AllFreeNovel
Share Us
* * *
JORDAN WAS CAUGHT between a primitive desire to see the photographer knocked on his ass and admiration at Nicole’s skilled handling of the situation. Stanton had tried to threaten and manipulate her and she hadn’t even flinched. And it had obviously given her client confidence. Jackie listened carefully to Nicole’s instructions and was able to make her way up the climbing wall a few feet.
“I want her toward the top,” the photographer complained once Nicole had Jackie settled in place.
“Then you aren’t as skilled as the woman who shot the ads you claim you aren’t trying to reproduce,” Nicole shot back smoothly. “This is the exact height and position I was in when the original photos were taken.”
Jordan nearly choked, trying to restrain his glee. The photographer was a petulant fool who was too dumb to know he was outclassed and had been beaten at his own game.
“Who does that bimbo think she is?” the guy stalked closer and grumbled to Jordan. He didn’t seem to mind that Nicole was close enough to overhear. “I hope you’re getting all of this down for those articles you’re writing.”
“Absolutely,” Jordan assured him. “It’s always interesting to readers when a man is incompetent and gets rescued by a smart woman. They’ll probably grind their teeth over your pathetic attempt to manipulate her, but what’s a story without drama to give it spice?”
“You… I, that isn’t…” the man sputtered. “You can’t say something like that about me.”
“Don’t worry, you aren’t important enough to mention by name.”
Nicole’s shoulders were shaking, her eyes merry, and Jordan’s body tightened with desire at the sight.
The photographer stared with a horrified expression, then rushed to finish his shots. After another thirty minutes he packed his equipment and went over to the other photographer, who listened, then shook his head and said something that made Stanton shout a curse and stomp from the gym.
It wasn’t long before the rest of the photos were completed and the models had gone to the locker rooms to change into their street clothes.
The remaining photographer walked over to Nicole. He looked tense. “Ms. George, I understand there was a problem with Bob Stanton.”
“Yes. He berated my client for not being a climbing expert and then tried to manipulate me into taking her place. That kind of behavior is problematic, at best.”
“I can’t apologize enough. He told me he had a plan to get you into the ads and I told him to forget it, that isn’t how my studio does business. He wants to rescind his release for PostModern. Even though Bob is my employee, I don’t think I can ignore his request. I should say I did employ him. He’s fired, as of this afternoon.”
“I didn’t ask for that.”
“Today was just the last straw. I’ve given him several chances and while he’s a decent photographer, he won’t follow directions.” He turned to Jordan. “Mr. Masters, pictures of Bob should be excluded. In any case, I’d prefer not having him associated with my studio. It’s tough enough making it in this business without me getting a bad rep.”
The man’s face seemed open and straightforward and Jordan sorted through the releases. He handed over the one for Bob Stanton.
“Stanton isn’t very bright, is he?” Jordan said to Nicole once they were alone. “If he’d been warned not to pull that game, why did he complain to his boss about how it turned out?”
“He was probably trying to tell his side first. I hadn’t planned to say anything, but he must have assumed I would. People like that generally seem to think you’ll behave even worse than they do.”
“But you also wouldn’t have sent any of your clients to work with him again, right?” Jordan hazarded a guess.
“We have a few tigers at the agency who’d chew him up and spit him out, but I wouldn’t inflict him on rookies. His name goes on my watch list for the future.”
“Is it a long list?”
“Nope. I rate studios and photographers for how well they handle various aspects of the work, but there’s only one other name on the list. Now he’ll have Stanton for company. By the way, we can leave now, if you like.”
