(Ashley)
Now that she was seeing him this near this was her impression of Jett Alejandre. A manwh*re, narcissist, vain, arrogant and a sleazebag. Okay she had to admit that he was also hunky, extremely good-looking but the fact was he was still a Casanova. She hated the way he was looking at her. He seemed to be stripping her and it made her want to gnash her teeth. This man might be very good-looking but she wasn’t interested. His name was familiar because it had been attached many times to a lot of female models’ and he was also involved with an aspiring singer. She almost clucked .
"You are staring and that is rude." She heard him say. His tone had a hint of amusement.
She blinked a few times and she reprimanded herself from not realizing what she had been doing. She wasn’t aware that she was in fact staring while she was assessing this Don Juan. She threw a glance at his friends who seemed to be drooling over her. Her brow raised. What did she expect? They are Jett’s buddies. Birds of a feather flock together.
Her eyes went back to him. "Excuse me? I wasn't staring. I just remembered something. Aren't you the infamous model who grabs female models' behinds while on the ramp?" she asked.
His eyes glinted and his sneer was still on his lips.
What nice lips for a guy. She thought. They were luscious and a bit reddish. She shook her head to erase her thoughts.
Two of his friends chuckled and exchanged high-fives upon hearing what she said. Dale, who was next to her just cleared his throat . Jett's eyes were intently looking at her while he deemed to want to read what was in her mind.
"So you do watch my shows. Live or online? But I just want to make one thing clear Miss...?"
"Ashley." Came Dale’s voice.
Jett’s eyes went down to her hand which was still in Dale’s bigger one. Consciously, the latter released her before she could take back her hand.
Right after that, Jett’s eyes came back to her. She did her best to hold the stare. She could sense that he was angry about something. From her peripheral vision, she felt Dale put a distance between them.
"As I was saying Miss Ashley, I want to make things clear. I don't intentionally grab women's *sses. It's either the organizers want me to do that, with the models' consent of course, to make the show more intense and interesting. Or there are even instances believe it or not that the models themselves request me to do that to them with or without the organizer's instructions. I am not complaining though." he drawled with a smirk. His dark eyes ran on her body after saying that which made her grit her teeth.
She protruded her chin and she squinted her eyes. "Of course. A true-blue player would enjoy something like that but you didn't have to explain to me." she said in a honeyed tone.
His eyes which were roaming on her body went up to her eyes. Dale cleared his throat again.
"Ahhm...I guess introductions are needed...Ashley this is..." Dale began but she interrupted him.
"I don't think there is any need for that. Anyway thanks Dale." she looked at him. "Maybe I will see you again..." she said with a small smile then she threw Seth. Andy and lastly Jett a glare."…minus people who are immodest, vulgar and who looks at women like a piece of meat. I am allergic to such men. I have to go. Bye." she added then turned her back to go to the kitchen.
Dale wanted to come after her but Jett grabbed his arm. He looked him straight in the eye which meant, don't even think about it.
With furrowed brows Dale gave up and Jett let go of his arm while still looking at Ashley’s back. A female staff walked to her.
"Dude! She called us immodest because we were drooling over her! Dang mates! Can she blame us? She is so sexy and really gorgeous!” Seth said while the four of them were looking at Ashley’s back as she talked to the staff.
"Stop staring at her morons or I will poke your eyeballs out! Just wait for me outside!” Jett hissed.
The three exchanged glances before doing what they were told. They had witnessed how Jett was when he was pissed. He was a generous friend but very scary and dangerous when he was angry.
(Ashley)
She just finished talking to Nancy when something made her look behind her. She regretted what she did. She got goose bumps. Jett who was now alone was staring at her. She snorted and walked to the kitchen. She had enough of him for today.
***
Her day was ruined. That Jett Alejandre was a jinx. Two of their clients this afternoon cancelled their meetings with them. She was more annoyed because Kat said she couldn’t get back to the studio due to some family matters. Only an hour left before closing time so she was thinking of closing up already instead of wasting her time. She frowned when the door opened. She almost groaned in frustration when she saw who just came in
"What are you doing here?" Her frown deepened.
It's Jett Alejandre.He was in a plain white shirt and faded jeans. The way he was looking at her was somehow different compared to a few hours ago.
"I talked to your friend this morning and she mentioned that you have a studio." he said with a wry smile.
She almost rolled her eyes. Kat didn’t tell her anything about their talk.
"I want to have my pictures taken for my portfolio." He continued with a grin.
She looked away and walked to her work table." Come back tomorrow. Kat isn’t here right now. That’s her job. I am the food and event photographer.|” she said coldly with her back on him.
"Your friend said that you do each other's job if necessary."
"She can do that better than me."
"Are you turning down a client? I am sure that you can do it as well as her. Or you probably don’t want to do it. Makes me wonder why…"he sounded a bit sarcastic which made her turn to him.
"And what do you mean by that?"
Jett shrugged. "I now think that you feel uncomfortable looking at me because you are self-conscious..." he said while he seemed to supress a sneer.
"Don't get above yourself Mr.Alejandre..." she hissed.
"Then tell me why you are refusing a client? Your business has just started so you have to grab every client who wants your service. You can’t be like that with me." he said matter-of-factly.
He was right of course but she would rather die than apologize to him.
She jutted her chin. "Well then let's not waste time. I almost forgot that you are a well-known model and doing business with you will be good for us. So let’s get started then, sir. Where is yourentourage, your wardrobe assistant and make-up artist?" she asked sarcastically as she gets her camera ready.
"I don't need them."
Her back was on him as she arranged the set. "You need them because your pictures are for your portfolio right?" she asked .
"I want it in the raw." he said which froze her. "I am ready when you are." He added in a bedroom voice.
She slowly turned and she groaned and closed her eyes for a second or two. He was bare-chested already. How did she get into this situation? She would strangle Kat tomorrow.
"Take a few shots of me in my jeans first then in my birthday suit.” He was grinning from ear to ear while his eyes went down her body. .
The mind was powerful and since Jett saw her this morning, he had a goal. He would make Ashley his…whatever it took.