Model Behavior Read online

  “Yes! Yes, I was. I was trying to apologise—”

  “Oh, you don’t have to do that. I mean, I get it.” Hilary’s smiling continued; it was infectious, and Olivia couldn’t help but feel her own lips curling upwards.

  “No, I mean yes, I do. I wasn’t expecting to be sitting next to anyone and so I…” She was stammering a little as this beautiful woman gave her her full attention. “I’ve had a few rough days, and well, I just wanted...I planned a…Okay look, it doesn’t matter. Can we start over?” She tried for a smile of her own and wasn’t sure she managed more than a grimace, but she continued. “I’m Olivia, Olivia Copeland. It’s nice to meet you.” She held her hand out for Hilary to take, which of course she did, because Hilary wasn’t rude or emotionally stunted like Olivia felt she herself was right now.

  “Hilary, Hilary Palmer. Nice to meet you too.” Her hand was soft and the grip surprisingly strong as she took Olivia’s hand again and shook gently. “Headed home? I noticed the accent.”

  “Something like that yes, I’ve…Well, I have lived in London for a few years now so I’m not quite sure where home is anymore, but yes, we are returning to the US.”

  “Me too, I just spent two weeks travelling the UK,” Hilary said, pulling the bud from her other ear and wrapping the wire around her fingers before looping the ends through the hole she had created and tucking the entire thing into the pocket of the bag at her feet.

  “Did you enjoy it?”

  “Oh God yes, best vacay ever,” she gushed a little excitedly. She really did have a great smile. Olivia tried very hard to ignore that fact, but it was difficult when it was flashing in front of her the way it was. “Are you going back to the UK when you’re done?”

  “Oh, no I…No, we won’t be going back now.” Olivia turned to face forward, a small lump manifesting itself in her throat as she thought back over the last three years.

  Wednesdays were always the day Olivia spent at the office. Working at Highbrow Models Inc. for the last eight years had been one of the best decisions she had ever made. Life as a model, herself on the catwalks of London, Paris, and Milan had been fun for a while, but eventually the constant travelling and hotel rooms had taken their toll, and then she had gotten pregnant after a one-night stand on a lonely shoot in Marrakesh with a guy whose name she barely knew. Aamir was cute and attentive, just when she needed it.

  Having to count every calorie and be so aware of any change to her body had become tiring, and so after 10 years of it all she retired and took up the offer of working as a booking agent for one of the smaller agencies in Paris. After two years learning her craft, she had made a small name for herself as a booker and was offered the opportunity to take charge of what they called the ‘new faces’ department at HMI in London. Having a steady job and now a small baby to look after, she was pretty happy with life and how it was all taking shape.

  That was when she met Ava.

  “No surname, just Ava,” the leggy brunette had stated as she dropped confidently into the seat in front of Olivia’s desk, her leather jacket spilling open to reveal a skimpy sports bra and little else. She pushed the clipboard holding the form with all her actual details on it across the desk toward Olivia. She picked it up and perused the information from Ava No surname. Ava Janko, 23, was born in Belgrade, Serbia, but by the sound of her accent she hadn’t grown up there.

  “Do you want to get a drink when we’re finished here?” Ava No Surname was anything but shy as she stared directly at Olivia and smirked knowingly.

  “I…In what sense?”

  “A date? Unless of course the way you’re looking at me isn’t because you want to fuck me.”

  “I – I don’t think that would be a very good idea, do you?” Olivia said, trying desperately not to blush and failing so miserably that when the young woman smiled at her, she knew she was done for.

  “Okay, well I am going to take that as a yes. I’ll be waiting in the George on Cross St.” She stood, then winked and swivelled her hips as she sashayed to the door, turning at the last second to look over her shoulder, long black hair flipping behind her. “Don’t be late.”

  And she hadn’t been. She knew it was crazy, knew she shouldn’t be getting involved with a client outside of the office, but there was something about Ava No Surname that had captured her attention and had her considering things she really shouldn’t be considering doing with a client. But hell, she had a babysitter for the night.

