005

Of course, the colleagues had all watched the program, apparently they had met for a cozy "men's night" and enjoyed Jill's brilliant performance together. 

And like last time, she was greeted with whistles, jeers and salacious comments when she came to the headquarters a day later. 

Almost in tears, she fled to Walter's office. 

"I'm not going out there anymore," she said firmly instead of a greeting. 

Walt grinned. »Come on girl, don't be so wild. You've done well and I'm sure the boys will settle down in the next few days,' he comforted her. "The main thing is that it worked, what are some stupid jokes about?" 

"You don't have to listen to that," Jill said, frustrated. 

'It's going away. You're going to be in this model mansion for a while now, and by the time you get back the co-workers will have something else to talk about.” 

“Or not,” Jill murmured, annoyed, realizing the men were getting along Certainly would watch every further episode. 

"I take it you haven't gotten around to investigating much?" Walt got down to business. "Notice anything?" 

"No, except that it's easy to break your legs in those heels," she said dryly. 

“Okay, it doesn't matter, you'll have enough time now to listen and look around. But again, no arbitrary actions, I want to be kept informed.” 

Jill nodded. "Yeah, that's clear." 

"What time does it start?" 

"We're moving in there on Monday," Jill said with a sigh. 

“Okay, you're free until then so you can get some rest beforehand. I wish you the best of luck and success.” 

Jill shook his hand unhappily, then ran out and hurried down the aisle before the whistle started again.

 

It was the evening before moving to the villa. Jill was lying on the couch trying to focus on a book. Her suitcase was already packed, and she knew this would be the last few hours she could enjoy in peace for at least a week. 

She went into the kitchen and got a glass of wine and was about to take it back into the living room when the doorbell rang. 

"Now who's that?" she thought, not at all thrilled with the interruption. 

She opened it and to her surprise it was her mother pushing past her excitedly. 

"Jill, why are you doing this to me?" Alice Moore said indignantly before Jill could say a word. "How dare you show yourself so naked on TV?" 

Jill held up her hands in a gesture of reassurance. 'Mom, calm down.' 

'How am I supposed to calm down when Phyllis asks me about seeing you almost naked on that modeling show? What were you thinking?” 

Jill pushed her toward the couch. "Sit down first, I'll make us some coffee and then we'll talk about it in peace." 

She disappeared into the kitchen and while the coffee machine was running she thought feverishly about what to tell now. Her mother didn't usually watch shows like this, and actually Jill had hoped to be eliminated by the next show at the latest and be back before she noticed anything. 

But apparently Phyllis Atkins, the old gossip girl next door, couldn't shut up again. Ever since Jill moved in, the neighbor didn't miss an opportunity to spy on her and then report every little detail to her mother. Apparently she happened to have seen the last program and then had nothing better to do than to start the bush drums immediately. 

Now her mother expected an explanation. There was no way Jill could tell her the real reason she was on the show, she wasn't allowed to talk about her assignments. So she had no choice but to convince her mother that she was speculating on the prize money. 

'Mom, look,' she began cautiously after carrying the mugs into the living room, 'I've always wanted to start my own business one day. With the money there on the show I could make that wish come true.' 

'But not by stripping naked,' said Alice Moore indignantly. 'My daughter is naked on TV - such a shame.' 

'I wasn't naked,' Jill protested, thinking with unease that she'd felt the same way, 'I was wearing a bikini.' 'Like 

that one would make a big difference,” her mother fumed. 'Anyway, what will Simon say to that? Do you think he'll ever want to date you again if he finds out about this?” 

Jill rolled her eyes. “Mom, I don't really care what Simon thinks about it. I don't care to go out with him again.' 

'But Jill, he's such a nice man and a good match at that.' 

'That may be so, but he's also terribly boring and I don't think I will I'd like to play house cricket for him.' 

'How can you say such a thing?' Alice Moore shook her head, puzzled. "You should be glad he's courting you, it's about time you got married and had kids." 

I'm only twenty-six and I'm in no hurry to marry, much less a man who wants to make me a housewife. So stop it, I don't want to hear anything more from Simon or this topic in general.' 

'Okay, then don't,' said her mother pointedly. “But don't come to me in a few years and whine to my ears because all your girlfriends are married and you aren't. – And what about this show? You're not going to continue doing this, are you?" 

"Yes, Mom, I will." 

"And what does your boss say? There's no way he'd agree with a female police officer showing himself like that in public.” 

“In fact, he even encouraged my resolve and gave me unpaid leave until I got back,” Jill lied hastily. Noticing her mother's unhappy face, she sat down next to her and put an arm around her shoulders. “Mom, please don't worry about it, there's absolutely nothing wrong with it. I might not get very far, and this is going to be quicker than you think.' 

Alice Moore shook her head and stood up. “I really don't understand you. But you're old enough to know what you're doing, it's your life you're ruining. "I'm going to go now and I hope you can come to your senses before it's too late." 

Feeling guilty, Jill walked her to the door. 

After they said goodbye, Jill sighed and walked into the bedroom and stood in front of the large wall mirror. 

She looked at her reflection critically and asked herself again what had persuaded the judges to choose her. 

Sure, she wasn't ugly by any means. Her long, auburn hair fell in soft waves down her shoulders to mid-back, her green eyes were bright and lined with long, dark lashes. Her nose was perhaps a little too narrow, but her lips were full, the contours delicately curved. 

Her figure was also quite impressive, her legs were long and shapely, the waist narrow, her breasts full and firm. 

While she was generally happy with herself, she couldn't imagine making it to the finals, let alone winning the competition. 

She closed her eyes and began to dream, trying to imagine what she would do with the money if she actually won. Maybe she would quit her job and open her own small detective agency or security company. She would definitely treat herself to an extended vacation first, she hadn't been able to afford it with her small salary so far. 

White beaches appeared before her inner eye, the sea splashed onto the shore in gentle waves. Palm trees swayed slightly in the wind, she walked in a bikini - down a catwalk, bright headlights relentlessly illuminated every inch of her body. Abruptly she opened her eyes again, shook her head, and asked herself again what she had gotten herself into.