Remember what I said about being able to survive anyone after Montgomery? 576Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1c8lcD4oLF
576Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIyH0hhDYGH
That was utter rubbish.576Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcLjzTVltld
576Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡezKrNhqBwz
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.576Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBlYt7z1rbS
576Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5kOAF3CgYf
"Bloodclaat," I muttered under my breath, hauling them over threshold, since I was too lazy to make a second trip.576Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRCp3xd2hCc
576Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfKugBfmRKf
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.576Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVAoUwtJTFV
576Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡD7x3ToT9f0
Finally, I got through the door, and rested them flat on the floor against the wall perpendicular the couch, beside the television.576Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPowLg8x2IU
576Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaBa6gcQTq8
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.576Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuC2PKaD8PE
576Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6Leh5nhGdc
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.576Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVvE5N37j0B
576Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAjSDPZJHVC
"This was my first photography show, and I must admit, your work is closer to what can be considered as art than I expected."576Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXAZIn8l3CO
576Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡF3rXt0YJu2
Closer?576Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ04DoobBjMA
576Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4TD7lbvwiF
Closer?576Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTMKrTPABPu
576Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7hJe56275y
This is art. This is what I've dedicated my life to.576Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaQwSDM39E7
576Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8veHRglpDY
"Closer?"576Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡho5Doo7HVQ
576Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBzOZ0W4ILl
He gives me a condescending smile, and then clears his throat.576Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZaoeIGQl8y
576Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsHLzPvTC6Y
"You see, photography will never be art. You are simply looking through a lense—"576Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAQKXTKkcuF
576Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2eVo8Bh129
"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.576Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1GBVig11yL
576Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0udT96gszu
But he just laughs. Hard.576Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡupf50nJ82a
576Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgOgcZhqRr2
"Relax. It was a joke. Why else would I buy your art?"576Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgVr1niS3CM
576Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfvOj3IADkL
Well now, considering that that's why I'm here in the first place, I feel like a complete moron. 576Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkEa46NFred
576Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLBS6P4mKaj
"When's your next showing?" he asks, assessing me with dark brown eyes.576Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHn9E0glM0U
576Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡM1wXCyvRb6
" 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.576Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXSI6fzXBHP
576Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡj416DeSWS6
And now here I am, remembered as the girl who had her showing at Mr Assclown's house.576Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdfScK1lleC
576Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKungT4emHl
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.576Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFMhSNll58m
576Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUxB45QxAzl
"Can I give you a job?"576Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPDuRMIMwX5
576Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ02yylpGSAl
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.576Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡufxWS1CYEN
576Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBqVJZvQlnX
"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.576Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxDZkLcW6p0
576Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡomQU8HGiBM
"I have a family reunion on Friday. I need someone to take photographs."576Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡW0VgpgL1lg
576Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoOpqjj01et
Not so bad. He'll be with others, his family, and he'll have to behave. You'll survive.576Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtxhOVYBBGG
576Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhTveIfavu5
"I'll talk to my agent, and then call you back."576Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡL2AOeg68EE
576Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡT382L5UStH
"I need an answer now."576Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnqfpYewYDF
576Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7RFnMULYHP
Breathe.576Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEYmICA3hEP
576Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvIjC1HCJOr
It's now almost ten p.m. I can't call him now.576Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSpBW3sCbhE
576Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzT59lzZI5n
"Okay. I'll do it," I agree, hoping that I won't regret this. 576Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdo7905B6Fy
576Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjeKgAaY0yq
***576Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXmEdtGqjH6
576Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdvAeSj3tJg
"Absolutely not." 576Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡt8DZ4XEMmW
576Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡP1Qq9JLsMf
"I already said I would, Marcus," I reply, rubbing my forehead. It's too early in the morning for this shit.576Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVEzWXjmEHb
576Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSctUVXTyTi
"Cancel it."576Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4WjiX34kVR
576Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOO50CiVfZH
"I'm not going to tarnish my reputation just because you disapprove."576Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKldSvTRNYw
576Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhupuPjKnO7
"Who's the agent?"576Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkyQSUJIOIf
576Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡz79MBRZ0IP
"It's still my decision! I need the money."576Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhjlwBPde9d
576Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHSOIxGHmno
"I arranged for you to meet with one of Jamaica's best photographers on Friday. His schedule is jam packed—"576Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkIT6vsCOSk
576Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaNNgYKohRg
"Then I'm sure he'll appreciate the opening. Cancel it."576Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnzThWaQ1Xu
576Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiHVhTWoE22
"Leah—"576Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡR0dmEe3b7Y
576Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhO3Aa6NeqK
"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."576Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEiQRYwTSC5
576Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6XtT1XJwiP
I hear silence. Then, "Why don't you just bring him with you?"576Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdUepIfcEme
576Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡziO5PxmlOX
I snort. "That would never work."576Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡS8rZRuWYTX
576Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJbYav1t0Y6
"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?"576Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡV8YOuCOPq8
576Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhTGMP6SDcJ
"Jesus Christ, you're a genius. And Rochester shouldn't mind because it'll probably make the photos come out better." 576Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxqbsb428PA
576Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡH9qCY7YzhD
"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."576Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJFtOK7rdw1
576Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxaP31wBMSs
I chuckle. "Thanks, Marcus. You're always there to ever so subtly remind me that I'm teetering on the line of poverty."576Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkwmBo0bAWI
576Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡd49r7qkq4m
"Anytime, babygirl," he says with a grin that I hear through the phone. "Anytime."
ns18.191.132.143da2
