Life Begins at Midnight

Courage

Anna was not surprised. She realised that Richard West, despite his riches and power, was just a spoilt brat who hated her. He was determined to make life hell for her. She decided that she would take it as a challenge. That she would show him, that whatever he thought or did, that life was worth it. That anything could be enjoyed if you lay aside your prejudices.

The 'Cheetah Shoot' was it? She'd do it. Not because she wasn't scared. But because she was. But if he was so intent on making things difficult for her, then she was intent on not giving him that satisfaction. She'd do it well and would make it a point of enjoying whatever he threw her way. 'Game on!' she yelled in her mind.

The 'Cheetah Shoot' turned out to be a photoshoot in the beautiful Orangery at the Zephyr complex. There were a couple of graceful cheetahs which she was supposed to pose with, while she wore an assortment of leather boots and purses on a simple forest green plunge-neck dress. All the courtesy of Richard West. He insisted on no makeup and her hair was left in the plait she'd put it into that morning. The 10 o'clock light was intense, but not harsh, showing off the cheetahs' golden fur and setting off her complexion nicely against the forest green fabric. She was scared, but she didn't show it. 'They are cats, Anna. You like cats. Cats are warm and furry and they like you.' She told herself. Once she'd convinced herself that they were cats, it wasn't too difficult.

She tentatively reached out to one of the cheetahs, and slowly eased her hand behind its ears. Stroking it lightly and pleasurably, she spoke to it in a soft, musical voice. The one she reserved for talking to all things beautiful - flowers, horses, and now cheetahs. She stroked lovingly behind the ears and on the sides of its slim, graceful neck, and soon had it purring like a kitten. It was getting easier to imagine them to be cats. The second cheetah approached her voluntarily, and nuzzled against her hand. She patted it gently, and proceeded to stroke it the same way. She knew that all cats, big or small, kept their hearts behind their ears. It was their pleasure spot. They could feel her love in her touch, and they were friends. Anna had been unaware that Zoe had clicked away already, and the shoot was almost over till she was formally asked to pose.

Then the cheetahs were compliant enough, and lay down by her lap as she sat under an orange tree. The sunlight filtering through the leaves marked her with a similar dappled pattern of dark and light, and she seemed to be entirely at peace with the cheetahs. She found herself wondering how Julia had arranged for the cheetahs so quickly. Then she smiled to herself when she finally realised that they were probably his pets. Because they seemed to be comfortable with so many humans around, and it would not be possible to just conjure up cheetahs the moment they were needed for a photoshoot. Although he was Richard West, somethings were still quite impossible for him too. Her natural smile graced the posed frames, and Zoe was done. She'd never expected Anna to be so calm and composed.

Richard was defeated. He had lost his first battle. He had expected screams. He had expected her to freeze at least. He had expected her to storm off. He hadn't expected that she'd take it all so calmly. He knew she'd been afraid. Because he'd seen her hands shake slightly when she had first reached out to his darlings. But she'd overcome her fear easily, and had given a memorable shoot. The crew had applauded her, and she had blushed and thanked them all. That easy blush had him hate her. He had lost the battle. But he had to win the war.