Page 51 of Cruel Dominion

Jaden’s eyes widened. “That’s terrible! How demeaning.”

“Not to Trista!” I said, laughing. “That two hundred bucks meant she could take cabs home for the rest of the week. I probably would have done the same thing.”

Jaden shook his head. “You’re something else, Anna. Photographers want to show the world as it is, but so few of us actually live in it.”

“It’s not that hard. If you want to try working at the Butterfly Room, I’ll be your reference. I’ll warn you, though. You better be ready to spend the night in five-inch heels and get your ass pinched at least three times before midnight.”

He laughed and leaned back against the back of the couch. He was such a tall and big guy that he took up a lot of space without even meaning to. That was why when he stretched his hand out and rested it on my left thigh, the closest one to him, the motion seemed almost natural.

I looked down at his hand, wrapped around my thigh where the hem of my dress had ridden up, too stunned to move.

My heart raced with something hotter and stronger than just discomfort.

“Jaden,” I said, my voice sounding like I was trying to talk under water to my own ears.

“Hm?”

“I think maybe you have the wrong idea.”

I shifted in my seat, and he slowly retracted his hand. “Oh. I thought there was a vibe here. We were joking around, and you’re a beautiful woman…”

“I have a boyfriend.” The words of the lie fell over each other on their way out of my mouth.

“Just one?” he pressed, his lips raised in a smirk.

His hand touched my thigh again, fingertips running along the side of my knee.

A chill ran up my spine as I jerked away.

Steeling myself, lifting my chin and fixing him with a stare that I hoped was all business, and no fear, I lifted his hand from my thigh and set it on the cushion next to me.

“Jaden, my love life isn’t a topic I’m comfortable discussing with you. We just met. I really hope there hasn’t been any misunderstanding. I’m here because I want to get into the industry, and because Olivia said you might be able to help me do that.”

My fingers clutched my portfolio book like I could use it as an anchor to draw me up out of this shitstorm.

Jaden worked his jaw, considering me before he replied. “All right,” he said finally, sitting up straighter on the couch. “I know why you’re here, and I am willing to help. You’ve got natural talent, but you have a lot more to learn before you’re ready for an exhibit. Work with me for six months, and I’ll teach you everything I know.”

I bit my lip, uncertain now.

Six months with this guy?

If he’d made this offer to me five minutes ago, I’d have been over the damn moon, but now? Now, I wasn’t so sure.

“Work with you? What would I be doing, exactly?”

His lips pursed in thought.

“Call it a personal assistant job. You would assist me on shoots, help me out in here,” he said, sweeping his arm to gesture towards the shooting areas.

I swallowed, wanting what he was offering so badly I was already thinking that maybe I could be willing to forget his advances a few minutes ago.

“That would be really helpful,” I said on a breathy exhale, trying to set my nerves back at ease. “Would there be any salary?”

Already, I was imagining myself in a small apartment somewhere closer to the other end of town. A place all of my own, where Dad wouldn’t be looming over my shoulder all the time.

“I’d give you work experience, teach you the ropes, help you set up your presence and network.”

I watched his eyes drop from my face and make their way down my body. My white dress covered me from collar to knee so he wasn’t getting a good look at anything, and I refused to squirm. Maybe he was appreciating the way the light from the tall windows was brightening the fabric with an almost silver hue. He was a photographer after all and this fabric really did capture the light.

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