"Amanda, I'd like you to meet Cameron Sinclair."

"Good evening Amanda!" Gary chimed in. He leaned in and gave her a quick peck on her cheek.

This was Amanda Cory? Gary's Amanda? The one he was 'supposed' to meet earlier this week? Cameron didn't know what to do, or what to say. Feeling somewhat awkward he extended his hand to her.

"Nice to meet you…." he said, barely getting out any words before Amanda came back with a response.

"Mr. Sinclair, I DO hope you plan to conduct business with a little more decorum than you exhibited in my office a few days ago."

"What?" Cameron was puzzled. He looked over at Carson too. Was Amanda upset with him for leaving her office, when SHE was the one who was late for their appointment?

"Mr. Sinclair…."

"Please, Miss Cory,….call me Cameron!"

"Mister Sinclair, we had a meeting scheduled. I was unfortunately detained. My secretary informed you I would be delayed. But you chose to leave. If we are to do business together in the future, you would do well to remember that no one walks out on me and stays employed with Cory Publishing!" Amanda turned to walk away, but Cameron stepped in front of her.

"Miss Cory, perhaps YOU should learn to take your own advice. First of all, I do NOT work for you or Cory Publishing, whatever that is. I work for the St. Jeune modeling agency. I am on time for all my appointments. It is you that were late. More than an hour and a half late. I have a life to lead and things to do too. They may not seem important to you but they are to me. If we do have to work together in the future, maybe it would do YOU good to remember that!"

Cameron was pleased that he stood up for himself. Carson St. Jeune was too. Not many people get away with talking to Amanda like that….and actually live to tell about it, she thought. Gary and Cameron got into the elevator and rode down in silence.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

The way back to Gary's apartment was much too quiet for him. He just had to say something.

"So, what did you think of her?"

"Huh?" Cameron was in his own world, remembering the elegance of the woman in lavender, how she carried herself, how she entered the room and…. Well….that was until he met her and found out who she really was.

"Amanda….what did you think of Amanda?"

"I have no opinion of her."

"Oh really? And that little exchange between the two of you-what was that?"

"Gary, do we have to talk about this now? I'm beat. Carson has me scheduled for more photos on Monday! Can we do this some other time?" Cameron leaned back and closed his eyes.

He thought….."What have I gotten myself into?"

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Carson stayed at the gala until the last guest left. She was pleased, in general, how things had gone this evening. She knew her models would be a hit, especially Cameron. But what was that 'thing' between Cameron and Amanda? Carson hoped things could work out because she knew Cameron's face, being on the cover of the biggest issue of Brava would be a coup for her agency!

Carson went to retrieve her coat and met up with Amanda on the way.

"So, what did you think? Did you see the face that would launch Brava's Valentine's issue?" Carson was crossing her fingers behind her back.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

" I know exactly what or shall I say whom you are talking about, my friend…..and yes….I did see some people who may work out very well….for both of us!"

"And might one of those be Cameron Sinclair?"

Grunting, Amanda answered, "That has yet to be determined." She stepped into on the elevator and left.

She never saw Carson thrust her fist into the air or heard her triumphant cheer, "YESSSS!"

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

The rest of the weekend Cameron kept to himself. Whenever Gary wanted to do something or go out to eat, Cameron said no. He wasn't interested in eating, or he was too tired….there was always an excuse. Gary had no idea what was going on in his brother's head.

Amanda's weekend was neither what she wanted or expected. She thought she would have heard from Matt if he and her mother would be visiting the city within the week to spend Rachel's birthday, but he hadn't called. She didn't feel like eating, watching her favorite movies…. Nothing….

"What's wrong with me?" Amanda wondered.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

The alarm went off in Cameron's room before 7 that sunny Monday morning. He rolled over and slammed his hand down on the buzzer, hoping for just five more minutes. Things were getting nice and comfortable again, until he heard Gary telling him to get up. If Cameron could get showered and dressed within the hour, they could ride into the city together. Gary's day started at 9 with a series of meetings today that would take him until after one o' clock. And if he was lucky, he was hoping to catch a bite to eat with Amanda in town before meeting with the designers on a new project.

Cameron, on the other hand, had no idea whatsoever what was in store for him today. This modeling career was all new to him. He did love the attention Carson seemed to give him. Maybe he'd see how things would go and ask her to lunch.

"Rise and shine, lazybones! The Sinclair train leaves at 8 a.m. sharp. You don't want to be late on your first real day on the job, do you?"

