you’re better than that, she thought.
She took a deep breath, smiled and nodded toward her ID.
“Don’t you need my ticket up on your computer so you can apply the payment to my account?” she asked sweetly.
The woman looked startled, then annoyed. Kelissa was right, but the woman had assumed that Kelissa wasn’t going to pay, and if Kelissa was to bet, she was sure the woman was hoping Kelissa would throw a fit and get kicked out of the Des Moines Airport. It would be a bit of excitement in the woman’s boring existence, but Kelissa wasn’t playing. She was calm, cool, and under control. Airport Barbie couldn’t say the same.
“Are you paying for both bags?” the woman snickered, typing Kelissa’s name with exaggerated slowness as if “Kelissa” was too exotic to spell on the first try.
Kelissa clenched her fist at her side but didn’t let the smile on her face falter.
“I’m paying for both bags,” she said.
She was loath to let that hundred go when she wouldn’t have any money until the next day, but she still had a little over two hundred left. It wasn’t much, but it would get her a hotel for the night if David flaked on her. Then she could use her deposit to buy a ticket home Tuesday morning.
But she hoped he didn’t flake. She was counting on him and his connections to help her launch her career. She trusted him, as silly as her friends thought that was.
The woman stopped typing suddenly, looking at Kelissa’s ID, then double checking what she’d put in the computer.
“Are you going to San Diego?” the woman asked.
“Yes.”
“And you’re Kelissa Knight, correct?”
“That’s what my ID says,” Kelissa said, tilting her head and watching the woman’s demeanor change.
“I’m sorry, Miss Knight. There is no checked bag limit. You don’t have to remove anything and I’m sorry for the confusion.”
“Really?”
The woman nodded. Gone was the fake smile and the haughty air. If Kelissa didn’t know better, she would swear the woman was worried.
“What’s going on?”
“I apologize, Miss Knight. I didn’t realize that you were in Premium Class.”
“What the heck is that?”
“It’s First Class with certain amenities.”
The slender woman stepped over the scale, retrieving Kelissa’s bags for her and tagging them, then hopping back over the scale and behind her desk.
“You’ll go through that door to the lounge. They’ll call your name when it’s time to board. If you’ll leave your carry-on here, they’ll load that for you as well.”
“What about security?”
“You’re pre-screened.”
“So, that’s it? I’m done?”
“Yes, ma’am,” the woman said, handing Kelissa her boarding pass and a laminated card. “That keycard will get you into the lounge. Just give it to your flight attendant once you board.”
Kelissa smiled, not even trying to hide the smugness as she left her carry-on bag where she stood and walked off to go to the lounge. The woman had been horrible to her until she’d seen that Kelissa held the proverbial golden ticket. After that, the woman had changed her attitude completely. It didn’t excuse her behavior before, and Kelissa wasn’t about to make things easy on the woman.
She swiped the card and walked into the lounge, the soft music instantly soothing her frayed nerves. A woman came forward, her warm smile genuine and bright. She took Kelissa’s boarding pass and scanned it, making sure her reader showed the right information.
“San Diego, Premium Class Plus?”
“Plus?”
“Yes. It’s an eight-hour flight and comes with a fully reclining, heated massage chair, noise-canceling headphones with satellite radio, a warm blanket, a pillow and satin sleep mask. We also provide two hot meals, unlimited drinks and mini spa services.”
Kelissa stared at the woman, shocked by so much luxury.
“They’re giving out manicures in First Class now?” she joked.
“Not in First Class. Only in Premium Plus.”
“I’ll pass,” she said. “But I’m going to take you up on the massage chair and the sleep mask.”
She hadn’t slept the night before because she’d been so excited. Even though the flight didn’t leave until almost noon and would land at six local time, it had taken her over an hour to drive to the airport, and then thirty minutes to get through the ridiculous line at the counter, which had been served by only two people despite the busy airport.
“I’ll make sure that they know not to disturb you. You don’t board for almost an hour, would you like to eat now?”
“I thought boarding started in twenty minutes.”
“For the others. Premium Plus boards last and leaves the plane first.”
