"How are you?"

Using his hand to make a sweeping gesture down his body, Cameron said, "I'm looking and feeling better every day. I may get out of here tomorrow."

"So I hear. Will you be going home or staying with your brother?"

"Gary's going to let me crash at his place for awhile. He has some nurse coming to keep an eye on me too, like I can't take care of myself."

Amanda sat down in the chair besides Cameron's bed. "I don't think that's it. I'm sure he's worried about you."

"Yeah, my brother's a prince among men…… So, what's kept you busy these last few weeks. I haven't seen you around these parts!" Cameron wasn't sure he should bring it up, but he needed to know why Amanda hadn't come to visit him.

"Well…….I'm going to Europe this Sunday to set up a shoot similar to our Valentine's issue. The company wants to use some of Carson's models too……you included, as a matter of fact. When you're better, of course. No sooner."

"You've talked to this company about me already?"

"Yes I did."

"Without speaking to me first?"

"Frankly, I didn't need to speak with you first. You are under contract with the St. Jeune modeling agency and under an exclusive contract with Brava. I have already told the CEO that you will not be available until things heal. He's agreed to that, reluctantly, I must add."

"Amanda, you act like all I am is someone who works for you. I thought we were getting past this. Remember, we were going on a picnic together."

"Yes, I remember. Maybe it was a mistake that I agreed to go with you. At least we can both be grateful the picnic never happened."

"I'm not." Cameron pulled himself up in his hospital bed and once again, tried looking directly into Amanda's eyes. "I thought things were working out finally after you agreed to go out with me. Then I find out that you can't even be bothered to come and see me after my accident. Maybe Gary was right."

"Gary?" Amanda looked puzzled."What does he have to do with this?"

"He was the one who told me I was crazy to think you and I could have any chance at all. He told me he called you from the hospital."

Now Amanda was angry.

"I NEVER talked to Gary after your accident. He left me a message on my answering machine. I came to the hospital. I sat with you. Gary came in later and I told him not to tell you I was here."

"He didn't tell me." Cameron gazed out the window because he was afraid of what Amanda's answer to his next question would be. "So where does this leave us?"

"I don't know. I won't have time for picnics anytime soon, being that I leave for Italy on Sunday. When I get back, Brava's going to need all my time and attention."

"No room for a personal life then. Too bad."

Amanda walked over to the door in Cameron's room and gripped the handle. Turning around, she answered him," Don't feel sorry for me. This is the life I choose for myself. It's all I can do right now. It's all I want to do. Brava is my life and I like it that way."

"I guess I won't see you then until the shoot. Nice doing business with you, Miss Cory."

"I'm sorry Cameron. It's not you….really…..it's just…"

"I'm sorry too. Now if you don't mind, I am rather tired and I'd like to get some rest before my next therapy session. Don't let the door hit you on the way out." Cameron turned his back to her, pulled the blanket up to cover himself, and closed his eyes.

Whispering 'good-bye', Amanda shut off the lights and left.

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

Paige was doing her best to answer each and every phone coming her way today. The phones have not been this crazy since the issue with Cameron on the cover came out. It certainly didn't help that Amanda was coming in late today. Mr. Luna had called to get the specifics of her travel plans. Carson wanted a late lunch meeting to discuss strategy. Everyone wanted something.

"Good morning. Miss Cory's office."

"Hello Paige. This is Mrs. Hutchins. Is my daughter in?"

"Not yet ma'am. She called on her way in this morning to tell me she was stopping by the hospital to see Cameron. She should be in shortly. Shall I tell her you called?"

"Yes, Paige. Thank you."

"How is Cameron doing, Mrs. Hutchins? We don't hear too much about his condition from Miss Cory. If Ms. St. Jeune stops by, she usually fills us in."

"To be honest, my dear, I don't know. My daughter has been rather quiet on that subject."

"To be sure ma'am."

"Please let her know I called. Have a good day, Paige."

"Thank you, Mrs. Hutchins. You too."

"I will. Good-bye."

That was one of few pleasant conversations Paige would have that day. When Amanda did arrive, she was in NO mood to be friendly. In fact, she instructed Paige that she was not to be disturbed for the remainder of the day, shut the door to her office, and did not come out until well after Paige left at 6pm.

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

Amanda was a whirlwind on Saturday, getting all her things together for her trip to Italy. She had called Mr. Luna to confirm the times of her flight when she stopped by the office to get some needed files. Her flight left Chicago Sunday morning at 8:45am and was due to arrive in Rome some 10+ hours later.

Amanda hadn't been looking forward to this trip before, but now things had changed. She was feeling some pressure from her mother to be closer to Cameron; Mr. Luna wanted her in Venice even though Brava needed her attention; her relationship with Gary had changed drastically. Everyone wanted something for her.

