Page 25 of Interview with the Billionaire

D. Stark: : Actually, no. We were both attending a showing of Blaine’s work at my agent’s home. Evelyn Dodge.

Bridge: I’m guessing that answers my next question. Blaine’s an exceptionally sought after artist. Was the personal connection how you were able to obtain his services?

D. Stark: That and the fact that I paid him.

Bridge: Touché. Nikki, you’ve already spoken publicly about why you agreed to that painting, so I won’t go over that again. But can you tell me a bit about the experience of modeling for the portrait. I have to assume you were eager to do it. A million dollars is a huge incentive.

N. Stark: It is, but I said no at first. Repeatedly, if I’m remembering correctly.

Bridge: Because of your scars?

N. Stark: Yes.

Bridge: Your history of cutting is something else we don’t need to go into since you’ve now given a number of interviews about the topic, and I know you work with kids with similar issues as a Stark Youth Advocate.

N. Stark: That’s right.

Bridge: If you don’t mind, I’ll pull some background from pre-existing material for the article. Only if necessary for context.

N. Stark: That’s fine. As Damien pointed out, we’ll have a chance to review and veto any sections we find troublesome.

[Her smile is pure Southern charm, but even so, it has a bite.]

Bridge: So you ultimately agreed because of the money.

N. Stark: I did. And that money financed my own business.

Bridge: What was it like? Modeling for a piece that is both beautiful and erotic? And for a man like Blaine who has made his living off of eroticism?

N. Stark: It was scary. It was intimate. And it was freeing.

Bridge: How so?

N. Stark: Well, at first I was scared that Damien would call it off—and I wanted that million.

Bridge: That he’d call it off because of your scars?

N. Stark: He didn’t know. And they were my shame. My mother had drilled into me how ugly they were. My mother and, well, other people who had seen them.

[She barely shudders, but I see Damien take her hand. It’s easy to see that his touch comforts and relaxes her.]

Bridge: That all does sound scary. Were you scared of what Damien would think?

N. Stark: Only about the scars. I know I’m attractive. My mother made a career out of my looks. Or tried to, anyway. As much as I hated her for that, it also got into my pores. That was how I judged myself. I was pretty. Without clothes, I had hideous scars that destroyed everything good. I believed it. Why wouldn’t Damien?

Bridge: But he didn’t.

N. Stark: No. That’s when my mask really fell away.

Bridge: Mask?

[She looks irritated, and I think she is wishing she could call back the words.]

N. Stark: It’s something I do. I didn’t want to be a pageant princess. So I created Pageant Nikki. I didn’t want to be the dutiful and dainty child my mother wanted, and so I had the Dutiful Nikki mask, too. I used to hate parties, especially when I didn’t know anyone, but my mother insisted I go to any associated with a pageant or a pageant director or anyone with money or clout. And Social Nikki was born.

Bridge: And what mask were you wearing when you met Damien?

[For a moment, she looks confused.]