“I could get used to this,” Kelissa said, taking the menu the woman offered and ordering a half sandwich and salad.
Her meal was ready a few moments after she sat down in a soft chair with a personal table beside it. She thanked the woman, who brought her a sparkling water without being asked, then ate her lunch while she watched the large screen scroll from one breathtaking scene to another from every country the airline served.
Kelissa took a mental note of all the places she wanted to visit, hoping that she could book gigs in those cities rather than paying for the trip herself. Maybe she could convince David to take her to Europe while she was working for him.
That would be the life, she thought, finishing the last bite and leaning back. A beautiful mountain scene with a cute little cabin beside a crystal-clear lake popped up on the screen, and Kelissa was surprised to see that the text beneath the picture claimed that the scene was part of San Diego County. When she thought of San Diego, she envisioned the ocean, skyscrapers and Mexico nearby. What she didn’t think of was the thousands of acres of pristine wilderness that offered a break from the hustle and bustle of city life.
These were places only locals knew about, and Kelissa decided to mention to David that she’d love to see some of these places. David always had a nice, deep tan, and Kelissa was sure that he spent time outdoors. She wanted to see the entire city, and she hoped that David would be up for playing tour guide.
“The plane is ready to board,” the woman said softly, picking up Kelissa’s purse for her.
“I can carry that,” Kelissa said.
“Nonsense. You have your water.”
Kelissa shook her head, following the woman to her gate, then to her seat as the woman stowed her purse in a recessed cubby that already held her carry-on bag.
“Enjoy your flight,” the woman said, then she left and the flight attendant took her place, bringing a pillow and a blanket and waiting for Kelissa to make herself comfortable.
“We have a few minutes before takeoff,” he said. “Would you like me to show you how to work the chair?”
She looked at the controls and shook her head.
“I can manage, thank you.”
“Do you want me to wake you for lunch?”
“No, I’ve already had lunch. I’d like to wake up before we land so I can freshen up.”
“I’ll make sure you wake up thirty minutes before we start our descent.”
“Thank you.”
“My pleasure.”
He waited a moment, and when she was settled in the chair, he smiled and left.
The area they were in was large and could have easily held four rows of chairs. Unlike First Class, where there were two chairs on each side of the aisle per row, there was only one large reclining chair on each side of the aisle. A small partition shielded her nearest neighbor in front of her from view, and her own partition offered her quite a bit of privacy.
The chair was deep and wide, reclined at the perfect angle for her to sleep comfortably. The leg rest was divided in two and wrapped around each leg. When Kelissa turned on the full body massage, the leg rest went to work on her legs, while the rest of her body received the best chair massage of her life.
This is unreal, she thought, putting the headphones on and scrolling through the stations until she found a classical station. She put the sleeping mask on and pulled the covers around her, sighing when she found the perfect position and the gentle heat from the seat began warming her up.
David was going to have a hard time topping this plane ride. She’d seen commercials for luxury airlines like this one, but this was beyond what she expected. Everything was so comfortable that she slept soundly and was surprised when the attendant gently shook her awake what felt like minutes later.
“We’re going to land soon, miss,” the man said, handing her a small leather bag.
“What’s this?”
“Complimentary Refresh-Kit,” he said. “There’s everything from toothpaste and mouthwash in there as well as a toothbrush, and there’s also hair oils and face moisturizer.”
He directed her to a door in the front of the Premium Class area, and when she opened it, she couldn’t help but gasp. She was expecting a small, cramped bathroom with the standard stainless-steel toilet and blue water. This bathroom was just like the one in her house, and even included a small shower.
She opened the bag, shocked to see that it was indeed stocked with everything that she could possibly need to refresh herself after what was basically a full night’s sleep. She got ready quickly, brushing her teeth and tossing the toothbrush but keeping the large samples, then using her fingers to run leave-in conditioner into her tight curls that reached just to her shoulders.
By the time she left the bathroom, she felt completely rested and refreshed, though she didn’t take a shower. She felt like a million bucks and she was ready to see David.
She hoped he was ready for her.