I keep a small office on the South side. I invest in businesses and watch those I help closely, one Hardware wholesaler in particular. He had run out of traditional finance when he came to me. I helped, then, putting things in place I watched. Sure enough he was playing the same game with me as he had with the banks. Shutting him down was an option but I decided on a different path. Re-organizing my business with him to minimize the possible loses I went looking for my margin of profit. The only valuable asset he had that wasn't mortgaged was his young wife. I decided to take out a mortgage on her. Using digital photography, computer enhancements and luck a week later I had the photos I wanted.
I phoned asking for my client knowing he had caught a flight East that morning. Realizing who I was his wife, Mel, tried to be helpful. I explained that there are some business matters, which needed to be dealt with, if her husband can't then she can. Reluctantly she agrees to meet me at my office in one hour.
She arrives dressed elegantly and smiling nervously. I offer her a seat and hand her several ledgers, contracts and bank statements. I don't beat around the bush, this isn't courtship its business. "Your husband has been stealing from me. You are holding the proof in your hands. Including photos of the people he has been using for his dirty tricks." These are legitimate.
"I don't want my husband to go to jail, what I can do about this!" She indicates the paperwork.
"Jail is a possibility, but if I do go that route I will lose substantial amounts of money. I have limited what I can lose and now I want to recover and reap the profit I feel I'm due. That's where you come in, first you can help me keep your husband in line and second you can come to work for me." This isn't poker; in poker you put all your cards on the table.
"Work for you! Doing what? I don't have any skills;" to her the suggestion was laughable.
"Come with me, I will explain." Rising I guide Mel through the door to a small gallery. "This is a show of my personal work. I'm looking forward to the opening. You and your husband must be here. I will explain the importance of his attendance to him personally." The first photos are innocent enough. Mel around town, the hairdresser and jewelry store; these are the only untouched photos in the show.
"What is this"? She recognizes herself in the first set and as we continue realizes she is featured in all the shots in progressively more compromising poses. Her husband's guaranteed visit and his certain response is easy to calculate.
"I recognize that shop but I didn't try on that dress or buy it or wear it to a hotel and who is that man apparently meeting me?" Her shock increases when I answer.
"It doesn't matter, your husband will understand and take the only option he possibly could."
"You can't show him these! They would destroy him and my marriage!"
"These are just fun. I enjoy watching people. Now we can discuss how you can work for me."
"You think I would work for you after seeing these?"
"You will work for me because of these and your husband's need to steal. I intend to steal his wife from him without him knowing she's gone."
Mel stands frozen, she has no way out. She belongs to me now and she still doesn't understand what that means. "Come with me we need to do some new shots." Her refusal is hollow and shortly we are in the studio.
I turn on the lights and pose her in her street clothes. "Turn so your hair swings, good now turn away, look over your shoulder. Tease the camera; bend a knee to give your calf even more shape. That's beautiful, exactly what I want." The praise has its affect; I get my first tentative smile. I keep on shooting. "Open your jacket, walk towards the back wall, and turn quickly with long strides arms swinging walk towards the camera. Beautiful I love the way you walk. Your outfit is perfect. Slip the jacket off your shoulders and hold it in front, good now put the jacket back on and undo the top button of your blouse, that's better maybe better undo the next one too." Mel hesitates at this but looking down realizes she won't be exposing all that much and slowly complies. "Thank you, now turn and do the walk again, emphasize your motions and when you turn slip the jacket from your shoulders and let it slide down your arms as you walk toward me. Ah beautiful, the camera loves you, put the jacket on the chair, you'll want it again shortly." She is relieved that her jacket will be needed. "Is your blouse a shirt waist?"
She shakes her head. "Good, pull it out of your skirt so we can see the hem. That's what we want; now undo the bottom buttons leave the center two done up. I want to see your navel. Is it an inney or outey?" She giggles and her hands open the blouse. "An inney, that was my wish, put your hands on your hips under your blouse so it opens to show your tummy. God that's a sweet tummy, a diamond stud in that inney could wink at a fellow if you let him see." She blushes at the comment but holds her pose. I'm aware that 10 digital cameras around the room are each recording every 5 seconds. I won't miss anything. "Lift your blouse so the lower button is centered between your breasts, that's right now open the top button so you can slip the blouse over your shoulders like you did the jacket." I continue shooting film through all of this. "Turn away, look over your shoulder, slip the blouse off your shoulders and slowly turn towards me, tease the camera. Great, you move so smoothly, it's a pleasure to photograph you. Can your bra be a made strapless?" At her nod I continue. "Put your shirt back on, now release your bra straps and push them over your shoulders. Good, now slip your blouse off your shoulders again and we'll get you with bare shoulders." I step up behind her and she tenses. I carefully take each bra strap and unhook it at the back. "Just to get rid of the lose ends. Great turn your back, take off your blouse and put the jacket back on. Don't button it, just hold it closed." I get several more shots as she changes her top and a couple as she turns towards me in her jacket.
"Time for a break." I hold out my hand to guide her but Mel holds back. I point toward the coffee counter and follow. Mel is quiet, answering my questions but offering nothing in return. I have made my intentions clear but she hasn't responded yet. I pour wine, too late for coffee and anything stronger would be aggressive. Mel's coat is still unbuttoned she holds it with her left hand taking the glass with her right she sips in response to my toast. She blushes at my compliments she is obviously shy. I must move slowly to avoid scaring her off. We talk of nothing, where she shops her favorite restaurant and what kind of car she likes best. When I sense her relaxing I suggest we continue with the shoot.
