"Who the fuck is that?"609Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjPlaKONyc4
609Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZRzIoVz3yl
609Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXLB3PRvGuO
This comes from Rochester as he watches Shemarré, a man with perhaps the most ridiculous and pretentious name that I have ever heard, walk towards where I am currently standing, surrounded by his family members.609Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoAQ4CfrQRI
609Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvXxIPqXuvZ
609Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ56NIhiRzAN
"Another photographer," I say as nonchalantly as I can.609Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDHFqBHc8oq
609Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjacC18zKcI
609Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcJ70wBjVzM
He chuckles deep in his throat.609Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHiS8MbmkJY
609Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsvYNKhX4sE
609Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDi2R6YvhwG
"Ms Anderson, did I say that I wanted anyone else to come to this... gathering?"609Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAJmkFS56Q4
609Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKZxmhRKM48
609Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsIYpOEidlW
I have to hold back my chuckle, because I can hear the anger in his voice. This man does not like to be overruled. He enjoys getting his own way.609Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQl8sBS9XZi
609Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlbVmBvOR6H
609Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMKvd9vhVtL
Well, so do I.609Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQ3BP4uVpTD
609Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4emSZqHW4l
609Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOhkaqAZifG
"David," I say, emphasising his first name just to piss him off, "you gave me a job, and I'm simply doing it. If you have certain... quirks, you should have had the decency to sit down and discuss them with me, rather than bulldozing me with demands the way you did."609Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6yz4nXWT97
609Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnLVWYmm94V
609Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVjrqFb94Gx
I walk off, and leave Rochester with his jaw ticking and his hand shaking around his glass. I keep walking until I'm face to face with Martin.609Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbLP8HcaPbL
609Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlWVnNtUIEN
609Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGyeQoeqHyo
"Hello, Leah," he says, shaking my hand with poorly concealed enthusiasm.609Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1xf8B0cHdE
609Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzOVl1tDOlH
609Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzW9w84EeFZ
"Shemarré Martin. It's a pleasure to meet you."609Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡno2nGGTNEG
609Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHWjIsJOlDp
609Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYalsOtFL93
His smile broadens. "Please. Call me Shem."609Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ28oJGUAllA
609Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkAFZrxP8KO
609Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtwzSQciPTS
***609Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqX0Xnh8xKc
609Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXZKOljzmVe
609Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWIUNFNfHLQ
As I circle the family reunion several times, taking photographs, Shem passed on whatever he felt necessary to me.609Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLgdzXhNFdB
609Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHOuEU7ociA
609Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡK3krj8EEZ8
"Stay in the background. Make them forget you're even there."609Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡy2zUxYeoew
609Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRryrxEEwGl
609Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9DHhr8xFLT
"Candids are always better; they speak the truth."609Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEK0BCd9YVj
609Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQdTz5aUAuL
609Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjtNfOpRj46
"At events like these, the ratio of candids to posed photographs should be approximately ten to one. That should be your aim."609Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡp6ZUUY3U15
609Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfXBjRDOok1
609Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQGnUzOlzJ8
Now, everyone is packing up, and Shem has to leave for his daughter's cello recital. 609Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgk4fgJ98IJ
609Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUA5rEMZcXq
609Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKUksXihxKg
"Um... Shem?" I say, unsure of how to phrase the question that I want to ask.609Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7h5adIuuQ6
609Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGi37XOcfxg
609Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmDlwCjkNdt
"Yes?"609Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWvsA5aqFQH
609Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPmDFk6SuH9
609Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡr16rHh1Sa7
"Um... Why?"609Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnnWgKsXHvV
609Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiUGhJjSWjW
609Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡe5DnrRpvYn
He looks at me as if I'm stupid for a few seconds.609Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXdZ9MsOOo2
609Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡR8eZJrEMyc
609Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5RRW5ri0gu
"Huh?"609Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQVWA6uRYIV
609Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡngIYDmB0Oq
609Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQxvFirgz9I
"Why did you do it? Help me? You're so busy, but you went out of your wa—"609Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuBmpBwg2iJ
609Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1xiLTzamIp
609Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqjhJbuFoMH
"I saw one of your photographs at a show two years ago. It was called 'Wheels'; a photograph of two children, playing in a meadow. One on a bicycle—"609Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLjHz7cy4BI
609Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxqL5W9zIOK
609Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEGLfiRUu3C
"—and one in a wheelchair," I finish.609Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtdIrLOXNuL
609Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBbUL1dUiq0
609Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcpg2ZWHe9P
"Yes," he says with a smile. "They looked so... happy. I loved how... it was just not what you would expect. Wheelchairs and joy... And I knew that I had to meet you. So when your agent called..."609Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7rtyigFg6S
609Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7Ms8H74fvY
609Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlwxK5vtYF7
He shrugs, and then looks at his watch. 609Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡx8dzIJNj19
609Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡam2xMPHx3y
609Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7UoXfymNyf
"Shit! Kelly—"609Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmMEDzS1WF7
609Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbLZ39GOkzS
609Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmW14JRjlCf
"Go," I say, as he walk-runs to his car, in a desperate attempt to not miss his child's recital.609Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡruulOmVg0d
609Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxmYKL6Dvlp
609Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8p5a6X8feR
I let out a shaky breath, all too aware that David Rochester has been stabbing me with his eyeballs for the past five hours, and I now have no one to protect me.609Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYo42SGm5Hg
609Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡF1kApCYWU4
609Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTV4vqS1KBD
***609Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfSI1EDqXHo
609Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ09Kt4YisSa
609Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2enDduLSr4
Since Shem, drove off approximately three minutes ago, David has been giving me this "you're mine now" look, with a fucking smirk, which, if I'm going to be honest, is starting to creep me the fuck out. 609Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQH2udU9l3l
609Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkAj1kxi7es
609Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAqZaFozWnA
For the first time, I actually feel intimidated by him.609Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0VXFZqOT1K
609Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡl1TXdAe8Li
609Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOogcHA3B03
Which means that I have to leave. Now.609Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhPOEYkTHcm
609Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡejmwF586lG
609Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJDIkZiVG4y
As soon as I get the chance I sprint to my car, and throw my camera bag onto the passenger seat as soon as I sit. I let out a breath that I didn't know that I was holding, and then go to close the door, which is pulled back.609Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡB9lckXbAyt
609Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaI12MQSTai
609Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡT6pLZdfTs4
I don't have to look up to know who it is.609Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8Itc37j0WV
609Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrOOCQfJNGr
609Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLn8EVNXhyy
"I wasn't done speaking to you."609Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnpnAyY5Hp4
609Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLMKIIULbUD
609Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSMyWiChhZA
"Well, I was." With a shaking hand, I try again to close the door — and he pulls it back. Again.609Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡO66aUSoxbo
609Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJIb5to8Qs7
609Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdMehpRqCIJ
"I think... it would be more... polite to speak to me outside of the car. Wouldn't you agree, Ms Anderson?"609Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡg1y0Fl80K8
609Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ54GOoo82Go
609Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxECLq3TPKT
I gulp. "I have to go—"609Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHMBx6xyNa8
609Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkmIlIVP5Z3
609Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5ldWuEYq3m
"I don't think you have to do shit. I think you're scared of me."609Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡorr362OSar
609Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMfSOyy2tUt
609Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2HCUdJkiYJ
My face heats up.609Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2IdCOWhFnF
609Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ71fq7mvXmh
609Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMO4rxIoH01
"I am not."609Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0f7jrx0KAl
609Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPYFv35yCs4
609Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡL0MTGFXpDF
He smirks. He knows he just got me.609Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJPzOERqDpf
609Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡB7ZAsFtZSr
609Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhhDf6j7TJX
"Prove it."609Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjOZ67EPtjO
609Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0191OFuZ6y
609Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqv88562aXb
With a shaking hand, I push the door open and step out, sealing my fate.609Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡH1YjUxBv90
609Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6yvfPI4GHJ
609Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡupkZHVXGSA
"Much better," he says, with a look of approval.609Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvpAWK4ozoj
609Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡN1Jve2oW74
609Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSOD9ZJaAXs
"Fuck you," I growl, my irritation with this man getting the better of me.609Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxpkhpAsxIb
609Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqnvA6A8iHW
609Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAtsuMbXnrd
He just smiles at me as if I just said the most beautiful word in the world.609Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOLVm3u2Laz
609Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6cMukhUvzq
609Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlv5nWk7dFz
"Awe, I never knew that Little Ms Anderson was a potty mouth," he says, caging me in against the car making me feel so... small. 609Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwzBqSoI6oV
609Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡItyAhTHPl4
609Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbpYr9yqJOR
"Now let me explain something to you," he says dangerously low, his lips against my ear, "when I give instructions, I want them followed. I don't strangers showing up at my events—"609Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡo46rF4cmH2
609Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9NmPkzFNxr
609Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzjpP2F0I1I
"I was doing my job—"609Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtSsHpWKqDC
609Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpE4DuEzfpV
609Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFKsw4cPg45
