Page 84 of Breaking the Habit

“Do you have more samples of that style of photography?” Teddy asked.

“Oh, God. I have a billion,” she laughed, pushing to standing. “Come back into my dark room. I’ll show you what we’re working with.”

She breezed into the back room, flipping on the lights. She’d done a huge batch of film developing recently, both personal and sports photos, and the pictures still hung from the wire. Damn near a hundred pictures, dried and ready for the light of day.

“Don’t you normally use a DSLR?” Teddy asked, squinting at the photos as he started checking out the photos.

“Yeah, primarily the Mark IV,” she said. “But I do specifically work with film to catch the dreamier side of the sport,” she said, pointing out a particular photo. “Like here. I shot half of this practice session with film and the other half with digital. I think the film photos came out a hundred times better, because they capture the motion, but there’s still something left to our imagination. Digital is too crisp. It steals the ethereal quality.”

Teddy nodded, shuffling along the line of the work station as he checked out more pictures. Riley picked at her cuticle, waiting for him to say anything. She’d been rather proud of that impromptu explanation. Surely her fan would cherish this moment. Maybe he’d journal about it later.The Day I Met Riley Montagne and Received Private Thoughts from Her.

“And these?” Teddy stopped and pointed to some of the pictures hanging on the line. Riley’s mouth parted when she saw what he was looking at.

Levi and Gage in the kitchen, both mid-laugh. Levi pinching one eye shut, bed sheets rumpled behind him. Gage sending the camera a mock serious look, the barely-there smile tugging at the corners of his lips in an expression that looked just like Levi.

“Uh, what about them?” she asked, her heart rate picking up. She’d forgotten they were here.Fuck fuck fuck.

“I’m interested in more photos like these.” Teddy had a peculiar smile on his face as he turned to face her. Something shifted between them. Something to make Riley think that maybe he’d used the word “fan” loosely.

“Those aren’t actually for public consumption,” Riley said quickly, stepping back so it was clear they should leave. “The sports photography ones are, but those—”

“Let me be clear.” A plasticized smile crested Teddy’s face. “I work with some of the biggest names in entertainment, including all the active publications out there who are paying big bucks for photos like these. Your name keeps coming up in my circle. Probably because Levi’s name keeps coming up.” He rapped his knuckles against the workstation, his gaze dragging back to the picture of Levi and Gage in the kitchen. “I can see that you have a very particular entry point to this budding star, and that’s the sort of access we’re willing to pay real money for.”

His veiled suggestion came down on her like a sledgehammer. She wanted to puke. “I’m sorry. What exactly are you looking for?”

“There are lots of people out there who are very, very interested in getting their hands on photos of Levi in settings like these. We all know how private the man is, despite being one of the biggest fools.”

“He’s not a fool—”

“A fool for the limelight,” Teddy clarified. “But there is a lot of opportunity available to the photographer who can bring these photos to light.”

“You want me to sell his private images without his consent?”

“Get his consent if you want. It doesn’t matter to me. But you should know how much money you’re leaving on the table.” That seedy grin returned, and Teddy fished something out of his wallet. He handed her a business card. “I want you to really think about this. Levi’s another star in the machine of Hollywood. And a lot of people depend on this machine for paying rent, getting food on the table. He knows it. We all know it. Nobody’s going to blame you if you slide a few pictures our way now and then.”

“I could never do that,” Riley blurted, staring at the business card in her fingers. She wanted to throw it away, but she couldn’t force her limbs to work. “He’s a good person. He doesn’t deserve that.”

“Like I said, it’s not about deserving it. It’s about putting food on the table. Getting your name out there. Haven’t you ever considered getting featured in a gallery exhibit?”

“It’s my dream,” Riley said, “but—”

“Photographers who work with us have their pick of any opportunity they can dream of,” Teddy said. He rapped his knuckles on the table again and started for the door. “Think about that. Okay? Your pictures would look great on display. I bet you’d rake in thirty thou easily.”

The number was a punch to her gut, but not in the inspirational way. It felt like a bad car salesman adding on at the end that the car had only been wrecked twice.

“Think about things,” Teddy said, glancing back at her as he headed for the front door. Riley could only stare after him. “We’ll work really well together; I can feel it.”

John Stamos crooned his greeting, and then the studio fell silent once more.

Riley tossed the business card on the work station, stomping out front to her computer. She scanned the studio once to make sure Teddy really was gone, and then tried to re-immerse herself in edits.

But it was impossible to forget what he’d implied. What he wanted from her. It made her feel yucky even though she’d never agree to it in a million years.

She was sure that Levi wouldn’t have a problem with some of those images being sold off. He might be excited about it.

But the photos with Gage? Their private home life? He’d be furious if any of those came to light. Teddy had caught on to the truth—Levi really did protect his private life. Even though he’d do damn near anything to get a chance at the spotlight for himself, he’d never expose Gage to the same glare of fame.

More than anything, she wished he’d left without sweetening the pot. His last-ditch effort to convince her, hitting her right in her weak spot. Like every struggling artist, she supposed. The clear psychological tactic was to offer any modicum of financial stability.Make thirty thousand dollars selling the photos I’ve slaved over my whole career?It was a dream too delicious to bear.

---