Page 15 of When Love Becomes A Need
Placing a tight-lipped smile on my face, I turned and walked over to the chairs on the left side of the desk.
Sitting down, I crossed my legs at the knee and sat my portfolio next to me. I started to tap my freshly done pink nails on my knee and looked around the office again.
“Ms. James!” A deep baritone voice called out after a few minutes.
I looked up and saw a light skin, tall, slim man approaching me. Jumping up, I grabbed my portfolio and hurried over to him.
“Right here.”
Mr. Jacobs was a handsome man. You could tell he was older due to his salt and pepper beard, but he looked like he kept himself up. His hairwas freshly cut and lined up. The suit he was sporting looked expensive, and theRolexon his wrist showed he had money.
“Fatima James,” I said, sticking my hand out.
He looked down at it then at me with a smile. His teeth were straight and white.
“Nice to meet you.” Grabbing my hand, he gripped it tightly, then shook it. “Follow me.”
I nodded, took a deep breath, then stepped inside the office.
____
“Your photos are good, but they just aren’t Galaxy Photography material. Taking photos is a great hobby for a lot of people but making it a career isn’t for everyone.”
Jacob’s words played over in my head as I sat there on my front step staring at nothing.
Today was the day I thought would change my life in a major way. Galaxy Photography was one of the largest and most successful photography agencies in the area. They worked with a lot of famous and powerful people. They were currently searching for a photographer, and I thought I had what it took.
“Your photos are mediocre. Here at Galaxy Photography, we need photos that will make you stop and gasp. Make you feel as if you are in the photo you’re looking at.”
Mediocre, I chuckled to myself and shook my head before wiping my eyes.
He had called my picturesmediocreand ahobby. Even the ones I took of Isabella, he’d called them cute but nothing special. All the time I took picking out the pictures I thought had potential was wasted. The hours I spent capturing everything that caught my eye were wasted.
I picked my camera up out of my lap and looked it over. Usually staring at it got me excited, but right now it felt like a weight holding me down.
My body had gone numb replaying the rest of Mr. Jacobs’ words in my head. Angry tears filled my eyes as I listened to him discredit my ability as aphotographer.
Sighing heavily, I dropped my camera in my lap and let my head drop.
“Hey neighbor!” I heard next to me.
I wasn’t in the mood to talk to anyone right now, but I didn’t want to be rude. Looking up, I noticed Autumn standing in her driveway.
Giving her a small wave, I turned and diverted my eyes back to my lap.
“Everything okay, boo?” She asked me. Her voice was now closer.
Glancing up, she was now standing at the end of my steps on the sidewalk that led to my door.
“No,” I confessed.
Her eyebrows squinted together. “Anything you want to talk about?”
“No.”
I released a deep breath.
Autumn, not taking the hint that I didn’t want to be bothered, kept pushing. “Well…oh shit! I didn’t get your name when I came over here.”
