Remember what I said about being able to survive anyone after Montgomery? 630Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5MYiMAJSxT
630Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8QTvwY9uIZ
That was utter rubbish.630Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbBzlFSEz8I
630Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyyPjiEDFHG
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.630Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZ3okHiSCcM
630Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡedKCLMrr3T
"Bloodclaat," I muttered under my breath, hauling them over threshold, since I was too lazy to make a second trip.630Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPwO4qCG7nw
630Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFTT9KjkrLb
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.630Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJWGKNHWpw6
630Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTgfzfePpzR
Finally, I got through the door, and rested them flat on the floor against the wall perpendicular the couch, beside the television.630Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiEcEWLufsi
630Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ57S2iK416w
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.630Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlRNJb9cNtk
630Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡacEUV09Gb7
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.630Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOUJOLn2oaE
630Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzZ5vycgOhS
"This was my first photography show, and I must admit, your work is closer to what can be considered as art than I expected."630Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLG6eFLAVu7
630Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSu6ZumM4Q3
Closer?630Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0EOS9cDhdf
630Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ08ejnhCLsX
Closer?630Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡm8qpcenI9m
630Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPk3ILxL2rH
This is art. This is what I've dedicated my life to.630Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡo35uOjSIx9
630Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQ89RRZNUiw
"Closer?"630Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUkypLvCxUf
630Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡszMKezEILY
He gives me a condescending smile, and then clears his throat.630Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvWwZtablSQ
630Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ302JM8pldW
"You see, photography will never be art. You are simply looking through a lense—"630Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAbXtLfB6dx
630Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡj5QaWIgXfT
"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.630Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfHOZSWRh0j
630Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4kuOqXHj2n
But he just laughs. Hard.630Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0XuIGV00uo
630Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡO48v1ae7qw
"Relax. It was a joke. Why else would I buy your art?"630Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5tSCC8F7C8
630Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtkg568EElx
Well now, considering that that's why I'm here in the first place, I feel like a complete moron. 630Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlJzvLYu3CC
630Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0XCLPkrF26
"When's your next showing?" he asks, assessing me with dark brown eyes.630Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQl94qBHRwk
630Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9h6eV5B3QN
" 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.630Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ57SQb4WW5h
630Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaX0woE5Fx3
And now here I am, remembered as the girl who had her showing at Mr Assclown's house.630Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡW6CpS8mkTw
630Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNeA3K8vkvx
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.630Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfadicEU3U5
630Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡghu17VT5sE
"Can I give you a job?"630Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNqnLRYC52W
630Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡx3Lf8V4sQe
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.630Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡM9o4u3mqXd
630Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTBVSJK56Qu
"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.630Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡODBbA0OciE
630Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYhNEH2wnif
"I have a family reunion on Friday. I need someone to take photographs."630Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEARSNQa4ln
630Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAGT0kDzLBN
Not so bad. He'll be with others, his family, and he'll have to behave. You'll survive.630Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUiGD8YTBvF
630Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyfaqIBdvYU
"I'll talk to my agent, and then call you back."630Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBd5dFAGYmo
630Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡA7gsf5qwSO
"I need an answer now."630Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbQSi4jOJtq
630Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLQ4ZQuEFSW
Breathe.630Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCugoVrIymF
630Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZG8tksfzL0
It's now almost ten p.m. I can't call him now.630Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtLkRA73NuM
630Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZ600OAMqjg
"Okay. I'll do it," I agree, hoping that I won't regret this. 630Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrBGuD3MceS
630Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWVnlJKVnyD
***630Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXL5GH7TMOV
630Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPMJBAYnewD
"Absolutely not." 630Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyaO5W0txcC
630Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJsWSZGuGlb
"I already said I would, Marcus," I reply, rubbing my forehead. It's too early in the morning for this shit.630Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDGkw9Gzb6J
630Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWWDGZkUgBs
"Cancel it."630Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsYv03TUJLM
630Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡX3NgsmD93U
"I'm not going to tarnish my reputation just because you disapprove."630Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡofw7yc1pY6
630Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡh006UNwGR5
"Who's the agent?"630Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWT7ah82uMa
630Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGIQyYWHkiW
"It's still my decision! I need the money."630Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKNaSeY640f
630Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfaCfvE9wvb
"I arranged for you to meet with one of Jamaica's best photographers on Friday. His schedule is jam packed—"630Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8jIBPticeQ
630Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoWHd79goHS
"Then I'm sure he'll appreciate the opening. Cancel it."630Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6qFCphmyjP
630Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvHvlXRzYwr
"Leah—"630Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvX8XsOUQje
630Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEjehDBmDbA
"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."630Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZXGdeAIZki
630Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5ofx1gUNPM
I hear silence. Then, "Why don't you just bring him with you?"630Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWxpSdVSs8c
630Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡe71xDSDnnY
I snort. "That would never work."630Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ86QIvAH96b
630Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlKr86RsCjM
"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?"630Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmONXiIApxL
630Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdu7lpDAYUg
"Jesus Christ, you're a genius. And Rochester shouldn't mind because it'll probably make the photos come out better." 630Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKyT2ybB98u
630Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡltBGXDzH6G
"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."630Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUz0URyozQz
630Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGZbTYfMUnW
I chuckle. "Thanks, Marcus. You're always there to ever so subtly remind me that I'm teetering on the line of poverty."630Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMs7J1sVaxZ
630Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiWzPdUhpOA
"Anytime, babygirl," he says with a grin that I hear through the phone. "Anytime."
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