Remember what I said about being able to survive anyone after Montgomery? 606Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDjR6YryNMz
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That was utter rubbish.606Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsZTY4zV20E
606Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHWhkWFoJ0k
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.606Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8iGgjNAGF3
606Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ37IBazDOAH
"Bloodclaat," I muttered under my breath, hauling them over threshold, since I was too lazy to make a second trip.606Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9okzkLnWhH
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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.606Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAg7vYnETq8
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Finally, I got through the door, and rested them flat on the floor against the wall perpendicular the couch, beside the television.606Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfY151LDUGd
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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.606Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFCoW1Fi6rW
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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.606Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwhJkQe6aBb
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"This was my first photography show, and I must admit, your work is closer to what can be considered as art than I expected."606Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9RnJMhd1Je
606Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCs7hXmX6ZV
Closer?606Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZCGtqsvTvx
606Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHP8ddhl833
Closer?606Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtHdT17KFXV
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This is art. This is what I've dedicated my life to.606Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaVyMHOxgOu
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"Closer?"606Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLik3tRCgZY
606Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡC48Suk2oyV
He gives me a condescending smile, and then clears his throat.606Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡePUm2rVEOR
606Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡw3CYYJJyJh
"You see, photography will never be art. You are simply looking through a lense—"606Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡezJC5io42I
606Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXtff9UF4RI
"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.606Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNd45qzDGqp
606Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJbXex8i526
But he just laughs. Hard.606Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡO8tbeSxDLC
606Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtPlsd8Ed07
"Relax. It was a joke. Why else would I buy your art?"606Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIV4PBYSyXi
606Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgYY5p1Q9Um
Well now, considering that that's why I'm here in the first place, I feel like a complete moron. 606Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡu0qkwstNgf
606Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhpSceSz21e
"When's your next showing?" he asks, assessing me with dark brown eyes.606Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLzLWKdmNHs
606Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡL58Z4fiuL6
" 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.606Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOu2LF81dFz
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And now here I am, remembered as the girl who had her showing at Mr Assclown's house.606Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgjbEMzdCaB
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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.606Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuJpGR84eoD
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"Can I give you a job?"606Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRkhjQTES7j
606Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPtVpiXDrZ6
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.606Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4Y05sAYHHN
606Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡH5zsGxq4Kg
"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.606Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9VQecvq135
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"I have a family reunion on Friday. I need someone to take photographs."606Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBwA07Wzz4T
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Not so bad. He'll be with others, his family, and he'll have to behave. You'll survive.606Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡggY7MN1r8P
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"I'll talk to my agent, and then call you back."606Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLLkcdoV3o5
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"I need an answer now."606Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCWgpy5lSHH
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Breathe.606Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgR7nSaJ0oP
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It's now almost ten p.m. I can't call him now.606Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOb75o6IqTI
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"Okay. I'll do it," I agree, hoping that I won't regret this. 606Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡShh918W4qc
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***606Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBtajHhaajP
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"Absolutely not." 606Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZCfMuCcBVb
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"I already said I would, Marcus," I reply, rubbing my forehead. It's too early in the morning for this shit.606Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvZ0mmK3xIy
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"Cancel it."606Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3YnRDJxK6h
606Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBRtMFD2pdV
"I'm not going to tarnish my reputation just because you disapprove."606Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDoaNW5V7y3
606Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡU8HDNVYREp
"Who's the agent?"606Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2cmPs7vDFn
606Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡskzTLLZds7
"It's still my decision! I need the money."606Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡS8YCrWqkVs
606Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfFrHQyZ7YK
"I arranged for you to meet with one of Jamaica's best photographers on Friday. His schedule is jam packed—"606Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYUgCxZvRIc
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"Then I'm sure he'll appreciate the opening. Cancel it."606Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgyKXYboszv
606Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQW1dzZJXyZ
"Leah—"606Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡH2cygmQqoV
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"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."606Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbEXdCBoLsn
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I hear silence. Then, "Why don't you just bring him with you?"606Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYktLdOb3HQ
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I snort. "That would never work."606Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnNANtMt6in
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"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?"606Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOvTf8qzaIS
606Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjVUxfamsRe
"Jesus Christ, you're a genius. And Rochester shouldn't mind because it'll probably make the photos come out better." 606Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPGP6itgCJ2
606Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5fzwrgybGw
"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."606Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡu3MPxUH8cw
606Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLkcX897pmH
I chuckle. "Thanks, Marcus. You're always there to ever so subtly remind me that I'm teetering on the line of poverty."606Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5NYII0l3Xn
606Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZYumVfkFgc
"Anytime, babygirl," he says with a grin that I hear through the phone. "Anytime."
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