"Who the fuck is that?"438Please respect copyright.PENANAICrMX26Afw
438Please respect copyright.PENANAa9ljMgIduW
438Please respect copyright.PENANA0sxYtw1FqM
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.438Please respect copyright.PENANAPpgMcQyhFb
438Please respect copyright.PENANACr9gkekUqq
438Please respect copyright.PENANAaUoM5olP9O
"Another photographer," I say as nonchalantly as I can.438Please respect copyright.PENANAOhqqFJQduY
438Please respect copyright.PENANAeOM7TQusZR
438Please respect copyright.PENANAFsjyeuKIvL
He chuckles deep in his throat.438Please respect copyright.PENANAym3I5Lzs3T
438Please respect copyright.PENANAkqCOphcC27
438Please respect copyright.PENANAi2DVCT2BrT
"Ms Anderson, did I say that I wanted anyone else to come to this... gathering?"438Please respect copyright.PENANAq88OKeNJsw
438Please respect copyright.PENANAsJ1iivzweD
438Please respect copyright.PENANASGPPXOSB7n
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.438Please respect copyright.PENANAwMgiG2yzxT
438Please respect copyright.PENANAKrJZA0KOaQ
438Please respect copyright.PENANAtWdhzT5tmX
Well, so do I.438Please respect copyright.PENANA9pJbw6kWAZ
438Please respect copyright.PENANApAZMa5dQiG
438Please respect copyright.PENANAtIfFE98f2p
"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."438Please respect copyright.PENANA1pnhSMBtD9
438Please respect copyright.PENANAjWd6M0QhWD
438Please respect copyright.PENANAdgYUHcV7CP
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.438Please respect copyright.PENANAreGVRNqGcc
438Please respect copyright.PENANAg168DNezi7
438Please respect copyright.PENANADPAuo46u0y
"Hello, Leah," he says, shaking my hand with poorly concealed enthusiasm.438Please respect copyright.PENANAud1soqNebx
438Please respect copyright.PENANA8iSTkYdNqg
438Please respect copyright.PENANAI82BY1swlQ
"Shemarré Martin. It's a pleasure to meet you."438Please respect copyright.PENANAYg7Yiiv5lx
438Please respect copyright.PENANAxUDXtOSWpd
438Please respect copyright.PENANAgLBeutBbU0
His smile broadens. "Please. Call me Shem."438Please respect copyright.PENANAFybxXW9Nvw
438Please respect copyright.PENANAcG48AIERcA
438Please respect copyright.PENANAoJvXhcSW7w
***438Please respect copyright.PENANAqoQOPzAKbe
438Please respect copyright.PENANAMGubg5U5MS
438Please respect copyright.PENANAm5TdTnqcRu
As I circle the family reunion several times, taking photographs, Shem passed on whatever he felt necessary to me.438Please respect copyright.PENANAzm1YIr5Ljj
438Please respect copyright.PENANAr23vLXVmPs
438Please respect copyright.PENANAEaYicboIzZ
"Stay in the background. Make them forget you're even there."438Please respect copyright.PENANAmKOBQVflmR
438Please respect copyright.PENANA2uN2JlSvPI
438Please respect copyright.PENANAuVI24QwBPR
"Candids are always better; they speak the truth."438Please respect copyright.PENANArmVmGdTvdC
438Please respect copyright.PENANAnu5bn60IvC
438Please respect copyright.PENANArJ7hnqeMkd
"At events like these, the ratio of candids to posed photographs should be approximately ten to one. That should be your aim."438Please respect copyright.PENANAnsnvIQFMra
438Please respect copyright.PENANAxaVjIYV1v5
438Please respect copyright.PENANAPybCVT8BTg
Now, everyone is packing up, and Shem has to leave for his daughter's cello recital. 438Please respect copyright.PENANAIbED4tSrCK
438Please respect copyright.PENANAFLhesxOEzb
438Please respect copyright.PENANAhbFPLahfQS
"Um... Shem?" I say, unsure of how to phrase the question that I want to ask.438Please respect copyright.PENANAS715tAKMgu
438Please respect copyright.PENANAhWUPrrwQ0H
438Please respect copyright.PENANACTFsI7ZAci
"Yes?"438Please respect copyright.PENANAvHTAsf7qhI
