Remember what I said about being able to survive anyone after Montgomery? 592Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiBtTZJO30F
592Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpelHqfMlem
That was utter rubbish.592Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvzv91O9eoY
592Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoMPyyAVrXI
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.592Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡidB5ATiyfK
592Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxaBjwxj0fG
"Bloodclaat," I muttered under my breath, hauling them over threshold, since I was too lazy to make a second trip.592Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡf0lLBDmb0s
592Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡh7hSu9msSK
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.592Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTFgVm4S6bV
592Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjalkG7LmqK
Finally, I got through the door, and rested them flat on the floor against the wall perpendicular the couch, beside the television.592Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡht3PwMYKDs
592Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZK8TpL1wKN
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.592Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLGMSzhLmJR
592Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5GBmKCvxZW
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.592Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVDJS9qLDel
592Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsP7cXKS97Q
"This was my first photography show, and I must admit, your work is closer to what can be considered as art than I expected."592Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfIuDKMKgFC
592Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZOJLfO0mny
Closer?592Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDakwruO70j
592Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡL5OCYFkXAd
Closer?592Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJ31luyA5OH
592Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxrgdv0VFK1
This is art. This is what I've dedicated my life to.592Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlbtvcNuuPz
592Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡj0wHArcLfx
"Closer?"592Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJNYLc6n2WU
592Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ83fpuRSNRV
He gives me a condescending smile, and then clears his throat.592Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSiWICdylzU
592Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeyHQxaNGP2
"You see, photography will never be art. You are simply looking through a lense—"592Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzc8Kz5mrUU
592Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ81w1od0Rut
"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.592Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTDAwGdOFfV
592Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡixEx4ZvTx5
But he just laughs. Hard.592Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMvBEvLZEaP
592Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡA0VsIetSVj
"Relax. It was a joke. Why else would I buy your art?"592Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4pYFQdsl8M
592Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡv29O3Z5MfU
Well now, considering that that's why I'm here in the first place, I feel like a complete moron. 592Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiOPCwJfd12
592Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4CExo0MXlu
"When's your next showing?" he asks, assessing me with dark brown eyes.592Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdT5pOgwloL
592Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡo6cxbW6u1O
" 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.592Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLEEE2ITFn8
592Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9suJT3LThC
And now here I am, remembered as the girl who had her showing at Mr Assclown's house.592Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcJf9tqLpYB
592Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpFEiCHJ38W
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.592Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNDBX8jm5oQ
592Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoB8EJOgcCA
"Can I give you a job?"592Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlQcN2dit6a
592Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGue9s6dguF
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.592Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJxQwgCNY4o
592Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡT6GfpDB8AI
"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.592Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvq4iTgXbnk
592Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3UBreOVPV5
"I have a family reunion on Friday. I need someone to take photographs."592Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIWlVhZoO7b
592Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUiP2t9iKWD
Not so bad. He'll be with others, his family, and he'll have to behave. You'll survive.592Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzIe1LdfL4c
592Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2vGZefhgmQ
"I'll talk to my agent, and then call you back."592Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJt8rjiXfFc
592Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmBEBYi1Ma2
"I need an answer now."592Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8cSJE9usUJ
592Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIRsHFbo1hB
Breathe.592Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡabcqXybHFF
592Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡThpVtTLTeO
It's now almost ten p.m. I can't call him now.592Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmNoSpAESVS
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"Okay. I'll do it," I agree, hoping that I won't regret this. 592Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSKwFB3ZJlb
592Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdLGboPCagi
***592Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvqb0FSHNbd
592Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDo7MWDXwqf
"Absolutely not." 592Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡO8iHAyNG9w
592Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAahTHCuFlA
"I already said I would, Marcus," I reply, rubbing my forehead. It's too early in the morning for this shit.592Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡexWsqx32RP
592Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTUn0MecuBs
"Cancel it."592Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡT4FyPWJBgq
592Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡK0nnshHXbx
"I'm not going to tarnish my reputation just because you disapprove."592Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvzOIcvyk5U
592Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjP4AiZgDwW
"Who's the agent?"592Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVihLvED9oQ
592Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSPi2stmOp2
"It's still my decision! I need the money."592Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4zOd8rXMyB
592Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOEuEsdCyKj
"I arranged for you to meet with one of Jamaica's best photographers on Friday. His schedule is jam packed—"592Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPukw9djf9w
592Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLswZrjcBjt
"Then I'm sure he'll appreciate the opening. Cancel it."592Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnc7rsCGz2g
592Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbxfj5uYTC9
"Leah—"592Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVnn0jmn4ON
592Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQic7zQIsZu
"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."592Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtmmWOgJsly
592Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2Mhf1MlT1A
I hear silence. Then, "Why don't you just bring him with you?"592Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzMUPyLmRdG
592Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwGwOEsbanu
I snort. "That would never work."592Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡE8FnZ1qGya
592Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡM41cXcHfjC
"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?"592Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIN8jHfXIZw
592Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwWc1RyC6D8
"Jesus Christ, you're a genius. And Rochester shouldn't mind because it'll probably make the photos come out better." 592Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTjHBynh6S1
592Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVskeL5mMqi
"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."592Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZHu8GefFIk
592Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9XF1V03qN6
I chuckle. "Thanks, Marcus. You're always there to ever so subtly remind me that I'm teetering on the line of poverty."592Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡN54UQrLPVs
592Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzAxMbtkGRh
"Anytime, babygirl," he says with a grin that I hear through the phone. "Anytime."
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