Harper had always been jealous of her. And after their mom had been killed, she'd been too clingy for Winnie to stand. Putting her with people that could handle the ugly duckling, which Winnie had always thought of her sister as being, hadn't been nearly as hard as getting her taken to the clinic she'd set up for her. Harper was the most ungrateful person she'd ever met.
When the makeup artist and stylist were done with her, she made her way to the set. Her assistant was right behind her, just how Winnie liked it, when Karl, the photographer, stepped in front of her. Taking several steps back, she bumped into the woman behind her and nearly fell on her ass.
"Karl? What is it? You nearly mussed me. I thought we were meeting on the bridge." He shook his head, the grin on his face not telling her anything. "I'm on my way now if you'd like to go there with me."
"We're done." She asked him what he meant. "Telling you this will be the most fun I've had in a while, but I've no need for you on the set today, Winnie. You're finished."
She'd never cared for this particular photographer. He thought that his photos were the best in the world, and had told her on numerous occasions that she should only have him shoot her. Winnie had never understood how he figured that was going to work when the man wouldn't leave the state he'd been born in. Not to mention, he had a real phobia of sand. Who was afraid of sand? So, it was understandable that he was pissy with her whenever they had to work together.
"I don't understand. Am I coming back?" He moved then, his body angled in a way that she was sure he'd done it on purpose. Winnie saw her then … Dani West was standing in the spot she'd been going to, wearing the same dress and makeup. "What is she doing here? And why is she taking my shots?"
"As I said, you're finished. Dani is going to be taking all your appointments today. And I have a message that you're to call your agent as soon as possible. I do believe you've been outed." She asked him what he meant as Dani was posed for her shoot. She was doing it all wrong, and even from this distance, Winnie could see it. "Someone, very high on the ladder, has called in some favors, and I do believe that your career is over."
"Who would do something like that? And who did you hear this from?" He said that a little birdy told him. "Well, I don't believe you. I want you to hold my job open for me while I make a few calls."
He simply walked away from her. It was in her contract that no one was to do that unless she gave them permission. But right now she was too upset to blast him as she normally would have. Pulling out her phone again she called Taylor, her agent.
"I'm glad you've called me. I was just now sending you back your contracts. I've been told, and none too gently either, that you and I are finished." Winnie asked her why someone would do that. "I have no idea, Winnie, but whoever you pissed off is really out to get your ass. And I have it on good authority that your husband is going to be out as well. What the fuck did you do?"
"Nothing. I have...this has to be a mistake, Taylor. I'm perfect. Jake is perfect. It's why we married." She only snorted at her. "I'll get to the bottom of this. Just don't do anything rash. I'm sure that it's only a mistake. Like perhaps they got the wrong name or something. I'm the best thing to hit modeling in a long time, and I have no doubt that this is simply an error."
"If you say so. In the meantime, my phone is ringing off the hook with people telling me to cancel whatever they have going with you. And as I said, I heard that Jake is on the out list too. You guys had better start gathering your wagons, my dear. There is a huge assed shitstorm coming, and it's headed right for Mr. and Mrs. Perfect." There was a tone there, but one that Winnie chose, for now, to ignore. She had more important things to worry about. Like who was making her life difficult.
It took her nearly two hours to get home. The limo service that she'd come to the set in was no longer available to her. The outfit that she'd worn had been taken away as well. They were set props, she'd been told, and she'd have to make do. Whatever that meant … Winnie hadn't made do in a decade. Not since she'd gotten her breasts enhanced. Even her makeup bag and its contents were taken from her. Christ, this was a mess.
Jake called her as soon as she got into a cab. Winnie was sickened by the smell. She was nearly in tears when she asked the man to please stop and get something to freshen it up for her. All he did was turn the heat up … like it wasn't bad enough in there, the heat only made it worse.