The Girl Behind the Camera

Chapter 5

I walk right past the receptionist in the lobby of the LA Circle, a different one than last time I was here. She tries to stop me, but to no avail. I see her coming after me just as the elevator doors close, so I wave at her and smile sweetly.

I go up to the fifth floor and as soon as I step off the elevator, I see Owen in his office talking on the phone. I stand in the doorway until he finally looks up.

"I'll have to call you back," he says before hanging up the phone. "Alexa! What have you got for me today?" he asks enthusiastically, rubbing his hands together. He stands from his desk and walks around until he's standing in front of me.

I take a deep breath. "Antonio Hughes and his brother's wife," I say, handing him the flash drive I've had clenched in my fist since I got here.

He walks back around his desk and takes a seat. He pops the flash drive into his laptop and I can practically see the dollar signs in his eyes when the photos come up.

"Wow, these are great...is this...Pulse? How the hell did you get into that place? It's the most exclusive club in LA."

"I have my connections."

He nods as if he's impressed before turning his attention back to his laptop. The way he smirks makes my stomach turn. I realize I'm no better than Owen since I'm supplying him with the photos, but this guy gets way too much satisfaction out of ruining people's lives.

Finally, he looks up and me and grins. "Today is your lucky day, Alexa. The fact that these were taken at Pulse is going to make them worth so much more. How does twenty grand sound?"

I suck in a breath so sharp, I begin to choke. Twenty grand sounds amazing, but he should know I'm not going to take the first offer he throws at me.

Owen takes a bottle of water from his desk and pushes it in front of me. I take a long gulp and after I've gotten myself together, I stare at him like he's insane. "Twenty grand? How can you possibly think that's a good deal? I could go anywhere and get that."

He sighs in frustration and looks down. "Why must you kill me every time you walk through these doors?" He props his chin up on his hands and gives me a bored look. "Okay, how much do you think these photos are worth?"

"Well, the dress I had to buy just to get into a place like that cost me four grand," I press my index finger to my chin and look up as if I'm deep in thought. "How about forty?"

His mouth drops. "You're crazy! No one will ever give you forty grand for these, no matter how good they are."

"Fine," I shrug, reaching for the flash drive.

"Wait."

I drop my hand in my lap and smirk.

He pulls out his checkbook and begins writing. "I'm only doing this because I don't want anyone else to get their hands on this story. I want exclusive rights; no copies, no reserves..."

"You got it," I say, taking the check from him.

___________________________

I spend the rest of the afternoon wandering around downtown. Ever since my little altercation with Sloan, I've been beating myself up over my job. I don't feel good about what I'm doing. Even if these people are the scum of the earth for lying and sneaking around, it's not my place to expose them.

I'm done with this. I'm done feeling like a monster.

I sit down on a park bench and pull out my camera. I slowly flip through the photos of Sloan, studying his face in each one. My heart sinks. He needs help to overcome his addiction, not photos of him indulging in his habit circulating around the media.

While I have no intention of selling these photos, I also don't plan on deleting them until I find out how Sloan knows about my mother.

"Alexa?"

I look up and see Brittany standing in front of me looking flawless in her black romper and matching high heels. Her makeup is perfect and not a single hair on her head is out of place. "Hey, Britt."

She sits down next to me and drops all of her shopping bags in front of her. "Oh my God! How was Pulse?!"

I sigh and look away from her. "It was okay."

"Okay?! Just okay?!"

I shrug. "It's not really my thing. I felt so out of place."

She purses her lips together and looks down. "I can see that. I mean, that place is full of celebrities that think they're better than everyone else."

"I'd rather just hang out at the hole in the wall bar I always go to and drink beer like a normal person."

She chuckles. "So I guess that means you won't be buying anymore expensive dresses?"

I laugh sarcastically. "That's a big, fat no. I just decided to quit my job, so I'll have to slow down on extravagant purchases."

"You quit? Why?"

I hesitate, trying to think of a reasonable response. I only just decided a few minutes ago that I'm done with celebrity scandal. "Just looking to do something different."

"So what exactly did you do at your job?" she asks.

I hesitate, trying to remember what it is I told her the last time we saw each other. "I was a personal assistant, but I'm looking into doing photography or something like that."

"Ooh, a photographer? Want to do a little freelancing?" she asks.

"I'm listening."

"I want you to shoot a few photos of me for my portfolio. I need something professional looking."

I smile. I never thought about using my photography skills for normal things like this, but why the hell not? The money won't be near as good, but maybe I'll actually be able to sleep at night for a change.

"Sure, I'd love to."

___________________

I walk into my apartment and go straight to the fridge. It's empty of course, since Harry can't be bothered with reality. If he isn't drawing, his mind is engulfed in a fantasy world. I sometimes wonder if he does normal things like eating, sleeping and bathing. I've eaten with him only a couple of times in the two years we've lived together. I've never actually seen him shower and I've only caught him sleeping a handful of times; usually naked.