  Clothes were tossed haphazardly across the room as they were pulled from awkward limbs. Lips locked together in a passionate and fervent kiss that Olivia was enjoying way too much to end. She felt herself being led to the bed, her back hitting soft sheets, and then the warmth of Ava’s mouth on her was enough for Olivia to lose all sense of who she was.

  The hours spent in bed that night with Ava No Surname were some of the most exciting and erotic of her life, and it wouldn’t be the only night. Weeks of dating turning into months that swept easily into 3 years as Ava became her lover and the company’s biggest client.

  She was yanked back from her thoughts by the sound of the captain’s voice crackling barely coherently over the Tannoy system informing them that they were requested to buckle up until further notice, the seatbelt sign pinging on brightly above her.

  “Man, I hate turbulence,” Hilary stated loudly.

  “I hate turbooance too,” Gracie repeated as Olivia double-checked her belt was in place.

  “It will be fine,” Olivia answered both of them, but her eyes met Hilary’s and stayed there while the plane shook violently for a few seconds before steadying once again. Over the following few minutes the plane shuddered its way through the rough bumps in the metaphorical road through the air. Several times, Olivia wondered if Hilary’s hand was going to finally reach out and land on her own.

  “It’s times like this that I wish I wasn’t travelling alone or reading love stories with a plane crash.” Hilary laughed nervously. White fingers gripped the armrest a little tighter.

  “No boyfriend right now then?” Olivia asked nonchalantly, an attempt to keep the conversation light and away from impending doom and plane crashing scenarios she was sure were whirling around Hilary’s head right now.

  “Oh, no, definitely no boyfriend,” she replied rather adamantly, and Olivia felt her gaydar ping. “Actually, I…”

  The seatbelt light turned off and Olivia unbuckled her belt quickly.

  “Sorry, can I?” She indicated moving past. “I just need to visit the restroom.”

  “Oh, of course, yes, I’ll keep an eye on Gracie.” Hilary unbuckled her own belt and stood, quickly moving into the aisle as Olivia passed by. She watched her edge slowly down the aisle, admiring the perfect ass. She smiled to herself. The flight wasn’t all bad.

  Chapter Three

  The small restroom onboard the 777 wasn’t the kind of place any woman in her right mind wanted to find herself for longer than it took to do what she needed to do. Olivia took a look at herself in the mirror and studied the reflection that stared back at her.

  At 34 she looked good, although she wasn’t at her best this very minute; the lack of sleep over the last 48 hours had only served to give her a washed-out look. Dark brooding brown eyes and luscious raven locks that had once been the most sought-after as every hair product and makeup company wanted to use her, now seemed dull and lifeless as she raked her fingers through her hair and scraped it all back into its ponytail again. She splashed her face with cool water and tried not to think of Ava.

  Failing.

  Ava had just returned from Milan. She had been signed as the face of Valari, one of the biggest fashion powerhouses in Italy. She waltzed into their shared home in Mayfair just like she always did, only this time she had that glassy look in her eyes. The same glassy look that she had promised would never be seen again.

  She slipped her heels off and slumped backwards over the arm of the sofa, giggling as she landed on her back, legs in the air. She had been
drinking too.

  “Baby, come over here!” she shouted, even though Olivia was just across the room watching her. “Baby, come on I want you, right now. Right here.” She laughed as she pointed to her face. “Come on baby, I missed you.” She sat up, all her weight on her elbows as she searched the room for her lover.

  “I thought we agreed that you wouldn’t do that anymore?” Olivia scolded, arms crossed as she leaned against the jamb of the door and watched Ava. Her lover’s eyes darkened with lust and aggression.

  “Baby, I just wanna fuck. Can we just fuck, and—”

  “No, Ava. No, we cannot just fuck. You said you weren’t going to do it anymore. What about Gracie?” She moved into the room and stood over the woman she loved. “You promised.”

  “It’s just a little coke, baby, every—”

  “I don’t give a fuck if everyone does it, Ava, you promised!” she cried out, her voice betraying her as she tried so hard to remain unmoved, but who was she kidding? Her lover was stoned again. She watched as Ava stood and reached out for her.

