"Who the fuck is that?"601Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡa2JdO85Lkh
601Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmDr24g2Iye
601Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrpMA2MkQ4g
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.601Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjs9xzS9WNS
601Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdn4eDvKjhz
601Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOXGccI9pOB
"Another photographer," I say as nonchalantly as I can.601Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFyWPJE6unk
601Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtPYdGEJg8e
601Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKEZNZXRagb
He chuckles deep in his throat.601Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡN5Kund45V8
601Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcbYL2GlI2Y
601Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9XfamMJTfR
"Ms Anderson, did I say that I wanted anyone else to come to this... gathering?"601Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrgm2R7GTUb
601Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHcjc5i25u1
601Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCHHCad4Urn
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.601Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFi5G3ZcXLy
601Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXXHhzDKWyM
601Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWRdfuIor51
Well, so do I.601Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0cNdoNhV0d
601Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUaROfDz6JL
601Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡydmYuLEU0E
"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."601Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNAvchlRvP5
601Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEbmIUVC9ZS
601Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBrIeCywB7M
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.601Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3rc2tZZZdi
601Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmHOO3dYveT
601Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7HffZW3FG7
"Hello, Leah," he says, shaking my hand with poorly concealed enthusiasm.601Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFan78TthHq
601Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQ3Xjf7nHEM
601Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxN98Y2hrJb
"Shemarré Martin. It's a pleasure to meet you."601Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlCFHkRY8UC
601Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDl3nxMzesd
601Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡP5sQLpNSi1
His smile broadens. "Please. Call me Shem."601Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQ2QJuBlL0O
601Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUFSUxWuRvC
601Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkQrksh2tk4
***601Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4DeqrN3vtD
601Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1aPUPrKqjZ
601Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4XFZnsAktK
As I circle the family reunion several times, taking photographs, Shem passed on whatever he felt necessary to me.601Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDuaGA8QulX
601Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ85YqEmvwlM
601Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBBwbm42rAL
"Stay in the background. Make them forget you're even there."601Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4g3t3O9d5Y
601Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6aHcoggBpx
601Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2Cm2Am0cXU
"Candids are always better; they speak the truth."601Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvPlj0SYl3z
601Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡceCc67IGlt
601Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMz9HOQ2FrA
"At events like these, the ratio of candids to posed photographs should be approximately ten to one. That should be your aim."601Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtyDiAfiveC
601Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCv96R9MsjG
601Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡViY7alLXKn
Now, everyone is packing up, and Shem has to leave for his daughter's cello recital. 601Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9J31PETYgI
601Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡATtM659zpZ
601Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkvW4g8uWQY
"Um... Shem?" I say, unsure of how to phrase the question that I want to ask.601Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡulwhwmlNjf
601Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2H3falUgHH
601Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaKDLoWINl7
"Yes?"601Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXawg4v61F5
601Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUbw0qHom2q
601Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡy89a5SPLPw
"Um... Why?"601Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡforryz5pwy
601Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpL2l38654t
601Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡicePKJBRGd
He looks at me as if I'm stupid for a few seconds.601Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQjUfF2TIwS
601Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJcccUbdAr4
601Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJCp9ftDj57
"Huh?"601Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡT08MCo0MXR
601Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcvPbN6yArz
601Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUDAZ5BSz5I
"Why did you do it? Help me? You're so busy, but you went out of your wa—"601Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJFlHEQOIfl
601Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡF8DBVjlkPB
601Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2XpjnhCZCq
"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—"601Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnR626WEvxU
601Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBAIHIcSg5z
601Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmS3ieWr5ZR
"—and one in a wheelchair," I finish.601Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfnwYOpCmMP
601Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXrff2wc9iN
601Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXJldCZfPsf
"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..."601Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2VPTO011oG
601Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuIeA2Fsmm0
601Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbTq1lnwHuP
He shrugs, and then looks at his watch. 601Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡq2hbOdKPGQ
601Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTZuVwTxj7C
601Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnrOePILWPG
"Shit! Kelly—"601Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0OsNtY89O6
601Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZXpTfDaRYd
601Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXRH7uwxOqS
"Go," I say, as he walk-runs to his car, in a desperate attempt to not miss his child's recital.601Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5iSR9omhUd
601Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡge0eFDuV39
601Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYBq7emUqPA
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.601Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoBIhd1ROAv
601Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡU0nASD4WjB
601Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡim2Mbxkqd3
***601Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjdI2sqTBEH
601Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiqrvSoNHrL
601Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡESSldW8hJ4
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. 601Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFVx1dkuq74
601Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9HefYEX0DC
601Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡADAQx2P1m1
For the first time, I actually feel intimidated by him.601Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfbfYDYu5rW
601Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYTsJa56vPz
601Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPKMmSnAsav
Which means that I have to leave. Now.601Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡD74RGe2I7G
601Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHpw5Vn48iz
601Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCYExusajij
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.601Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUoQhfpWpZu
601Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLB9Vk5jPOb
601Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7Co5VuJ3sO
I don't have to look up to know who it is.601Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡClEWpP2s46
601Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡutbP1Rai85
601Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlcCycWEaLT
"I wasn't done speaking to you."601Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡODUNvyyf5N
601Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFM6GMOoKxK
601Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmKXYaV11nO
"Well, I was." With a shaking hand, I try again to close the door — and he pulls it back. Again.601Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡY7gow8xTvV
601Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡto0xrN7JZQ
601Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXE7Q3r70hd
"I think... it would be more... polite to speak to me outside of the car. Wouldn't you agree, Ms Anderson?"601Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZjqWeFXOtb
601Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzhMgjVuYlW
601Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡD9U26PPP4T
I gulp. "I have to go—"601Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeha8nuc9Vn
601Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9ihYFS7dwe
601Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJpb2XTvHIa
"I don't think you have to do shit. I think you're scared of me."601Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3PWVaxSD8V
601Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBJMcvnuKuF
601Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVubD5LJ20x
My face heats up.601Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2DnOzQHE1l
601Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzCBOgcZBLC
601Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjSID1uT2gK
"I am not."601Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjmEqRBnyvl
601Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlUdz6K7Il3
601Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡu8ZElptg0M
He smirks. He knows he just got me.601Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYdwEPy71pn
601Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6ZfXPopvBS
601Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYjk7SIjVDj
"Prove it."601Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ67zfZrEIfF
601Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡl1ismNYcPA
601Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHolxdLYk7P
With a shaking hand, I push the door open and step out, sealing my fate.601Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHDEB9gZSlp
601Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6y2oPnYo0n
601Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxxKVFjPZXI
"Much better," he says, with a look of approval.601Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSFak4WS01G
601Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtHlkAarMbR
601Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCefInU6OVj
"Fuck you," I growl, my irritation with this man getting the better of me.601Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡck2n1Q7cwL
601Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeoP0l7kEcb
601Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPhVL9Pjegk
He just smiles at me as if I just said the most beautiful word in the world.601Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsn1e6epzV4
601Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcaISrtFrxm
601Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7pKLmSi8KQ
"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. 601Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡE3TdSEiGeb
601Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHVMRRy1EYH
601Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2ZdCu2jtQh
"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—"601Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwHFYU6t4Es
601Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkTzGv11mea
601Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwqVPkxcnKp
"I was doing my job—"601Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVjbCiWNZW3
601Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡS6kMKG71SO
601Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlgfXc4EKrU
"And I get to say who can—"601Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡACIFdcN0CC
601Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJ1hoHBpKd3
601Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmEodGYIlxJ
"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!"601Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLcKGC8ZIeK
601Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡziFhH98ATK
601Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡv5a5nM5my4
I push his right arm out of the way and jump into my car. He's still standing there when I drive off.601Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIIH7ZIijpi
601Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡj3cpPwhFiK
601Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwU8UE4SNJg
***601Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡA72YuFw8qY
601Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6EwR7H1T2s
601Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDjHu6WFAvP
Dear Leah,601Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡf2Qgt3p8CN
601Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNW4CP5wjVU
601Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxKP26iZosV
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.601Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEqyhNd80Ut
601Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡM4QacdR5aG
601Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgD8DmEq84j
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.601Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡs97S8geE4w
601Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSH95LvqS84
601Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiqcfvv5VQs
Sincerely,601Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUDaXYjLHkm
David.601Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfu5A48uOPs
601Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡL5GvDS4zNf
601Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvwxpbosl1z
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.601Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNlPwdfqlmu
601Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIUBmxcNznA
601Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡc5tl364QfC
Briefly, I wonder what the hell his new job would be. No amount of money, however, would see me working with that asshole again.601Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJccDx6pSjo
601Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFilyvjEla1
601Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdbYvzRoS7k
The door opens before I can knock. 601Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrLwPPARbUn
601Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ997SJ0zICX
601Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaaWTW1lnVn
"Good morning, Leah." 601Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1YYcHoHWQ4
601Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkM8iwqNi8f
601Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRedXMmUYfG
"David."601Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsiC4vJIwiB
601Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3Sw5sk7FNc
601Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSSFot7cNZu
I take the liberty to sit down on the couch, noting that my photograph now hangs beside the television. 601Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJpUWSEuvqH
601Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡD23OenTtdG
601Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNxVODLmp6g
"Beer?"601Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNR4NIvWgRo
601Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvvnjGgYsD5
601Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9YWu2U6Waz
"Yeah."601Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhooJK5MYz5
601Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAFfWDdTbNV
601Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8V3DfNZjn8
And he gives it to me this time.601Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAe3Gih8QYp
601Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7TFvSemrFZ
601Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsRCc4CScsh
He flops down in the chair perpendicular to mine, and fiddles with a piece of paper, that looks suspiciously like a cheque.601Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5aSFdORagf
601Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLfGA4aKQQf
601Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLSaGOTEof7
"I... I just want to apologise. Again."601Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFAxSHYuuUd
601Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBZqXNgNIQS
601Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1ErIhmzHly
"David, I really don't give a shit anymore."601Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdI8CTLeQUk
601Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3Nyuzvs5G0
601Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1w8HLz75Tc
He sighs, then looks up at me.601Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8AJT4BEkEj
601Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDmXrqDovtO
601Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6YwmrWJuLg
"Leah, my behaviour was unacceptable. I can be an asshole and sometimes, I don't realise it, but that's no excuse."601Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5oAiICGuXN
601Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzGJZeH7FbH
601Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLVJWXWVEx4
I'm actually surprised by the sincerity in his voice and eyes. He actually has some degree of decency. Wow.601Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRuFQspZYn6
601Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPzudpNsedu
601Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4oxfCGoZmx
"I... I accept your apology David."601Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwPJPoMY629
601Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ76zSV8K6IT
601Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZpGlmptNJs
His eyes light up.601Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHPowBI4Km9
601Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVlBV9a2IxN
601Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjHlftij4GO
"Really? So we're friends now?"601Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1itbICHwco
601Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3gLuMYW1Jk
601Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaqhgR46wjU
I have to laugh humourlessly at that. Really? Friends?601Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbpyz2zja9O
601Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzt20wxIxoU
601Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCzskHULc5E
"Not even close."
ns216.73.216.238da2
