Page 50 of Cruel Dominion

“This is for you,” I said, handing him the expensive bottle. “I hope you like whiskey.”

“Damn. That’s a good bottle right there. Thank you. I’ll have to save it for a special occasion.”

I beamed at him and he gave me an encouraging, easy grin. “Have a look around while I put this away.”

There were several framed photographs on the walls, mostly portraits. Everything made my little collection of photos that I thought were good enough to show feel like a five-year-old’s finger paintings.

“These are incredible,” I said when Jaden returned, stopping to look at one.

“Thank you,” he said. “I try to keep my best work on display. Remind myself that even if I feel like a fraud, at least I have proof that I was good once.”

I laughed. “Wait a minute. I was told that once I became successful, I’d stop feeling like an imposter.”

“Wow. Don’t know who told you that, but it’s not true. You’ll always doubt yourself. But it’s a good thing, right? It gives you a reason to keep working.”

I could feel the muscles in my shoulders relaxing. I was so nervous about impressing this professional, but Jaden was easy to talk to. He felt more like a peer than a mentor and I felt myself relax a little.

Jaden showed me around his studio. It was inviting and roomy with a lounge area separate from the office and shooting spaces. Against the far wall which had two large windows was a fancy coffee station complete with an espresso machine that he deemed an essential business investment with a wink.

He answered all my questions when I wanted to know what his equipment was called and how he liked to set up for different kinds of shots. The studio was mainly for product and portrait shoots, where he also did his personal work and sometimes ran workshops.

His scanners, printers, and computers looked intimidatingly high-tech. I looked over his camera collection.

“How many of these do you actually use?” I asked.

“All of them. I’m kind of a tech-head. Right now, I’m really into this Sony a7RV.”

He picked up the Sony, pointed it at me and snapped a photo. I flinched back, looking down.

“What’s the matter? You don’t like getting your picture taken?”

I shook my head. “I’m usually the friend who volunteers to take the picture so I don’t have to be in it.”

“Shame. I mean, the camera loves you.”

His hand came up and brushed back a lock of my hair.

I pulled away immediately. Even after years working at the Butterfly Room, I still couldn’t get used to strangers touching me. It took a long time for me to get comfortable enough for a touch to feel right.

And Jaden touching my hair like that definitely didn’t feel right.

Olivia said this meeting was supposed to be for me to make professional contacts. But maybe Jaden misunderstood. Could he think this was a set-up? My entire body felt icy and awkward. If he tried to touch me again, I didn’t know if I could just brush it off.

Then, Jaden took several steps back, giving me space, and I realized I was being completely ridiculous and overthinking the tiny gesture.

He probably fixed the hair of a thousand girls who he took a photo of in his career.

“Should we take a look at your photos?”

“Oh. Right. Yeah. Yeah, of course,” I said, laughing at myself.

He directed me to the lounge area where we sat side by side on one of the sofas. He picked up a shot, thumbing the edge of the paper while examining it in complete silence. I looked at the side of his face, seeing nothing but pure concentration.

“So?” I asked, choosing to ask before I wore a hole in the hem of my dress.

“These are exceptional,” he said in a low voice. “You’re able to capture so much energy in the shots. Is this in a strip club?”

“No, a cocktail bar I worked at.” I’d already told Olivia the truth, it just felt right to be honest. “But a customer did offer this woman two hundred bucks if she’d finish out her shift in her underwear.”

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