HAPTER 10
Colton was not kidding when he said he had a car in a garage in Connecticut. What he failed to tell her was that the car was not just a car, but a BMW.
They stopped for a car seat for Derek on the way. Just like that. She’d mentioned it and Colton bought one. The top of the line one that Derek could use until he was ninety.
The whole thing made Ellyn’s head spin, as she watched Colton install the car seat in the back of the biggest BMW she’d ever seen. Her apartment wasn’t this big. She could smell the leather seats as she held onto Derek’s hand. He hadn’t been in a car since he’d been to the hospital and he’d slept through most of those trips.
Colton stood, then stretched. “It’s installed. Your throne, m’lord,” he said to Derek.
Derek hopped into the car and into the seat. Colton buckled him in. Ellyn checked it, but he’d done a good job. She climbed into her seat, then buckled up. Colton started the car and they were off.
To the beach. A place Derek had never been.
The boy could not get out of his car seat fast enough. He squirmed while she unbuckled him. Thankfully, Colton had parked by the beach. No streets in between. Derek bolted toward the ocean.
“Derek,” Ellyn called.
“He’s okay, Ellyn. Let him run.”
She frowned, but stopped calling him. As they walked onto the beach, she kept her eyes on him. He didn’t run into the water.
Colton carried the netted bag of sand toys with him. Ellyn had a small cooler with drinks and a blanket under her arm. They walked in silence, but not an awkward one.
“Here?” Colton asked.
Derek stood a few feet away, eyeing the ocean. It wouldn’t be warm enough to swim, but the sun had warmed Ellyn enough to take one layer off.
“Yes, this is fine.”
Colton helped her put out the blanket and she arranged the cooler on one corner. Colton kicked off his shoes, then sat down to pull of his socks.
“Take off your shoes, Ellyn. Enjoy yourself,” he said.
She was wary of this whole thing. She thought Colton was trying to worm his way back into her life. For Derek, she took off her shoes and socks. Colton lay back on the blanket, leaning on one arm, his gaze at Derek.
“He’ll probably take a while to run off that energy. When he’s ready, we can build a sand castle.”
“Have you ever built one?”
“Many. We used to spend weeks on end at some beach.”
“Some beach?”
“Well, it depended on which house we stayed at.”
Right. Which house. “Okay. I’ll bite. How many houses do your parents have?”
“Five, besides the one they live in.”
“Do they get to see every one in a year?”
Colton laughed. “Yes, they do.”
“Dare I ask?”
“What?”
“How many do you own?”
“Only two houses. Well, besides my penthouses in New York and London.”
“London? Wow. Do you get there often?”
“Not as much as I’d like to, but I’ll take you there sometime.”
She liked and disliked the sound of that, at the same time. She liked the idea of going to London. She didn’t like the idea that he was planning a future with her in it. Not wanting to ruin the mood for Derek, she kept quiet. When she was alone with Colton, she’d speak to him.
Derek’s laughter came to her on the wind. She couldn’t help smile. When she looked at Colton, he was smiling also, but he was looking at her while he did it. “What?”
“This is the most I’ve seen you smile since I’ve known you,” he said. “It looks good on you.”
“It’s nice to see my child so happy. Thank you for making it so,” she said.
She was grateful to him. Derek laughed, giggled, and ran around the beach. She probably should have taken his shoes off, but he’d never stop to do it now.
“It’s so peaceful here.”
“The beach is one of my favorite places,” Colton said, looking out to the ocean.
He looked relaxed and, of course, at home here. He looked at home everywhere. What would it feel like to be so sure of yourself that no matter where you were, you fit in there? That part of modeling troubled Ellyn. What if she made a gaffe and embarrassed herself and Colton? Would he be sorry he signed her?
She’d never been this insecure in her life.
A hand rubbed her forehead. “You have worry lines forming. It’s against beach rules to worry here.”
“I didn’t see that on the sign,” she said.
“It’s an unwritten rule.”
“I see.” She tried to shake off her worry, but she was someone who thought about the future. She’d had to since Derek was born.
“I mean it. No worries here. The concerns will be there when you return,” Colton said.
That was easy for him to say. He didn’t have a child, or a wife, or anyone else he had to be responsible for. He could play hooky if he wanted, like he was doing today.
That was some life he led.