I grab my bag and start for the door, but as soon as I open it, Sloan is standing there with his hand raised like he was about to knock. It's been a week since we've last spoken to each other and seeing him again only reminds me of the things he said to me.

"Alexa..." he whispers as if he's surprised to see me.

I stare at him, waiting for him to say whatever the hell it is he came here to say. When he doesn't, I raise a brow and cross my arms over my chest. "Why are you here?"

"You haven't answered my calls."

"I know."

He scoffs. "I want to apologize. I was way out of line the other night."

I look down to hide the sudden emotion I'm feeling. "It's fine."

"It's not fine. I never should've brought up your mom. It's just that...I feel like you hate what you're doing and I just don't understand why you'd keep doing it if it bothers you so much."

I take a step back and place my hand on the door, ready to slam it in his face. "Don't pretend you're worried about me. We both know why you're here and why you've been calling me."

He gives me a dumbfounded look and I roll my eyes. "Goodbye, Sloan," I say, closing the door.

He catches it and pushes it back open. "Alexa, please..."

"I told you, the deal's off. I don't need you anymore."

His eyes are pleading with me and I almost feel bad for him. He's right about me hating what I do, which is why I've decided to stop doing it. Owen's check will get me through until I find something stable and boring. Until then, I'm minding my own business.

Anyway, I don't want to exploit addicts. It's not the same as sleeping with your brother's wife. Sure it all starts with a choice, but once you make the choice to use drugs, you can't do anything about the avalanche of problems that addictions brings. I've seen it for myself. 

"I told you I'd do anything for you to delete those photos. If you don't need me to help you find the next big scandal, isn't there something, anything else I can do?"

"Yes. Go to rehab," I say closing the door.

Surprisingly, he goes away. I stand in the same place, staring at the door for while. My guard is starting to fall and I'm starting to get emotional. This isn't like me at all. I should just get to the bottom of how Sloan knows my mother and delete these photos before he goes off the deep end.

I run down the hallway to the elevator and press the button. I wait impatiently for the doors to open. When they finally do, Harry steps out wearing a turban on his head.

I look up at him in confusion. "Um, Harry? What the hell are you doing?"

"Who is Harry? I only know the Grand Sultan of Greenwich," he says, walking past me.

"Greenwich?" I mumble as I watch him walk away.

I shake my head and step into the elevator. When I make it down to the lobby, I jog towards the exit and crash through the doors. I look around, but there's no sign of Sloan anywhere.

_______________________

"You look amazing!" I tell Brittany when she gets out of her car.

"You think? I tried something new with my eye shadow and I was worried I went a little too heavy."

"You're perfect. The camera will love you."

We spend the next couple of hours shooting photos and decide to have dinner together at the Chinese restaurant a block away from Brittany's apartment. I haven't had many friends lately, but I'm surprised by how much I like Brittany. If I judged her just by looking at her, I would assume she's just a stuck-up Hollywood wannabe. Turns out, she's the complete opposite. She's funny, down to earth and has the same twisted sense of humor as me.

Just after we're done with our dinner, she takes out her phone and furrows her brows. "Hey, my brother wants me to go grab a beer with him. Want to join?"

I shake my head. "Oh, no, that's okay. I need to get back home anyway."

"Are you sure? He's single and very attractive," she says, wiggling her brows.

I laugh. "Well...I guess one beer won't hurt."

Surprisingly, we end up at the same hole in the wall bar that's near my apartment. If this is where Brittany's brother hangs out, I've more than likely seen him around before.

"I haven't seen my brother in ages. He's an aspiring actor so he stays pretty busy," Brittany says.

My heart sinks at the word actor because it reminds me of Sloan. I feel so guilty for what I've done to him and I haven't had a chance to make things right.

"There he is!" Brittany squeals when we approach the bar.

He stands up to greet her and my eyes widen in surprise. It's the bartender from Pulse and he looks even better tonight. He's wearing a fitted black t-shirt and jeans that make his ass look like a million bucks. His hair is pulled back in a ponytail like it was the night I met him.

"Ace, this is my friend, Alexa," Brittany says pushing me in front of him.

"Ah, Alexa. So I finally get a name," he replies, shaking my hand.

"You remember me?" I ask, sounding a bit more flattered than I want to.

"I'd never forget a pretty face like yours."

Brittany nudges me with her shoulder and grins ear to ear.

Ace drapes an arm over Brittany's shoulder and motions in my direction with his beer. "So when did you start hanging out with Sloan Cole's girlfriend?"

She looks at me and her jaw drops to the floor. "What?! You're dating Sloan Cole and you didn't tell me?!"

I shake my head furiously, my eyes darting around to make sure no one heard her. "No! No, I'm definitely not dating him." I look over at Ace and flash him a flirty smile. "Not anymore."