Interrupted Heart

20 | REVELATIONS

IF YOU'RE NOT FOLLOWING ME, WHY NOT?

IF I GET A FEW FOLLOWS THEN I'LL RELEASE THE NEXT CHAPTER 🤗

LOVE Y'ALL!

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Seeing Shae's face for the first time in just over a month made me think about where the downfall of our relationship started. Once again I realised that I was blind to the warning signs. I honestly didn't want to keep looking back and adding to the list of how slow I had been. For the majority of my life I had felt weak and vulnerable and I couldn't wait for it to end. At least right now I would be on a small power trip all thanks to Laurence.

And ... action!

"What makes you think that it's okay for you to interrupt us like that?" I asked overly irked with Laurence who was sitting before me. I had brought him into the studio's lounge room after he had intervened in Dana's photoshoot.

After the meeting with Tijen a couple of days prior, I had suggested that she should do a shoot with Dana to put on the company's website. I also wanted to make it clear to Dana that you can be sexy without trying so hard. Tijen was the perfect person for her to partner with as she had years of professional adult modelling experience under her belt.

My dear 'companion', Laurence, decided to burst into the session and attempt to control Dana.

"Well, are you going to explain yourself?" I reiterated impatiently. He sighed heavily, his shoulders rose and descended dramatically. He may have been older than me but I would discipline him and have him crying melodramatically like a toddler.

"Dana is my responsibility. I am her manager-."

"Unofficial co-manager." I interrupted. He was giving himself too much power and needed to be taken down a notch. No contracts had been signed yet so he needed to calm himself right down. A scowl disappeared from his face as quick as it appeared when he saw me raise my eyebrows at him, daring him to question me.

"Okay, co-manager. At the end of the day, I should be here."

"You don't get it do you? It's one thing observing, it's another when you disrupt. I don't care that you're messing with my money. What really pisses me off is that you're stopping that young woman's blessings and growth." Laurence placed his hands on his hips and directed his vision to the ceiling. Something about him wasn't right. His whole demeanor and aura was making me uncomfortable.

"You know what's funny? You haven't been this involved with any of your clients and I'm beginning to question why. So, tell me." I clasped my hands in front of me waiting impatiently.

"Dana is new to the game so I-I'm trying to help her out." He stuttered out.

"Pause." I held up my hand. "Dana has been modelling since she was as child. She isn't new." I explained, something that he should know already if he had read her files. Laurence's face fell even further as his cheeks tinted a deep red. I spotted beads of sweat forming along his hairline.

"Can you model?" I questioned at him genuinely wondering. It wouldn't answer why he was sweating like a hog roast but it would be a valid excuse as to why he barged in today. "Do you have any experience modelling that will aid Dana break into the next step in her career? What more have you got to offer an 18 year old model that I can't?"

I stood waiting for him to give me a A* worthy response. A minute or so passed and his lack of responses only made the clogs of questions in my head turn faster.

"Step outside for a moment, please." I approached the door beckoning his exit and I called Dana in. I wasn't the one to jump to conclusions, especially in the workplace, that's why I needed to speak to Dana alone.

Wearing an elegant, shimmering jumpsuit, Dana stood in front of me. Right now she seemed to be concerned which was opposite to how she was before Laurence ruined her buzz. Her and Tijen bounced off of each other as if they were sisters.

"I need you to be honest with me, okay?" She nodded but I noticed her temple pulsating; she was nervous. "Are you comfortable with Laurence being your manager?"

"I did but recently I have felt like he has been inappropriate."

"Inappropriate how?"

I just hoped that she wasn't going to say what would be the worst case scenario.

Please don't tell me what I think that you're about to.

"There's been a few times when he tried to advance on me."

"Advance? Like sexually?" Dana nodded.

Oh, Lord.

"He actually hasn't done anything physically to you, has he?"

"No. I've always shut it down and tried to move past it."

"It shouldn't be something to 'move past'. It shouldn't be happening in the first place."

"One time he told me that sex sells and that I have to experience sexual things in order for that side to come out in pictures?"

"What?" That was bullshit. I had worked with virgins that looked sexy in pictures without even trying. Laurence must be on a heck of a drug to be spitting such foolishness in Dana's ear.

"Why didn't you come to me?"

"I just believed that I could handle it and I also didn't want to cause any problems." Dana innocently explained. How Laurence could try and take advantage of this young woman was beyond me. I guided Dana over to the sofa in front of the window which overlooked the city.

"Here, at Elite, we're a family. There's always going to be problems and things to deal with. Just like any other family, we can disown motherfuckers when they cross the line." Dana let out a light laugh. "You're the boss of yourself. You make the moves and the important decisions."