"Who the fuck is that?"544Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyJLOUnrJvB
544Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJANNXujFQ6
544Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtm5PUN7zLw
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.544Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNCWgY1YHvF
544Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjiDciat0nB
544Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDcFyUDvTjB
"Another photographer," I say as nonchalantly as I can.544Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdgTlvBS2It
544Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDhjDR4he2J
544Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGinI7LpN7b
He chuckles deep in his throat.544Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkeZDH3rDXK
544Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyrE6D2WBlB
544Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7cMC07vAza
"Ms Anderson, did I say that I wanted anyone else to come to this... gathering?"544Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEPS0oszO9T
544Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiKVrMOJoNg
544Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡN6QWjLSJN8
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.544Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbyUWRJmQGO
544Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡA9vCaj4WsD
544Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡB6Zv7Hvwo0
Well, so do I.544Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ40NWS8Zoxu
544Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIjIphylaxK
544Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡun4BuVnsyP
"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."544Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBWzuD66V33
544Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjOeJ0iPfJn
544Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3R0zrEPqV6
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.544Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVbmGUj5QDu
544Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAf9SdN6g3N
544Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJYGMFxYBLm
"Hello, Leah," he says, shaking my hand with poorly concealed enthusiasm.544Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡF8HuTtfwu7
544Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKebdpISohi
544Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfPXZpKtvGd
"Shemarré Martin. It's a pleasure to meet you."544Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzCKjGTOuha
544Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOfFHNRrlOp
544Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIJhbfYdx6R
His smile broadens. "Please. Call me Shem."544Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡt273pWDO4P
544Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5oe7aEPeax
544Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMeZVScYdWh
***544Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkq94cVsWtZ
544Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡi7V17f43c8
544Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgUTv8Feh3r
As I circle the family reunion several times, taking photographs, Shem passed on whatever he felt necessary to me.544Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUanqVXasMR
544Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYX0XVktwUq
544Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnLCxkhOQPd
"Stay in the background. Make them forget you're even there."544Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkdwUpoJYjA
544Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoIUx8ViSEw
544Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRA7dtyMVEl
"Candids are always better; they speak the truth."544Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0FBUbvV2po
544Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtAXmMS023l
544Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZIPsEK5vLX
"At events like these, the ratio of candids to posed photographs should be approximately ten to one. That should be your aim."544Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡogXmKoB8n2
544Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSZ8z0bwe38
544Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhnx5UILCSb
Now, everyone is packing up, and Shem has to leave for his daughter's cello recital. 544Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9ZIf4clkFh
544Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6tc3Yzy6S9
544Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAUkpkID5WZ
"Um... Shem?" I say, unsure of how to phrase the question that I want to ask.544Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyv9qM57qGe
544Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVvvkd6cDZ0
544Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡg48NJUEDtT
"Yes?"544Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVadHYxvwvl
544Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlrNzjLpdAX
544Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8Tw6jcPnyc
"Um... Why?"544Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiA1R1nC2Fy
544Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡj6hgKyHX3u
544Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNsz3Qu6AZq
He looks at me as if I'm stupid for a few seconds.544Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmHFc9xGhGF
544Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpFZ5xNjhaX
544Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLmEPWXYmgX
"Huh?"544Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡft2Jga3TsP
544Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAjURQ419xH
544Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9t6NFUsv8V
"Why did you do it? Help me? You're so busy, but you went out of your wa—"544Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7bOGtTKhZ8
544Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOw2LiykiGB
544Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZLrfW4iJ2n
"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—"544Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtCCmA5oK4Y
544Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPukPktwF9I
544Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡExmzaFL9J1
"—and one in a wheelchair," I finish.544Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9tuLBa2NzZ
544Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVvFqhoGVr9
544Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJrju6x0bTz
"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..."544Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaJzFiWLfNH
544Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYFgsJskvev
544Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9YxFSp27Mi
He shrugs, and then looks at his watch. 544Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaVb4dmKaXD
544Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbHXTNoEyM4
544Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡF3EVfKAbEj
"Shit! Kelly—"544Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnhiw6WDfJd
544Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGw4VnZw8vB
544Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgPEvpjYRSp
"Go," I say, as he walk-runs to his car, in a desperate attempt to not miss his child's recital.544Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfMmDicHuD7
544Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡH5LO029Lao
544Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡct9atEL4fO
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.544Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmB5HkugvZp
544Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWAIxO5Pg8O
544Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiQzHgGhvYQ
***544Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkiHPjQEmes
544Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9vF0OLhCbl
544Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9fOj3fbASB
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. 544Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡW9yq8gEdpj
544Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡV14YBUrIe4
544Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjUfsAKT2eP
For the first time, I actually feel intimidated by him.544Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJ93FuRBM6q
544Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCdc01BTwY7
544Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVCBNxyrAp3
Which means that I have to leave. Now.544Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ76YqvGg7t4
544Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1pVoFryemW
544Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8vIsH1dPuz
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.544Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1FvD9v7Gih
544Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzO6ssE3QJB
544Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeiloZruHJP
I don't have to look up to know who it is.544Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlIzDpq6nAH
544Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡx2if6URF0O
544Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡe55ZgzrJ8n
"I wasn't done speaking to you."544Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡivMEGxg243
544Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdVkoQJ1SaF
544Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡh17S1xgk7E
"Well, I was." With a shaking hand, I try again to close the door — and he pulls it back. Again.544Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4GjkraL8o9
544Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMpuAPYJuMT
544Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ72bk9ubdBr
"I think... it would be more... polite to speak to me outside of the car. Wouldn't you agree, Ms Anderson?"544Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoolKsLj29T
544Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyUmLV8EMKx
544Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhC0x6lp1wm
I gulp. "I have to go—"544Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMltrzKoGHL
544Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZK5N6FGTAA
544Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbFzA5KUbZj
"I don't think you have to do shit. I think you're scared of me."544Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVTihNMd452
544Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ75unNoGdUs
544Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnJ6A0gN9lI
My face heats up.544Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtyMWl2DSTq
544Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNnffYIVwdw
544Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGuMFruSj48
"I am not."544Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVlWjFx391f
544Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbrtG4MhaIk
544Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhLIi4mttIk
He smirks. He knows he just got me.544Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdCTHpOToYg
544Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡq41MbwY2Vc
544Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQQlnNQaKGF
"Prove it."544Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGUL3Q2WwSD
544Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLDsG5xyoL2
544Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2Qcjzb5sTN
With a shaking hand, I push the door open and step out, sealing my fate.544Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgG3Nhwt3Xw
544Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkR0bae7FV2
544Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8IWREEs98D
"Much better," he says, with a look of approval.544Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡou4CD9r2ff
544Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLSKYE79mJd
544Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjyWki62kGk
"Fuck you," I growl, my irritation with this man getting the better of me.544Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4tvRjcZgPD
544Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNiuppYHRnV
544Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5dbVaxsLi9
He just smiles at me as if I just said the most beautiful word in the world.544Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzHTSKxGCnE
544Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhBAfZ3qNKI
544Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxuxgvrTB0d
"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. 544Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9MdDztOdP9
544Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMTTVJt4yV6
544Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7Af5a1blIN
"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—"544Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0lPLhhq2qF
544Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQV9NxAlqGa
544Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbDayzx2Dnz
"I was doing my job—"544Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡETh2JuSghL
544Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmTaqeYvAOQ
544Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡU4OZxoQkMb
"And I get to say who can—"544Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfu3vMRDkIo
544Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEN6DYqj5BV
544Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTHl2qiXNEF
"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!"544Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡe00J03HcDS
544Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡX0H0zqLLt5
544Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTyJJaxwib2
I push his right arm out of the way and jump into my car. He's still standing there when I drive off.544Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6fe9zPvplC
544Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡc9x9gfOMAL
544Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ81ImFZOIFg
***544Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0LL34uPIKe
544Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyE9OQw9QMm
544Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfEnZNZI7BI
Dear Leah,544Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡomDq0qsNn1
544Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBDJgdyReQC
544Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeLsIqfdk5h
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.544Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLeCA9o4CcD
544Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9N4TVK0rKg
544Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKwH4KfLye4
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.544Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZSxV32AaCV
544Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7DjTcGyUYr
544Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxdx3jQJ1w0
Sincerely,544Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3njS9a8ysm
David.544Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVEW3pTKwXB
544Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ08QJYrXCIg
544Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMtSvhUKpMK
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.544Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡA9ducdMjyP
544Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpSEKk4ba5T
544Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ13DunQZ8LY
Briefly, I wonder what the hell his new job would be. No amount of money, however, would see me working with that asshole again.544Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡx3iOWGCNsb
544Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyHmahzDL0b
544Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8s2MEewcPa
The door opens before I can knock. 544Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqdQ58nPc9Z
544Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡInP17rfYAs
544Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡg79NKmpJu7
"Good morning, Leah." 544Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡe92BgTQvMz
544Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5EKLjWPvov
544Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDvwQPKK3iC
"David."544Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfSii6Ajud9
544Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzjJ1gqNMGl
544Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuULNWaPV54
I take the liberty to sit down on the couch, noting that my photograph now hangs beside the television. 544Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0nKIepHYPZ
544Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBbkxoOhtRZ
544Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfeETaQzY4b
"Beer?"544Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKCysuQp4Ve
544Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFPcKhbu1d8
544Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjfG7Ag1azk
"Yeah."544Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡu3KObsp64p
544Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJtc9N0WfGA
544Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKxLecLQFxv
And he gives it to me this time.544Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡck4hiGLW68
544Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVANZWuGQa1
544Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4nunYwLent
He flops down in the chair perpendicular to mine, and fiddles with a piece of paper, that looks suspiciously like a cheque.544Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡg6q81PRaNP
544Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoC5nZWrCpU
544Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡt8F9gk8SwU
"I... I just want to apologise. Again."544Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZEJgv7n8u5
544Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXjSjQVuwMj
544Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9nFBcnbYjh
"David, I really don't give a shit anymore."544Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡq44sZt2EUh
544Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡS1ini8xmh5
544Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLqhn8cMD6S
He sighs, then looks up at me.544Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1rlyIpJmOO
544Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡn0s0hUJTLU
544Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8VAaXBJIIx
"Leah, my behaviour was unacceptable. I can be an asshole and sometimes, I don't realise it, but that's no excuse."544Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeRm7828IXH
544Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡY2p0LSC3f9
544Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZrEq0PQ2L2
I'm actually surprised by the sincerity in his voice and eyes. He actually has some degree of decency. Wow.544Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpagoJPUfwi
544Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡS4zYxJxaWu
544Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQZlPyDvs9s
"I... I accept your apology David."544Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡl5vVOUFToi
544Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrgD2DVZOoA
544Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuxUH2Nk7At
His eyes light up.544Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnKVVWgduyA
544Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfTbBI6Fa9k
544Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡz476qE81eE
"Really? So we're friends now?"544Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjrol25g401
544Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwPkxOGELRW
544Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡocBKgfaJDT
I have to laugh humourlessly at that. Really? Friends?544Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡETKk3JVXWB
544Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNDPkONsA6E
544Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjjOJ39bFRt
"Not even close."
ns3.17.145.236da2
