LLP-108 The Underground Model by Jean Sifton ... - OpenDrive
LLP-108 The Underground Model by Jean Sifton ... - OpenDrive
LLP-108 The Underground Model by Jean Sifton ... - OpenDrive
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etween them.<br />
"It's ... it's for pin-up photos," she said at last. "You know ... nude, lingerie, swimsuits ..." Patricia<br />
turned a suspicious eye on him. He seemed to have received the news of her first important job with a<br />
kind of ominous apprehension.<br />
"Why do you ask?" she said, "Surely you don't think there's anything wrong in that sort of thing?" She<br />
put a finger under his chin and tilted his face towards her. "Or do you?"<br />
He smiled, bent his mouth and kissed the palm of her hand.<br />
"Of course I don't," he replied, "As long as that's all there is to it." He took Patricia's hand and stared<br />
down at it, caressing her fingers lightly.<br />
"You say Jennifer arranged this appointment for you?" he asked casually.<br />
Patricia nodded. "That's right. Why ... do you think she's got some dark, ulterior motive?" She was<br />
teasing him again. Mark started to say something else, then changed his mind.<br />
"I don't think she's really that much of a friend to you, Patricia, and you might find out later that Jennifer<br />
is not as loyal to you as you wish to believe right now."<br />
"Oh, really, Mark!" Patricia stood up and started to adjust her clothing. "For God's sake let me use my<br />
own judgment about this job, it's the first chance I've had at it for months and months. I want to find out<br />
about things <strong>by</strong> myself for a change. I'm sick and tired of having people tell me what's best for me ...<br />
pointing out all the pitfalls. I put up with it for 21 years from my parents and now I want to be free of it!"<br />
Patricia's voice and words were much angrier than his mild, tentative advice called for. And she knew<br />
this, but she hated the idea of people treating her as if she were still a small child. Whatever Larry and<br />
Ellen were like, she felt confident that she could handle them ... Why did Mark have to try and spoil<br />
things for her now, just when she was beginning to feel sure that she could make a go of it in modeling?<br />
He got up from the bed and lit another cigarette, taking short, quick puffs on it, unconsciously showing<br />
his mild irritation with her stubbornness.<br />
"It's getting late ... I'd better be going." he said. He turned back to look at her but Patricia deliberately<br />
kept her eyes on the floor, determined not to give in to his wishes now.<br />
"Let's talk more about this matter when you've cooled off," he relented. "I can understand your thinking<br />
that I'm trying to run your life for you, but there's more to this than that. I'd hate you to get involved with<br />
something you're bound to regret later on."<br />
<strong>The</strong>re was real concern in his voice now and Patricia was tempted to apologize and listen to what he had<br />
to say about it. But something inside her insisted that she continue to run things her own way.<br />
After Mark left, she lay thinking of what he said to her, weighing the pros and cons of the matter in her<br />
mind, until her eyes grew heavy with sleep again. Her whole body felt like a sack of cement ... weighted<br />
and clumsy. She knew she should attempt to get up and change into her nightie but her physical<br />
weariness overcame any willpower she had left in her body. Sunday she would think the matter over<br />
again, but whatever she finally decided, she would at least go and see for herself what her potential<br />
employers were like ... Tomorrow was another day and after that Monday and her appointment with<br />
Larry and Ellen would settle the matter ... once and for all ...<br />
Chapter 6