  “You know it makes me horny babe, come on.” She took her lover’s chin in her palm and held her gaze. “Take care of me, huh? Just this once, and I promise no more.” She was unbuckling the belt and button to her jeans in anticipation of Olivia dropping to her knees to bring her some much-needed relief. “Baby, please. I need you, right here.” She pushed her own fingers between her folds and brought the proof of her desire up between them for Olivia to see, to smell, and swiping her finger, across her lip, to taste. “Liv? Please baby.” She pulled on Olivia’s hand, only to be disappointed when it was snatched away.

  “Why? Why do you keep doing this?” Olivia’s voice cracked as she pleaded for answers that she knew she wouldn’t get. It would be the same excuses as before, the same promises. It had started off with a little pot, nothing much for Liv to worry about as everyone was doing it. A joint here and there was no real harm, but then it became more, and then someone introduced her to coke and pills. Ava had always been experimental, she was always looking for a high, and now she had found the one thing she liked, only Olivia hated it, hated who Ava became when she was on it, couldn’t get it, or had taken too much of it. There had been a huge fight between them, a do or die kind of fight, and Ava had promised Liv that she and Gracie were more important than the drugs, their relationship was more important than her relationship with her dealer.

  “Jesus Liv, what are you, my fucking mother? I work really fucking hard, and all I ask is to come home to my woman and have her take care of me.”

  “Take care of you?” Her voice was raised now. “You go away for weeks on end, fucking god knows who while you’re there, and then you come home off your face on God knows what, and you expect me to just drop to my knees?”

  Ava softened her approach. “Baby you know that you’re the only one for me. Why do you keep pushing me away like this, huh? You know what it’s like at these events, they don’t mean anything to me.” Ava stood in front of her, all six feet of the supermodel unsteady on her feet, yet her palms slid effortlessly to cup Olivia’s cheeks as she leaned forward to kiss her, ignoring any protestation; she always knew she could get around Liv. “You know they don’t mean anything, right?” She pressed their lips together and sucked Olivia’s bottom lip between her own. When she realised that the kiss wasn’t being returned, she pulled back. The glassy look in her eyes turned mean and cold at the rejection. “Fine,” she sneered and pulled her phone from her pocket. Flicking through her contacts, she pressed a button and then held the phone to her ear. “You don’t want to fuck, that’s okay, Liv.” She smirked as someone must have answered the call. “Hey, I need a hand to relieve some…tension.” She giggled as she turned and walked back to the couch, falling backwards onto it as she listened to the voice on the other end of the phone. “Yeah? Oh, I definitely need some of that.” Her right hand slid down her torso and under the waistband of her pants.

  “I can’t do this anymore,” Olivia said quietly, but loud enough that Ava heard her. She sent one last gaze Olivia’s way and promptly continued with the phone conversation.

  Turning away from her younger lover, Olivia walked to their bedroom and pulled out a suitcase. One by one she removed her clothing from the hangers and folded them into the case. She had been doing so for about 20 minutes when she felt Ava wrap her arms around her from behind, kissing her neck and groping her breasts.

  “Ava, stop it.” She wriggled and tried to shake her off only to have the model tighten her grip on her.

  “Stop playing hard to get, Liv. You know that you and me? We work. Let me show you how sorry I am.” She tugged at the hem of Olivia’s dress, her fingernails scratching her flesh as she dragged the material upwards until she was able to push aside her panties.

  “Ava, no. I said, no.” She fought with all her strength, kicking and punching before finally Ava let go and pushed her down on the bed.

  “I want to fuck,” she growled, her voice low and menacing as she swayed above her. “Get undressed.”

  “Don’t do this,” Olivia warned, terror rising in her throat along with the bile. “I don’t want to have sex, Ava, I am leaving.”

  “No, that’s not happening baby. Nobody leaves Ava. We’re gonna have a little fun. You’re going to make me come and then we’re going to have something to eat and maybe go to a club.” She moved to straddle her lover, pinning her hands to the bed above her head and holding her wrists in place with one hand while the other tugged and pulled at her clothes. It was only then that Olivia realised how strong Ava was. When Ava moved and forced a knee between Olivia’s thighs, pushing them apart to give herself room, Olivia tried to wriggle out, but she was trapped. All she felt were her lover’s cold fingers slip beneath the material of her panties, touching her.

