A/N Fees mentioned in this chapter are ones that models are testifying to being charged by their agencies.

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"I'm here to pick up Cordelia Chase." Xander told the receptionist at the modelling agency a few weeks later, he could hear her voice in the back but not what she was saying.

"Uppity little thing is arguing over her paycheck." The receptionist muttered. "Doesn't know how good she's got it." Xander glared at her and without asking, moved around the desk and was through the door before she could object.

"Hey! You can't go back there!" The receptionist yelped.

"What's going on, Cordy?" Xander asked.

"My paycheck is less than half of what it should be! They're claiming some kind of fees." Cordelia held out the stub that came with her check.

"These are standard fees, every agent charges them. If you're going to work in this business, little girl, you're going to have to get used to it." Her agent argued. Xander looked at the stub.

"Rent on models apartment? What the hell?"

"We provide an apartment for the girls to live in, everyone is expected to pay part of the rent."

"Cordelia lives with me, I pay the rent." Xander grabbed a pen and crossed it out. "Headshots? She had her own done and paid for them herself and no one has asked her to get new ones done." He crossed out that line too. "Make up artist and hairdresser? I was on set long enough to hear that the client provided their own, therefore you can't charge her for using them since they required her to use them." He crossed that one out too. "Wardrobe? You're kidding me, right? She wore one dress for more then ten hours and it was the client's property and they gave it to her. You can't charge her for something that isn't your property either." He crossed that one out too. "I understand you're only supposed to charge a 10 -15% commission for finding the job for her. The rest of this is garbage, cut another check for what you owe her."

"She's already got her check, she's not entitled to anything else."

"I bet a lawyer would say differently. I know one that's a real shark, he'd make a meal out of you." Xander bluffed.

"If she wants to keep working in this industry than she's just going to have to accept that this is how it's done!" The agent insisted.

"Funny, the photographer said that too when he refused to let her have a break or a literal bite to eat. It's your job to protect her interests, not steal from her. If you can't do the job you're being paid to do, I'd be happy to help you find another job. The sanitary department of the city is always hiring I hear and rats do well in the sewers. Cut her another check or I call a lawyer."

"And if I fire her oversize ass?"

"Then you'll be eating out of a straw and he turns it into a class action suit with all the models currently and formerly working for you. He just loves digging his teeth into those kinds of jobs and trust me, he'll find every dirty little secret and way you've exploited your models. Last chance or he'll be here in an hour and you won't have a pair of shoes left to your name when he's finished."

"Who the hell do you think you are?!"

"Lt. Alexander Harris, U.S. Army. Would you like me to introduce you to my general as well? He has a teenage daughter who thinks modeling would be cool. If he finds out how agents treat their models you'll have a very angry general and adored daddy wanting a word with you. Cut the check and if you ever pull this shit again on any of your models, you will find that lawyer on your doorstep. I'll personally make sure of it."

"Damn, that's hot." The receptionist muttered. Cordelia turned her own icy glare on her and got a gulp. She also got another check for everything she was owed.

"Find her the work you're being paid to find her and I better not hear of you causing her any problems in retaliation or we'll revisit the lawyer idea." Xander warned as the two of them left the agency.

"Damn, Cor, I hope you find an acting job soon, this modeling industry will kill you." Xander said, an arm around her waist as he led her to the car.

"It really isn't working right, is it?" She agreed, as she climbed in. "Problem is, each modeling job takes up hours, 10 - 12 a day and than there's acting class after I get off, when will I find time to look for auditions?"

"I'll look for them for you after I get off work. The sooner you're out of this crap, the better I'll feel. Safer for the idiots too because that's two people I've threatened and meant it."

"And they keep calling me fat!"

"Just shows, they really are idiots. You're hot."