Remember what I said about being able to survive anyone after Montgomery? 578Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiLbx4YvYj5
578Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTC4na4cvt6
That was utter rubbish.578Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgVgT1RwLtb
578Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡopDfiYNWkE
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.578Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsSB0L3hqQR
578Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡu3SmtXmjP7
"Bloodclaat," I muttered under my breath, hauling them over threshold, since I was too lazy to make a second trip.578Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡErRWOqHXid
578Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbXUf5xlHqe
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.578Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBoTuxeZE2w
578Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8DKXo2Ypbu
Finally, I got through the door, and rested them flat on the floor against the wall perpendicular the couch, beside the television.578Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ00cKpRAfft
578Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOOutCSAdvM
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.578Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9zCVO0l9ny
578Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡh88Ggi9zAx
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.578Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYnZyHw2BjC
578Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZ5jEidlq3W
"This was my first photography show, and I must admit, your work is closer to what can be considered as art than I expected."578Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdCGmpdmQSq
578Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTOHLYrbP5X
Closer?578Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9plDafwu1g
578Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmdu89cNDb9
Closer?578Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmQpnIya9vL
578Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtxhPXxUQXn
This is art. This is what I've dedicated my life to.578Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBGr1bem9aA
578Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpZfo9gfmpH
"Closer?"578Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvFN4Wcps1A
578Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEo9ZGGrzqZ
He gives me a condescending smile, and then clears his throat.578Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5Y9xd6JL5J
578Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAAlpuxDedN
"You see, photography will never be art. You are simply looking through a lense—"578Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡncotHi809c
578Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFHZBRZNULM
"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.578Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ67ym0AwUVu
578Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqMF5bV3sUs
But he just laughs. Hard.578Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeG7Tm5i3bU
578Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡt5RsORmc2v
"Relax. It was a joke. Why else would I buy your art?"578Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLEMgTKQs9r
578Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡs8GjukA1f7
Well now, considering that that's why I'm here in the first place, I feel like a complete moron. 578Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡk1fs6DSb9F
578Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaBJoal0jLo
"When's your next showing?" he asks, assessing me with dark brown eyes.578Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGJ1EcBtYhI
578Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLRBKlkJYLT
" 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.578Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPLAhlINxNl
578Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEoUexjCOAO
And now here I am, remembered as the girl who had her showing at Mr Assclown's house.578Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwUWhOiSvWw
578Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWqZxlmKc6D
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.578Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqu9YTUrVGj
578Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJGpKPCdq2c
"Can I give you a job?"578Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiBtgS9h4cP
578Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9qiIYCTCOE
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.578Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuGDrIMqS01
578Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmVEIsmM60E
"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.578Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5cVXh1uXf9
578Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡG3ooSKUXfZ
"I have a family reunion on Friday. I need someone to take photographs."578Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPE9xqyLDSw
578Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCZSLCXgCB0
Not so bad. He'll be with others, his family, and he'll have to behave. You'll survive.578Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMexZDeqPSW
578Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgc0r3mTH1y
"I'll talk to my agent, and then call you back."578Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6kX4tqMbNK
578Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡImd0U1nDk2
"I need an answer now."578Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzgDmBeua5p
578Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡob1iz1BeHu
Breathe.578Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxsaNmHLRJO
578Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHbmfOX0NpJ
It's now almost ten p.m. I can't call him now.578Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqj0iFeW5wb
578Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZek8ayF88F
"Okay. I'll do it," I agree, hoping that I won't regret this. 578Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7eG2aFiVOI
578Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmnDG6HCsfe
***578Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRSae1RnzZ6
578Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtiKgA76IDF
"Absolutely not." 578Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBqyAPtQZy0
578Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxAN0VbkP10
"I already said I would, Marcus," I reply, rubbing my forehead. It's too early in the morning for this shit.578Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2Bg8T7ViZ0
578Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9NYvKB3Lhq
"Cancel it."578Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡs1NMDChmvq
578Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcvFO3Y3pUe
"I'm not going to tarnish my reputation just because you disapprove."578Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLaxUt1xxk3
578Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡd9gL86Rmu3
"Who's the agent?"578Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwZYw11FYyq
578Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlss1RtuepM
"It's still my decision! I need the money."578Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNka5VDb0oU
578Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEjQ3wTM369
"I arranged for you to meet with one of Jamaica's best photographers on Friday. His schedule is jam packed—"578Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ20hmDHOiLJ
578Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtKqsGkE6yZ
"Then I'm sure he'll appreciate the opening. Cancel it."578Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡF4lA1lXyzh
578Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡP3eVbNP8IR
"Leah—"578Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOaghMnJe8u
578Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDygTch6Kan
"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."578Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSFAc5IEtUL
578Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHTz1zcePaA
I hear silence. Then, "Why don't you just bring him with you?"578Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpcaoPKg86d
578Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡts9MmXGtnC
I snort. "That would never work."578Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5403PZ26bm
578Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡo9LhJGcHNz
"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?"578Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡETYuZnFRbe
578Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLN9J62lWcz
"Jesus Christ, you're a genius. And Rochester shouldn't mind because it'll probably make the photos come out better." 578Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUCUO3sgMnR
578Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8ZJN7xuPF6
"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."578Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡc3ClENUbJN
578Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfkpiXcznAj
I chuckle. "Thanks, Marcus. You're always there to ever so subtly remind me that I'm teetering on the line of poverty."578Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjmAvPXTjdc
578Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXA8SbB79lg
"Anytime, babygirl," he says with a grin that I hear through the phone. "Anytime."
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