Free Behind the Facade by Rebecca Heap, Victoria Page B

they needed their cut.  Still she
hadn’t been sure, though. Maybe she should speak to her brother or get some
legal advice first?
     “Is there a problem?” Margot had asked, when she’d deliberated over it for a while.
     “Do I need to sign this right
now?”
      “Not at all. Take it away if you like.” She’d shrugged but then continued, “Although there’s
no guarantee we’ll still want you if you wait. We have a lot more interviews to
get through.”
    At these words she’d thought what the
hell? What was the worst that could happen? She had nothing to lose.
    With the agreement signed and stowed
away, the other two had then risen from their chairs. Brenna naturally followed
suit but was left rather flummoxed.  “That’s it?”
     “Yes. We’re absolutely delighted
to have you with us.”
    Brenna shook her head. “But what does
that mean?”
    “It means you’re officially ours now,
dependent on medical checks. Don’t look so surprised. You don’t have any hidden
scars or birth marks we should know about do you?” Amusement had permeated her
voice.
     Brenna had shaken her head, numb
with astonishment. “So, what happens now?”
    “Go home. Pack.”
    “Pack?”
    “Yes.  We like our model
prospects to live on site, as stipulated in the agreement. Oh, and make sure to
include some swimwear.” Brenna half recalled seeing some note about location
but hadn’t fully appreciated what it meant.
    “Gives us the opportunity to polish
you, refine you and create your portfolio,” she’d expanded. A car will pick you
up in say,” she consulted her watch, “an hour. That give you time enough to
pack and say your goodbyes?”
    “No kidding?” Brenna had asked, her
whole body buzzing with nervous excitement.
    “No kidding.”
    That had been the start of this
amazing adventure. She put a hand to her mouth remembering with glee just how
much satisfaction she’d got in telling her Mum where she could stick it and
just what she thought of her. Happily letting the resulting tirade wash over
her, the words no longer having the power to hurt, she’d quickly packed,
dashing out of the house as soon as she’d heard the car pull up. Her mother had
had it coming for a long time. Wrenching her at 6 years old away from her
brother – the only proper family she’d ever known - just because she could.
    That moment of loss came back to her suddenly,
vividly. She remembered screaming as her mother dragged her away and her
brother attempted to stop her, lashing him with the words, “She’s mine. You’re
only her brother. You have absolutely no parental rights. Now get away from
her.”  She’d had no regard for Brenna’s well-being only for the power
thrill it gave her to take something precious from someone else. This is what
drove her. After all, how many marriages had she destroyed, not including her
own?
    Brenna bit her lip hard in an attempt
to brook the tears that began to form. Silly girl! Why was she thinking of the
past?  She shook her head. No tears now, she swore to herself.  Never again over her mother. It was time to concentrate on
the future. She was free. Finally, and unexpectedly, free of her mother and her
old predictable, painful life. It was crazy! Crazy but true! She pummelled the
water with her fists in excitement and then she heard an exclamation of
reproach and her head slipped under the water in surprise. She had a visitor.
    She came back up spluttering, her face
reddening even more when she saw that she had soaked him. She’d been so busy in
her own head she had failed to notice his appearance. He stood at the entrance
to the patio, brushing at the water she’d showered him with, an amused smile on
his face.
    “I’m glad you’re enjoying yourself but
I think it’s time you got out before you wrinkle up like a prune,” he remarked.
    It was the man who’d left his card
with her at the café. Sebastian. Goggling him and
struggling to compose herself, she was at a loss for