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of
herself—the same images Jefferson had promised no one would see but
the two of them and Tommy.
    She snatched the photos from the reception desk and
stormed past the stunned Mindy, determined to get an explanation
from Jefferson immediately. Just when she thought she could trust
him, just when she started to believe that maybe he wasn’t the jerk
she had assumed he was, he betrayed her. She should have just told
him to bug off when he suggested she do a few sample poses to help
them with envisioning the ads. It had all been a ruse to get her to
pose so he wouldn’t have to hire a model.
    His office door was closed, and she opened it without
knocking. Jefferson and Tommy rose from their seats and turned
toward her. Hurt and humiliation flowed through Layla as she
realized the photographer had been in on it as well. She’d always
thought he was in her corner, that he was a trusted friend. How
could she have been so wrong about both men?
    She marched up to Jefferson’s desk and threw the
photos down. “Explain to me how the sample photos containing me
have suddenly become the official images for Amazonia.”
    “Tommy brought them to me after you left, and the
client happened to see them,” Jefferson said, coming around his
desk. “They fell in love and refused to consider using the model
they picked.”
    She crossed her arms and glared. “And you couldn’t be
bothered to tell them these photos are not for publication?”
    “I tried, but they wouldn’t listen. What was I
supposed to do? Tell them they had to forget they saw the images
they loved and go with the other model?”
    “Yes.” She turned to Tommy, her glare maintaining its
force. “And you. I thought I could trust you. Why do you take these
photos anywhere near the client?”
    The photographer shifted uncomfortably, but she
refused to go easy on him. He cleared his throat and said, “Well,
Jefferson asked me to bring them to him, but I didn’t know the
client was still with him. If I had, I would have waited to deliver
them until he was alone.”
    Even her current anger couldn’t prevent her from
seeing the sincerity behind his words. Tommy didn’t deserve her
wrath; he was an innocent victim of Jefferson’s scheming,
power-hungry ways. “I believe you. Would you please excuse us so I
can speak with Jefferson alone?”
    “Sure thing.” Tommy scurried to the door and then
paused, looking back with a remorseful gaze. “I’m really sorry,
Layla. I never intended to let anyone other than Jefferson see
those shots.”
    “I know.” She managed to give him a small smile,
which seemed to assuage his guilt. As soon as the door closed
behind him, she turned on Jefferson. “You lying, manipulating jerk.
You knew I refused to be the model for this campaign, but you made
sure it happened against my will. I should sue you.”
    “Layla, please.” He combed his fingers through his
hair, his features weary. “It’s not what you think. I had no idea
the client would hang around so long, or I would have told Tommy to
wait to deliver those photos. But when he came in with them, the
client assumed they were for the Amazonia campaign and grabbed them
before I could stop them.”
    “Why should I believe you?” Moisture stung Layla’s
eyes as she realized his betrayal hurt more than when she had
assumed Tommy had betrayed her. Jefferson had worked his way into
her heart, leaving her more vulnerable to his actions than she
liked. “You wanted me to be the model from the beginning, and now
you’ve gotten your way. I can’t deal with you being out to get me
any longer. Finish the Amazonia campaign yourself. You obviously
don’t listen to me anyway. Effective immediately, I quit. I’ll
write a letter of resignation to Marshall, but you will never see
me again.”
    She turned on her heel and headed for the door, but
Jefferson called out and stopped her. “Wait!”
    Leveling a glare on him, she crossed her arms and
waited. He walked toward her, stopping a