"Who the fuck is that?"441Please respect copyright.PENANAAeycPQ5DDQ
441Please respect copyright.PENANAadOzZIbotV
441Please respect copyright.PENANAtld9oHJMbN
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.441Please respect copyright.PENANAw5Ap0pVsht
441Please respect copyright.PENANAa2PPi6Rqi0
441Please respect copyright.PENANA8LhgbjJFwT
"Another photographer," I say as nonchalantly as I can.441Please respect copyright.PENANATYnjGf3G0a
441Please respect copyright.PENANAu8ZJSnEOiM
441Please respect copyright.PENANAuO4eblqJc0
He chuckles deep in his throat.441Please respect copyright.PENANABORHLX0GxD
441Please respect copyright.PENANAfYAEdpXjMn
441Please respect copyright.PENANA8zxLqjTMCC
"Ms Anderson, did I say that I wanted anyone else to come to this... gathering?"441Please respect copyright.PENANAeyzWyw4CGC
441Please respect copyright.PENANANb7Og5T1Q3
441Please respect copyright.PENANAASOfWP1g2t
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.441Please respect copyright.PENANAWeLAUZQb2r
441Please respect copyright.PENANAdFU760LyBJ
441Please respect copyright.PENANA8mr4uJ19eN
Well, so do I.441Please respect copyright.PENANAMhAfO9CjDE
441Please respect copyright.PENANARO3Va5jh8U
441Please respect copyright.PENANAX6IFfcoe8g
"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."441Please respect copyright.PENANAMl0JVFPCp7
441Please respect copyright.PENANAE8YI25xWbk
441Please respect copyright.PENANAz3xqSNYire
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.441Please respect copyright.PENANAJS40kAVgZ9
441Please respect copyright.PENANA39qZwJ6VPO
441Please respect copyright.PENANAv8fHlMQck6
"Hello, Leah," he says, shaking my hand with poorly concealed enthusiasm.441Please respect copyright.PENANAnD6NOEzcc3
441Please respect copyright.PENANAoosAUaIUYx
441Please respect copyright.PENANAcDRmizvQz4
"Shemarré Martin. It's a pleasure to meet you."441Please respect copyright.PENANApZzLPeJRJZ
441Please respect copyright.PENANAV77nPJsbG7
441Please respect copyright.PENANA66iXKRwzU0
His smile broadens. "Please. Call me Shem."441Please respect copyright.PENANA4C89aIOtYb
441Please respect copyright.PENANA9YM01stQIr
441Please respect copyright.PENANArpaGHOe8fh
***441Please respect copyright.PENANAuhaaB2J5jw
441Please respect copyright.PENANAS6LGHpBSZf
441Please respect copyright.PENANAnFVnpx5MAF
As I circle the family reunion several times, taking photographs, Shem passed on whatever he felt necessary to me.441Please respect copyright.PENANASWIWKygyct
441Please respect copyright.PENANAldUYxnkibM
441Please respect copyright.PENANA3GzNjBwwBJ
"Stay in the background. Make them forget you're even there."441Please respect copyright.PENANAmIuNmFSWab
441Please respect copyright.PENANAruPOS4OCYL
441Please respect copyright.PENANAalA2V6RSmg
"Candids are always better; they speak the truth."441Please respect copyright.PENANAcSxQCc1o8o
441Please respect copyright.PENANAZmpQ0zzksO
441Please respect copyright.PENANAJZG5296kWE
"At events like these, the ratio of candids to posed photographs should be approximately ten to one. That should be your aim."441Please respect copyright.PENANAuob2Jh0TRI
441Please respect copyright.PENANAUlne2ibmAy
441Please respect copyright.PENANAJRDJq7btQ8
Now, everyone is packing up, and Shem has to leave for his daughter's cello recital. 441Please respect copyright.PENANACkQUUaQ8OB
441Please respect copyright.PENANAkOYcahhxwY
441Please respect copyright.PENANAvco2u7qvny
"Um... Shem?" I say, unsure of how to phrase the question that I want to ask.441Please respect copyright.PENANA29v5mknC5H
441Please respect copyright.PENANAIJuDZQ8Pm9
441Please respect copyright.PENANAxNTOklbRQF
"Yes?"441Please respect copyright.PENANA0aSRBGPiNQ
