Finally Angel enters the story. I'm glad you guys like it so far.

A/N: I really don't know how much models make so the figure in here might be low or might be high.

Chapter 4

Buffy Summers once again thrust back into her modeling career. She had a shoot that afternoon with up and coming Xander Harris. She would be modeling the evening wear of Cordelia Chase the most prominent designer of the day. Riley escorted into the large warehouse building where everything was already set up. She quickly made her way from Riley and sat in her make up chair letting her artist take over from there. Finally she was done to Willow's satisfaction. She shimmied into the elegant red gown frowning as the ugly bruise on her arm made it's self known. She quickly stowed back over to the make up table. "Just a moment Mr. Harris," she called out behind her. "Xander, really, just call me Xander," the goofy man called after her. "Willow can you help me?," she asked pointing to the small bruise on her arm. Willow frowned then picked up the concealer and got to work. "Buffy you have to get away from him," Willow whispered as she stowed a look at the man in questions. Buffy fought back the tears that always seemed to be looming close by. "Thanks Will I got to go," she said not even acknowledging the comment made by her closest and only friend.

Buffy was exhausted after five hours and 15 dress changes. Finally Xander yelled the words she had been praying for, "That's a wrap! You were wonderful Elizabeth." Buffy smiled then trudged over to her changing area. She quickly shed herself of the dress and donned her track pants and tee. Riley entered the room soon after. "You ready I'm beat," he said as he reached for her. Sighing Buffy grabbed her bag and followed him out to the car. He was beat? She was the one who had just spent five hours working while he sat there watching her. She told him he didn't have to come, but he always insisted. She had never once been to a photo shoot by herself. Finally they made it to the car and drove in silence towards their home.

William and Willow had been working on a plan together secretly to pull Buffy from that abusive bastards clutches. William thought that perhaps they had finally worked out the perfect temporary plan. They knew Buffy would ultimately have to make the decision to leave him herself. No matter how hard they tried it would never work if she didn't agree. Besides killing the bloody poof, which Willow had quickly shot down citing prison as her main reason, they had no other way. William made his way up to the modeling agency of Finn and Taylor. He strode up to the fake blonde secretary chuckling at the name on the desk 'Harmony'. "Hey sweets I've got an appointment with Daniel Finn," he spoke easily. Harmony giggled for no apparent reason other then to flirt with the handsome man, "You're name sir?," she asked huskily. "William Wright," he quickly told her. The girl quickly picked up the phone then let the person on the other end know who was here. "Go right in," she said motioning to the door.

"William my favorite photographer what brings you here today?," he asked

"I want to hire one of your models," he revealed as he shook hands with the slightly older gentleman.

"Well of course and which one this time and for what?," Finn asked always on guard around the man.

"Summers and it's for a friend of mine. He wants to sketch her in person alone," he said waiting for the response.

"Sketch her? For what? Alone? I don't think Riley will allow that," the man said knowing how protective his son was of the small blonde.

"We're prepared to pay handsomely say 75,000 per five hour session?," William asked hopefully.

"Make it 100,000 and we've got a deal, but I want to see these sketches," Mr. Finn added.

"No Riley he can't work if there are others around," William said making sure to keep the abuser out of the way.

"I deal with him don't you worry," Daniel Finn assured.

Both men shook hands then parted ways. Now all that was left was to convince his friend.

Buffy was surprised to learn that she would be attending sessions with an artist by herself. Riley hadn't seemed to please, but his father was the boss so he had to do as he was told. Begrudgingly Riley took the small blonde across town to a small loft apartment. He walked her to the door and waited patiently for the artist to answer. "You must be Elizabeth please come in I'm Angelus," the handsome dark haired man revealed. Angelus watched as the small blonde pried her hand from the boy next to her. Angelus stuck his hand out, "Nice to meet you." Riley resentfully took his hand and shook it, "Riley. Five hours and I'll be back not a minute later." Angelus quirked and eyebrow at the boys tone. "Sure thing," Angelus said as he shut the door in the boys face.

