Mr. Saito said, “I’ll let you in on something: this is your work. You don’t want to come off as stiff, do you? This is your big chance. Just one shot to loosen you up. The people in charge won’t mind. Every club wants one of their own Bunnies to make it into the glossy pages. What we’re doing? This is what your job is really about. Management knows we’re here.” He handed her a plastic shot glass. “Bottoms up.”

What was one shot? Sherri loved the idea of being discovered, and Johnnie was right, she didn’t want to blow her chances by coming off as stiff. The alcohol burned the back of her throat and made its way to her always empty stomach.

“OK, guys, follow me. Let’s go where we can take photos without distraction.”

He led her away from the parking lot and down a steep embankment to the woods at the edge of the golf course. Ron stabbed an umbrella-like contraption into the grass and adjusted it while staring at the sun. “Let me test the light. Stand there, don’t move.”

“Should I smile?” She was nervous. Her legs shook and sweat dripped down her sides, but the shot was already beginning to relax her.

“Yeah, smile,” Ron said. “There’s nothing men love more than a smile on a pretty lady’s face.”

A cloud obscured the sun. There were more on the horizon. Johnnie looked at the sky with satisfaction. “I was hoping we’d get some clouds to filter the light. Everything is working out perfectly.”

She wanted to do a good job for Mr. Saito; her whole life at the resort was centered on pleasing the guests. They took her photo on their cheap cameras all the time, but Mr. Saito’s big camera had a lens that was practically as long as a telescope. He seemed incredibly serious and professional. He began by focusing on her face. That was OK, safe. “Oh honey, I wish you could see what I see.”

“What?”

“The camera just loves you,” he said.

“Yeah,” said the assistant. “You’re really beautiful.”

Her customers always said she was beautiful. Arthur said she was beautiful. But these men? They really knew beauty. Beauty was their job.

“Move around a bit, loosen up. Like you’re dancing,” Mr. Saito said. Sherri swayed awkwardly, grateful that she had some alcohol in her to put her at ease. “You’ve modeled before, right?”

“No! Never.”