Chapter Text
As always, thankyou in advance for any kudos and comments 😘
Lisa Swain crossed her legs beneath her on the sofa, her hands clasped around a mug of coffee, as her eyes stared out of the window in her loft apartment. It was still early and the light of morning was only just breaking through into the room.
Her hair was thrown up in a messy bun, her face makeup free, her favourite cropped jumper and comfy jeans her chosen attire for a lazy Sunday.
Her home reflected her artistic, slightly hippy flare. There were pops of colour in a space that was aesthetically dark and cosy.
Dark wooden floors ran throughout the open plan apartment. Rooms were painted a neutral beige between the wooden beams. Where there was a larger wall space in the living area, Lisa had opted to paint that a deep, Navy blue.
Copper lights hung from the ceiling, giving a cosy ambience against the bright intrusion of the floor to ceiling windows.
There was a corner saved for where she sat to paint. Her desk, her easel, her paints and papers. That was her little corner of comfort and escape.
The sofa in the centre of the space, was Lisa's favourite piece of furniture in the living room. It was burnt orange luxury. The moment she sat down on it, she sunk into it's softness and the day melted away. It was striking, but didn't look out of place.
The green of multiple house plants, placed around the room and hanging from macramé hangers on the walls and from the ceiling, brought a feeling of nature into the space, the green pops of colour adding that finishing touch to the space.
It had been a busy week of photography shoots and, she was looking forward to a day spent in her apartment, working on her art.
She was most comfortable, most happy, when she was painting. She would lose hours that felt like nothing more than minutes, when she was sat Infront of her easel and paints.
She enjoyed the photography side of things and it brought in a steady paycheck from month to month...but painting, that was where she could truly express herself. Where she could completely escape into a different reality for a few hours.
She loved capturing nature through her paintings and drawings. She felt a connection to every piece she painted, her fingers often brushing softly across paint, acrylic or pencil, to blend the colours and soften the lines, giving each piece a uniqueness that her fingers alone, had given it. It felt more personal than just taking a snapshot through a lens and editing an image to fit the narrative.
She hadn't always been a photographer or painter. Her job before had been miles away from what she was doing now. Lisa herself, was also completely changed from the Lisa Swain that she had been ten years ago.
Photography and Art, had pretty much saved her life.
She sighed, content, taking a few sips from her mug as she gazed out of the window, the city outside, now only just beginning to wake up.
Lisa's phone lit up, as it rest on the arm of the sofa. He eyes glanced down to do a quick read of the message, as it flashed up on the screen...
"Photography job for you. The original photographer has pulled out, due to other commitments. The job is tomorrow. Call me. Kit"...
...
Carla Connor stretched lazily beneath the soft, silk sheets that adorned her king-size bed.
She yawned, letting out a relaxed sigh, her eyes beginning to gently blink themselves awake.
She pulled her dressing gown around her, fastening it with the tie, as she made her way through to the kitchen, her morning coffee calling her name.
She ran her fingers through her hair, smoothing it down as she raked through any knots that had found there way into her brunette strands during the night.
She picked up her mug with the freshly brewed coffee and made her way through to the livingroom.
She let herself sink into the cushions of the sofa, her legs stretched out in the free space beside her, as she gazed out into the garden.
Carla's home reflected who she was. It was classy, minimalist and put together.
There were hints of colour here and there, but the theme was very much black, white and grey.
Floors were a light, laminate wood, the walls a crisp white. The few pictures that hang on the walls, gave the rooms there pop of colour, but the colour was muted tones that didn't overly draw attention.
Carla's favourite spot in the livingroom, was her sofa. Not just because it was a corner sofa that felt like you were sitting on a cloud the moment you sat down, the white, faux-fur cushions a stark contrast against it's dark, grey material...but because it faced towards Carla's favourite view...the garden.
She had recently had it landscaped and it was her little slice of heaven. Somewhere she could go and feel like she was a million miles away from the hustle and bustle of her daily life.
Everything was expensive, luxurious and modern. The aesthetics weren't exactly cosy, but it was home for her and she had worked hard for what she had.
Her life had been a mix of ups and downs, more downs than ups. She had had to work hard to get where she was today and yes, she knew this job wasn't forever. She had just turned 41 and she was well aware that being predominantly a lingerie model, work would, inevitably start to dry up.
