James was winning over the world with his usual determination and uncompromising attitude. At the peak of his career he had everything he wanted. He was famous, traveling the world with his band and partying hard. As for the girls, he was usually surrounded by many, all pretty, young, and waiting for him to pick, like ripe cherries from a tree.
He liked change, so he would move from one to another, there were so many, no point going back to previous ones. He got bored quickly anyway, the restless energy inside him demanded constant challenge.
It came after one of his smaller shows.
He excused himself from a group of girls that clung to him tight, like a swarm of bees, to go to the bathroom. On the way back, distracted by the sudden noise behind he accidentally bumped into yet another girl. Actually, she bumped into him. She apologised mechanically, gave him a brief, distracted smile and turned around to walk away.
This was not the treatment James was used to getting from girls, it sparked his curiosity. Maybe she didn't recognise him in the darkness?
"Hey," he called before she could take a step. "Did you enjoy the show?"
She turned back.
He gave her his most charming smile.
"lt was alright," she replied with a little half smile.
Huh? That was the most unfazed response James remembered for a long time. It irritated him immediately that someone was not ecstatic about his shows. People usually were.
She looked at him with what he thought was provocation in her eyes, not the sexual, more of a challenge.
"What can I do better next time?" he asked, still attempting to charm her with his usual nonchalant attitude. "l usually take good care of my fans, give them what they want..."
"I'm not one of your fans," came the response that stumped him.
The look she gave him seemed mocking now.
"But...you came to my show..." James stumbled on his words. He realised how pathetic they sounded after he already said it.
"Oh sorry, I didn't know it was only fans show." She patted him patronisingly on the arm.
"l won't do it again."
She walked away leaving James completely stunned.
He went back to the girls, there were even more of them now, all craving his attention.
Good! He didn't need one stuck up, snobby girl who didn't appreciate his work. There were plenty around who did.
But he couldn't shake it off. It didn't help that he saw her across the room, sitting at the bar and chatting to the bartender.
Later in the evening when the gear was packed up and fans left, he walked up to that bartender and asked about her. He wasn't even sure why.
"She's the local photographer. Very good one. If you ever want anyone shooting your show, she's the best. I may even have her card somewhere."
The bartender fumbled in his pockets and fished out a business card.
Jasmine "Jazz" Rosewood, photographer.
There was an email address and a phone number.
James smiled. She wants a good show, she'll get one.
He called his agent and told him he wanted a new photographer on his next show. That was after he checked her website. The bartender was right, she was good.
A few weeks later James was back with another show in the same club. He put extra effort into it. He wanted it to be perfect. He wanted to show that obnoxious photographer girl with a cool name how good he was. Why was it important to him to show her anything, he didn't know.
He worked his ass off during the show. He could see her in the pit taking pictures, moving from one place to another to get everyone and everything in the frame. She looked very professional with two cameras strapped on to her, with the look of full concentration on her face.
After the show James, as usual surrounded by his fans, looked above the heads of everyone, but couldn't see her anywhere. Damn it!
Finally, when he almost lost hope he spotted her at the bar. He made excuses to the disappointed girls and walked up to the bar feeling oddly nervous.
"Jazz is a cool name," he said as he sat next to her.
"It's you again," she replied before she turned around, but when she did she smiled. She had a dazzling smile.
"Well? Did I do any better this time?" he asked.
"You were showing off for the pictures, but it worked. You did well."
She had that slightly patronising tone in her voice again, but for some reason James felt proud.
He gave her a victorious, "I told you so" smile.
"I'll have to spend a few hours in photoshop to make you look presentable tho..." she said, picking up the glass and taking a sip.
James looked at her in shock. The audacity!
She glanced at him and laughed.
"I was joking, you're photogenic enough."
James didn't know what to say. She was fucking with him for sure, in a way no one dared for a very long time. To his surprise he wasn't offended, more excited.
She was a challenge.
"What are you doing for the rest of the night?" he asked, not minding how suggestive it sounded. She obviously liked the direct approach, he was more than happy to oblige.
"I don't fuck my clients," she replied giving him the same mocking look as the first time they met.
"What makes you think I had that in mind?" James replied casually even though it was exactly what he had in mind. She was hot and triggered his hunting instinct.
He very much wanted to fuck her.
"Your reputation precedes you. Too bad, if you were not my client I may be tempted to have some fun..."
Shit! He didn't think of that when he wanted her to video his show. Now he didn't know what to do. The wicked woman liked playing games.
"It seems you got yourself in a bit of a pickle," she continued calmly, her mocking smile now getting on his nerves.
He took a sip of his drink to buy himself some time. She was right, but there was no way he could admit it. His brain was working on overdrive trying to figure out the way to fix it.
Before he found any solution to his predicament Jazz finished her drink and got up.
"I'll send you a few pics tonight. The rest will be ready in a couple of weeks."
She walked past him lightly brushing her fingers on the back of his neck and sending shivers down his spine.
For the second time James was left at the bar with an uncomfortable tightness in his trousers and feeling like an idiot.