You're Mine

Chapter three

-Ashley-

Don't trip. Cute circle. Blow a kiss.

I mentally recite the three lines to myself the entire length of the queue to the catwalk. The girls in front of me fix their hair quickly, giving it various tugs when the director isn't looking.

I roll my eyes as he freaks out over some misplaced feather, grabbing the girl out the line and almost making her fall in the process.

Thank god this is a one off walk. I never want to work with him again.

"You're next!" A woman bearing an awfully large clipboard raises her eyebrows at me, waiting. I square my shoulders. "On in 5..4.."

Don't trip. Cute circle. Blow a kiss.

I strut down the runway, smiling with my hands carefully swinging by my sides. The thong I'm wearing rides up my ass a little and I resist the urge to pull it out.

The matching corset, all of which is on view, also itches and I smile through it. God I hope nobody buys this collection- they'll come out in a rash.

I reach the end and grin, doing a little twirl. My heels are so high I feel like I'll just topple over, but I keep my balance miraculously.

Blowing a kiss, the photographers and crowd goes wild, cheering. I give a flirty wave goodbye and strut back to the start. I can feel my arms and legs go a little numb- but that's usual. The nerves are probably kicking in.

An easy pay-check.

This is really my life.

(**)

"Honey?" My voice rings across the suite, my hands shaking with the amount of bags I'm carrying.

"I think Mr. Donavon will be out until tonight Miss Kokken." Taylor, my bodyguard, informs me. I smile.

"No problem. Can you just put them there? I'm not planning to go out again." I point to the sofa and dump the rest of my bags, aching for bed.

"I'll be right outside." Taylor nods.

I fling open the doors to our bedroom and practically sprint to the bed, falling on it in a very ungraceful way.

God I miss my bed at home. Being in huge suites are lovely, but the pillows are stiff and the room is always too hot.

My phone rings but I decline the call, knowing it'll be Ally my manager. They'll be some event on tonight that I just have to attend and I have no interest in doing so.

The bath water is warm as I slip in, sighing in relief. My bones are aching from standing hours on end and my legs feel weaker than ever. I frown glancing down at them- I've lost weight again, when I really don't want to. I better call my nutritionist tomorrow.

Cassian appears at the door of the bathroom, already smiling. He's in an immaculate suit, his hair carefully styled. He must've just come from a shoot.

"Hey baby." He purrs, leaning down beside me. "I missed you today."

He kisses me for a while before I finally get to reply. "Is that so?"