You Captured My Heart - Chapter 4
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Matt walked in the bookshop, straight to the cashier desk.
"Hi, Kaz!", he said enthusiastically.
"Hello! Where’s your camera?", she said, confused.
"Um. Let’s try something different today?"
"You forgot the camera."
"I didn’t, it was just-"
"I can’t believe you forgot the camera!", she said, playfully swatting him on the arm with a rolled-up travel magazine.
"Fine. I forgot the camera. Happy?", he admitted.
"It’s okay. You better take me somewhere else, though.", she said.
"I have to go, I only dropped by to say hi. I was on my way to work."
"Aww, too bad. I would’ve loved to have you stay."
"Yeah, well, I might drop back in a bit. But I don’t know, I’ve been getting really good reviews on my photos recently so they might ask me to work a bit more. I have a meeting thing today."
"That’s great then! Good luck to you.", she said walking toward him and giving him an awkward, sort-of hug.
He hugged back awkwardly, seeing as they’re both not used to it. Karen pulled away after a bit.
"Um. Sorry about that.", she said awkwardly, distancing herself from him.
"No. It’s…fine.", he said slowly, smiling.
"I’ll, uh, see you later then?"
"Definitely, yeah. Bye.", he said, quickly walking out of the shop.
Karen sighed. Way to mess it up, Kaz, she thought.
The doorbell jingled as someone entered the shop.
"Welcome to Gillan’s, feel free to take a look around."
*~*
Matt’s heart pounded as he walked in the meeting room with his agent, a tall, lean woman in her mid-forties with short brown hair. He’d been offered a contract with one of the most famous hotel companies in England, offering him quite a lot of money.
The room was quite small but comfortable, with carpeted floors and glass walls and doors covered with beige roll-up curtains.
"Mr. Smeats, I present to you Mr. Matthew Smith. An excellent photographer at a young age.", said his agent to the man at the edge of the rectangle table, back to the windows.
"Pleased to meet you, Mr. Smith. Please, take a seat.", said Mr. Smeats to Matt and his agent.
After they both took a seat on the chairs to the right and left of him, Mr. Smeats spoke up.
"You see, Mr. Smith, I plan to build hotels all over Europe. But I need to promote them. Make them well-known. And the best way to do that is through pictures, of course!", he said.
He continued, “People like pictures, Mr. Smith. It gives them a glimpse of what’s in store. And I need the right photographer to give me the right pictures. Do you get me?”
"Yes, sir. And I can assure you that my pictures are of the absolute best quality.", said Matt.
"Of course they are. Now, as you understand, while this contract is active you’ll be traveling around Europe a lot. Not only is this paid for, your salary is 100% yours. No airport tax, no ‘personal’ expenses on the trip. We’ll be giving you some cash to spend on each trip based on calculations. Assuming you accept this."
"Assuming I accept this.", Matt repeated.
"And also, assuming you accept this, your job starts in a few months. Do you accept my offer? You can think about it. We’ll contact you in a few months, Mr. Smith."
"Of course. Yes. I’ll think about it.", he said, glancing at his agent who appears to be taking notes.
Mr. Smeats stood up, and so did Matt and his agent. He shook both their hands firmly, Matt thanking him.
"My secretary will show you the way out.", said Mr. Smeats, walking out.
Once they were outside and inside a cab, Matt’s agent spoke up.
"Well? Promising offer, don’t you think?"
"Yes, but…it’s not what I usually do.”, he said, “Not that I mind! It’s great.”
“Of course it is. It’s your big break. You’ve got a few months to think, but I hope you’ll accept it. Not your usual job, but it’s a good change, isn’t it?”
They arrived at Matt’s flat, and his agent dropped him off.
“Congratulations on the offer, Matt. Say hi to your mum for me.”, she said, closing the cab door.
As he walked in the flat, he reached in his phone to call Karen.
Not yet, he thought. Don’t do it yet.
And so he put the phone back and changed his mind.
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