"Are you doing alright Emmett?"

"Hmmmmm?" He was sitting at Tiffany's computer. She was always kind enough to let him see as many of the unused photos as the photographer was willing to share with her. She and Emmett liked to complain together when they found a photo that seemed better than the director's choice.

"Don't give me that." She swatted him gently with a manilla folder. "You were grimacing when you came in here."

There was no point in explaining it; how the bites itched so much even now a week later and how you couldn't get a decent scratch without it looking like you had some STI and how scratching over denim never left you satisfied anyway...

And how he still wasn't sure how to feel about the whole event.

"I'm worried about fashion week" It was truthful enough, and she would believe it.

...She didn't answer right away though, maybe she didn't.

"You've booked a couple of the shows. No need to be nervous." She flipped through his portfolio on the desk. "Which one should I take out?"

"Which one are you putting in?"

"That one you just did."

He spun in the chair to find her holding up a picture. It was from last week, the chilly lumberjack look. "Oh, Tiffany, don't."

"I don't wanna hear it Emmett."

"I don't wanna get booked for more shit like that."

"Watch your language bitch. They're a popular designer and this is a good picture." She gave a little smile and all he could do was pout in response. As sugarcoated as her personality might appear, she wasn't one to argue with.

"Fine, take out that swimsuit one."

"You're impossible. You need one in your portfolio so they know what your body looks like. If you do a nude shoot I'll consider taking it out." She passed another sly smile down her shoulder at him before looking back at the book. "You know, you missed a couple of good jobs this month… Are… things going alright with that guy you're seeing?"

That question surprised him. Private life wasn't anything they ever talked about. Emmett glanced at the open book, at the ghost of his first meeting with Edan. If they could pretend so easily surely it would be fine.

"Things are fine. He's overseas again." Their schedules hadn't lined up. Emmett hadn't tried hard to make them.

It's fine.

"Ok. Well, I hope I'll meet him one day. I'd like for him to show me his pictures himself rather than me having to go snooping."

Her honesty softened his heart. "Are you standing in as my judgmental father figure?"

"If you need me to. I have to look out for my good boys and girls." She looked wistfully off into the distance, hand to her chest like some cartoon princess. She shook it off suddenly. "Oh, that reminds me." She slapped his shoulder before pushing him away from the computer, tapping out a quick URL. "That photographer that I was checking up on."

"That Beck guy? You heard something?" Emmett would've been fine if he'd never heard another word about the guy. The thought of him still made his skin crawl.

"Yeah, I spoke with some other agencies and it seems like he's mostly retired these days but he used to be a pretty big name. He's more selective about the work he takes and the people he photographs."

Emmett leaned an elbow on the desk, giving Tiffany a wary look. "Doesn't sound any less creepy yet."

"Oh, stop. He wouldn't still be in the business if he was as shady as you're suggesting. His photography is well respected and the people he shoots usually make a name for themselves."

"But somehow you didn't know about him?"

"Like I said, mostly retired and very selective. This could be a big break for you."

"I feel like as my agent you should be saying 'this might be too good to be true'."

"You're such a pessimist." She turned her computer's screen toward him, scrolling through a gallery of black and white model photography. Emmett was probably supposed to be impressed. Tiffany threw a hand on her hip when she didn't receive the correct response. "I'm sorry to tell you he's going to be the photographer for one of your shoots this week."

Emmett leaned back in the chair, propping his chin in his palm. Coincidence? Or should he consider it stalking at this point?

Tiffany was still speaking.

"If you don't like the way he works around you then don't set up another job with him but I really think you'll be missing out on a great opportunity."

"I hear you Tiffany. I'll give it a chance."

But I really will bite him this time if he touches me again.