Life Begins at Midnight

Dissuasion

Zoe was there on time, and was as surprised as Monica to see Anna wearing a trench coat. "Ricky still hasn't told me what the shoot's going to be about, so the crew's probably going to have to lug all the lenses" she smiled, and Anna smiled back. "They'll probably need the softboxes and the gobo and scrim too..." Anna said, comfortably slipping into photography-related jargon. Zoe was surprised despite herself. She couldn't help remarking "That was why you could pose so easily in the morning..."

Monica gave her a dirty look. But Zoe had met someone who was interested in her first love, photography. So Monica could wait. She had to put up with Anna and Zoe talking about f-stops and primes, and was irritated by the time they had reached the pool. Anna felt refreshed, and had enjoyed talking to someone who was so passionate about photography. She had picked up some useful pointers from Zoe, and was eager to try them out the next day. In fact, Anna was geared up for round two with Richard West, thanking him for the warmth of the trench-coat, because the night was cold.

Richard West was delighted to see the way the trench-coat framed her curves. He was pleased that she had come over on time and wearing what he'd sent for her. She smiled easily at him, and said the exact words he'd been yearning to hear. "I'm sorry you had to wait for me, Sir."

They had the same effect on him as in the morning. He felt the urge to push her to her limits. To break her. She had read his note. She had read between its lines. She had heard what the words 'I await you' had meant. And still she hadn't run away. She had come to face whatever horror he'd have planned for her. She had the audacity to apologise for making him wait.

"That's quite alright, Ms. Wrenner. It's not midnight yet. Life begins at Midnight, you know."

"I'm sorry, Sir. I don't understand." She said, honestly.

"You will, Ms. Wrenner. Very soon." He spoke softly, and she heard the underlying threat. She braced herself for whatever was to come. She was strong. But he did not believe she was strong enough for what was to come.

He called Zoe aside, and told her that they would be shooting right there, beside the pool. "Ask Julia about the theme. I'll be back by twelve, keep everything ready." He told her.

"Ms. Wrenner, do you mind accompanying me for a walk?" it was not an invitation which could be declined, so she shrugged, indicating she didn't mind. And he led the way to the lawns.

Once they were out of earshot, he quietly said "Do you have any idea what this shoot is about, Ms. Wrenner?"

"No, Sir. I don't." she said, truthfully.

"Why did you even fill the form in the first place, Ms. Wrenner? Why'd you fill in just me?" he had been intrigued with this right from the beginning.

Anna laughed drily. "I filled in the form because my friend didn't believe she would get selected. She just wanted moral support, so I filled in the form to accompany her. I told her I'd rather be behind a camera than in front of one. I never really wanted to be a model, Sir. And that was why I only check-marked against your name. I was confident that all the girls would have surely tick-marked that one. I didn't want to take undue risks, so I checked just the one, which was the minimum requirement for submitting the form. I had promised my friend that I would submit it, so that was why. I never meant for myself to get selected in the first place." She was open and frank about it. He felt a twinge of guilt for doubting her.

"So why'd you even try the Cheetah Shoot? You could have simply quit. You didn't have to be my model." He was puzzled.

"Because I want to give my best shot. It was never your fault that I filled in the form when I didn't really want to do it. So since you've chosen me, I couldn't just chicken out later, could I? Because when I filled the form I had committed that I would model for you if you chose me. It was my fault that I assumed you wouldn't."

He was shocked by her sense of commitment and fairness.

"You can still quit if you want to. Now that you know that it's not going to be easy to pose for me." He was giving her a way out. A small part of him wished she would take it and leave from his life. He knew it was not to be.

"I wouldn't walk out now. I've promised myself I'll do well. So I will give it my best." She said, without a hint of pride.

"Well... I just want you to know that you could, if you felt like it. You're still not 18. I wouldn't press matters legally." He was trying to warn her. To make her turn back. He was trying to protect her from himself.

She replied firmly - "Never."

And that was it.

This part is dedicated to @liehane1191 for sticking with my story when not many others would. Thank you, with all my heart... I hope you enjoy the tale. <3 Dear friends, please check out @liehane1191 's story 'The Bicycle Thief', which is one of the nicest shorties I've come across so far...

If you're still reading this, thank you too, for accompanying me on this journey. You are an amazing person to give a beginner this chance. Happy Reading...