She had a good business head on her shoulders, maybe she could go back to doing something with that.
She sighed, taking another sip of coffee, feeling it's warmth hug her from the inside.
Her day wasn't filled with a lot. A few, mundane errands that needed to be done, before she could relax for the day and get ready for the busy week of shoots ahead.
She had wondered whether tomorrow's shoot would be called off, after the original photographer had pulled out, but according to her agent, Sarah, they had managed to find someone to take his place last minute.
Carla had actually been secretly hoping that the shoot would be postponed and, that she could have a day to herself, being as the rest of the week was jam packed. But, no such luck...
...
"Why do I get the distinct impression that you're displeased with me?" Kit leaned against the wall, arms folded, a slight smirk on his face, his eyes looking down upon Lisa as she rummaged through her bag.
From her squat position on the floor, she glanced up at Kit, a look of annoyance evident on her face as she rolled her eyes "Oh, I don't know Kit, maybe its because I am." She turned back, focusing on her bag and finding the right lens she needed for the camera.
"Look, I know a lingerie shoot isn't really your thing anymore Lis..."
"Oh, so you do listen then? I suppose you just choose to ignore" she tutted, finally finding the attachment for her camera she was looking for.
She stood, fixing it to the camera.
"Look, I'll level with ya. Its a well paid job, I could use the money and I knew you'd get a decent cut as well."
Lisa looked up at him, less than impressed "I've told you, it's not all about the money Kit. My hearts not in this kind of photography anymore."
It was Kits turn to roll his eyes "I know I know, you're all about nature photography, yada yada, but we both know that that doesn't pay nearly half aswell..."
Lisa widened her eyes, shaking her head "Well, you've just proved my point that you hear what I say, but choose not to listen."
Kit smirked in that way that got to Lisa and she found herself faintly smirking back, before giving him a playful shove.
"Ok, look, we complete this shoot and I won't agree to anymore like it until I've run it by you first, deal?"
Lisa sighed "Where have I heard that before!" she scoffed.
It wasn't like Lisa didn't use to enjoy these types of shoots. She had done, at the beginning...and, Kit was right, it was better money, but Lisa had lost her passion for it. She didn't care that nature photography didn't bring in as much of a steady income. Aslong as she was comfortable and able to keep a roof over her head and do what she loved, she didn't care.
She had had the high powered job with the exhausting lifestyle that went with it. She had lost people she loved and she had become a different person because of it. It had taken its toll on her and, in the end, she knew she needed to walk away from it, to save herself.
"You ready?" Kit asked, bringing Lisa back to reality.
"As I'll ever be."
"Ok, so they will bring the model in in a minute. Its just one modelling six knew pieces for this high end boutique in the city."
Lisa narrowed her eyes, catching the glint in Kits eyes and the grin he had failed to hide as it caught his lips. "What?"
"Nothing..." Kit replied, trying to keep his composure.
"Kit, you don't think I can read you like a book?" she let out a quiet laugh "My guess would be, that whoever the model is, your going to find it very difficult to keep your mouth shut to stop your tongue from falling out!" she shook her head "Men, honestly! Do you ever think with anything else apart from your dicks!?"
"Not when they're as fit as Carla Connor!" he remarked, before turning to Lisa "Don't tell me you've never heard of her?"
Lisa shrugged "Should I have done?"
"For someone in the photography world...and for someone that is in to women, you sure aren't as clued up as you ought to be Lis!" He chuckled, earning another glare from the blonde.
Before she could come back with some witty remark, her eyes shifted to look over behind Kit's shoulder. Kit watched her eyes fall behind him and he swiftly turned round.
He leaned in to Lisa, his voice a low whisper "That's Carla Connor..."
Lisa watched on, unable to take her eyes off the brunette, who was chatting to someone Lisa could only assume was her agent.
She was in nothing more than a red, silk dressing gown that left little to the imagination.
As she looked up and over, her eyes caught Lisa's.
For a moment, Lisa felt as if all the air had been knocked from her lungs and, in that split second, she knew exactly what Kit had been on about. The brunette was stunningly attractive. She smiled, causing Lisa's heart to skip a beat. Lisa watched, as she turned back to the woman she had been talking too, a few moments passing, before she turned back to Lisa and Kit, slowly making her way over to them both.
"Hi...Im Carla, it's nice to meet you both..."...