Read Online Try Me On for Size by Stephanie Haefner - Free Book Online Page A
Authors: Stephanie Haefner
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I need something new.”
“But you’re keeping your real job, right?”
“Of course.” The daily tasks of an investment banker weren’t exactly thrilling, but he’d worked too long and hard, becoming the youngest senior account manager in the firm’s history. He wasn’t giving it up. But he did need something else in his life that brought him some kind of joy and excitement.
“Do whatever you want, then.”
He hadn’t been looking for permission, but he did want her to know. He wanted her to be pissed.
“I already interviewed for a job. It’s a modeling gig at a lingerie boutique.”
That made the magazine flop backward onto her lap. “What?”
“They’re expanding their product line and need a model.” He thought of telling her exactly what the modeling was for, but decided to hold that in.
Alexiana snorted. “Seriously? You’re toned and all, but model material? Highly unlikely.” She brought her magazine back up.
“Well, the owner seemed to really like me. She thinks I’ll be perfect for in-store appearances.”
The magazine dropped again. “What does that mean?”
“Whoever they choose for the job will be a spokesperson for the store. Customers will come in and pose for pictures, maybe even get autographs.”
“You can’t do something like that. That’s just . . . gross. Desperate women fawning over you? You’re not doing that. Call the store and tell them you changed your mind.”
“No. It sounds fun and I want to do it.”
Flames flared inside her pupils. This was definitely getting the reaction he’d hoped for.
She stood and slammed her Vogue onto the glass-top coffee table. “I will not be married to some man-slut. Can you even imagine what people will say about you . . . us . . . me? Our baby ? A baby can’t have a father like that.”
He looked her up and down. Form-fitted top, skinny jeans, shoes that could kill a man. Three months along, and not even a hint of baby belly or pregnancy pounds.
“I don’t care what people think. Never have.”
“Oh, yes you do. What would your mother think about this little job of yours? I’m sure she’d be real happy about her only son parading around in his underwear.”
“Leave my mother out of this.”
“Can you imagine the strain this would put on her delicate heart? I’m not sure she could survive it.”
What a bitch. Of course she’d use his mother’s illness to control him. She’d been doing it for years. Her manipulative words from the past echoed in his brain.
“We must stay together. Your mother’s heart wouldn’t be able to handle the breakup.”
“Think of how happy the pregnancy news will make your mother.”
“We have to get married. Your mother can’t take the embarrassment of a bastard grandchild.”
His mother was weak and any kind of stress could harm her—like, say, not proposing to his pregnant girlfriend.
Alexiana had backed him into a corner again and was using his love for his mother against him. All he wanted to do was make his mother happy, even if it meant the destruction of his own happiness. Somehow he had to figure a way out.
But in the meantime, he had to make Alexiana think he was unfazed by her threats. And if he could grab a little bit of joy by tormenting her, all the better. She deserved it. And maybe, if he annoyed her enough, she’d leave him. Problem solved.
Oliver shrugged out of his suit jacket. “Well, you never know. My mother might think it’s wonderful; her son being adored by women. And who knows? It could turn into something really huge. I could do a show in Vegas or something.”
The disgusted scowl across her face was all he needed. Mission complete. He headed to the bedroom, struggling to contain his laughter.
MIA WALKED up the steps to the mansion she’d moved into when she was only thirteen years old. Before that, they’d lived in a much smaller home, in a typical suburban neighborhood a block away from Bryn’s parents’ house. But then the
“But you’re keeping your real job, right?”
“Of course.” The daily tasks of an investment banker weren’t exactly thrilling, but he’d worked too long and hard, becoming the youngest senior account manager in the firm’s history. He wasn’t giving it up. But he did need something else in his life that brought him some kind of joy and excitement.
“Do whatever you want, then.”
He hadn’t been looking for permission, but he did want her to know. He wanted her to be pissed.
“I already interviewed for a job. It’s a modeling gig at a lingerie boutique.”
That made the magazine flop backward onto her lap. “What?”
“They’re expanding their product line and need a model.” He thought of telling her exactly what the modeling was for, but decided to hold that in.
Alexiana snorted. “Seriously? You’re toned and all, but model material? Highly unlikely.” She brought her magazine back up.
“Well, the owner seemed to really like me. She thinks I’ll be perfect for in-store appearances.”
The magazine dropped again. “What does that mean?”
“Whoever they choose for the job will be a spokesperson for the store. Customers will come in and pose for pictures, maybe even get autographs.”
“You can’t do something like that. That’s just . . . gross. Desperate women fawning over you? You’re not doing that. Call the store and tell them you changed your mind.”
“No. It sounds fun and I want to do it.”
Flames flared inside her pupils. This was definitely getting the reaction he’d hoped for.
She stood and slammed her Vogue onto the glass-top coffee table. “I will not be married to some man-slut. Can you even imagine what people will say about you . . . us . . . me? Our baby ? A baby can’t have a father like that.”
He looked her up and down. Form-fitted top, skinny jeans, shoes that could kill a man. Three months along, and not even a hint of baby belly or pregnancy pounds.
“I don’t care what people think. Never have.”
“Oh, yes you do. What would your mother think about this little job of yours? I’m sure she’d be real happy about her only son parading around in his underwear.”
“Leave my mother out of this.”
“Can you imagine the strain this would put on her delicate heart? I’m not sure she could survive it.”
What a bitch. Of course she’d use his mother’s illness to control him. She’d been doing it for years. Her manipulative words from the past echoed in his brain.
“We must stay together. Your mother’s heart wouldn’t be able to handle the breakup.”
“Think of how happy the pregnancy news will make your mother.”
“We have to get married. Your mother can’t take the embarrassment of a bastard grandchild.”
His mother was weak and any kind of stress could harm her—like, say, not proposing to his pregnant girlfriend.
Alexiana had backed him into a corner again and was using his love for his mother against him. All he wanted to do was make his mother happy, even if it meant the destruction of his own happiness. Somehow he had to figure a way out.
But in the meantime, he had to make Alexiana think he was unfazed by her threats. And if he could grab a little bit of joy by tormenting her, all the better. She deserved it. And maybe, if he annoyed her enough, she’d leave him. Problem solved.
Oliver shrugged out of his suit jacket. “Well, you never know. My mother might think it’s wonderful; her son being adored by women. And who knows? It could turn into something really huge. I could do a show in Vegas or something.”
The disgusted scowl across her face was all he needed. Mission complete. He headed to the bedroom, struggling to contain his laughter.
MIA WALKED up the steps to the mansion she’d moved into when she was only thirteen years old. Before that, they’d lived in a much smaller home, in a typical suburban neighborhood a block away from Bryn’s parents’ house. But then the
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