I sat through the next wave of models, trying to be the best judge I could be. I hated every time I had to be truthful and vote against a candidate, but over time my anxiety waned just a bit. I realized that I had a long way to go before I could even aspire to be in a position similar to Christine.
An hour later, and we’d dwindled the room down to just a dozen or so remaining. The eye candy was nice and all, but I’d had enough. I was ready to go.
After another contestant left, I took a sip of the bottled water I had in front of me and lowered my head to check my notes while the next guy stepped up and announced his name.
"Tyler."
My head snapped up fast at the deep, familiar baritone. I knew that voice. But it can’t be, can it?
What in the hell?
There, standing on the platform like he owned it and making the other men around him look like little boys, was Tyler in all of his masculine glory, a cocky grin on his face and that mischievous sparkle in his eyes.
How the hell did I miss him?
I froze, staring at Tyler, who was looking at me with that grin that I’d found so hard to resist. My whole body was trembling.
April seemed to still have her wits about her. “What are you doing here, Mr. Locklin?" she demanded.
Tyler kept his eyes on me. "What do you mean? I'm here to model underwear . . . like everyone else."
April scowled. "Really? All you’re doing is disrespecting the judges and all the models here, wasting everyone’s time.”
Tyler shrugged. "I had to do what I had to do.”
April glanced at me, noting that I was frozen in place but trembling. "Well, it's obvious that she doesn't want to talk to you. I think you’ve done enough."
“Speak for yourself, honey,” Gabe interjected. “He can disrespect me all he wants, whenever he wants,” Gabe said, admiring Tyler's incredible body.
"Shut up, Gabe!" April snapped. She turned her eyes back on Tyler, her expression stony. “Please leave, Tyler.” April said coldly. “We need to finish this up.”
Tyler didn't respond, and instead made his way toward the judges’ table. By this time, my heart was pounding and I could hardly breathe.
"Victoria," Tyler pleaded. "Please talk to me. I can explain what happened that night you walked in on me and Candice. If you let me." He reached out his hand to me when I didn’t respond. “Come on,” he urged, nodding toward the exit. “We can go out into the waiting room and talk."
I stared at his hand like it was poisonous, dueling emotions roiling through my body like a tidal wave.
“Tyler, don’t make me have to call security,” April commanded.
Tyler ignored her, pleading with those beautiful eyes of his. “Please, Victoria. All I’m asking for is a chance to tell you the truth.”
“Oh, to hell with this,” Gabe chipped in. “Vicky, you best take your cute little ass out there and hear him out! The man is making a fool of himself just to talk to you.”
Gabe’s words had a slight effect on me as I stared into Tyler’s handsome face.
Maybe I should hear him out. I mean, Gabe might be right. Why would Tyler go through all this trouble to see me after all this time unless he cares for me?
I almost did it. I almost reached out and took his hand.
"I'm calling security," April growled, taking my silence as proof that I was mortified and didn’t want to talk to him.
"Don't!" I jumped to my feet, grabbed my water bottle and dashed the rest of the contents into Tyler's face. "Go fuck yourself!" I yelled.
Then I turned and ran from the room sobbing.
Tyler
Shit. That didn’t go so well.
I wiped the water out of my eyes, feeling some of it drip down my neck, down my chest and beyond as the judges whispered amongst each other, casting glances my way.
April looked taken aback by Victoria’s sudden burst of anger, frozen for several moments. Then she stood up and rose on her tip toes to look over my shoulder. “Thank you all for coming,” she said loudly. “I’m very sorry about the unexpected disruption. For those of you who are interested, we will resume at noon tomorrow. Ashley will show you out.”
The last remaining models were quickly ushered out by a young woman who looked like a model herself.
“You guys can leave as well,” April said to her fellow judges. “I’ll keep the votes and notes and hand them over to Christine when she comes back.”
After several furtive whispers, the other judges, except for Gabe, got up and began walking out.
April turned on me when they were gone, her eyes furious. “What the hell was that?” she demanded. “All you’re going to do is get Vicky into trouble with a stunt like that.”
I shrugged. “That wasn’t my intention. I just need five minutes with her. Five minutes.”
April scowled. “And that makes it right?” she growled. “You need to go and never come—” She paused and stared at me suspiciously. “Wait a minute. How did you know that Victoria would even be here? She doesn’t usually work the judging panel.”