“Holy shit. Leo killed that photo shoot.”

I smirked as I strode down the hallway beside Raymond, one hand tucked into my pocket. With the other, I clapped his shoulder. “I told you he was a good choice.”

“I didn’t think so when poor Clive ran out.”

I scoffed. “Poor Clive? He was being a dick. I don’t blame Leo for dicking him right back.”

“Yeah, I suppose. Presumably not dicking dicking him,” Raymond muttered under his breath, then snorted.

“I want someone to yell at Clive before we bring him in again. He lays a hand on our models while he’s pissed off, he gets escorted out next time.”

Raymond nodded sharply. “I’ll take care of it,” he promised. “But the second guy worked a lot better with him. What did you say to Leo to knock the diva out of him?”

I fucked the diva out of him. I cocked my head. “I just reminded him why he’s here.”

“And why’s that?”

I hummed under my breath. “You know, I don’t think he knew until today. He didn’t walk in expecting to be a model. But I saw the switch flip.”

“You gonna let him do that instead of be your assistant?”

“He’s a useless asshole behind the desk,” I laughed. “And I’m a useless asshole on the other side of the desk. I can’t delegate. Shay should know that by now. Put Leo’s talents to work where they’ll do more good. You want him?”

“If you’ll let me have him.”

“Sold. Guess I better tell him, then,” I grinned, turning around to head back to the photo studio.

I was about to make Leonel’s day.

“You’re what?”

My lips curled in an amused smirk as I watched the expressions -- shock, joy, then embarrassment at his sudden display of emotions and an attempt at neutrality -- flit across Leonel’s face.

“I’m gonna give you your big shot in London. That’s two weeks from now. You better be ready for model boot camp, ’cause Raymond is not gonna ride your ass with as much lube as I did.”

The photographer was still in the room -- hell, so was one of the interns setting up for the next shoot -- but it didn’t matter. Everyone would think it was a metaphor.

Everyone but Leonel, of course.

Again, the guy caught his breath with surprise, and again, he tried to push through it. He casually stretched as he pulled his shawl back on -- the last piece of street clothing. “Of course.”

“That obviously means you won’t be working with me, and a whole new set of paperwork. You’ll work when Raymond tells you to work, and with the photographers he gives you. Your paycheck won’t be regular like the assistant job. Raymond will be your agent -- manager or booker, some people call them--”

“I know all that,” he impatiently muttered.

There it was, the sassy spark again.

Oh, that attitude made me grin more than it should have. I knew it was only encouraging bad behavior, but there was something about Leonel’s refusal to indulge fools that I recognized in myself.

“Until you’re more developed,” I stubbornly went on. “You have natural talent, that much is obvious. You killed this photo shoot.”

My heart warmed with pride, but I quickly clamped down on that emotion. Don’t get invested in him.

Instead, I turned for the door. “You’ll do great.”

“Thanks.” It was a casual word thrown out there behind my back, but it was the first time Leonel had said it. When I looked back over my shoulder, from the way he watched me, I sensed it wasn’t just for the compliment.

I jerked my head in a quick nod, then headed back out of the studio.

Alex had been one hell of an act to follow, and one I had sworn never to follow again.

But Jesus Christ, that was before I’d met this kid.

I reminded myself that Leonel wasn’t a kid at all -- only five years younger than me, and that was everything in front of the camera but nothing in the rest of life. But his attitude…

Just like Alex’s, only Leonel was different.

He hadn’t walked in knowing exactly what he was going to achieve, and how to fuck over as many people as he could to get it.

Unless he had. He could have been acting the whole time, waiting until I picked him instead of forcing his way through the door. But down that road lay paranoia and suspicion. I had to take him at his word.

Even if he fucked me over like Alex had… well, I was willing to walk that path again if it meant seeing Leonel shine as bright as he was obviously meant to.

If that made me a romantic sucker with my heart on my sleeve… so be it.