Remember what I said about being able to survive anyone after Montgomery? 620Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOMO9g6q3ml
620Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUT9bmDWGHe
That was utter rubbish.620Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7FLMyao6f4
620Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9iqFLJQxaN
The first thing that struck me as I hauled the heavy-as-fuck photograph into Mr Rochester's studio apartment, the edges of the badly cut hard plastic casing digging into the skin of my fingers, is that his walls were bare. You'd think that someone who spends one hundred and twenty thousand on photographs would, at the very least, have a two bedroom with a few paintings on his walls.620Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMJvjxwk0zo
620Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡX9gtb5bUeH
"Bloodclaat," I muttered under my breath, hauling them over threshold, since I was too lazy to make a second trip.620Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfFACISz149
620Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDyev15fjom
He was sitting, relaxed, on the sofa opposite the television, and eyed me curiously as I struggled to get through the door, offering no assistance.620Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvsVvebthGN
620Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡV9xmHRedln
Finally, I got through the door, and rested them flat on the floor against the wall perpendicular the couch, beside the television.620Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgH3FVLqaQ1
620Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSfig14PoIM
I'm now on my third beer — he offered me, then directed me to the mini bar, not bothering to get up, and asking me to get one for him — trying to calm my nerves. My hand is shaking with the effort to not crush the beer can.620Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡD5U2WdTFIp
620Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTCv2Vgrrnd
He keeps saying little things, specifically designed to piss me the hell of. Like how I should sleep more to get rid of the bags under my eyes, when I sleep for eight to ten hours every night. Or asking me if I want I brush, when I have the perfect style for kinky curly hair — kind of like how Tip from Home wares her hair out.620Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUmTaQrcpUI
620Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMDO8EwBkNc
"This was my first photography show, and I must admit, your work is closer to what can be considered as art than I expected."620Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYtZf3vNhRW
620Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsLmknfqChS
Closer?620Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoLuZFznCB1
620Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡulYXalN612
Closer?620Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzmhTz3LphH
620Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡppsxr5C9Q2
This is art. This is what I've dedicated my life to.620Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHexLLsbB24
620Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0Xre0Qt65K
"Closer?"620Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡs6GTdBqoGh
620Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6ZNvI0omPV
He gives me a condescending smile, and then clears his throat.620Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoYUopi7k20
620Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkM5Kij3952
"You see, photography will never be art. You are simply looking through a lense—"620Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ58a06Ux2wz
620Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡd0wQanr2V0
"Lighting, mirrors, filters, focus, the subject, angles and so. Much. More. Are a part of photography. One angle, one filter, one ray of sunlight could be the difference between erotic asphyxiation and a psychopath ex on a rampage. Don't you dare demean my art like that." By the time I'm done, I'm heaving, taking deep breaths to make up for the oxygen that I just lost. I'm so tired of having the same argument, defending my job to people over and over again.620Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnuMsfC2r2M
620Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡprnQPpkvSA
But he just laughs. Hard.620Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9v6JeQy04s
620Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyjuQIcQU6A
"Relax. It was a joke. Why else would I buy your art?"620Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuQpJQeDaf9
620Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYvUReGxxp3
Well now, considering that that's why I'm here in the first place, I feel like a complete moron. 620Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1jiOjmoVHs
620Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0PsjLdSJL5
"When's your next showing?" he asks, assessing me with dark brown eyes.620Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡU9ZXAJYoit
620Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxkA747jm5X
" I don't know. Didn't plan one." The truth is that I don't really do showings — don't really like them. But Marcus insisted on me having that one, saying that he'd advertised well, on my behalf, to all the right people, and it would give me experience as a photographer. When it got cancelled, I'd worked for months, just worked too hard to just let it go down the drain.620Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡd0PWAx4G0D
620Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡH8C0DTRZ1p
And now here I am, remembered as the girl who had her showing at Mr Assclown's house.620Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRUbGUyctz6
620Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmT3lDXAK0m
Now, he's looking at me, assessing me. I can see him weighing the pros and cons, see the question that he so desperately wants to ask me in his eyes — a question that I don't want, that I'm dreading, but I need. Like the most bitter liquid medicine imaginable.620Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkxsltHqPnG
620Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡL7rQCwa2CL
"Can I give you a job?"620Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFiJyidxArU
620Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0zSRJcqCGh
Now I want to cry. Really, really break down sobbing. Because I don't want to see this man ever again, but I do need money. I need it really fucking badly.620Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡydPpveJtJf
620Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRGTm6XDPiU
"What's the job?" I ask hesitantly. With his level of arrogance, he could well want me to take pictures of his dick. But at this point, I'd take a picture of a turd for money. The seventy thousand that he gave me can barely cover my water bill, and food for the month, plus the fifty thousand dollar minimum I put aside in my various bank accounts — I never put it all in one account — every month for a house. Thank goodness for solar panels, because that leaves me with no light bill. Rent, gas money... I'll have to find that elsewhere.620Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡG7JKMzPlla
620Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbnfbmZAVsS
"I have a family reunion on Friday. I need someone to take photographs."620Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4b3UMww8eG
620Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡysPrKrwcE1
Not so bad. He'll be with others, his family, and he'll have to behave. You'll survive.620Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvRYxUcOp7e
620Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFK2zZ4VV8m
"I'll talk to my agent, and then call you back."620Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBbbqbPy3SD
620Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡakSwTEJ13d
"I need an answer now."620Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsDRTInyPBq
620Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡR0nNZzf5qf
Breathe.620Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfF3z9nwPaM
620Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡo2B8O0lSgA
It's now almost ten p.m. I can't call him now.620Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡX9DHYM6QrT
620Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLCMJ0I1GhE
"Okay. I'll do it," I agree, hoping that I won't regret this. 620Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLxUFjNgWqq
620Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkZbsYjGCT2
***620Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4wOFX4wLjd
620Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFiKrhMt1Oj
"Absolutely not." 620Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZOwvtm519x
620Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZiCKeTDDTa
"I already said I would, Marcus," I reply, rubbing my forehead. It's too early in the morning for this shit.620Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUfjrLmWhDd
620Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3mbMLyr3EC
"Cancel it."620Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡK6zYu28MFG
620Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡms8LXswn53
"I'm not going to tarnish my reputation just because you disapprove."620Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmrmCkEsgk6
620Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKUuYmqVVfR
"Who's the agent?"620Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2pjCXyPKgu
620Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSTkhtjHMxF
"It's still my decision! I need the money."620Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLK9FM6EWk3
620Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡr5hVbDgou9
"I arranged for you to meet with one of Jamaica's best photographers on Friday. His schedule is jam packed—"620Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡy8hOuWhiq9
620Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoOh9tSMvBU
"Then I'm sure he'll appreciate the opening. Cancel it."620Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVaMsVmUkAO
620Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDyWwWLkxPA
"Leah—"620Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcrsK5HiYF8
620Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEWwc0M6qpS
"I said cancel it, Marcus!" I let out a heavy sigh. "I'm sorry. It's just that... I'm under a lot of pressure right now. I don't like this guy. He's such an asshole."620Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡh6hFTzzA6o
620Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWqgAEQDrP9
I hear silence. Then, "Why don't you just bring him with you?"620Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡznxX7vPU5o
620Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgoGWCveSN6
I snort. "That would never work."620Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGc0K01MMdV
620Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSgijaPrYBd
"Stop and think about it for a second, Leah. Shemarré Martin is a photographer. He wants to give you tips on photography. Where and when better to do that than while you're photographing?"620Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSS47BTz50S
620Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQuzHgFdCAy
"Jesus Christ, you're a genius. And Rochester shouldn't mind because it'll probably make the photos come out better." 620Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgLK5ls288T
620Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaZzUbAcvcH
"See, there's always a solution." I can hear the smile in his voice. "Now since you're free today, and I don't work for you for free, I suggest that you get off your lazy ass and hustle."620Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCQwEoY4i0P
620Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdPh0bTk07Y
I chuckle. "Thanks, Marcus. You're always there to ever so subtly remind me that I'm teetering on the line of poverty."620Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXT0W4JVlL2
620Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlZmHRIQpqh
"Anytime, babygirl," he says with a grin that I hear through the phone. "Anytime."
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