Free The Preacher's Daughter by Fiona Wilde

downstairs to enjoy a breakfast of bacon, eggs and toast. She was surprised to see Jasper come in just as she finished.
    "Good morning," he said. "Sleep well?"
    "Never better," she said.
    "Good," he replied, flopping down in the chair across from her. He was dressed in the same casual style and wore the same casual grin. "Because you've got a busy day ahead of you. My boss wants to meet you."
    "He does?"
    "Yes," Jasper said. "But we have one little problem."
    Her face fell. "What?"
    "Your clothes. He expects a certain level of professionalism. Do you have a really nice dress?"
    Naomi's face flushed red. "No. I had a skirt and a top in my bag but someone in the shelter stole it."
    "Hmm. Let me think." Jasper said. "Look, I don't have much dough on me but I've got enough to take you to the dress shop up the street and get you something for the interview. You can just pay me back later when you pay for the room."
    "No," she said. "I can't...."
    "Hey," he said. "Don't be stupid. This is a good chance for both of us. One of the first things you need to learn is how to accept help when you need it."
    She considered this. "I'm just afraid I won't be able to repay you if I don't get the job."
    "You can't think like this," he said. "In my mind you're a sure bet and I don't mind investing in something I believe in." He smiled. "And I believe in you, Naomi."
    She smiled. It was nice to hear. No one had told her that before. She'd been told that Jesus believed in her. But she'd never had any human tell her they did.
    An hour later she was leaving the corner shop dressed in a pretty yellow sundress with matching pumps. She felt pretty and stylish as she and Jasper took a taxi to a strip mall flanked by two towering palms.
    They approached a doorway printed with the words Exelon Enterprises. Jasper held it open as she walked through. The carpet in the foyer was blue, the room ringed by uncomfortable looking straight-backed chairs. The walls were lined with autographed pictures of stars. Some Naomi recognized, some she didn't. Behind a desk by a door leading to the back an over-made brunette looked up from where she sat reading a tabloid.
    "Well, hello there, handsome!"
    "Hi, Star," he answered. "Is Mr. Edge in?"
    "He sure is," she said chirpily. "And he's expecting you." She picked up the phone and spoke into it "Mr. Edge, Jasper's here with your 11 o'clock."
    She ushered them back down a hallway lined with more photos of stars. Naomi felt herself growing more nervous by the moment. This man must be important.
    At the end of the hall was a door that opened to what must have once been a conference room. Now it as empty save for a few chairs. In one sat a short, squat man with gray hair. He stared intently at Naomi as she entered, his dark eyes sweeping over her like lasers.
    "Randy, good to see you." Jasper extended his hand and the gray haired man took it in a strong shake.
    "Nice to see you, too." He had an accent. Naomi wasn't sure, but it sounded Russian or Ukrainian, like the accent of the exchange students who visited her father's church in the summer before she entered her sophomore year in high school.
    He turned then to shake Naomi's hand as Jasper introduced them. "You're very pretty," he said. "Very delicate features. You act?"
    She shook her head. "No," she said.
    "No matter." He settled into his chair. "Most actresses who tell me they can really can't. Would you do me a favor. Would you walk to the door and back? I'd like to, uh, see how poised you are."
    It didn't seem like an unreasonable request to Naomi, who walked to the door and back.
    "You have a good look to you," Randy Edge said. "Very genuine, very fresh. I think you would be wonderful for a number of parts."
    "Parts?" she asked, looking at Jasper with a smile. Behind Randy, he gave a thumbs up and smiled back.
    "Nothing big to start - commercials, extra work. But with time I could see a face like yours becoming a stand-out. So many girls in this town are flashy,