441Please respect copyright.PENANA97Z0PUkxaf
441Please respect copyright.PENANA6DzzaMB5WY
"Um... Why?"441Please respect copyright.PENANA78fMewmZw4
441Please respect copyright.PENANAwA8FSn93sQ
441Please respect copyright.PENANAzjRGmIS4Ms
He looks at me as if I'm stupid for a few seconds.441Please respect copyright.PENANAFyIZzdWGGT
441Please respect copyright.PENANAktxMjNIeao
441Please respect copyright.PENANADvBkTa4ZzX
"Huh?"441Please respect copyright.PENANAveBxsVOfuP
441Please respect copyright.PENANADJdGyUqnUc
441Please respect copyright.PENANA52Jp0KJW9M
"Why did you do it? Help me? You're so busy, but you went out of your wa—"441Please respect copyright.PENANAOVySZy7JjV
441Please respect copyright.PENANALhFWoczCb9
441Please respect copyright.PENANApIxOURGIIY
"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—"441Please respect copyright.PENANAYxRdQuuaSI
441Please respect copyright.PENANAUY8WTQRfdR
441Please respect copyright.PENANATVRAg3k52v
"—and one in a wheelchair," I finish.441Please respect copyright.PENANAmCn9OlenCl
441Please respect copyright.PENANAQSY6A58q5H
441Please respect copyright.PENANASybi8ZKlOT
"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..."441Please respect copyright.PENANAyIf6iOY251
441Please respect copyright.PENANAYzCW1wj2Um
441Please respect copyright.PENANAWllDF0FXlT
He shrugs, and then looks at his watch. 441Please respect copyright.PENANAvd0AMm8e5c
441Please respect copyright.PENANAQFfukoDL0S
441Please respect copyright.PENANA5TiFmvwy1p
"Shit! Kelly—"441Please respect copyright.PENANARzHnurGtFl
441Please respect copyright.PENANAFq6doGz1Dn
441Please respect copyright.PENANA1mAcy4hREG
"Go," I say, as he walk-runs to his car, in a desperate attempt to not miss his child's recital.441Please respect copyright.PENANA7CO97Nw9XP
441Please respect copyright.PENANAe70H6kUa3h
441Please respect copyright.PENANA7d1ATWs0FN
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.441Please respect copyright.PENANAWVPfJZScy4
441Please respect copyright.PENANAnOE9m8CE1j
441Please respect copyright.PENANAc7bmwUERfA
***441Please respect copyright.PENANAmMh8lZLqqN
441Please respect copyright.PENANAjNk9mcr0Ny
441Please respect copyright.PENANAu1penEeTtT
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. 441Please respect copyright.PENANAWkgTSk5KUk
441Please respect copyright.PENANAmdIDfFHl1d
441Please respect copyright.PENANA5ZUHE2LX0e
For the first time, I actually feel intimidated by him.441Please respect copyright.PENANAeAqCfz134r
441Please respect copyright.PENANA4Z6whHIBRH
441Please respect copyright.PENANA7plhupdHan
Which means that I have to leave. Now.441Please respect copyright.PENANAopjogIPEDQ
441Please respect copyright.PENANAGoNRIgF7gh
441Please respect copyright.PENANADkdDRfyUo3
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.441Please respect copyright.PENANAKUGWoOBXcn
441Please respect copyright.PENANAYIODyryIzE
441Please respect copyright.PENANAnez6pNqEVE
I don't have to look up to know who it is.441Please respect copyright.PENANAeUgogwEG04
441Please respect copyright.PENANAZQJxXActfQ
441Please respect copyright.PENANAQiU42yq06j
"I wasn't done speaking to you."441Please respect copyright.PENANA9rxQ8qho4I
441Please respect copyright.PENANA7u5tIBCovV
441Please respect copyright.PENANARzFtP9fobJ
"Well, I was." With a shaking hand, I try again to close the door — and he pulls it back. Again.441Please respect copyright.PENANAqR7JPcguZT
441Please respect copyright.PENANAN41Dliabhv
441Please respect copyright.PENANAuuHLAOdn65
"I think... it would be more... polite to speak to me outside of the car. Wouldn't you agree, Ms Anderson?"441Please respect copyright.PENANAysklpgBHQX
441Please respect copyright.PENANAQYFnTuVr5X
