"That's me….up there…..That's me!!!"

"In your dreams buddy!"

"Gary…..it's the truth! That's what I couldn't tell you! They have more billboards planned too. Radio spots……You name it, Carson and Amanda have thought of it."

"Amanda must really want this issue of Brava to launch her career as an editor. I hope it does, for her sake!" Just then the car behind them beeped. The light had changed to green and Cameron and Gary had been sitting there for some time.

"Why is Amanda pushing so hard for this issue of the magazine? You said she's been in town for awhile now. I would assume she's been a success. Why this issue?"

"Little brother, how little you know about the magazine business. You're only as good as your last article. Brava's sales have been dropping and I'm sure Amanda has thought of her mother pulling the plug on everything. She's dead set against returning to Bay City!"

Gary pulled up in front of Cameron's new place-Central Park West.

"Bay City? Where is that?"

"Somewhere in Illinois."

"Is it near Chicago?"

"I don't know. You tell me. You're the one who aced geography."

"Gary…..that was in high school. I'm older now. I don't remember things like that!"

Pulling the boxes of Cameron's personal things out of his trunk, Gary told him, " No matter…..Amanda needs this issue to make a mark. Her mark in the magazine world. If it does like she thinks it will, she will have to thank you and the other models big time!"

"She doesn't need to thank me. She and Carson have done plenty for me already!"

"Well….if you get his place set up properly, then maybe you can have a small dinner party and thank her and Carson yourself. I'll be happy to bring my handsome face to your party too, if you ask me nice!"

Cameron dropped to his knees and 'pleaded' with his brother to come to his party-the one he had yet to plan. They both laughed as they grabbed more boxes and headed up to Cameron's new home.

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

Amanda had risen early the next day. Already there was buzz over the billboard. The people in her apartment building even stopped her and had to ask.

"Ms. Cory? Who IS that man on that billboard? My god….those eyes….I was sitting at that stop light at least five minutes before I heard the car behind me honking their horn at me."

Amanda smiled. "You'll just need to buy the February issue of Brava and see!"

"I hate to admit this to anyone….but I drove around the block 3 times to see that face…what you could see of it! He is gorgeous!"

"Thank you!" Amanda answered graciously.

Getting into her car and driving into the office would be different today. She thanked her lucky stars for a friend like Carson who worked with her to make this issue a success……..and Cameron……the other models too.

Before heading to the office, she too, had to go past the billboard once. What that woman in her apartment building said was true. Then Amanda found herself driving past the billboard a second time.

"Snap out of this girl. You have work to do!"

Off to the office she went…..smiling…..

 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Another week went by and although Carson had other things to keep her occupied, as did Amanda, their minds were very much focused on the Brava campaign and the Valentine issue.

Things were now set in place. The next billboard would be up this week. Next week Amanda would be interviewed by one of the local papers. Within two weeks the magazine would be sent to the printer for publishing and the masquerade ball would take place.

Amanda enjoyed the attention she and the magazine were getting. If one person asked her about the February issue, she was questioned by at least 50. All the women wanted to know who was the mystery man on the billboard. Amanda was secretive about that, only whispering, "Wait and see!" Even her mother was curious when she spoke to her on the phone.

"Good morning darling!" Rachel chimed.

"Mom! How are you?? Where are you?"

"Oh, I'm at home dear. Your brother is at the office making some travel arrangements for our trip to come and see you!"

"You're coming mom? Really?"

"Really! I've been hearing so much about Brava this week I cannot begin to tell you! How are things going?"

"Beautifully mom! Subscriptions are up at least 20%. Everyone's talking about it. You know, some women in my apartment building even asked me about it today. They want to know who's on the billboard."

"You didn't tell them, did you?"

"Certainly not. I remember what daddy taught me about business. Give them just enough information, he said. Leave them with a little taste in their mouths and they'll come back begging for more!"

"That sounds like your father! God, I miss him."

"I miss him too. I wish he could be here to see what I've done with Brava."

"He'd be so very proud of you Amanda. You ARE your father's daughter!"

"Thank you, mom. Now when are you and Matt coming to town?"

"I'll have to ask Matthew that and call you back. Will you be home later this evening?"

"I believe so, yes! Gary and I have some early dinner plans..maybe a movie….. but I should be in later. Please give everyone at home a hug for me. Carl too."

"I will darling. Love you."

"Love you too. Can't wait to see you."

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

Gary arrived at Amanda's on time, as always.

"Good evening beautiful."

"Hey yourself! " Amanda greeted Gary with a quick kiss on his cheek."Where are we going to eat tonight?"

"I thought having your favorite for a change would be nice. How does Italian sound?"

"Sounds heavenly. Are you up for a movie too?"

"We'll see. I hope you don't mind, but I asked Cameron to join us. He's keeping himself too busy cooped up in that apartment of his, buying this…rearranging that….he's becoming an interior decorator of sorts and that cannot be healthy!"

She didn't let Gary see, but Amanda was somewhat disappointed that Cameron would be joining them. She did not have anything against him, but she seemed to be always a bit on edge when he was close by.

"Oh"…and Gary interrupted her far off look….'He's bringing Janeen along. I haven't met her yet. Is she nice?"

 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

"What??? Janeen?? Oh yes, she seems quite nice. But…"

"But what?"

"Mixing business with after hours activities isn't always a very good idea."

"Well…she and Cam seem perfect for each other. At least according to what he's been telling me. He SAYS they're just friends, but you never know."

Looking over at Gary as he puts on his overcoat after helping her, Amanda mumbles, "Yes. You never do know."

 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Cameron and Janeen had arrived at the restaurant well before Gary and Amanda did, and had been seated when they arrived. The maitre' d showed them to Cameron and Janeen's table.

