Chapter 1 of A little photo
Ace had expected a lot of things when he showed up to photograph one of the most powerful men in the city.
Being threatened into changing careers wasn’t one of them.
It all started because of a few pictures.
The photos Ace had taken of Leo Metes were everywhere online. Sharp jawline, cold eyes, expensive suits—it was impossible to take a bad picture of the man. The photos had exploded in popularity overnight.
And somehow, that had gotten Ace invited to meet Leo himself.
Which was exactly how Ace found himself standing in front of the intimidating mafia boss.
Leo sat behind a massive desk, staring at him.
Ace crossed his arms. “Last time I checked, yeah.”
“You quit your job tomorrow.”
Leo walked around the desk and stopped in front of him.
“I want you to work for me.”
The smile immediately disappeared from Ace’s face.
Leo’s expression remained blank.
“Ace, if I want a photographer blacklisted, I can have it done before dinner.”
“And yet you’ll be working for me.”
An hour later, Leo was showing him around the giant mansion.
Ace had never seen a house this ridiculous before.
The ceilings were high enough to fit another floor. Expensive artwork lined the walls. The staircase looked like it belonged in a movie.
“You live here?” Ace asked.
“Right. Stupid question.”
Ace stepped inside and nearly dropped his camera.
The room was bigger than his apartment.
Ace ignored him as he looked around.
There was a king-sized bed, a private bathroom, and a balcony overlooking the city.
“You’ve got to be kidding.”
Leo leaned against the doorway.
“For every successful shoot, you’ll receive five thousand dollars.”
“Okay, maybe blackmail isn’t always bad.”
A tiny smile threatened to appear on Leo’s face.
It vanished before Ace could be sure he saw it.
“Your first assignment is downstairs.”
Leo turned toward the hallway.
Forty-five minutes later, Ace was having a crisis.
No matter what he did, it looked horrible.
After ten minutes of struggling, he gave up.
He grabbed his camera and sprinted downstairs.
The party was already packed.
Music played throughout the mansion while wealthy guests filled every corner.
Ace immediately got to work.
Photos of people laughing and dancing.
And, of course, photos of Leo.
Leo was impossible to miss.
Standing near the center of the room, dressed in black, he looked more like a king than a mafia boss.
Then a girl suddenly rushed over and wrapped her arms around Leo’s neck.
For a brief second, the scene looked oddly normal.
Without thinking, Ace snapped a picture.
Hours later, the party finally ended.
Ace was sorting through photos when Leo appeared beside him.
Ace handed over the camera.
Leo silently scrolled through the pictures.
The photo of the girl hugging him.
Ace looked between him and the screen.
A moment later Leo’s eyes moved upward.
“You don’t know how to tie one.”
Ace rubbed the back of his neck.
For a second neither of them moved.
Leo’s hands grabbed the tie.
The distance between them disappeared instantly.
Ace could smell his cologne.
Could see every detail of his face.
Could hear his breathing.
The room suddenly felt way too small.
Leo focused on the tie while Ace focused very hard on absolutely anything else.
After a few seconds Leo finished.
The strange tension immediately disappeared.
Later that night, they sat together reviewing the final photographs.
Leo approved the collection.
Then he placed an envelope on the table.
“Dangerous thing to say.”
After a while, Ace gathered his things.
Leo nodded and started walking toward the staircase.
Without thinking, Ace lifted his camera.
Ace immediately regretted everything.
“Oh come on. It’s not going anywhere.”
“You worried I’ll make you famous?”
Leo’s stare could have frozen lava.
“Delete it or you’re fired.”
Still, he deleted the photo.
Leo watched until it was gone.
The corner of Leo’s mouth twitched.
“You seem awfully interested in taking pictures of me.”
Ace nearly dropped his camera.
“And yet you’re still here.”
Ace pointed accusingly at him.
Then he spun around and marched toward the stairs.
Behind him, Leo let out a quiet laugh.
The sound made Ace’s face turn even redder.
And somehow, he had a feeling working for Leo Metes was going to be a lot more complicated than taking photographs.
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