"I'll be right there…just gonna jump in the shower if you don't mind."

"Make yourself pretty now!" Gary laughed as he left Cameron alone in the room.

"Yeah, yeah, yeah…" Cameron mumbled, turning on the water. "My brother, the comedian."

Gary and Cameron left a little before 8. Try as he may to get Cameron to talk about the events on Saturday, he would not.

"How long are you going to be today, Gar? I'm not sure what Carson has in mind. If we're both still in town later, want to meet for lunch or something?"

"I have plans with Amanda for lunch."

"Oh!"

"That's all you have to say-oh?"

"That's' it……… Ahh! Here we are. Thanks for the ride Gar. I'll try and catch up with you later." Cameron slammed the door and jogged inside.

"Be careful little brother. You may think you have everything figured out, but they could just eat you alive. No utensils necessary!" Gary just shook his head and drove the 2-½ miles north to work, hoping Cameron had made the right choice. Now he wasn't so sure.

 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Carson didn't have to wait long for Cameron. He was right on time, like he promised. She shook his hand and took him into her office, which was already filled with people-other models he thought.

"Cameron, I'd like you to meet Taj Perry. He takes the best pictures around and he can work miracles with a lens."

"Nice to meet you Cameron." Taj said.

"Same here."

Carson went around the room. "These are the others you'll be working with today and for the photo shoot for Brava. You already met Whitney and Tyler last Saturday. This is Trevor Gabriel. You may remember seeing him in some ads for Lee Jeans."

Cameron had no idea who this man in front of him was.

"Great look there, Trevor."

"Thanks, man."

Carson held up her hand. "I'm not finished yet, Cameron. This is Janeen Lockwood. You'll be shooting exclusively with her this morning. The others will be brought in later today."

Everyone in the room smiled and seemed to know exactly what to expect. All except for Cameron.

She explained things a bit more when she led he and Janeen down to wardrobe. There they met Mrs. Alexander who'd be dressing them for the shoot. Carson told Cameron that they'd be taking photos or proofs as she called them. He knew what those were.

"But these proofs will be the preliminary takes for the ones we'll want to use for the Brava layout. Amanda will be making the choice for the cover from these proofs. So let's make the best of the day and do what Mrs. Alexander and Taj say. Alright?"

"Anything you say, Car…. Ms. St. Jeune…and thank you."

"Whatever for, Cameron?"

"For giving me this chance. I won't let you down."

"I'm counting on that. Now…as your boss…. Get to work!"

 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Taj did do miracles with his lens. The pictures he took ended up on many top named magazines, Life being one of them. Carson chose him very carefully for this shoot.

He took single shots of Cameron. Profiles. Head shots. Then he posed Cameron and Janeen together.

Taj was quite pleased. No matter where or how he set them up, Cameron and Janeen were very at-ease with each other. By the end of that morning photo session, so did Carson. She had snuck in while Taj was working with them. She knew she had found the couple for the cover of the February issue of Brava. Now…to convince Amanda.

 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Gary's meetings had gone well, so he would be able to meet with Amanda at Armelli's. He gave Cameron a call at the agency, but Carson thought that Cameron would be tied up all day with the shoot. Just as she was about to hang up, Taj came in to tell her the shoot with Cameron and Janeen went well. They were done, for now.

"Carson, could you do me a favor and ask Cameron if he'd like to join me for lunch at Armelli's?"

"If I can catch him. I understand his photo shoot is done for the morning. He's due back about 2 for another session! Taj thinks he left, with some of the others."

"I'd appreciate it if you would try and nab that brother of mine for me!"

"Will do what I can, Mr. Sinclair. "

"Gary. My name is Gary. Thanks."

Carson left her office immediately and unfortunately for Gary, couldn't catch Cameron and Janeen before they left with the others for a quick lunch. Their morning was taxing, but they knew the quality of work Taj Perry did and had no doubts that the rest of the day would go well too.

Cameron thought to himself that the rest of the group, Janeen included, had a great deal of self-confidence that he wished he had. Maybe this job will help me find that in myself.

 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Amanda arrived at the restaurant about 10 minutes before Gary did, already had been seated and was drinking a cup of coffee when Gary actually did get there.

"I'm sorry for the delay. I tried to get a hold of my brother to ask him to join us. But he's all tied up in some shoot most of the day. Forgive me?"

"You, Gary…. you never do anything intentionally to hurt anyone. Of course I forgive you!"

