we Follow Diana to the back pool

The door behind Diana clicked shut.

She found herself standing in the mansion’s enormous rear pool area, staring at what could only be described as a monster-sized swimming pool. It stretched across most of the courtyard, surrounded by sun loungers, private cabanas, palm trees and a long outdoor bar.

Diana looked down at herself.

“Well,” she muttered, “this is certainly not my usual uniform.”

For the challenge, she had been given a dark-red bikini, matching high heels and a decorative black whip hanging from one hand. The whip was clearly meant as a theatrical accessory rather than anything practical.

A television screen beside the pool suddenly flickered to life.

Charles Blackwood appeared.

“Welcome to your first assignment, Diana.”

Diana folded her arms.

“I assume there is considerably more to this than standing beside a swimming pool.”

“Correct.”

The rules appeared underneath him.

DIANA'S POOLSIDE CHALLENGE

TIME LIMIT: 30 MINUTES

CUSTOMERS REQUIRED: 10

“You must successfully serve ten customers either beside the pool or while they're in the water,” Charles explained. “Drinks, towels, food orders, sunscreen, whatever they request from the approved service menu.”

Diana nodded slowly.

“That seems straightforward.”

Charles smiled.

“Oh, there is one additional mansion rule.”

Of course there was.

“If any customer says the word ‘MODEL’, you must stop what you're doing, face them and perform one of the glamour poses shown on your instruction card.”

Diana picked up the small golden card sitting beside the drinks tray.

There were several exaggerated pin-up poses illustrated on it: one hand on the hip, looking over the shoulder, sitting sideways on a sun lounger and one involving the decorative whip being held above her shoulder.

Diana stared at the card.

“You cannot possibly be serious.”

“Completely serious.”

Another rule appeared on the screen.

REFUSING A MODEL REQUEST = BROKEN CHAIN

Charles continued.

“You don't have to hold the pose for long. Five seconds will do. But if you refuse a valid request, deliberately ignore one, quit the assignment or fail to serve ten customers before the thirty-minute timer expires, you break the charity chain.”

Diana looked towards the pool.

Ten customers were already scattered around the area.

One elderly gentleman was reading beneath an umbrella. Two women were chatting in the shallow end. A younger couple occupied one of the cabanas, while several others were swimming or relaxing beside the bar.

Diana straightened herself.

“This is for charity.”

“That is the spirit.”

The screen changed.

30:00

A bell rang.

Diana immediately picked up her serving tray.

“Right. Ten customers.”

She had barely taken three steps when a woman lounging beside the pool lowered her sunglasses.

“Excuse me!”

Diana turned.

“Yes?”

“I'd like an iced lemonade.”

“Certainly.”

Diana started towards the bar.

“And…”

Diana stopped.

The woman grinned.

“Model.”

Diana slowly closed her eyes.

Already.

She turned back, planted one high heel slightly ahead of the other, placed one hand on her hip and raised the decorative whip across her shoulder exactly as the instruction card demonstrated.

“One… two… three… four… five.”

The woman applauded.

Diana lowered the whip.

“I hope you're satisfied.”

“Very.”

Diana headed towards the bar.

The timer above the pool continued counting down.

28:47

Nine customers remained.

And Diana was beginning to suspect that the word model was going to become extremely popular.