"This way to your seat, Mr. Sinclair. How are you this evening Miss Cory?"

"Very well, Maurice. Thank you. "

When they arrived at the table, Cameron stood up and shook hands with his brother. He greeted Amanda in a similar manner while holding out her chair for her.

"How are you tonight, Miss Cory?"

"Fine, thank you. And tonight, Cameron…….let's forget about business etiquette and just be Amanda and Cameron, all right? Oh yes….Janeen too."

"That sounds nice."

"So Cam….what are the specials this evening? I think you love Italian food almost more than Amanda does. Amanda, did you know he studied Italian one year?" Gary exclaimed, while pouring himself and his date some wine.

"That's fascinating! What stopped you from pursuing your studies?" Amanda wanted to know.

Cameron wasn't prepared to go back to those memories. His father thought school was garbage and wanted his boys to help out at home. He didn't know they did-every day after school. He was inebriated by the time the Sinclair boys made it home from school, and had no way of knowing how all those chores were done. But they knew. Their mother knew too.

"Ahhh…it just seemed like a foolish dream. I knew I'd never get to visit Italy. So why learn about the language?… Enough about me… I'm starved…let's eat!!" Cameron signaled to the waiter and he came over to take their order.

Amanda looked at him a little differently after that. She ordered lasagna, knowing full well that she wouldn't be able to finish it. Gary ordered the same. Janeen wanted manicotti and Cameron ravioli.

The food was wonderful as always. The manicotti was the restaurant's specialty and Cameron had to make sure to tell the waiter that the cook was a genius with a spatula and spoon.

"I want to make a toast." Gary told everyone to pick up his or her glasses.

"To Brava magazine and the most beautiful editor I know. Amanda, I wish you success with this issue and many more issues to come."

"Here, here!" Cameron and Janeen both said.

"Gary Sinclair, you're embarrassing me. If it wasn't for Carson St. Jeune and these two sitting here with us, my Valentine issue would not be what you think it is."

"Come on Amanda. You know it's true. You have an eye for that sort of thing…..when something catches your eye, you know it."

The waiter appeared and asked at that point if they needed more wine. Gary, of course, ordered another bottle.

Cameron looked at Amanda and saw something he hadn't seen before. A softer side. He liked it. He caught himself starring and before anyone else noticed, he stopped.

"Anyone up to a movie this evening? Janeen, what do you think?"

She rubbed her hand on top of his and said, "Sweet man. Always thinking of me. Actually, if you don't mind, I would like to call it an early evening and head home. I am very tired. Carson has us taking some secondary pictures tomorrow."

"Nothing that would compromise your positions with Brava and the Valentine issue I hope!" Amanda seemed agitated at Janeen's last remark.

"Oh no. Clothing ads after the issue comes out. Not beforehand."

"Good!" Amanda finished her wine and when Gary wanted to pour her some more, she graciously declined. They settled their check and both men helped the ladies with their wraps. Cameron and Gary said their good-byes and Janeen excused herself to go to the powder room. After Gary left to get his car, it left Cameron and Amanda alone.

"Janeen seems quite nice."

"She is." Cameron answered."She's a good friend."

"Your brother seems to think she's more than that!" Amanda tried to

stop herself before things got too personal.

"That's all she is…just a friend….if Gary was the ONLY one asking." Cameron had to smirk to himself, much to Amanda's displeasure.

"He was." Amanda uttered.

"Fine then." Janeen and Gary reappeared and Cameron thanked Gary and Amanda for an enjoyable evening.

 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

On her way to work everyday, Amanda couldn't help it. She had to pass by the second billboard. The first was of the man in his mask.

The one was a little more revealing. The man in his mask was there. Now you could tell he was dressed in black and he had a bright, shiny sword resting against his shoulder. (The was not the original board agreed upon. After hours on negotiations, the board helped changed Amanda's mind.)

The caption read," Am I the one you're looking for? Find out in February's issue of Brava…on sale soon."

"Perfect! Just perfect!"

 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

The next week just flew by for everyone involved in the Valentine issue. The models appeared on some local talk shows, discussing what it was like to prepare for a national magazine. When the interviewers wanted to know who that was on the cover, none of the models would say a word! They wanted the mystery to last too, for awhile longer.

Amanda was interviewed by a local paper and made the front page. Brava's February issue was getting press, which is just what marketing wanted. No one was more pleased than Amanda was.

Friday brought sunshine and a dinner party at Cameron's. Gary had convinced him that a small party, perhaps with the models he worked with, Carson and Amanda, would be a nice way to wind down the week before all the hype picked up again with the publication of the Valentine's issue. Cameron had to agree with his big brother this time.

He had a caterer make some delicious appetizers. The wine and other beverages were chilling. Cameron gave the apartment the once over, lit some candles……….and everything was set.

Gary had called and said that he was running late and that Amanda would meet him there. Janeen would be by shortly. The others would arrive sometime around 8pm.

The doorbell rang. Cameron looked in the mirror, smoothed down the corners of his jacket and answered the door. It was Amanda.

She looked amazing. Trying hard not to stare, he welcomed her inside.

"Thank you for inviting me. I had a feeling you were roped into this by that brother of yours."

"Yes, Gary has a unique way of making you look at things, doesn't he?"

"He sure does."

Cameron helped Amanda off with her coat and hung it inside the closet. She couldn't get enough of the view outside his window.

"This view is stunning. I bet when you saw it, you were sold on this place."

"It was one of many things that drew me here. That and its' proximity to the modeling agency."

"That sounds like something Gary would say."

"He did!"

"I knew it….I just knew it!"

Cameron and Amanda were enjoying this. Just as he was about to offer her something to drink, everything went dark.