  Pushing inside of her.

  “Ava please, stop, please stop.” Fighting her only seemed to encourage her, so she changed tact. “Ava? Think about Gracie.”

  All movement stilled. “I – I’m sorry,” Ava stammered as she collapsed on top of Olivia, releasing her hands as she wrapped herself around her. “Oh God, I am so sorry. I didn’t—Please Liv. I’m so sorry.”

  Olivia made her way back to her seat and once more, Hilary stood politely to let her pass.

  “They just brought lunch. I wasn’t sure what you would want so we guessed and picked the chicken.” She smiled as Olivia noticed the small blue tray holding the tiny meal, the cupcake and bread roll. “They said you could exchange it if—”

  “Oh no, it’s perfect, thank you.” She wasn’t particularly hungry though.

  “Mummy likes chicken, don’t you, Mummy?” Gracie said as she yawned. It amused Hilary a little that this kid had such a perfect English accent.

  Olivia smiled, thin lips pressed tightly together. She wasn’t hungry at all. “Yes, thank you, sweetheart.”

  “Are you alright?” Hilary asked, her fingertips gently touching Olivia’s arm. “Only you look—Well you just seem a little…upset?”

  “I…I’m fine, just a…” She smiled sadly and looked away. “Like I said, it’s been a rough few days. And we were up really early. I’m just tired is all.” She spent a few moments studying the small tin box filled with chicken of some sort. Peeling back the tinfoil sleeve, she discovered it was some kind of unappetising chicken curry, a tiny square of naan bread squashed into the corner of it, smothered in chopped-up coriander, or cilantro – she reminded herself of the US name for the herb.

  “Bad breakup?” Hilary was speaking again. Olivia thought about it. The question was simple enough, and yet the answer really wasn’t.

  “Yes, you could say that.” She tried to laugh it off, tried to mask the way her heart flipped and her stomach churned all at the same time at the thought of Ava. What they had had, and what they had become. She was grateful that Gracie had put her headphones on again.

  “Had the same thing last year,” Hilary offered, hungrily eating the small meal that matched
the untouched one on Olivia’s table. “It was the reason I left. I got some money together and then travelled around Europe all summer.”

  “And now you’re ready to return?”

  “God no, ran out of money,” Hilary admitted with a wide grin. “You gonna eat that?” she asked, pointing to the curry.

  “Oh no, please have it.” As Olivia passed the tiny container across to her, there was a moment, just the briefest seconds in time where their fingertips touched. And Olivia was sure that Hilary felt it too.

  A spark.

  Chapter Four

  Realising that Olivia wasn’t going to be the chatty seating companion she had hoped for, Hilary scanned the movie menu and picked out a comedy she thought would waste a couple of hours of what was left of the flight, but the woman to her left intrigued her. She was definitely attractive, a little older than herself maybe, and had a kid; a cute kid. There was something about Olivia that Hilary found enticing.

  She watched as Olivia struggled to find a comfortable position. Eventually settling with the pillow scrunched up, she appeared much smaller than she was. Hilary was tall herself, and she knew when Olivia had passed her to visit the restroom that she was tall too, even with the heels off. Heels that Hilary could tell cost a fortune. There was a sadness about her, unsurprisingly if she had just ended a relationship, Hilary thought to herself. She glanced down at the child. Her head had fallen back, open-mouthed. She was sleeping peacefully, leaning a little towards her mother. A pretty little girl, with long dark hair in bunches under her cap and tanned skin that had Hilary wondering where her father might have come from. Where was he now? Was that the relationship that had broken down? Shrugging to herself, she remembered that it was none of her business, but she was intrigued.

  Earbuds in, she settled herself into her own seat and tried to focus on the movie screen in front of her.

  ~MB~

  “This is your Captain speaking; we will be landing in Los Angeles in approximately fifteen minutes. The weather is clear and warm with a temperature of around 84 degrees. Local time is 4:25 p.m. We would like to thank you for flying with British Airways today.”