438Please respect copyright.PENANAyTgQ35xBwI
438Please respect copyright.PENANAlW3SKfDDHk
"Um... Why?"438Please respect copyright.PENANAdIyfsU45qD
438Please respect copyright.PENANAmAylK56Eji
438Please respect copyright.PENANADKgBKRcNhw
He looks at me as if I'm stupid for a few seconds.438Please respect copyright.PENANACaij9eBt8g
438Please respect copyright.PENANAjyCXBYMqxW
438Please respect copyright.PENANAC8vA1Kfqtc
"Huh?"438Please respect copyright.PENANAUbyaKlWKMv
438Please respect copyright.PENANAMh7fbMbPci
438Please respect copyright.PENANA0DR0to2hNk
"Why did you do it? Help me? You're so busy, but you went out of your wa—"438Please respect copyright.PENANAYcU917eks0
438Please respect copyright.PENANAJtQb8WkrDg
438Please respect copyright.PENANAXOoV1Fi0te
"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—"438Please respect copyright.PENANAVvwSi20HrK
438Please respect copyright.PENANAifYCrDmLty
438Please respect copyright.PENANAKfedfpeGbG
"—and one in a wheelchair," I finish.438Please respect copyright.PENANAO5j8qNklhT
438Please respect copyright.PENANAsx3IULFyDo
438Please respect copyright.PENANAnmGwRyWrpu
"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..."438Please respect copyright.PENANAE55YfCLtan
438Please respect copyright.PENANAL7PQTq8E1S
438Please respect copyright.PENANAL0rVNMrpBb
He shrugs, and then looks at his watch. 438Please respect copyright.PENANA3CbvsLwZBX
438Please respect copyright.PENANAzmf3T6YfFW
438Please respect copyright.PENANAUC8MICQ7OO
"Shit! Kelly—"438Please respect copyright.PENANAJg6KaCrfvp
438Please respect copyright.PENANAs6NWX3eOgr
438Please respect copyright.PENANAFyAVTzOzjQ
"Go," I say, as he walk-runs to his car, in a desperate attempt to not miss his child's recital.438Please respect copyright.PENANAmPygwynpzG
438Please respect copyright.PENANAYkL8lq8XD6
438Please respect copyright.PENANABYNcPhnFtq
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.438Please respect copyright.PENANAnA82DD11N1
438Please respect copyright.PENANANXoLcA7waI
438Please respect copyright.PENANABB6LpJn49n
***438Please respect copyright.PENANAydRsOpxNcT
438Please respect copyright.PENANANCra6IBXJu
438Please respect copyright.PENANA3CaaXyrZnO
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. 438Please respect copyright.PENANAl5zDWVgHK9
438Please respect copyright.PENANA2JKTRKpKRp
438Please respect copyright.PENANA4SLuTrgLRM
For the first time, I actually feel intimidated by him.438Please respect copyright.PENANAFYCtQv49U1
438Please respect copyright.PENANAFMxu7r1dWS
438Please respect copyright.PENANATZAn5jIRcl
Which means that I have to leave. Now.438Please respect copyright.PENANA7QyHD2PrTy
438Please respect copyright.PENANA1i4sGnjt8D
438Please respect copyright.PENANAXMlqbY1aKL
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.438Please respect copyright.PENANA8kyxKVp1GH
438Please respect copyright.PENANAQs39YtbcGs
438Please respect copyright.PENANANq0nLZUY8v
I don't have to look up to know who it is.438Please respect copyright.PENANAvF2HGGigVu
438Please respect copyright.PENANAeBUqb4jWWR
438Please respect copyright.PENANAiLBqqgFCcr
"I wasn't done speaking to you."438Please respect copyright.PENANAyKh5dRBJjL
438Please respect copyright.PENANAmRhiEVdkic
438Please respect copyright.PENANAziXdapVWD1
"Well, I was." With a shaking hand, I try again to close the door — and he pulls it back. Again.438Please respect copyright.PENANA8XMBgM2Env
438Please respect copyright.PENANAICrlz9dfre
438Please respect copyright.PENANAI1beuajuV4
"I think... it would be more... polite to speak to me outside of the car. Wouldn't you agree, Ms Anderson?"438Please respect copyright.PENANASmghfsMSw9
438Please respect copyright.PENANARoom5ENVUH
