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Finding the Neutral Zone

Page 17

by Anna Noel

His nose scrunches up as he looks around. “I see there’s not much to work with.”

“Is that a bad thing?”

He considers this. “Not really. You have great light in here.”

The man walks toward the windows, looking down at the water below.

“What’s your name?” I ask.

“Edward Billings,” he states matter-of-factly with a quick turn of his heel. He extends his hand, his tablet tucked into the crookof his elbow in the other.

I take it, shaking it firmly once. “Cooper Henry,” I say, knowing full well he knows exactly who I am.

Edward looks me up and down once. “You need to get dressed.” I want to chuckle at the sheer level of disgust in his voice, but the steely gaze stops me.

“Do you have any artistic direction for me?” I quip with a smile.

“Something you feel comfortable in and gives you a little bit more of a,” he stops for a moment, wincing. “Personality,” he says with a shrug.

“More?” I feign shock, placing my hand on my chest.

“The more personality, the better. Reality TV gold is made off the backs of dramatic, unstable people, Mr. Henry.”

Right.

A slight panic runs through me as I run to my room, throwing open my closet doors. I have no idea what to wear. My definition of fashion is a pair of cutoff shorts and a crop top, but something tells me that if I walk downstairs in that, Edward is going to throw me off my balcony and tell his boss it was an accident.

So I do the only thing I can think to do.

I call Leo. He answers on the second ring.

“This better be good,” he mutters. I can hear him climbing out of bed.

“I need your help,” I tell him, my voice about an octave higher than normal.

“We’ve established this long ago.” There’s a pause as I hear his door shut.

“No, I need help picking out an outfit.”

The end of the line is silent.

“Leo?”

“Why am I the one you’re calling for this? You have a sister.”

“Because you’ve been working with thatstylist?—”

“That Briar made me get.” Okay, someone’s grumpy as shit this morning.

“Doesn’t matter. Help me.”

He sighs, and I hear him pick up something heavy. “Go into your bathroom,” he says with a groan.

“Yes, Daddy.”

I head into the bathroom and look out the window to the inner harbor below. “Why am I here?”

Leo clicks his tongue. “You are nowhere near ready for this thing. Go grab that Henley the boys always compliment you on.”