‘I’m not sure about this, Barry. I don’t think I should show you my breasts,’ Mo protested, thinking how horrified Sam would be if he found out.

‘My dear, I’m a photographer, I’ve seen a thousand pairs of titties in my life, and I can assure you, yours will be no different from any other woman’s.’

‘But that’s not the point. I don’t think my boyfriend will like it.’

‘Your boyfriend will like it when you become rich and famous. Imagine it, the lovely houses, the cars and the holidays abroad. I doubt he’ll complain then, so put him out of your mind and let me see that smiling face again.’

‘I’m still not sure I feel comfortable about taking my bra off,’ Mo said sullenly.

‘If that’s your attitude, you’re wasting my time. You may as well leave now before I use any more camera film on you. You’re a silly girl though, Mo. This is how all the top models and film stars began.’

Mo heaved a breath. ‘Really? They’ve all done this?’

‘Yes, how else do you think they got noticed?’

She bit on her bottom lip as she thought about it. Barry was far more knowledgeable than she was on such matters, and she wanted to be a film star more than anything else. Perhaps he was right, and this was the start of something big for her. ‘All right, you’re the expert,’ she said, and slipped off her bra. It wasn’t so bad at first with her back to Barry, but then with his continued reassurance, she found herself able to pose full frontal. Then, before Mo knew it, she’d removed her knickers too.

‘Right, that’s it for today,’ Barry said, turning off the spotlights. ‘You can get dressed now.’

Mo pulled on her clothes, but then her eyes widened with surprise when Barry held out two pound notes. ‘Here, take this,’ he said.

‘What’s that for?’ Mo asked as she took it.

‘Let’s just say you’re going to be a hit with my gentlemen clientele. I’ll be in touch,’ Barry said and opened the front door.

Mo walked down the stairs, her mind racing. His gentlemen clientele. What did that mean? Something wasn’t right, she was sure of it. As Mo passed under the railway bridge, the penny dropped and she felt sick. The pictures Barry had taken, the nude poses, were going to be shown to those gentlemen clientele.

She turned and rushed back to bang on Barry’s door. Out of breath when he opened it, she panted, ‘The photographs you took of me. I want them destroyed.’

‘My dear, have you forgotten the contract you signed? It gives me full rights over the prints.’

‘But … but I don’t want men ogling nude pictures of me. If my boyfriend finds out, he’ll go mad.’