Picture Perfect?

DEVLIN'S POV :

I leave Ash to talk to Inna and Jake while I get my gear set up for the shoot . After I finish , I walk out into the hall to see which models might be ready to get started . As I come around the corner , I see one of Ashley's contract models , Sheila , who seems to be trying to Velcro herself to him , and I hear him say , "Sorry , Sheila , I don't think my girlfriend would go for that , so I'm gonna pass ."
"Just call her and say that the shoot is running overtime , sweetie . It's not like you have to tell her everything you do ." , she says , giving him a bit of a pout .
"Well , you're right , actually ." , he says . "I don't have to tell her anything , since she's standing right behind you ."
"You're so funny , Ash !" , she says , trying to run her hand under his jacket .
As she does , I tap her on the shoulder , and she jumps nearly a foot in the air .
"Miss Wilson , would you like to finish getting ready , or should I inform everyone that we'll be running late because of you ?" , I ask her , knowing that it won't be very pleasant for her if the others feel that she's putting them behind , since some of them do have other jobs scheduled .
"Fine , then , I'm going !" , she sneers , then stalks off to the makeup room .
Ash slides his arms around my waist , and I sort of raise an eyebrow at him , and say , "Your girlfriend , huh ?"
Suddenly , he looks extremely nervous , and sort of stammers , "Uh , yeah , I hope so , anyway . Am I pushing things too fast ? Should I not have said that ?"
I shut him up by kissing him , and say , "Ash , if you're sure that's what you want , then that's exactly what I am . You just usually prefer to keep this sort of thing quiet ."
He brushes his fingertips along my jaw and says , "Not this time , darlin' , I'm the luckiest guy I know right now , and I don't care who knows it ."
Inna is making that "awwww" face as she listens to him , and Jake can't seem to decide whether to smile , or gag from our sappiness .
The four of us head toward the makeup room , and as we reach the door , we hear Sheila talking to someone , saying , "Seriously , it's obvious what happened . He got drunk , or desperate , and gave her a pity fuck , and he doesn't wanna say anything right now , or she might bail on the shoot ."
Someone else mumbles something we can't make out , and she says , " Well , how the hell else would you explain it . I mean , yeah , she can take a good picture , I'll give her that , so she can't be doing too bad financially . So wouldn't you think she might invest in some makeup tips , and maybe a decent pair of tits . Just because you aren't the one in front of the camera , doesn't mean you have to look like a total frump ."
( To be fair , I generally don't worry that much about makeup , unless I have to get dressed up for something . She's also not the first person who's suggested modifications , I am only a B - cup )
Someone else mumbles again , and Sheila announces , "Well , I'll let her keep her little illusion until we finish here . But I guarantee that when she goes back to LA , I'll make damn sure that he forgets all about Miss Shutterbug 's scrawny little nobody ass in no time flat , just watch me . There's no way any man in his right mind would pass up all this for her ."
I suddenly notice a very strange look on Ashley' face , and I put my hand on his shoulder , but he sort of jerks away , then slams the door open with the flat of his hand , and stalks into the room .
Jake puts a hand on my arm , and tells me , "I've seen that look before . He's beyond pissed right now , and there's no talking to him 'til he calms down ."
We hurry in behind him, and as one of his employees starts to hand Sheila her outfit , Ash snarls at him , "Don't even fucking bother , Jason . Get the schedule and figure out what she's set to wear . Then pull the same outfits in sizes to fit the other girls , and rearrange it ."
Everyone in the room is just frozen , staring at him like he's grown a second head or something .
Then he snaps his head around and glares at Sheila , and we can see the color start draining out of her face . It seems that it's finally registered on her that she has SERIOUSLY fucked up .
"You . Gather your shit and haul your ass out .You no longer work for this company .", he literally growls at her . Seriously , he almost sounds possessed or something .
" Ashley , you don't mean that !" , she exclaims .
"Oh , I totally fucking mean it , you shallow , conceited , plastic bitch ! I have no idea where you got this exaggerated idea of your own importance , but the only interest I ever had in you was how you looked in my ads . For your information , when " Miss Shutterbug" is in the room , the rest of you are pretty much fucking invisible to me . You might as well not be here , for all that I'd notice , or care . Dev is ten times the woman you'll ever be , Miss Wilson , and probably fifty times better just as a human being . You wouldn't stand a chance in hell of making me forget her for a nanosecond , so get the fuck over yourself , and get the fuck out of my sight !"
He then turns to Jason , who looks like he's almost ready to pass out , and in a slightly calmer voice says, "Jason , would you mind helping Miss Wilson gather her things , and escort her out . Oh , yes , make sure we have a current mailing address in case she still has any pay coming to her .I'm through wasting my time with her , I have more important things to think about "
As she finally gets out of the chair and starts to walk away with Jason , all of the other models , as well as most of the crew , start applauding .
Sheila then turns around to Ash , and says , "If you fire me , you'll be out of business within a year ! I'm the reason people buy this stuff , you won't get anywhere without me !"
"So much for getting over herself !" Inna says , giggling .
Ash looks at her and says , "You know what ? I'm willing to risk it . Now either go with Jason , or I call security and have them toss your worthless ass out into the street !"
She finally stomps out of the room , and I walk over to Ash and touch his arm .His arms instantly go around me , and he buries his face in my hair .
"Relax ,babe ." I tell him , as I run my fingers through his hair . "Just breathe . She's not worth getting so worked up over ."
"I'm sorry , darlin' , I just lost it listening to that bullshit . I'm so fucking sick of people trying to constantly stir up shit ! I mean , look at all the shit Andy and Juliet had to deal with last year , and everybody else has had to put up with some degree of crap . Now it looks like I've dragged you into this mess , too . I wouldn't blame you if you decided to just cut and run !"
I hug him even tighter , and inform him , "I'm a big girl , Ash , I can look out for myself , and you're not getting rid of me that easily .I've never been that concerned about what people think of me . The only opinion I care about is yours . Now come on and help me get this mess reorganized , we have a shoot to get done ."

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