Angelus turned around to see the small blonde fidgeting nervously. Angelus motioned for her to enter the living room where he had a scene set up. "Sorry I've never done this before," she squeaked out. Angelus smirked at her, "Relax you'll do fine. Just sit here and yes just like that… move this… perfect… now don't move." Buffy sat still for nearly an hour before Angelus picked up a Polaroid camera and snapped a few pictures. "Break time," he said as he picked up a sheet and covered his easel. Buffy relaxed a little then stood to stretch. "Lunch?," he asked. Buffy nodded her head yes, "Sounds great." Angelus walked over to his balcony and stared down into the street. "I think we'll order in your body guard is down there waiting," Angelus remarked as he walked to the phone. Buffy blushed profusely as she quickly walked over and peered out. "He's a little protective," she stammered as she quickly left the balcony before Riley spotted her. Angelus just quirked a brow wondering why his friend had set this all up. "Chinese?," he asked staring at her intently. Buffy just shook her head yes then sat down on one of the chairs.

Angelus sat down across from her and awkward silence enveloping them. Buffy fidgeted nervously with the hem of her shirt. Angelus had many preconceived notions already about this girl. He figured her to be unintelligent, snobby, and self absorbed. "So Elizabeth how long have you been modeling?," he asked trying to fill their time with something other then silence. "A little over a year," she started, "Riley he wanted it and then it just took off from there." Angelus shook his head in understanding then the doorbell rang. Quickly Angelus answered the door and paid for the Chinese food. Buffy's stomach began to growl as soon as the scent of the food hit her nostrils. Angelus sat the bag on the table then went to his small kitchen and grabbed a couple of plates and forks. "Help yourself," he said handing her one set. Buffy loaded her plate up with food then began to eat quickly. Angelus watched in shock as she quickly ate her food as if she would never eat again. Well that was preconceived notion out the window. At least this one ate he thought to himself. Buffy blushed as she realized Angelus was staring at her. She made herself slow down and slowly continued to digest her food.

Once they finished eating Angelus once again arranged her into position using the Polaroid's as a guide. For the next two hours Angelus continued to sketch in earnest. She really was beautiful Angelus thought to himself as he stroked his pencil on the vast paper. He would never think her a model, however, he guessed it was because of her height. She was also a little too skinny for his tastes. He could see what William saw in her though. Angelus sighed realizing that he couldn't draw anymore. "We'll stop for the day," he said as he covered the easel with a sheet. "We have an hour," Buffy said looking at her watch. "We could spend it getting to know each other," he offered. Buffy shook her head as she stood from her seat and stretched the fatigue out of her muscles.

Angelus sat down on the couch next to her. "What did you do before you became a model?," he asked genuinely interested in her. "I was going to school. Just general Ed stuff. I wasn't sure what I wanted to do. Then I met Riley," she explained. Angelus noticed how her voice grew sad at the mention of her boyfriend. Quickly he changed the subject, "So do you like it? The modeling I mean?" Buffy shook her head yes. "Its fun, but challenging. I enjoy it and the photographers are great," she said happily. "Challenging," he snorted not realizing he said it out loud until he looked at the girl's face. "Have you ever had a horrible day? I mean really awful could've been the worst day of your life kind of day?," she asked sadly. Angelus captivated by the sorrow in her voice and the pain in her eyes shook his head yes. "Try having one of those days and still shooting magnificently enough to have it grace the cover of magazines. Try pushing all the pain you're feeling deep down inside and pretending to not have a care in the world. Then try doing that on blistering hot day wearing a warm fur coat or on a freezing January day in a frigid bath of water," she whispered just loud enough for him to hear as a few tears silently slid down her cheek. Realizing she had just bared part of her soul to this strange man she barely knew. She quickly shook her head and wiped the tears from her face. "I'm sorry," she nervously laughed out trying to hide her sadness. Angelus was just about to speak when a loud knock interrupted him. Buffy stood up abruptly, "That's Riley I have to go." Angelus watched as she fled the room and walked out of his door and into Riley's arms.