The waitress came and took their order. Amanda ordered a pasta salad and a small piece of garlic bread. Gary, on the other hand, knew he wouldn't be eating dinner that night so he ordered the lasagna supreme entree'. After the waitress left, Gary had to ask Amanda something.

"Amanda,…..do you think Cameron has what it takes…to make it in this modeling business? I trust your judgement. You met him. What do you think? Is this Carson handing him a line?"

Amanda wiped her mouth off with a napkin, laying it down very slowly before answering.

"Gary, Carson runs her own modeling agency. The top one in Manhattan……the top one in the country, if you'd ask her. She knows talent. Obviously she thinks Cameron will be one of the lucky ones!"

"And you….what do you think?"

Trying not to stumble on her words, Amanda answered, " I hope he handles these photo shoots better than he handled our appointment!"

"Not you too?? That's exactly what I got out of Cameron. You and him…you're two of a kind. Stubborn as hell."

Just then the waitress came by with their food. Amanda was relieved when Gary seemed too interested in eating than he did in asking her any more questions about what she thought of Cameron. She was safe. For now at least.

 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Cameron didn't have much of an appetite. He just pecked at his food, and that didn't go unnoticed.

"You're not hungry Cameron? I am starving! Getting up early was hard enough. I never thought someone taking pictures of me would tire me out as much as it has."

"So, you're new at this too, Janeen?"

"Definitely! Being a lawyer's secretary was easier that this!"

"Where are you from? And how did Carson get a hold of you?"

"I'm from Manhattan too. No, not the Manhattan here, but Manhattan Kansas. I lived there all my life, until Carson saw me in some local pageant. She had me take a few photos and send them to her. The rest…. well, it must sound a lot like your story!"

"Actually, I was going to visit my brother and she came up to me…on a train. Never saw the woman before in my life and she sits down next to me and starts asking me if I'm a model. Hard to believe, huh?"

"Not really. You do have great eyes and this incredibly strong jaw."

"…Uh…thanks…" Cameron answered, feeling a little uncomfortable with the compliments;" This stuff is all new to me. Having someone taking my pictures. Waiting to see if I have this look that everyone's talking about. Never in a million years would I have seen myself here."

"Maybe we should get back to work. Would I love it if we could get on the cover of that magazine Ms. St. Jeune was talking about….Brava! She said the proofs will go over to Amanda Cory and she'll make the final decision of who goes where. Have you ever met her before?. Amanda Cory, I mean."

Cameron half-heartedly shrugged his shoulders and told Janeen," Yes, at last weekend's gala."

"I hear she's quite beautiful. Tough business woman though."

"Yeah…..tough!"

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

That afternoon's session with the models and Taj went faster than everyone expected. Each model knew their assignment, and did what they were told. Costume changes and appropriate hairdos took up the most time.

First it was Lancelot and Guinevere. Then came Rhett Butler and Scarlet O'Hara. Even Lucy and Ricky.

Taj had something special in mind for Cameron and Janeen. The set was changed to a barge in Egypt. A light filter was placed over the hot light, creating a haze in the studio. Taj was preparing the film in his camera when Cameron and Janeen appeared, dressed as Antony and Cleopatra.

"My God…you ARE them!" Taj remarked. Cameron felt somewhat uncomfortable in this get-up, but he figured Carson knew what she was doing. He saw her come in right before Taj started posing he and Janeen, and snapping all those pictures. He acknowledged her being there, but what he didn't see was Amanda Cory joining Carson.

She watched as Taj had Cameron pose on a lounge and Janeen was feeding him fruits of the harvest. Each pose showed the progression of their relationship. Carson was very pleased at what she saw.

Amanda was not. She glanced down at the photos in her hand, back up to Cameron and Janeen, then back to the photos.

"Stop this! This…this feeling you're trying to create? It's not working!"

Carson grabbed a hold of Amanda's arm. "I beg your pardon?"

"Carson! Just look at these photos from this morning. Look at this one." She showed her one of Cameron dressed as a cowboy."And this one…and this!" Each one she pointed out were shots of Cameron…alone.

"Amanda, I don't get it. I thought you wanted a couple for the cover of the Valentine issue!"

"I thought so too. Until I saw these!!……what you said about Taj Perry is true. He does work wonders!"

"And what about Cameron?"

"He is the face for Brava!"

"You mean…..??"

"Yes, the cover of the Valentine's issue is yours!"