at's thorning my ears with an annoyed clink of my cof

tting where we both enjoyed coffee. Clothed in matching cardigans, jeans, and kicks, he leaned against th

of 'posing' for the photographs to be taken. My muscles are already screaming from exh

director who is also th

re those insane poses in

o

to one of the wardrobe stylists who advanced toward me the moment I walked in. We'r

e up. Then we continue right away," t

to get this done and dusted with – wha

bend where

rief unlit hallway barred with a sophisticated

ym studio is insi

ling with sun-kissed concepts first."

nd I roll my eyes at 'THEMED.' Who cares what it's called? Not Laurel. "Besides, you wouldn't want to be h

pause, "Afte

lowing suit. I walk out on hushed clicks as two of them are rolling suitcases wh

ising a stretchable legging that over-amplifies my curves, a zipper cro

om, entering eyeshot. Their gazes of admiration walk me

ist inquires, peering into my ey

...

crouching beside me and staring u

reply, lowering my

s a blue-eyed beauty leaning her butt against the dressing table. Running up he

o hush. They've gotten so used to acting like robots that only act and

ind them who they're d

e stiff air. "It's fine. I don't bite," I say the last part,

uckle l

Smiling kindly, I compliment, "Yo

returns with a

do me a lot of good to address them by their names, and not have them runni

an even liv

beside me introduce themselves

gathering my hair upward. "Was thinking

e," I say, letting 'Whatever, I just

wberry Hotel?" she asks, m

, and Ivan's voice waves in. "My favorite fru

finally seeing the sneaky wisdom in telling

OL

hes through, bringing me b

it is strawberry,

gets lost in awe, leaving the lef

ho pays arduous attention to details but oh well. The r

tmosphere. Zamiel and Nia rush to help the rest of the crew get the

m as he enters to get changed. I scoff to my

get his diaper

es away only to have them stumbling

he see

ope

sions. Whenever they decide to

t's all hair accessories and cosmetics. I do not need to explain what she

ong. Like she understands what I'm trying to do. "Majorly

A tide of muffled gasps overrides the room in

hick popping veins running through his arms that wiggle aro

candle to him, Lau

juvey protest but deep down,

ector hails, channeling the

y to hold his pupils doused with i

isode of bends, twist

s as we mostly have to come into skin contact

brief intermission after

stretching toward me. Thanks to the sweat-inducin

suspicious look on my way out of the studio. He doesn't trust me

t exercise, three water dispensers, and coffee brewers with utensils to go with them. Gives off a home

act like I'm going to the lavat

Minutes

t be a better antidote than a chill bath to relax your nerves. Then, I

e booms in the atmosphere, pulsin

ally f

g to both sides of my face. Ruffling my hair backward, I wipe

ve been searching all over

V cameras on exit and escape routes." I pause, choosing to mumble the rest to

but that's how far his composure carries him before fadi

ol. I'm literally just in a sports bra and underpants, but my infuriati

no apologies. All you could do was fly me down to California, make me strike weird poses like a doll, for weird photos to pro

na rat me out to the police?" he asks scornfully, accenting 'r

ter of fa

ions. You know what that means?" The last question condenses vilely as he ambles toward me, not a whit of humor left in his soul. Close enough to wrap his arms around my wa

s hard thumps have my conviction already grounded to

d have someone completely innocent behind bars, or would you shut your trap and do exactly a

n I remain mute. I feel like giving him a dose of his medicine but un

e on your face like a good girl. And stop

out in defeat, walk

earshot, I he