Lila had answered the ad on a whim; Reclusive artist seeks live-in muse for private series. Generous compensation. Discretion required. The interview took place in a mansion studio.
Elias Voss was not what she expected. Tall and lean with sharp cheekbones, messy dark hair streaked with paint, and piercing green eyes that seemed to strip her bare. He was in his mid-thirties, dressed in a simple black shirt and worn jeans, but he carried himself like a man who commanded the world.
“You’re beautiful,” he said flatly during their meeting. “But beauty isn’t enough. I need someone who can hold stillness and emotion at once. Can you do that, Lila?”
“Yes.”
“Perfect. You start tonight. Live-in for the duration of the series.”
The first session began at dusk.
Elias’s studio was beautiful. He h
