“Did I go too far?” she asked Collin.

“Not at all,” Collin said pursing his lips together. “Actually, it makes me feel like you might be capable of a lot more than a simple still photo. We might be able to get a commercial out of you, but let’s start with the photos.”

Christina swallowed hard. “Does that mean you want to hire me?” she asked huskily.

“At least for the still photos,” Collin said, nodding approvingly. “You don’t have an agent, do you?”

Christina was about to answer ‘no’ when Mark piped up. “She doesn’t need an agent. I’ll look out for her in the place of one.”

“That’s ridiculous,” Dominic rebuked. “Mark’s not qualified for something like this. She needs a real agent.”

“Does that mean you want to take her on?” Collin snickered.

“Well, I—“

“He doesn’t have time,” Alexander interrupted. “He keeps telling me what a full schedule we have and we truly do. The only reason why I was able to come here today was because of the importance of our business with Capier Inc. We pushed some other things aside to make room.”

“We’re happy to be your valued customer, Lex,” Collin said soothingly. “And I wouldn’t dream of letting Dominic represent Tina. Mark will do nicely.”

“Why do you get to make that decision?” Dominic asked crankily. “Shouldn’t a decision like that be left up to Tina?”

Collin raised an eyebrow and gave Dominic a curious look. “It’s okay. Tina doesn’t mind, right?”

“Of course not,” she said quickly. “That’s most appropriate.”

“I’m glad you think so,” Collin said, setting a hand on her hair. 

Dominic held his peace after that and the rest of the meeting was smooth. They took more photographs. Collin liked them. They made arrangements for the time and place of the photoshoot. Mindy was going to be happy. Not only had Christina gotten the job, but she had also got Mindy an interview. Collin wanted Mindy to do Christina’s makeup.

By the time the men finished gabbing it was almost four o’clock. They left Collin in his office and Dominic, Alexander, Mark, and Christina made their way down to the foyer. Once they arrived, Christina shook Alexander’s hand and told him she was really happy to have met him and she looked forward to working with him. Alexander smiled but he seemed weary. He had probably heard the same speech from at least fifty other little girls. It was just another day at work for him. Their project wasn’t special.

Dominic said good-bye to Christina like she was a stranger. He didn't even turn his head for one last look at her as he left the building with Alexander. Christina couldn’t figure out what was going on in his head. Was he happy he had helped her or was he honestly irked Mark was going to be her ‘agent?' Well, whether he regretted it or not, she was going to model with Alexander.

“Thanks, Mark,” Christina said once she could stop waving at Dominic and Alexander.

“For what?”

“For protecting me from Dominic. Does he want to be my agent? Is that what this is all about?”

“I wish I knew. Maybe it’s something that simple.”

“Welp, you said I could go early, so I’m going to shove off now,” she said brightly, pulling her sunglasses out of her bag. “See you on Monday,” she called cheerfully as she headed out.

“Wait a second,” he said, grabbing her arm. “Where do you think you’re going looking like that?”

“I was going to go call my cousin. She wants to hear how the meeting went. Come on! I can’t hold out on her. I have to let her know Collin wants to meet her.”

“But where were you planning on going after that? Do you have plans for this evening, Miss Christina?”

Christina’s mouth made a perfect O, but no sound came out.

“Well?” Mark persisted.

“No,” she managed.

“Well, can I take you out to dinner?”

He was asking her for a date. He was honestly asking her for a date. Was it because she was dressed up and that was unusual? 

Christina frowned. “Mark,” she said, suddenly stepping very close to him and slipping her fingers between the buttons on his shirt. “If I went home now and took off my wig and this outfit and came out with you looking the way I normally do at the office, would you still want that date?”

He hesitated. The moron hesitated.

“I don’t think I can go on a date with you,” she said, backing away from him. “Sorry. I’ll see you on Monday.”

“Wait,” he said, grasping her upper arm and stopping her. “I don’t understand. Why do you have to change?”

Christina sighed. She bet he wouldn’t chase after ‘Christina’ like that, but he couldn’t take ‘no’ for an answer when ‘Tina’ was involved. “Look, Mark. Do you remember our conversation in the elevator? This person you see in front of you isn’t the real me. It isn’t anything like me. It’s a fabrication, a facade—nothing. It’s professional bunkum. Surely, you must understand that. It’s a show. I know you must put on a show when you’re doing your public relations thing, so you should know exactly what I’m talking about.”

“I’m not sure I do know what you’re talking about,” he said seriously. His black eyebrows pulled tight. “Of course it’s necessary to be a little more congenial when you work, especially in P.R., but I think my personality is the same whether I’m working or relaxing.”

“Well, I don’t feel that way,” Christina said, pulling her arm out of his reach. “I change completely when I dress this way. I become outspoken, I think about how I turn my hips so I can make the most of them, I put myself completely aside for my date’s comfort, and I even think I can get men to like me who would never look at me twice otherwise.”

Mark clenched his jaw and swallowed. He clearly didn’t know how to answer that because it didn't make sense to him. Christina expected him to look mad, but when she looked at him carefully she saw concern for her as well.

“This job of yours has really screwed you up, hasn’t it?” he said finally.

“Maybe it has,” she said, breathing deeply.

“Listen, I have a better idea,” Mark said closing the distance between them. “Instead of taking you out for dinner, why don’t I cook you dinner instead? We can even swing by your apartment on the way there so you can break the news to your cousin. Will that suit you?”

Christina cocked her head. Events had suddenly taken a very strange turn. What exactly was he planning?