441Please respect copyright.PENANAnoX5DbDo0i
I gulp. "I have to go—"441Please respect copyright.PENANAkMq6OxsvIv
441Please respect copyright.PENANA6P9G5W4RQw
441Please respect copyright.PENANAMSe1cYADSg
"I don't think you have to do shit. I think you're scared of me."441Please respect copyright.PENANAJYUzOObemH
441Please respect copyright.PENANAiR4JqHgCzm
441Please respect copyright.PENANAV5epDoU7Uh
My face heats up.441Please respect copyright.PENANAr1HzS7gZjH
441Please respect copyright.PENANAKaDzlyhT9b
441Please respect copyright.PENANAfz671Czy5g
"I am not."441Please respect copyright.PENANAzw1Z5E2Qvf
441Please respect copyright.PENANAzYRT53iWju
441Please respect copyright.PENANASYRRs9HWn2
He smirks. He knows he just got me.441Please respect copyright.PENANAUKC0DY6qp1
441Please respect copyright.PENANA8fVOT9XbNS
441Please respect copyright.PENANA7dzwRbkgbQ
"Prove it."441Please respect copyright.PENANA7hyIVsxuxD
441Please respect copyright.PENANAkJtgyyAiVo
441Please respect copyright.PENANA0w2BOjDiJb
With a shaking hand, I push the door open and step out, sealing my fate.441Please respect copyright.PENANAkiqEnCz4Pq
441Please respect copyright.PENANAilY9g2qSJB
441Please respect copyright.PENANAISxMvfTjET
"Much better," he says, with a look of approval.441Please respect copyright.PENANAu2KiGEtJ4C
441Please respect copyright.PENANAZujNIYxggh
441Please respect copyright.PENANA2dJkb0b4og
"Fuck you," I growl, my irritation with this man getting the better of me.441Please respect copyright.PENANAaPk1PBxY5Z
441Please respect copyright.PENANABtW5gz6JCj
441Please respect copyright.PENANAlkMYhvyDCZ
He just smiles at me as if I just said the most beautiful word in the world.441Please respect copyright.PENANAeyw4ZQ41tD
441Please respect copyright.PENANAd1wxMtak8N
441Please respect copyright.PENANAxUXsq2nRWM
"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. 441Please respect copyright.PENANAKf9Lu6FHFp
441Please respect copyright.PENANAfTyCEyMMeu
441Please respect copyright.PENANAO9FnGNIc7J
"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—"441Please respect copyright.PENANAPwkbIFW7YP
441Please respect copyright.PENANAZchv6Tipey
441Please respect copyright.PENANAAQlp1Vq09T
"I was doing my job—"441Please respect copyright.PENANAVF3SM08ZMd
441Please respect copyright.PENANAs8etBlOw7k
441Please respect copyright.PENANAwaEBFGzTOO
"And I get to say who can—"441Please respect copyright.PENANAnigxMujpTj
441Please respect copyright.PENANA7XzFXlbHT1
441Please respect copyright.PENANASnkyyyqm5I
"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!"441Please respect copyright.PENANAQisuCDmNth
441Please respect copyright.PENANA8MhQFmbcch
441Please respect copyright.PENANAqyAasBr7of
I push his right arm out of the way and jump into my car. He's still standing there when I drive off.441Please respect copyright.PENANANhSwHMuuIb
441Please respect copyright.PENANAtXSHwEZ7cQ
441Please respect copyright.PENANAkSdB7e0Exo
***441Please respect copyright.PENANABji8qTHO2y
441Please respect copyright.PENANABlvZZxxkeu
441Please respect copyright.PENANA5BODsPILdo
Dear Leah,441Please respect copyright.PENANA1KAv4SGRUF
441Please respect copyright.PENANA9FEy4Lpdwu
441Please respect copyright.PENANAThwEL9895T
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.441Please respect copyright.PENANA7HY3TJGfR2
441Please respect copyright.PENANAbzUR5jkBeQ
441Please respect copyright.PENANAGpiIcuPpuw
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.441Please respect copyright.PENANAiVd9xUXTgN
441Please respect copyright.PENANAwGW7sPvZdb
441Please respect copyright.PENANAA68XkIVbSA
Sincerely,441Please respect copyright.PENANArbTSt8UI2e
