Shocking but as expected

3pm couldn't come any sooner the next day. Very promptly at 2pm, she had received a text message informing that the interview was to be conducted at the lobby café of Amara hotel in the business district. She had rushed down and now found herself entering the café, looking for her guy in a white business shirt and tie. She soon found him, sitting alone at a corner table, busy texting away.

"Hi there?" she asked cautiously.

"Yes, and please have a seat."

She pulled up a chair and sized him up. He was medium set, in his late 30s and balding. Not very good looking, certainly nowhere near as good looking as she imagined a model headhunter would be. Still, he has this air of authority around him. It made her immediately want to trust him.

The gentleman wasted no time in starting the interview.

"I was very impressed by the photos you sent in and you were lovely in that bondage bikini at the beach... Were they shots from the past or did you take them on the spot?" he asked.

"It was on the spot. I have never done shots like those before. It is my first time trying out for a modeling job, but I am confident," she replied, feeling much less confident than she sounded.

"I see, very impressive indeed. I must let you know -- although I suspect you already do -- you are an exceedingly attractive young lady. In fact, among my portfolio of girls -- even among the experienced ones -- you are by far the most attractive."

She blushed. Many guys have told her before how pretty she was, but coming from a model headhunter it felt different. This was a guy who job involved picking out the best and most beautiful of them... and here he was telling her she was the most attractive one.

"So... tell me," his words interrupted her thoughts. "How far are you willing to go to make it in this industry?"

"I am prepared to give it my all," she replied confidently. She had rehearsed for this question.

"Your all?" Tang asked, with a raised eyebrow. "Do you mean what you say? I do not take such answers lightly."

"I really meant my all, Sir." "Good," he hummed. He leaned in closer and motioned for her to do so as well.

"Are you still a virgin?"

She recoiled, surprised from the question. Once again, the forthrightness left her feeling speechless. After taking a few seconds to recover, she stammered back "No... I'm not a virgin. I... I don't know if there's a plus or minus point."

The gentleman threw his head back and laughed, blanketing the moment of awkwardness. "You may not be a virgin anymore but you certainly are innocent still. Don't worry, it is not a minus point unless you want it to be."

She found his reply curious, and asked him what he meant.

A new young model like you, like in all careers, will have to start at the bottom. It is a very competitive industry. And while I have the means, power and connections to give you a good chance at success, you have to be willing to do everything I say, and by everything, I mean everything. If you do that, not only will you eventually find fame, you will also be fabulously rich. The fame will come later, but the money will roll in right from the start. Do you understand what I'm trying to say?"

As the words sunk in, a wave of realization hit her. The question "how far are you willing to go to make it in this industry" suddenly took new meaning, and she felt nausea rising up. She had heard stories before about how all top models had slept their way up to the top, but always dismissed them as envious gossips of those who hadn't made it. Now, it was actually happening before her eyes...

"for god sakes, stop looking so shocked. I'm sorry to say this but you do not have much time to decide; I am not a patient man. You are very, very attractive and I am confident of your success in this industry. However, I have many attractive girls lining up for a shot at this, and if you are not interested in my preposition, then I'm afraid I'll have to take my leave soon for my next interview."

She stared back at him, wide-eyed. He was threatening to leave already so soon? All that she had dreamed of the last few years, all that she could think about the last few days, it was all about to disappear in the blink of an eye! She was so close... this close... but could she really go through with it?? She had had a few boyfriends before in her life, but she had only slept with one of them, and he was a terrible lover in bed which caused sex to be unpleasant. And while she certainly enjoys masturbating, she never ever thought of herself as someone who would enjoy casual sex, or worse yet, sex-for-something. And now she was in a position where she would have to do it to be able to fulfill her dreams of being a model. Could she...

"Sweetie?"

"Ye.. yes?" She opened her eyes. She had not realized that they had been closed.

"Have you come to a decision? Like I told you, I am not a patient man."

"Yes, I have."