438Please respect copyright.PENANASzFPNhMpML
I gulp. "I have to go—"438Please respect copyright.PENANA2QuxYS6o1X
438Please respect copyright.PENANAHnL8pcy7kw
438Please respect copyright.PENANAdHiafL6cdF
"I don't think you have to do shit. I think you're scared of me."438Please respect copyright.PENANAqRiDiuFq5b
438Please respect copyright.PENANA04YIB6X9YY
438Please respect copyright.PENANA0uCii0AKDW
My face heats up.438Please respect copyright.PENANA0bAyseBAdr
438Please respect copyright.PENANAx6YihGTV6L
438Please respect copyright.PENANAUx0ksMg0Tp
"I am not."438Please respect copyright.PENANAadgDdBqz7d
438Please respect copyright.PENANAlalmgM25sv
438Please respect copyright.PENANAmQOP5USiBc
He smirks. He knows he just got me.438Please respect copyright.PENANAkXaBE0LQft
438Please respect copyright.PENANA09eKEdYB9O
438Please respect copyright.PENANAE0Y0Tk5KNJ
"Prove it."438Please respect copyright.PENANASYxqR6Iqks
438Please respect copyright.PENANAEi3n97huam
438Please respect copyright.PENANAykMK4wf7R4
With a shaking hand, I push the door open and step out, sealing my fate.438Please respect copyright.PENANAxTQNqtF59v
438Please respect copyright.PENANAg1VY5PMyLY
438Please respect copyright.PENANA07hvfsyPjN
"Much better," he says, with a look of approval.438Please respect copyright.PENANAlUtmK9W1L3
438Please respect copyright.PENANAUJLIC6rKBO
438Please respect copyright.PENANAk2VRqX2ROv
"Fuck you," I growl, my irritation with this man getting the better of me.438Please respect copyright.PENANA1EIHMUwksD
438Please respect copyright.PENANAO5oMuj32xZ
438Please respect copyright.PENANAVLmJr39umf
He just smiles at me as if I just said the most beautiful word in the world.438Please respect copyright.PENANAXV5gefV0A1
438Please respect copyright.PENANAr89CwDNTb2
438Please respect copyright.PENANAbDccgcQYYN
"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. 438Please respect copyright.PENANA0RTwz2zhc0
438Please respect copyright.PENANAf6gZ6OdpYs
438Please respect copyright.PENANAJCb6SMOtYR
"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—"438Please respect copyright.PENANAEgepXqKPfZ
438Please respect copyright.PENANA5plPQdDaNJ
438Please respect copyright.PENANAMX18dy4WND
"I was doing my job—"438Please respect copyright.PENANA7dKWl81rOI
438Please respect copyright.PENANAyrnCQOk7u0
438Please respect copyright.PENANAquU9zlw1KR
"And I get to say who can—"438Please respect copyright.PENANAnJO6a3hJ1K
438Please respect copyright.PENANACqEkU61HHg
438Please respect copyright.PENANAcmweaJbwhV
"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!"438Please respect copyright.PENANAUJV5thmXAB
438Please respect copyright.PENANAh4o23bUEmT
438Please respect copyright.PENANAcB1hRkIerm
I push his right arm out of the way and jump into my car. He's still standing there when I drive off.438Please respect copyright.PENANAPS2pngzptb
438Please respect copyright.PENANA0pPEq5jYr8
438Please respect copyright.PENANAvflsI2OXr7
***438Please respect copyright.PENANA6BLaTHH8qe
438Please respect copyright.PENANASTJ0lmrkbH
438Please respect copyright.PENANAL4vimPM6fg
Dear Leah,438Please respect copyright.PENANAcnBKfmDsTo
438Please respect copyright.PENANAwBZUFjQelV
438Please respect copyright.PENANA4wNrCP0apB
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.438Please respect copyright.PENANAB0qQkLl4LB
438Please respect copyright.PENANALpOKfNqsHM
438Please respect copyright.PENANAdxtE15A5vj
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.438Please respect copyright.PENANALyasFwFOkj
438Please respect copyright.PENANA7KzQPOJNnD
438Please respect copyright.PENANA219Uw96TbA
Sincerely,438Please respect copyright.PENANAfpH5uCI3Wl
