Chapter 95 - Too Good To Be True

"There's been a lot of talk of you and your photos lately," the woman said as he sat down. To the photographer's surprise, she had a very pleasant, beautiful alt.

"Really?" he was honestly surprised.

"You have withdrawn from the world of gossip and do not even know that you have become the subject of a few yourself," she laughed.

"Indeed," he admitted, feeling awkward. He suspected it might be rumors about his relationship with Dominik.

"Young Werner, please remember my words, this boy will go up really high, he spreads word that he wants to hire you to promote his new movie."

"First I hear," Andrzej Nowicki muttered.

"I also heard voices that you rejected a job offer from Marek Marczak."

"That's right," he admitted that world heard about this.

"May I ask why?"

"I do not like him."

"And that's reason enough for you to give up well-paid, prestigious job?"

"Yes."

The woman laughed. Even though her plastic surgery face looked a bit ghastly, her laugh was quite pleasant. Andrzej smiled at her.

"I don't like him either," she said. "The smart little bum thinks he's the navel of the universe. I offered him an advertising contract for Śliwiński three times and he refused each time. But you can help me with that."

"If you invited me only for this ..." Nowicki got up. He should have reckoned with the fact that he would only get a job thanks to his relationship with Dominik.

"Sit, young man," she waved her hand at him. "Don't be like that, bathed in hot water. We are talking about two separate issues. I want you as a photographer whether Śliwiński agrees or not. My twenty-five years agency has been doing great without him, and it will do twice as long. We do not rely on stars, but on craftsmen. And you're damn good."

"So why are we talking about him and not about employment conditions?"

"Here are the conditions," she said, offering an employment contract.

Andrzej blinked his eyes. He really had a contract with his name in front of him with a salary three times higher than in the publishing house.

"As you can see, young man, we don't even want you exclusive. Take your own photos of whomever you want and whenever you want, you only have to do your job well for us."

"But why?"

"Because I saw your photos and you charmed me with them. Not with Śliwiński, although it gave me the idea of ​​the campaign. I mean that old man. He looked very special in this photo."

"He's my grandfather."

"Ah yes," she smiled, understanding. "Your photos show the truth, reveal the heart. Maybe that's why you communicate well with Śliwiński, who becomes the whole character he plays on the screen. We have a lot of talented photographers in the country, but they love to rely on photo manipulation and gimmicky software. They lack the old-fashioned view of an object as someone who communicates some truth."

Her words were surprising. They gave him unexpected pleasure. He thought he must have blushed.

"Thank you."

"Plus, you are a very pretty boy. You didn't think to stand in front of the lens, did you?"

"Probably not."

"You should. You have a shapely body and extremely interesting features. You are handsome, sexy, but you have something inaccessible about you, like a forbidden fruit, which is a bit scared to break even though you feel like it. I would have the perfect cosmetics line campaign for you. Of course, also quite outside the main contract. So how, boy? Will you stay with my advertising agency?"

"As a photographer?"

"So far, yes. Think about the rest. You could get a pretty big bonus, you would be famous, and women would kill themselves for the very chance of meeting you. Doesn't that sound tempting?"

It sounded, and it was very tempty - money, fame, women ... Maybe even with his popularity he could catch up with Dominik to some extent?

Andrzej looked at the contract again. It was too good not to be a dream. But why not dream for a few weeks?

***

The doctor was reviewing the test results for the second time. Dominik was waiting for his words impatiently but full of optimism.

"Impressive," said the doctor, finally putting the papers down. "It is rare to see anyone improve their results so significantly within a month."

"So I'm well?"

"Not completely. You still need to take your prescribed medications and get regular tests, but we can reduce the doses. You can also cut down on red meats and saturated fats. It seems the danger of a more severe disease has receded. However, you must bear in mind that you will always be at a higher risk. But you really impressed me with the results. How did you achieve them?"

"I had a good motivation."

"It is very important indeed. You can go back to your duties, but please don't over exhaust yourself. How about your appetite?"

"Wolf like, just like it used to be. I went out of town for a few days and my energy returned immediately."

"Yes, fresh air and rest have a good influence.

"I think so too," he admitted enthusiastically.

There was also something else about the fireplace, the bearskin rug, and the very naughty behavior of two adult men, but the doctor didn't need to know about it.

"I can see that you are bursting with energy. If all my patients could take care of their health in such a way, I would have to change jobs. Congratulations and see you in a month."

Dominik left the office, all in larks. He regretted that Andrzej was not there to listen to the good news together, but he couldn't let the photographer miss a chance for such a good job. Nowicki had sacrificed too much of his life for him anyway and deserved the best. A month ago, when the doctor had worse news for him, Śliwiński decided that he would do everything to recover, and it was mainly because of Andrzej. The month spent together seemed like a fairy tale in his memories, so he was completely convinced that the results would be positive and did not need any support in this matter.

Leaving the clinic, he took out his phone. He had to call Andrzej, no, he can still be at the meeting, he will write him a message with good news.

"Dominik, is it all over?"

The actor jerked in surprise and looked up. Nowicki was just decelerating his run.

"Andrzej? What are you doing here? And the meeting?"

"It's over."

"And?"

"All good. What did the doctor say?"

"As if, but what, do you have the job?"

"Of course. And you, can you get back to the set?"

"Even now. But how is it 'as if'? They said they would call?"

"No, I'm supposed to call them. Your results, was the doctor satisfied?"

"Delighted. What do you mean, are you supposed to call them?"

"I have to review the agreement and check if it suits me ..."

Dominik beamed with happiness. So Andrzej got the contract right away And now he just had to think if his terms were right for him? What great news! 

"We have to celebrate this," Dominik offered enthusiastically.

"Actually ... why not," Andrzej agreed. "What do you want us to do? You want to go somewhere? To threw a party?"

The actor changed his expression to cunning, which with his features looked more charming than suspicious.

"No," he said shortly. "We're going home."

***

Dominik was leaning on his elbow and looking at Andrzej with curiosity. What the photographer had just told him was new to him and sounded really interesting.

"I never thought of playing in an ad," he finally admitted, "but it could be fun. Did you know that young children prefer watching commercials to normal movies? It's a real art to include content that will interest people in thirty seconds."

Nowicki looked at him suspiciously.

"Are you serious or are you kidding?

"I'm serious. I know many actors consider themselves too good to act in commercials and those who do so consider themselves desperate or greedy for money, but being an actor is just a job."

"If you are considering it because I get this job, then better ..."

Dominik snorted like an offended cat and sat down so that he could see the lying photographer from above.

"I don't have to do such things for you, and you know what, I guess you have terrible complexes if you don't believe that your work alone can bring you success."

Andrzej gritted his teeth – well, Śliwiński was right in that. During his studies, Nowicki was full of passion and self-confidence, but the gray reality and work, which he did not like and consisted of taking pictures from hiding, made him doubt whether he had any talent at all.

"Remember that I saw your portfolio? I didn't choose you as my photographer just because you're good in bed. After all, I offered you this before we started making love. Maybe I'm not some big critic, but I usually know what's good."