The model shrieked. “God—”

“I know it’s cold,” Donatti told her. “It can’t be helped.” He tossed her a cold pack. “Put it over your hot spot.”

“Huh?”

Donatti marched over to her and slapped the cold pack on her vagina. “Hold it. And stop looking angry. You’re supposed to be a fantasy, and fantasies don’t look like they sucked on lemons. If the men I sell to wanted that expression, they’d fuck their wives.”

“It’s freezing,” she whined.

“Just hold it and stop bitching.” He turned to Decker. “Ice shrinks the membranes down. It makes for a prettier picture. I gotta get air-conditioning in this place. Not only would I be more comfortable, but it would also keep the nipples erect.”

“It’s cold outside,” Decker commented.

“The windows don’t open. Security.” He turned back to the model. “Okay, you can take it away… good. Now give it to me, Tina. C’mon, baby, make your moves.”

She began to pose in a provocative manner while Donatti snapped away, then stopped again. He growled, “You keep sweating.”

“I can’t help it!”

He sighed. “If you can’t beat ’em…” He went over to one of the cardboard boxes and started pulling out props. He chose a sweatband, a pair of sneakers, socks with pom-poms, and a calculator. He tossed her the accessories. “Put those on. We’ll go for the fucked cheerleader look, all right?”

She took off the black spiked heels, put on the socks, then tried to put on the sneakers. “They’re too small.”

“So cram your foot into it, Cinderella. Don’t lace it up, all right. You know what? I got an idea. Put one on, let the other one dangle. Yeah… like that. Now put on the sweatband…Wow, that’s good!” He placed the calculator at her feet, then squirted another round of ice water on her. Waiting a few moments, he opened the girl’s legs and fluffed up her pubic hair. “Throw your head back, but keep your eyes fucking the lens. Good girl. Now put your finger in your spot, but not all the way… just the nail. Good… real good.”

She whined as she talked. “Like why do you want a calculator?”

“Because you’re supposed to be a schoolgirl. You remember school, don’t you?”

“Like ha-ha, I’m laughing.”

“You be polite,” Donatti growled. “We have company.”

His voice was menacing, putting fear in the girl’s eyes. In a toe tap, she was all business.

“That’s good,” Donatti complimented. “That’s really good, Tina. C’mon, give me those luscious lips, baby!”

The girl gave him a wide smile that made her look around twelve. Donatti was pleased. “You got it, baby.” Snap, snap. “Do the camera, honey, do it hard and nasty. Man, you are fucking good.” Snap, snap, snap. “You got the look, sugar, the perfect wet dream for all old farts who can’t get it up.”

She leered at Decker. “Old farts like him.”

Donatti stopped and followed her gaze. He had been so distracted, he’d forgotten about Decker’s presence. His eyes went dead. “Yeah, old farts like him.” Snap, snap. “Not him specifically.” Back at the model. “I’ve seen his wife.” Snap, snap, snap. “Getting it up probably isn’t one of his more significant problems.”