Lilly Rose

Lilly Rose Pov

Hi! Let me tell you about myself. I am twenty-five years old with blue eyes, plump lips, and an oval face with long curly bright red hair. I am an award-winning nature photographer under the guise of L.R.F. You can imagine all the teasing I got in high school with the name Lilly Rose Flowers.

I am setting up my room for a company called Ivan Orlov Commerical Real Estate for some business-to-business headshots for their business cards and website.

I walked to the wall and pushed the electronic button to let the white canvas backdrop come down. When suddenly the motor stops midway leaving it halfway down. I swore under my breath as I looked up at the clock in the camera room. They would be here in less than an hour.

I walked down the hall to my tool closet and pulled out a ridiculously huge toolbox hauling it to my camera room. I found the Allen wrench I needed and started unscrewing the nails. I pulled off the top of the wall mount I squatted down looking for a tiny screwdriver when I found one, I continued working on the motor.

I had just finished with two minutes to go when I heard the bell on the front door open. I quickly went to the bathroom to wash my hands and to put my toolbox away.

I walked up front to my surprise it was a tall woman (I am guessing 5'10") with long blonde hair, green eyes, olive skin, thin lips, with two teenagers and pregnant.

"Hi! I am Lilly Rose. What can I do for you today?"

The woman smiled, " My name is Polina Orlov we are waiting on my husband and brother-in-law." She looks down at the two teenagers saying, "This is Igor and Maxim. I was wondering if we could get some pictures done before my brother-in-law employees get here for their headshots. I want it to be a surprise." she said in her Russian accent.

I looked at the two teenagers with scowls on their faces it wasn't the first time I had resistant teenagers in for a family shoot and it wouldn't be the last.

Since the business shots were in forty minutes, I motioned for her to follow me into one of the camera rooms. I placed her in the spot and then had the boys put their hands on her belly. I changed angles and asked the boys to kiss their mother's belly.

The look on their faces is priceless. I continued with my mini session when I heard the bell on the front door ring. I asked to be excused to help the person who walked in.

I slowly walked up to this woman with six children under ten, asking what I could help her with. I smile politely while she explains that she would like her children photographed today.

I smile "Do you have an appointment?" She looked at me like I had two heads on my shoulders when I asked her that question.

The woman frowns "No, I don't. Do you know who I am?"

"Nope," I said as I looked at her up and down like I cared who she was. I have famous people come in all the time using my online appointment system.

She was about to tell me her name when I spoke angrily, "Look mam I don't care who you are but right now I have a session going on. I also have another appointment in less than ten minutes. Now, if you would like to wait to see if this appointment shows up then you are welcome to stay. If they show up it will be another hour, or I can make you an appointment for later or for another day."

I stood there waiting for her answer trying extremely hard not to tap my foot in irritation. I know I shouldn't be this way, but man some people rich or poor think they are entitled to get what they want right of way. That just gets me mad.

When she told me that she would come back later I exhaled air out of my mouth. I walked behind the counter and took her name and phone number telling her I would call her if the one o'clock appointment was a no-show.

I walked back to my session and continued it for another ten minutes doing individuals as well. We finished the session, and I told her I would meet her out at the sales table so she would be able to view them.

I take the card out of the camera and insert it into the reader of the computer so I would be able to view, retouch, and do some digital art.

I walked out of the camera room looking at the round clock on the wall letting me know that it was well past the time when my one o'clock should be here. I checked my phone to see if there was a cancelation but there was nothing.

I walked out noticing that the group of kids had returned, and I explained that I would be with her in just a moment. I walked over to the sales table and sat down while pulling up the pictures that I just finished with.

She picked out the photos and walked to the register giving me her credit card to swipe. I gave her back her card and thanked her for coming in.

I looked up when the door reopened noticing that the woman with the six children had come back with all of them wearing the same outfits. I smiled at her and told her to sit down while I finished with my customer and then we would walk back to the studio.

After my client left, I told the woman to follow me.

I smiled, "Do you know what poses you want?"

The woman shook her head and replied, "No, I was hoping you could help me since you're the professional."

"Are these for gifts or just for you?" I asked her.

"These are just because pictures."

I pulled down my large white canvas background and started to pose them in a diamond format. I looked at the kids' pose and was not happy with it. Above me was a sky background. I smiled at my insane idea.

"Ok, this is what we are going to do. I will lie down on the ground while you kids make a huddle like they do in football. You will see the sky background above you making this an awesome portrait. We continued photographing them as they lay on the floor. I then photographed them individually, brothers, and then sisters.

When we finally finished the sales, the woman thanked me and said she would recommend her friends to see me. I thanked her as she pulled out her credit card to swipe the total.

I glanced up at the clock on the wall sighing as I had no more clients coming in, I decided to walk back to the closet to do inventory.

I was counting USB drives when I heard the bell on the front door ring. I walked out smiling as I greeted Samuel, the delivery guy walking in with an envelope.

"You have a signature special delivery envelope," Samuel says smiling.

Hmm, I thought as I signed with my crappy signature for the envelope. I hadn't ordered anything, so I wondered what it was about. I pulled out a letter stating that the government wanted to purchase my land to continue the development of condominiums.

"Crap!" I yelled as I threw the papers down on the table. If they think they are going to cheat me out of my land, then they have another thing coming. If they want war, then so be it.

I was going to war with the developer of the Condominiums.