The Bound Bride Read Free Page B

donate that money. The arts were always popular when someone wanted to extend a charitable hand. One dinner with the right philanthropist might be all that she needed.
    “Cass?”
    Iris waited as Cassandra took the computer and started to craft the girl who would be Trixie Carol.
    Like Cassandra, she was twenty-three, lived in New York, and enjoyed art, film, and the occasional trip to the opera. And classic sitcoms.
    “Nice,” Iris said with a laugh.
    “You really think so?”
    “Oh yeah. Add your beverage of choice, and we have the ideal woman.”
    Why not? She keyed in the word beer .
    Next came a questionnaire. It seemed an endless list. Cassandra groaned at the sight of it and left the couch.
    “No way,” Iris said. “You’re not giving up now are you?”
    Cassandra tossed Iris a beer and opened another for herself. She took a quick chug and settled at her friend’s side.
    “Just needed to steel myself for the task at hand.”
    Iris gently punched her shoulder and they hunkered down to see what the questions would tell them about Cassandra.
    A lot of them were of the yes/no variety. Did she have a college degree? Yes. Was she currently employed? No. Did she enjoy three course meals at five star restaurants? Yes. Was she fond of outdoor activities like rock climbing and kayaking? Where was the absolutely not option?
    When she reached the end, there was a space for Cassandra to write a brief paragraph in response to the question why did she want to become a Leased Lady ?
    Here Cassandra stopped and was stumped. Not because she didn’t know the answer. She was desperate for a quick buck and Iris, like always, was looking out for her. But she knew it wasn’t the right answer. She should say something about wanting to ease a lonely spirit or make a difference or broaden her horizons by meeting new people. In some ways, that was also true. But LeaseALady.com was the last place she expected to be doing it.
    “Well, Cass?”
    Iris was anxiously waiting for whatever she would write.
    Cassandra’s hands lingered above the keyboard, and she thought hard. She remembered something that Dr. Wyatt, her favorite professor from the days when she was going to be a great writer, had once said.
    Make your case and make it brief .
    No doubt other girls who wanted to be Ladies wrote novels in an effort to advance their causes. Whoever screened the applications was probably bored by the third sentence. Cassandra wouldn’t make that mistake.
    And she typed the following.
    I want a chance.
    It said it all. Yet she hoped it was cryptic enough to invite more questions. She looked to Iris for reassurance.
    “Awesome, Cass. Now up.”
    “What?”
    “On your feet, girl.”
    Iris dragged Cassandra to the wall and positioned Cassandra against the white background.
    “What are you—?”
    “You have to send a pic. Or else they won’t consider you.”
    “Like this ?”
    “Just pull your hair back.”
    “Iris, I—”
    “You have good skin, nice teeth—”
    “No.”
    “But we’re almost—”
    “I said I wanted a chance . I won’thave one if—”
    “Don’t be so hard on yourself, Cass. You’re pretty.”
    Iris always said that. And maybe in the days when her dark hair shined and her green eyes glittered, it was even true. But not now. Not when she was a just a step away from the gutter.
    “Iris—”
    “It’ll be different, Cass. Who knows who you’ll land if you keep it real.”
    The prospect was terrifying, but at least it wouldn’t lead to any promises she couldn’t keep. Cassandra smoothed her face and tucked her hair behind the ears. She managed a smile, and Iris snapped the shot. With one email, the image made its way to Cassandra’s laptop, and she uploaded.
    Once the sadly smiling image was in place, Cassandra clicked submit .
    “Now what?” Cassandra asked.
    “Now you wait.”
    She awoke the next morning with a wicked hangover. She couldn’t remember just when Iris had left, but she was definitely