Remember what I said about being able to survive anyone after Montgomery? 649Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqDCvuTwAqu
649Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkLnakJRkKP
That was utter rubbish.649Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡABm3cnX4rl
649Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡC2vVtlS7hg
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.649Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqN1sIhqT9u
649Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkaWxWTeiGK
"Bloodclaat," I muttered under my breath, hauling them over threshold, since I was too lazy to make a second trip.649Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLEZu9wLhWz
649Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡayGuZwBSfr
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.649Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡS72G71vKl7
649Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLkBM8pIGrU
Finally, I got through the door, and rested them flat on the floor against the wall perpendicular the couch, beside the television.649Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDPvh3GAKBR
649Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzZcefU7j6p
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.649Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyqBNOuymiR
649Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlCU6XlpjIf
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.649Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSSh2ToYU3t
649Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiNX3dZ5HWF
"This was my first photography show, and I must admit, your work is closer to what can be considered as art than I expected."649Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9g8dgwMuy5
649Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyXjOySTeAu
Closer?649Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ03EjxleJVm
649Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMYmdIMSkRm
Closer?649Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMUF2O6IQMO
649Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNKzgOyMGbR
This is art. This is what I've dedicated my life to.649Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡO6Kz68vVpw
649Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCveDD9OlrW
"Closer?"649Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡihw0bUlVSG
649Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡI2pK1ZAIk6
He gives me a condescending smile, and then clears his throat.649Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrrEGg9fGEN
649Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKfMh9aNz7i
"You see, photography will never be art. You are simply looking through a lense—"649Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡp4q847qCnx
649Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZFwnDPF8uL
"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.649Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqea0CE5jut
649Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBYAggHsHeV
But he just laughs. Hard.649Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡB0Df8nCl7L
649Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxuAl4ut1Ds
"Relax. It was a joke. Why else would I buy your art?"649Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9LmWpuNTcd
649Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvgtXi4wIBX
Well now, considering that that's why I'm here in the first place, I feel like a complete moron. 649Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtEMHalnBn5
649Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmPu3uzNCqJ
"When's your next showing?" he asks, assessing me with dark brown eyes.649Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYtdXvyYNvY
649Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQzi8kLXAx5
" 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.649Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOJGfuvdy5D
649Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOPBnqBcXIc
And now here I am, remembered as the girl who had her showing at Mr Assclown's house.649Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKdaLUc2fMJ
649Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQSiSpQ280G
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.649Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbjurPTDfBX
649Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlKrk4AmeeQ
"Can I give you a job?"649Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaOmUNp4Xrv
649Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ16ndkRvnw4
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.649Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7YEL2Q3zwV
649Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyd8JiLdlL0
"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.649Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡahi7nQ5JTr
649Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9Va9dcNlBr
"I have a family reunion on Friday. I need someone to take photographs."649Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmbzSpA7UhR
649Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoIeKluqcxw
Not so bad. He'll be with others, his family, and he'll have to behave. You'll survive.649Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtSPpslGmE8
649Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡplaBr10TkL
"I'll talk to my agent, and then call you back."649Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsFhAw5pYY8
649Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfCI2hHQlvt
"I need an answer now."649Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaXnoUrrG38
649Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhaFUEX3Bp6
Breathe.649Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgAZyZ2BR2a
649Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡC3yl5s6rnP
It's now almost ten p.m. I can't call him now.649Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHiAAYSTcVA
649Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡk4bi9paBeE
"Okay. I'll do it," I agree, hoping that I won't regret this. 649Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJZ2qPJdkaw
649Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ64Rd1OM9uW
***649Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡs1TFPB0ZvM
649Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrA274STJPC
"Absolutely not." 649Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡovd1j9A3gP
649Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDzGBpDlOzh
"I already said I would, Marcus," I reply, rubbing my forehead. It's too early in the morning for this shit.649Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfObjOm7EuX
649Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡz1XT4zi3h4
"Cancel it."649Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjZy6uYNo9x
649Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjUa3avQEYv
"I'm not going to tarnish my reputation just because you disapprove."649Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHnC0rNTg3P
649Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡumTJZaM2NW
"Who's the agent?"649Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcN2a4Pc0cW
649Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxLtxkHz3Yy
"It's still my decision! I need the money."649Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGQ5TNN5Gjl
649Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFoy3HOP3Bi
"I arranged for you to meet with one of Jamaica's best photographers on Friday. His schedule is jam packed—"649Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡk9Gz2KRZa5
649Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQfCQUwiiXx
"Then I'm sure he'll appreciate the opening. Cancel it."649Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfeyz9ox5ko
649Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡm1WaFItWcX
"Leah—"649Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUqgXjxukJs
649Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9q9reo6dRB
"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."649Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvMYgWyD5yG
649Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAhRDVX6s10
I hear silence. Then, "Why don't you just bring him with you?"649Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡler20EPkJc
649Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVP8bdxsnE4
I snort. "That would never work."649Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbN3BHsICj7
649Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡT1GapC1YB7
"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?"649Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGzF4gvmvq8
649Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdPGkawYCmQ
"Jesus Christ, you're a genius. And Rochester shouldn't mind because it'll probably make the photos come out better." 649Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDmXO84as76
649Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRaPS0y9pJz
"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."649Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfVvUgIO98m
649Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoNcmdfC4ts
I chuckle. "Thanks, Marcus. You're always there to ever so subtly remind me that I'm teetering on the line of poverty."649Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtRb1bMjoxS
649Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQDWz57siMe
"Anytime, babygirl," he says with a grin that I hear through the phone. "Anytime."
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