***
Having finally convinced Ellyn to move to the company condo, Colton now had the unenviable task of helping her move. Not that she had that much stuff, but moving with a five-year old underfoot was harder than he thought.
Every time he put something of Derek’s in a box, the boy took it out. He was excited, clearly, but the kid had no idea why. Finally, he was able to pack Derek’s things, then fill the truck he rented.
When they arrived at the new destination, Derek ran around the place like he’d never seen an apartment so big. Or steps. The condo had two levels and he kept running up and down the steps.
“Derek, stop,” Ellyn said finally.
He stood still for a moment, and then was off to stare out the window at Central Park. “Can we go to the park later, Mom?”
“If you let us get unpacked and are a good boy, yes, we can go there,” Ellyn said.
“You want me to take him while you get your stuff settled?” Colton asked.
She let out a breath. “That would probably be better. Thanks.” She turned to Derek. “Hold Mr. Hamilton’s hand when you cross the street.”
“Yes, Mom.”
Derek bounced along beside Colton as they walked to the elevator. The amount of energy made him smile. How did his mother put up with him when he was this age?
“Is there a swing set at the park?”
“There are several. It’s a big park. It will probably take you years to explore it.”
Big brown eyes turned to Colton. “Really? Wow.”
He took Colton’s hand when it was time to cross the street. He still bounced like Tigger when he did. They found the closest park and Derek ran around while Colton kept an eye on him. Being Saturday, he’d turned off his phone, but turned it back on in case Ellyn had to call him.
“This is great, Mr. Hamilton,” Derek said.
Colton couldn’t help smile at the exuberance of youth. What would it be like to see yourself reflected back in your child? That could be good and bad. Derek finally sat down next to him on the bench.
“Did your mom tell you the other news?”
“About school?”
“Yes. Are you looking forward to being around other kids?”
“Yeah, I am. There weren’t too many in the building we lived in before this. I want to have a friend.”
Did Ellyn realize how much Derek had been missing in his life? Her situation broke his heart, but he couldn’t help be warmed that all of this would be better. Derek would be better off. Colton wondered about Derek’s father. Would Ellyn ever share about him? Was this even his business?
He wanted it to be his business. He knew that much. Not sure what their future held, but he wanted them to have a future. He’d have to be stealthy in worming his way into Ellyn’s life. Well, at least stealthier than he’d been thus far.
“You ready to go back?”
“I am. I’m hungry.”
“That seems to be a constant state for you. Let me call your Mom and see if she’s hungry.”
“She isn’t very often.”
“Why do you think that?”
“She always lets me have the last piece or the last bit. She never puts much on her plate.”
How observant for a five year old. He’d bet that Ellyn often gave her son more of the food on those days when she didn’t have enough. This broke his heart. He couldn’t imagine having to do that. It would explain how thin she was. “Well, let me call her. She might have worked up an appetite.”
“Okay.”
Derek swung his feet as he sat next to Colton. Ellyn answered.
“I have a hungry child here. Are you interested in lunch?”
She blew out a breath. “I am. I’m almost done, here.”
“What do you want?”
“Nothing fancy.”
“Okay. I’ll see what’s in the neighborhood.”
“Colton?”
“Yes?”
“Thank you for taking Derek. I got a lot done.”
He smiled. “You’re welcome, honey.”
He disconnected. His phone rang. Ellyn again.
“What was that?” she said.
“What?”
“You called me honey, Colton.”
“I guess it was a slip of the tongue. Sorry. I meant no offense.”
“I’m sticking with my decision. I don’t want a relationship with you.”
“We already have a friendship, Ellyn. We do have a relationship. Our lives are intertwined.”
She sighed. “But you don’t get to call me by a term of endearment.”
“Point taken.”
“And I want to pay for our share of lunch.”
That was not happening. He was not going to argue with her either. He would stand his ground and could, since he was probably at least as stubborn as she was. “No.”
“No?”
“No. I’m not taking your money, Ellyn. Don’t push me on this. I always get my way.”
There was silence on the line, then another sigh. “Yes, I bet you do get your way, Colton. Don’t get used to it with me. It’s not going to happen often.”
He smiled. “Thanks for the warning.”
*
Ellyn dropped Derek off at the preschool, which was also a daycare. He seemed to take the change in stride, hugging her, then taking his backpack and going into the classroom. She, on the other hand, cried a little as she walked to catch a bus to her next job.
