Her expression remained stony, but she didn’t slam the door in my face, so I kept going. “I’ve created some Instagram presets just for you. And I’ve gotten really good at using Lightroom. I can turn you into a work of art, Freya. I can make your page cohesive and professional and mind-blowing. You’ll get a million followers. Even more.”

There was a spark of interest in her eyes, but they remained wary. I knew what I had to do, what I had to say. Swallowing my fear, I apologized.

“I’m sorry about before. I should never have slept in the studio without your permission. And I shouldn’t have . . . spied on you and Max. On your . . . argument.”

Freya folded her arms. “No, you shouldn’t have.”

“I screwed up. I know that. I will never cross your boundaries again. I’ll totally respect your privacy.”

Her eyes were like ice, but my cheeks burned under her gaze. I could feel sweat on my forehead and upper lip, as I wrapped up my pitch.

“I want us to be creative partners. I don’t need money or credit. I just want to take beautiful photographs of you and make your Instagram amazing. Together, we can take you to the next level. Everyone will forget all the bad stuff that happened, and you’ll be a huge star.”

She inhaled through her nose, her swollen chest and belly rising as she deliberated. I stood before her, my pulse pounding in my ears. If Freya turned me down, that would be it. There would be no more chances.

Then she dropped her arms and took a step back. “Come in.”

And just like that, I was back where I had longed to be for three months.

Chapter 36

36

Februarys are long and wet in our part of the world, so we took a lot of photos indoors. This served double duty in showing off the beauty of Freya and her magnificent home. My subject hoped she’d capture the attention of some interior-design magazines. She was keen for a feature on her stunning abode. Freya had already received a new sofa in exchange for three tagged photos featuring it. I photographed her curled up on it, in pajamas, reading a Deepak Chopra book I’d borrowed from Gwen. (Freya had requested a prop that would make her look “deep”). In another, she featured the stain-resistant technology by holding a large bowl of chocolate ice cream that I ended up eating. In the third, I shot her naked, a blanket strategically covering all but her shoulders, legs, and belly. (This also satisfied the requirements of the pricey skin-care company sending her boxes of body lotion.)