Her mother had called several times and left messages, but Amanda was not in any sort of mood to talk. She finished her packing late Saturday night, and while her phone seemed to ring for the hundredth time, Amanda ran a hot bath, lit some vanilla spice candles, and settled in for a quiet evening alone.

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

The Cory jet was ready when Amanda arrived. She telephoned her mother about 15 minutes prior to arriving at the airport.

"Hi mom."

"Amanda, where have you been? I tried to reach you yesterday several times but there was no answer. I did leave you quite a few messages."

"Mom, I'm on my way to Italy."

"You what?"

"I said I'm on my way to Italy. The Luna Company is doing their take on our Valentine's issue in 'Carnevale' and they want my help. I'll only be gone for a week."

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

"And what about Mr. Sinclair?"

"He'll be there when I get back. Actually, mom, he's doing fine. In fact, he goes home tomorrow or the next day. He will be spending some of his recovery time with Gary."

"Amanda…."

"Mom, I'm at the airport. I have to go. I'll call you once I get to my hotel."

"You do that darling. Have a safe flight."

"I love you mom!"

"I love you too, my dear. Make sure it's not all work while you're in Italy. I hear it's beautiful there."

"Good-bye mom!"

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

The weather was clear for take off, the stewardess said. The flight should go rather smoothly. Breakfast would be served within the hour. Amanda made herself as comfortable as she could be, with her briefcase close by. She pulled out some files to look over while the jet taxied, but was having difficulty concentrating on work for some reason. She didn't need to go to Italy now, but Mr. Luna made it seem necessary.

Instead, she looked for and found the issue of GQ that Carson gave her. She flipped through the pages casually, as if she wasn't looking for the article on page 30. The ad on pages 28-29 for removal of body hair wasn't as interesting as Amanda made it out to be, taking a long 5 minutes to skim through it.

She turned the page. There was Cameron, holding onto the mask. The downward shift in his eyes. The heading of the article read, "Cameron Sinclair: The Man Behind the Mask."

She had to stop herself from staring at that picture and those piercing green eyes. Amanda closed hers, paused a moment, then read further.

It was all very flattering. Amanda looked at the by-line and knew…the columnist, Taylor Donovan, was a woman and it had to be hard to concentrate on business, with someone like Cameron to interview.

It ran the gamut of personal vs. business. Ms. Donovan began talking about Cameron's life before becoming a model for the St. Jeune agency and relocating to New York. Cameron said life outside of NYC was not as hectic as his work with the agency, but it was still rewarding. Construction work was difficult, but Cameron enjoyed working with his hands.

Cameron's tale of how he caught the eye of one Ms. St. Jeune fascinated Ms. Donovan. She found it hard to believe that Carson St. Jeune walked right up to him and asked if he did any modeling. This couldn't happen, on any sort of public transportation in New York! But it did, Cameron answered.

The personal side was more interesting to Amanda, especially the part where Ms. Donovan asked Cameron to describe his 'ideal' woman. He said he wanted someone who was sensitive, yet willing to show her emotions. She should be spontaneous, but enjoy spending a quiet evening at home with a fire keeping things warm, a nice bottle of wine and some jazz playing in the background. He wanted a woman who would be honest with him. He did not like playing games.

Amanda couldn't read anymore. As the plane climbed to its' cruising altitude, she closed her eyes and rested as well as her body was willing to.

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

Even though it was Sunday afternoon, and there are other places Gary would much rather be, he found himself at his desk in the office trying to dig out from the mound of paperwork. He knew Cameron would be joining him soon for a few days and wanted to spend some time with him. The more he could get done, the better.

The phone rang. No one knew he was there, so Gary was a little hesitant to pick it up. No important decisions-not today!

"Gary, it's me. The doctor said I can go home today."

"Cameron….is that you?"

"No…it's the gardener. Did you know your evergreens need to be trimmed every 2-3 weeks??……………. Of course it's me!!…………. Come on….don't make me stay here any longer than I have to."

"Be there in 20, little brother. Just give me a chance to put some things away and I'll be right over."

"Good. I can't sit here anymore."

They hung up. Gary noticed how Cameron sounded somewhat irritated but he attributed that to his brother being cooped up for as long as he was. He never thought it had anything to do with a certain magazine editor.

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

"Miss Cory?" The steward startled Amanda. She had relaxed enough to catch a little sleep after barely eating anything during the flight.

"Yes?"

"The pilot said I should inform you that we have been given clearance to land at the airport in Rome. We have also radioed ahead and there is a car waiting to take you to your hotel………….Is there anything else, miss?"

"No thank you. But please apologize to the cook on my behalf." Amanda felt terrible. She hadn't eaten more than two bites. "It wasn't the food…believe me."

"I shall take care of it for you, Miss Cory. We will be landing in a few minutes. Please fasten your seatbelt."

"Thank you . I will." She did just that after storing her briefcase under her seat.

"A week in Rome….what more could a girl want?"