Her nerves were a little shot as she entered the studio. There wasn’t nearly as much activity as there had been during her last job. This one had a smaller staff and instead of a stool, there was a bed.
She could only take this job since she hadn’t signed the exclusive contract with the cosmetic company yet. After this, she might go see Colton. She’d have to call him. He said he might not be in the office today.
This time Ellyn spoke up. “I’m Ellyn.”
A man with a camera in his hand glanced at her. “Okay. Wardrobe is that way.”
He pointed to a makeshift room. Not really a room, just screens set up in one corner. That exclusive contract with the company was looking better and better. The atmosphere on this shoot seemed more demure, but she wasn’t sure she liked the energy that ran through it.
Oh well. This was her job and she would get paid well. She’d already received the check from the other job and it had more zeros than she could have ever imagined on a check. Even after Colton’s company took their cut.
She didn’t begrudge them that. As soon as the check had cleared, she’d paid off her credit cards and now was technically debt free.
“Thanks.”
She entered the temporary room, which was only about ten feet by ten feet. Once again, a young girl scurried about, sorting clothes. “Are you Ellyn?”
“Yes.”
She handed Ellyn a sparkling top. “Put this on.”
“Okay.”
She took the top and waited for the girl to leave, but she didn’t. Guess she’d have to get used to that. She was just a product in a way. She slipped off her own shirt then went to shimmy into the sparkling top.
“No bra,” the girl said, not making eye contact, but sorting out clothes on a small table.
“Uh. Okay.”
She took off her bra then put the top on. Not her style, but that was not her problem.
“Take off your shoes.”
Ellyn blinked. “I thought this was only my face?”
“It’ll be more than that.” The girl chuckled. “Much more than that.”
Ellyn didn’t like the sound of it, but she didn’t know what recourse she had. Could she deny doing the job? She didn’t think so. Colton’s company must have checked it all out.
She slipped off her shoes.
“Makeup is that way.”
A lone chair sat outside the room with a portable mirror in front of it. An older woman with strikingly white hair stood by it. “You coming?”
Ellyn settled herself in the chair, not sure what she had been expecting. Everyone had been pleasant at the last shoot albeit, harried. This time, they’d been rude or at least short with her.
What an odd new world she was part of now. The woman went to work. When she finished, to Ellyn she looked like a whore. Her lips were painted a ruby red and her eyes practically popped out of her head. Not a look that she would have chosen, but whatever the client wanted.
She left the chair.
“Get on the bed, near the bottom and look my way,” the photographer barked.
She did as he said.
“I need more of a little girl look.”
Disturbing, but Ellyn did it. She had to say, that everything the photographer said, made her increasingly uncomfortable. Then he said one more thing.
“Lift up your shirt.”
Ellyn swallowed hard, then looked around. No one seemed to be looking. “No.”
“No?”
“No. I don’t do work like that.”
“You’re just a damn model. You don’t get to choose,” he said.
“I get to choose who gets to take a picture of me naked,” she said.
She wanted a better life for her son, but not at the expense of her soul. She stood. Everyone in the room stared at her. What little noise that had been in the room had ceased.
“What the fuck?” the man said. “Lift your shirt, dammit.”
“No.”
She took a step off the set.
“If you leave, you’ll never work again. I’ll see to that personally.”
Ellyn bit her lip. This was a non-negotiable for her. She calculated how long she’d last on her last paycheck. They’d be okay if she found a smaller apartment. Back in the Bronx. They’d be okay.
“No.”
She stepped off the set and headed to the dressing room. The photographer was on her heels.
“You’re ruining your career,” he said.
She strode into the dressing area. When she turned around, he had followed her into there.
“Get out. I’m changing,” she said.
“Are you nuts? You’re just a hanger. No one cares what you look like.”
He stood his ground. Well, then she was not going to give him any satisfaction. She grabbed her stuff, brushed past him and left the set. She expected there was stunned silence in her wake.
She had her pride and she was going to hold onto that. Colton might be mad, but she was not going to take her shirt of for this man. She chose who saw her naked and this man wasn’t on the list.
***
Colton’s phone rang. He was in a meeting with the cosmetic company that wanted to sign Ellyn, but the ring was for Marcia. She knew not to disturb him, so it must be an emergency.
He looked up at the executives around the table. “I’m going to have to take this.”
They glanced at each other, but Marcia knew what a true emergency was.
“Marcia?”
