Her father is Henry Kane

Liora moved through the small studio of Boom Verce with the quiet confidence of someone who had done this a hundred times.

The space smelled of citrus top notes and clean linen… the new summer line they were shooting today. 

Soft daylight filtered through the high windows, mixed with the controlled glow of two softboxes. A large white seamless backdrop stretched across the far wall. 

Two male models stood in front of it: Finn, the taller one with the sharp cheekbones, handsome looks and soft brown hair, sat on a low stool holding an ocean blue bottle of the perfume close to his slightly parted lips like it was something intimate. 

Behind him, Julian, the extremely fair and insanely cute looking model stood close, with one hand resting lightly on Finn’s shoulder, the other holding a pink bottle

They were meant to look like a couple sharing a quiet moment

Liora checked the camera in her hands, then glanced at the monitor.

“Lighting’s a little hot on the left” she said without raising her voice.

One of the assistants, a young woman with a headset around her neck, stepped closer. “Want me to flag it?”

“Yeah. And the backdrop is crooked on the right side… can someone straighten that? Danny, can you fix the white?”

Danny, the set guy, gave a quick nod and moved to tug the seamless into place.

Liora turned toward the stylist. “Priya, can you check Finn’s hair? It’s falling into his eyes a little too much… it's distracting” 

Priya hurried over with a comb and a light mist of product, gently sweeping the strands back while Finn stayed perfectly still.

Liora lifted the camera again.

“Finn, look slightly to your left… good. Chin down just a fraction. Julian, get closer. Let your face be right next to his, like you’re sharing one breath. Perfect.”

The shutter clicked in a soft, rapid series.

“Beautiful. Hold that. Julian, drop your hand a little lower on his arm… yesss. Finn, give me a half soft smile, There it is”

She took more frames and checked the monitor, adjusted an f-stop, and shot again.

“We’re good on this setup,” she finally said. 

The director nodded “Take twenty, everyone. Then we’ll move to the standing pair.”

The room exhaled a little. Models stepped off the mark while Assistants adjusted lights.

Liora was downloading the cards when Julian walked over with a bright, easy smile already on his face. He was very beautiful and it makes people stare without meaning to… clean features, sexy eyes, and delicate prettiness 

He opened his arms. Liora stepped into the hug without hesitation, squeezing him once before pulling back.

“You okay?” she asked softly, keeping her voice low so only he could hear. “You and Kinn seemed a little… stiff with each other today.”

Julian’s smile didn’t fade, but something behind it dimmed. He shook his head.

“You want to talk about it?” she offered.

He let out a long breath and glanced toward where Finn was speaking with the director. “It’s nothing new babe. Finn’s just… not into me. But it's been hard to let go even though it's been months since he rejected my confession. I have finally decided that I’m going to let it go.”

Liora’s chest tightened a little for the sweet looking soul in front of her. She'd known that Julian likes men and he has always had a crush on Finn who was also into men. They have worked together before and everyone loves the pair. But what people don't know was that Finn never saw Julian even as a work partner. Behind camera his irritation towards Julian is always very loud

She reached up and kissed his cheek, 

“You’ll find someone who sees you the way you deserve to be seen, J” She said quietly. “Someone who doesn’t just tolerate the idea of you. Okay?”

Julian’s pretty smile returned, “Thanks, Liora.”

A moment later, Quinn… one of the junior art directors and a friend from several previous shoots.,. appeared at Liora’s side and elbowed her very softly 

“coffee?” Quinn asked. “There’s a new place very close by. Are you coming?”

Liora glanced at Julian. “Come with us. We still have about fifteen minutes”

Julian hesitated only a second before nodding. “Yeah. I’d like that.”

The three of them left the studio together,

.

.

.

Rhys Alden walked the wide corridor toward his office after lunch as he continuously ignored the acknowledgement from the people trying to greet him. His assistant, Ben, fell into step half a pace behind him.

“I have the preliminary file on Liora Kane,” the assistant said in an even voice. “She is a freelance photographer and currently contracted with a small perfume house called Boom Verce. Hasn't worked any other job apart from photography. She has two close friends and shares a modest apartment with one. Her Only living parent is her father…”

He paused just long enough to look at the name again “Henry Kane”

Rhys stopped walking.

His assistant nearly bumped into him. “Sir?”

Rhys turned his head slowly. His voice was quiet, but it carried an edge that made the younger man straighten.

“What did you just say?”

The assistant glanced down at the screen again, slightly confused by the shift in tone. “Her father, Henry Kane, likes to travel extensively to mountains, temples, and long stretches in Southeast Asia and South America. Her mother passed away when Miss Kane was young and she’s an only child. No known long-term partners in the last two years. Low public profile outside of her.…”

Rhys’s jaw tightened. His assistant kept blabbering away

“Henry Kane,” he repeated, the name tasting bitter on his lips “You’re telling me Liora Kane is the daughter of Henry Kane?”

Ben, his assistant nodded once. “Yes. Confirmed”

A dark and dangerous expression moved across Rhys’s face. For a second the polished, controlled man disappeared, replaced by cold anger. It was sendiing chills throughout the corridor and it made his employees keep their heads down as they walked pass

He stared past the assistant for a long moment, as if seeing the cause of his anger up ahead. 

Then he exhaled through his nose and started walking again… more slowly 

“A freelancer, huh?” he said, almost to himself. “Exactly what we need right now”

He glanced sideways at his assistant and Ben understood the look.

“I’ll handle it,” Ben said quietly.

Rhys didn’t answer. He simply kept walking, still arrogantly ignoring people who said hi to him… the name Henry Kane still burning behind his mind…