For Eric's Sake by Carolyn Thornton

apartment.
    What bargain does he have in mind
? she wondered.
And what price will I have to pay
?

Chapter Six

    A few days later, after Shaw left with Eric on the way to work and school, Brandy's agent called. Rich's, one of Atlanta's most exclusive department stores, was having a fashion show that day at noon. One of the runway models had sprained her ankle, and Dean Nixon asked Brandy to substitute. She usually jumped at the chance to do any kind of modeling, and this time she particularly needed the money to have another portfolio and composite made. The show would take place in one of the restaurants at the extensive Peachtree Plaza complex, and her job was to mingle with the diners while showing off her outfits.
    She was so excited about the job she nearly sprained her ankle in the rush to collect her makeup, curlers and undergarments required for the different outfits she would have to model. She had little experience with this type of modeling, but knew she would have to be there as early as possible to memorize details about the dresses and sportswear she would wear. If any of the diners asked her questions, she had to be prepared with the correct answers, which could earn her a reputation as a reliable model.
    Brandy seldom had the opportunity to visit the Peachtree complex. She had, in fact, only wandered through the building once out of curiosity and wonder. The wide, open foyers with cascades of geraniums and vines spilling a distance of one and two stories between floors had fascinated her. She had ridden the escalator in order to enjoy the view, but today she was in a hurry, and not quite certain exactly where she was supposed to go to prepare for the luncheon show.
    Luck seemed to be with her when she recognized another model hurrying to catch one of the elevators on its way down. She followed the other girl and soon realized the fashion show would be in the lower level restaurant of the complex called Off Peachtree.
    Each of the girls was given five outfits to model, which seemed quite a lot to Brandy as she noticed the size of the restaurant and the zigzagging course laid out between the tables. When she read the card accompanying the first outfit her nerves jangled further. How would she ever remember all of this information, especially if every outfit required such detailing? she wondered. Fortunately, as she was handed a terry sports outfit, another dress and two swimsuits, she found only two of the descriptions would make her feel as if she were reciting the Gettysburg Address.
    The first dress was layered in voile, and accented with flounces and little ties. Brandy was glad to be getting that one out of the way. She stepped out into the restaurant wending her way around the tables with a stomach full of butterflies, but by the time she reached the last table and gave her speech correctly and informally, her confidence won out over the nerves.
    She hurried into the changing room for the next outfit, a day dress in bold colors and wide stripes, worn with a simple white bolero jacket. She was shocked to find the dress a size too big, but the bolero covered her enough in case one of the straps of the dress decided to stray off her shoulder.
    Brandy's confidence was reflected in the way she walked and in her lighthearted voice. Several ladies stopped her to ask questions about the dress, which she was relieved she could adequately answer. One man had her spin around an extra time—so he could see the cut of the dress, he said. If she had not been wearing the semi-concealing bolero, she might have doubted his word.
    The terry sports set was next, strapless and chic. The selling point of this particular outfit was the well-known designer, so Brandy finished her speech at each table in record time—but the man at the center table, who had expressed such interest in the last outfit, found plenty to say about it. Brandy was beginning to think twice about his interest, especially when he started to ask how easily