“I hated to call you, but I have a very irate photographer in your office.”
“How did he get that far?”
“By pretending to not be irate,” she said. “He’s outside your office, and he’s pissed.”
“Are you in any danger?”
“No, and I called security already.”
“What job was he on?”
“Ellyn’s.”
“This cannot be good. Okay. Have security escort him out and I’ll make a stop at his studio on my way back to the office. Don’t tell him that I’m doing that. I want him off-balance.”
He could hear someone shouting in the background.
“Okay, boss.”
He disconnected and pondered for a moment if he should call Ellyn. What had happened? He wanted her side, but he’d bet he knew what happened. This man had been a photographer they hadn’t used before.
Colton had a bad feeling about him and probably should not have sent Ellyn to him. Damage control. That’s what he’d have to do.
Colton returned to the boardroom, finished his negotiations and then left to seek out the photographer.
The man’s studio was in a warehouse with other artists’ studios. A young girl in stained overalls pointed him in the right direction. Colton steeled himself for the inevitable confrontation.
He knocked on the door, then entered before anyone could answer. The studio was set up like a bedroom and some girl was naked on the bed. Now, he knew exactly what had happened.
Colton grabbed the man’s camera from him.
“Hey.”
When he saw Colton’s face, the photographer stopped, but snarled at him.
Colton glanced at the girl. “If you’re under eighteen, get dressed and get out of here.”
She scrambled off the bed, grabbed her clothes and left.
“Who the fuck are you?” the photographer said.
“I’m the manager of the woman you tried to take pictures of this morning.”
“You here to smooth things over? I’m not interested in the black girl anymore.”
Colton saw red. He’d never thought that was truly possible, but he did. He clenched his fists at his side. “No, I’m here to put you out of business.”
He pulled the SD card out of the camera, then dropped them both on the floor. The camera broke, but Colton stomped on the card for good measure.
“What the fuck?”
“I have a contract with Ellyn Johnson and she does not do nude pictures.”
“I only asked for topless.”
“Not in her contract. Nor did you mention anything about that in the job description.”
The man shrugged. “Guess I forgot. She was pretty ugly anyway.”
Before Colton could make a conscious decision, he fist connected with the man’s jaw. A look of surprise crossed the photographer’s face as he fell backwards. Colton didn’t want to take it back.
In fact, if he stayed there, he’d hit the man again. Not his finest hour, and his knuckles hurt from the impact. Brawling like a common street thug was not how he usually conducted business.
“Do not contact my company ever again. And if I find out you’re taking pictures of anyone underage, I’ll have the cops here so fast your head will spin.”
Colton spun, then stalked out of the warehouse. He sat in his car, letting his blood pressure come down before he drove. He dialed Ellyn’s number, but it went right to voicemail.
She’d turned off her phone. Guess she was worried about the situation. He had to find her, console her.
He called Marcia. “I just dealt with the photographer.”
“Dealt with? What did you do?”
“I let my temper get the better of me, but I don’t think he’ll be bothering us anymore.”
“Oh, Colton.” She laughed. “He really pissed you off?”
“Yes, and now I have to find Ellyn and make sure she’s okay. You didn’t hear from her, did you?”
“No, I didn’t.”
“I figure she’s at the condo so I’ll see her there. I’m glad you can hold down the fort there.”
“I’ve had to do that a little more than usual.”
“You bucking for a raise?”
“Maybe a bonus,” Marcia said.
He couldn’t deny her anything. She was the best admin he’d ever had. She deserved all he could give her. “Leave me a number on a piece of paper on my desk and we’ll see if I can get close to it for a bonus.”
“A piece of paper, huh?”
“Yes. Sometimes I’m old-fashioned.”
She laughed again as she hung up. He was sure she already had a number in her head. And he’d give her that. Now to find Ellyn. He tried her number again, but she hadn’t turned her phone on.
“Damn.”
He hoped she wasn’t mad or upset, but he’d have to smooth this over with her. She was his favorite client. He parked under the building, realizing he’d been so upset that he’d driven himself around the city.
That’s why he kept a car at the office. Next time he’d have Paul drive him. He rode the elevator up to the condo, hoping she was alone. He didn’t want to have this conversation in front of Derek.
His heart was skipping a beat as he rang her doorbell. When she opened the door, Ellyn had a pint of ice cream in her hand and he knew she was upset.