"And I get to say who can—"609Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnFar198hzz
609Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpjmuV7IPwa
609Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWp1n9lt02H
"Then don't ask me to do shit for you again! You're so fucking demanding! You can't even wait until the next morning for an answer, and I can't bring anyone along? Fuck you!"609Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuviEAnmpH2
609Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ29OAo9YiJM
609Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡncWZJS5aAi
I push his right arm out of the way and jump into my car. He's still standing there when I drive off.609Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXuQXJqkz26
609Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDhYrnNScmM
609Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaLWumgJjnw
***609Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5t3Yum0Roy
609Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDPfQxL4WGA
609Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgCRSC2H73p
Dear Leah,609Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdMC3EtaChe
609Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfIxR29n0H7
609Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡphJIaNg6g3
I sincerely apologise for my prick-ish behaviour towards you over the period of time which I have known you. I can't promise that I will behave, but I can promise that I will try.609Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ42l4WbZkjV
609Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnPQp38LN7R
609Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzRcIk9JAMO
I have your cheque prepared — I will be home all day today, so just come by and pick it up. If you want to have nothing to do with me, I completely understand.609Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGzyjoEgN87
609Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLXNTkhXbHk
609Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0q3EndXwpM
Sincerely,609Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdH7YFozGPR
David.609Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡt88NHLS7ZI
609Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXg9MZkwXaV
609Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡV0gJYl9USu
Please note that this is a textmessage that I received from David Rochester at 3:57 a.m. this morning, a text that woke me the fuck up, and the only reason why I am going to his apartment at 9 a.m. on this lovely Saturday is because he has my money.609Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ25vucM9TpR
609Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUk8j2Ayyym
609Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEHJkvYvDMY
Briefly, I wonder what the hell his new job would be. No amount of money, however, would see me working with that asshole again.609Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡemXQJucgUa
609Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4fKnSe5kks
609Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxTLKrwKyJk
The door opens before I can knock. 609Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqZgmbt3jqm
609Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwOemkzxJYV
609Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8xKfRVZOC8
"Good morning, Leah." 609Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmbPC0a1NcX
609Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFkXZv1y5mv
609Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2nRUuLdXvu
"David."609Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡa0a4BwuiIN
609Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡK27118eHhV
609Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5mIeRqQ6D6
I take the liberty to sit down on the couch, noting that my photograph now hangs beside the television. 609Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKV1IIS8goU
609Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUz6GVKvmKx
609Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBYoKtql46J
"Beer?"609Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡj0vqXkJEXh
609Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVRXjCZNswk
609Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUMuVPcoPi4
"Yeah."609Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVqztqXMrxz
609Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlRTIAW3LTW
609Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKZdNGmnVcA
And he gives it to me this time.609Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡs7oLIObFWr
609Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3Ksumuvsa8
609Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcbArEWIyju
He flops down in the chair perpendicular to mine, and fiddles with a piece of paper, that looks suspiciously like a cheque.609Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhOk9ocZObi
609Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡA4UjLQMLpj
609Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaZUDBFtSRG
"I... I just want to apologise. Again."609Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGbDkaALIYU
609Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡA4sW0CZUxh
609Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0ST74WMLiO
"David, I really don't give a shit anymore."609Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPS8mCbvQbc
609Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPorFUYf7Nf
609Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqPnl117S1o
He sighs, then looks up at me.609Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhjuZrefSsj
609Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMoBSmzmtV4
609Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡefp6x7KhhJ
"Leah, my behaviour was unacceptable. I can be an asshole and sometimes, I don't realise it, but that's no excuse."609Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡF9Qpy8gLz8
609Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqPmdDUc24D
609Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡonhFlnUsku
I'm actually surprised by the sincerity in his voice and eyes. He actually has some degree of decency. Wow.609Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ03MyginUD5
609Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHzz9U4cTpZ
609Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLwBSs1w37b
"I... I accept your apology David."609Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRlwKLurKvh
609Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMVk901CcSk
609Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpHXO8JOq0K
His eyes light up.609Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgbOb17MdqS
609Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡj3RkrjFa2v
609Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡF4AU53h2Pw
"Really? So we're friends now?"609Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJDr5T9He7t
609Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡny7FgTG2wH
609Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJQVB3LCZh7
I have to laugh humourlessly at that. Really? Friends?609Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMUocH9uGYi
609Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlXO9hwqzjl
609Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoji4KxxUrI
"Not even close."
ns216.73.216.82da2