David.438Please respect copyright.PENANAGi7AcSa0P5
438Please respect copyright.PENANAvueBrkZiKF
438Please respect copyright.PENANAYYBg9MlnFA
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.438Please respect copyright.PENANA4fkNMnaEDu
438Please respect copyright.PENANAVGtK9KWGM8
438Please respect copyright.PENANArHaj51iH8z
Briefly, I wonder what the hell his new job would be. No amount of money, however, would see me working with that asshole again.438Please respect copyright.PENANAQAjrZj3nry
438Please respect copyright.PENANABm18CAhXCZ
438Please respect copyright.PENANAZwRNqlD7U9
The door opens before I can knock. 438Please respect copyright.PENANAaeBJBl24qT
438Please respect copyright.PENANA7BFa9o4LC0
438Please respect copyright.PENANAAIykAAIwRt
"Good morning, Leah." 438Please respect copyright.PENANAuBvCUO2HxL
438Please respect copyright.PENANAwuY7cMyNbH
438Please respect copyright.PENANAuowVraL6IJ
"David."438Please respect copyright.PENANAFa2jGNiyX4
438Please respect copyright.PENANAqySZtPDkzT
438Please respect copyright.PENANAV6HJqWMdpw
I take the liberty to sit down on the couch, noting that my photograph now hangs beside the television. 438Please respect copyright.PENANAs2ut4cwuHL
438Please respect copyright.PENANA4YDEtxFMoy
438Please respect copyright.PENANAGNcV42wDEU
"Beer?"438Please respect copyright.PENANAuJHjW5rqq4
438Please respect copyright.PENANAA1VYWkyILj
438Please respect copyright.PENANAOB5DD1cap6
"Yeah."438Please respect copyright.PENANAkYQd6PNsr1
438Please respect copyright.PENANAPEEagbQK5W
438Please respect copyright.PENANAdSBTU0GLiC
And he gives it to me this time.438Please respect copyright.PENANAXO64vM7fc8
438Please respect copyright.PENANAp3yExtJCaB
438Please respect copyright.PENANAMkkeHjmXeB
He flops down in the chair perpendicular to mine, and fiddles with a piece of paper, that looks suspiciously like a cheque.438Please respect copyright.PENANAR2ONwkfHdJ
438Please respect copyright.PENANAI637wdXyV5
438Please respect copyright.PENANA8zIHYq4Tz8
"I... I just want to apologise. Again."438Please respect copyright.PENANAzqWwWYmgbe
438Please respect copyright.PENANAl5czZNade8
438Please respect copyright.PENANAwdJod9w0oj
"David, I really don't give a shit anymore."438Please respect copyright.PENANAzIUxVviKFI
438Please respect copyright.PENANA5v5Yeql98H
438Please respect copyright.PENANA6gFpUsEPHM
He sighs, then looks up at me.438Please respect copyright.PENANAufCgZDlF68
438Please respect copyright.PENANAY6QOfGaB40
438Please respect copyright.PENANAaXOJK9lpD5
"Leah, my behaviour was unacceptable. I can be an asshole and sometimes, I don't realise it, but that's no excuse."438Please respect copyright.PENANACpkhLHJ7Ro
438Please respect copyright.PENANAs9ccggfO6f
438Please respect copyright.PENANA6ujMCob6Q1
I'm actually surprised by the sincerity in his voice and eyes. He actually has some degree of decency. Wow.438Please respect copyright.PENANAvW0fNwwkXq
438Please respect copyright.PENANABm00tJRpaF
438Please respect copyright.PENANAfPbdLyDkGZ
"I... I accept your apology David."438Please respect copyright.PENANACT8730EwZM
438Please respect copyright.PENANAUM8EXWekL7
438Please respect copyright.PENANAtyVIvMVumc
His eyes light up.438Please respect copyright.PENANAuwwfEhUzDR
438Please respect copyright.PENANAk1DlWeCQlN
438Please respect copyright.PENANAWssItcUd8H
"Really? So we're friends now?"438Please respect copyright.PENANAD43QYHXMFg
438Please respect copyright.PENANAObr4AkSZbP
438Please respect copyright.PENANA2CZcNonYAT
I have to laugh humourlessly at that. Really? Friends?438Please respect copyright.PENANAvACTKTNNeQ
438Please respect copyright.PENANA9Yt29MgVzb
438Please respect copyright.PENANADjX3tSiwRx
"Not even close."
ns 172.69.59.44da2