David.441Please respect copyright.PENANAsagiLVqCMT
441Please respect copyright.PENANAKLUWUcnc09
441Please respect copyright.PENANAT83ewpwiXU
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.441Please respect copyright.PENANAPSFvwkgYoR
441Please respect copyright.PENANAaU7Eo9ZDWd
441Please respect copyright.PENANA6K2ISZ8vH7
Briefly, I wonder what the hell his new job would be. No amount of money, however, would see me working with that asshole again.441Please respect copyright.PENANAXCvveT5OB1
441Please respect copyright.PENANAwrugLOgjwO
441Please respect copyright.PENANAZXSLN5O9Pl
The door opens before I can knock. 441Please respect copyright.PENANAiVKmK05EWK
441Please respect copyright.PENANAO6kdJ7drqR
441Please respect copyright.PENANANklyqyA6zf
"Good morning, Leah." 441Please respect copyright.PENANA3Ccv7jtUqG
441Please respect copyright.PENANAVjE44eBpgy
441Please respect copyright.PENANAOOiMSuaN1N
"David."441Please respect copyright.PENANAeTfXZQbmir
441Please respect copyright.PENANAlZM3revSAN
441Please respect copyright.PENANAUIahloaUGE
I take the liberty to sit down on the couch, noting that my photograph now hangs beside the television. 441Please respect copyright.PENANAOv1mPawbnY
441Please respect copyright.PENANAv6LpokJKpe
441Please respect copyright.PENANAWQQXLQYnMm
"Beer?"441Please respect copyright.PENANA0XXImb6d5m
441Please respect copyright.PENANAth80iWI52x
441Please respect copyright.PENANAJJKlB6wBXI
"Yeah."441Please respect copyright.PENANAgDDYRv0iQH
441Please respect copyright.PENANAuTmr0mL7mp
441Please respect copyright.PENANA2yDUzX8J8D
And he gives it to me this time.441Please respect copyright.PENANA7tpTpIeolM
441Please respect copyright.PENANAUui1yEmCz2
441Please respect copyright.PENANAseWhtDcoZK
He flops down in the chair perpendicular to mine, and fiddles with a piece of paper, that looks suspiciously like a cheque.441Please respect copyright.PENANAOIh9cgAy2h
441Please respect copyright.PENANAaZ7Ubnh8Te
441Please respect copyright.PENANAjt1ILrwYpm
"I... I just want to apologise. Again."441Please respect copyright.PENANAud54iKGGBb
441Please respect copyright.PENANA5BMhvd2EGY
441Please respect copyright.PENANAvxZOoKUgk0
"David, I really don't give a shit anymore."441Please respect copyright.PENANAqrzRY4p6io
441Please respect copyright.PENANA49Bov97kls
441Please respect copyright.PENANAwVEx0AlUNL
He sighs, then looks up at me.441Please respect copyright.PENANAMvfeyEURzc
441Please respect copyright.PENANAFFjsiyRlHP
441Please respect copyright.PENANAPZ8s2sZkwU
"Leah, my behaviour was unacceptable. I can be an asshole and sometimes, I don't realise it, but that's no excuse."441Please respect copyright.PENANAwoSOTP4PM1
441Please respect copyright.PENANALiWDtjgKm2
441Please respect copyright.PENANAZnlE76K1bS
I'm actually surprised by the sincerity in his voice and eyes. He actually has some degree of decency. Wow.441Please respect copyright.PENANAYqaFnFe1yJ
441Please respect copyright.PENANApsACDB5twa
441Please respect copyright.PENANA8Jvw7bQSBs
"I... I accept your apology David."441Please respect copyright.PENANA32Hg8XP2sI
441Please respect copyright.PENANA7P8xksoQf4
441Please respect copyright.PENANA4AFObzZBou
His eyes light up.441Please respect copyright.PENANAGMjAS6Vm9t
441Please respect copyright.PENANAW9KC4CtOOQ
441Please respect copyright.PENANAAnZh6LC2H5
"Really? So we're friends now?"441Please respect copyright.PENANAeQ9h6UymhQ
441Please respect copyright.PENANAd7323arUtg
441Please respect copyright.PENANAQtwcN9Luoh
I have to laugh humourlessly at that. Really? Friends?441Please respect copyright.PENANAphbvkCafLL
441Please respect copyright.PENANAA6VYcbggUx
441Please respect copyright.PENANAO7ZbRHyoCl
"Not even close."
ns 172.69.58.59da2