When Valentina went back to the studio set, she saw that it had been replaced.

The sofa was gone and instead, there was a mix of different types of white flowers spread all over the floor. Different flowers from roses to lilies, to hydrangeas were spread all along the floor perfuming the area with a beautiful scent.

“Miss Valentina, please lay down in the flowers.” The photographer directed her.

“Yes,” Valentina did her best to suppress the cough rising in her throat and lay down.

She arranged herself on the floor. Both hands behind her back as she gazed at the ceiling.

“Beautiful!”

“Gorgeous!”

“Let your hair down and look at me!”

“Put more energy in your eyes!”

As Valentina struggled to not cough while following his words, Jonathan Steele continued calling out orders.

“Look at the camera! Arch your back!” Valentina continued obeying orders while suppressing her cough.

But then.

Cough-!

Cough-!

Then blood spurted out of her mouth.

She quickly covered her mouth with her fingers, but her body was wracked with coughs and blood continued to come through her fingers.

The sudden loud cough and the contrasting image of blood splashing onto her dress and the flowers in front of her made a big impact.

“Valentina!”

“Miss Valentina!”

Everyone was shocked at the sudden explosion of sound and color.

“Are you okay?”

“Somebody, call a medic!”

“Call an ambulance!”

As Valentina kept coughing out blood, the original stuffiness she felt in her chest eased up, but her head started pounding instead and she began to feel faint. As people began to rush her, she held her hand out to them and panted before speaking.

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“I am okay. If possible, I would like to finish the shoot before being checked out.”

“What do you mean you’re okay? There’s no way you plan on finishing the shoot like this?” A stage manager asked. he had never been shocked as much as he was today. He had never seen anybody cough up blood in real life. How could she be okay?!

He saw Valentina look at him with watery eyes that were tinged with red as she wiped her mouth delicately with her sleeve. Then she gave him a brilliant smile before she grabbed a blood-soaked flower and brought it to her lips.

“If I’m not mistaken, I think Mr. Steele has gotten a bit of inspiration.” Valentina had a wry smile as she glanced at the photographer.

The stage manager turned and also glanced at the photographer. He was shocked at what he saw.

Jonathan Steele was devoted attached to his camera shooting the scene dedicatedly.

“Stage manager should go. I know my body better than anyone here. I promise to get checked out after my portion is done.” Despite looking frail and weakened, the energy behind her words caused the stage manager to accept it. He had never seen somebody more dedicated to getting the job than this young girl in front of him.

“You have five minutes before the medical team and ambulances will be here. Once they’re here you must leave to get checked out.” He told her gently before leaving the set.

Valentina nodded, then turned her attention to the photographer. Although she really felt like passing out, she noticed that the photographer had not stopped filming while she had been coughing. In fact, it seemed that he was even more focused than before! If that were so, she knew she had to fulfill this photo shoot regardless of her body.

Jonathan Steele nodded to her then said, “I want you to act natural. From an innocent beauty to someone darker. The transition should be when you kiss the flower-like before.”

Valentina thought for a bit then nodded. She laid her body gently in the flowers. As she rose up slowly, her fingers gently drifted along the tops of the buds before grabbing one with a sharp gesture. This flower was slightly tinted with blood and when Valentina turned her body, so she faced the camera, she twirled the flower gently in her hands, looking down so her lashes shielded her eyes. She slowly brought the flower to her lips and as soon as it brushed her lips, her eyes looked up fiercely.

The subtle energy around her changed from a wounded fragile beauty to a poisonously beautiful villain. She hoped that he had gotten everything he needed from her because her vision started to go black and then she saw nothing.

***

When Valentina started to cough blood, everyone started to freak out. The only one who stayed focused was Jonathan Steele. From the first cough, he had immediately been attracted to the beauty and pain he had seen. He wasn’t sure if it was on purpose but throughout the whole episode, Valentina had maintained great awareness of her body and the camera. Every movement from the cough, the hands shifting back her hair, covering her mouth looked like a dance choreographed by a master dancer. He was entranced.

He was capturing a masterpiece. A moment of beauty and fragility as the actress pushed her body to its limit to give him the best possible image.

When she had insisted on continuing, he knew then that he had to put in his greatest effort. This would be one of the rawest images and clips he had ever taken, and he didn’t want to miss a single second.

He directed her briefly but then her instincts took over. From her gaze directed at the over-the-top camera to the rotation of her body to focus on him and the intense gaze, everything was perfect!

He almost didn’t notice when she fainted. He thought it was part of her act but after a minute he realized it and immediately became afraid.

“Stretcher! Where’s the stretcher? She’s fainted!” he called out.

“Here! Make way so we can pick up the patient!”

The medical team quickly came and carried her away which eased the hearts of some people yet made some people quite worried.

There was a lot of murmuring as everybody discussed what had just happened.

Director Cranston approached Jonathan Steele and asked, “Did you capture a good image?” he had seen the focus of his old friend and knew that the photos would be magical

“Yes. She is…phenomenal” Jonathan Steele didn’t have any extra words to say. He was just excited to edit the film and clips he had taken of her.

“Where did you find her?”

“She auditioned and as soon as I saw her, I knew she was perfect for this role. Although there are some bad rumors about her, it seems she is not a bad egg.”

Director Cranston replied while rubbing his chin. While he had been shocked to hear an actress was coughing up blood, he had been proud of her dedication to push through and finish her work.

“If you ever need someone to shoot her, call me first.” Jonathan Steele ordered him.

Director Cranston started to think deeply as he stared at his friend. This was the poison-tongued photographer. He was asking to be called if a minor artist needed to be shot? What was going on here?

“Were you that impressed by her? I noticed you had no harsh words for her today. You who can even scold the top supermodels without shame.”

“You wouldn’t get it you blind bat! You wouldn’t understand how amazing she looks under the lens. Just wait and see for the results.”

Seeing his friend get worked up, director Cranston laughed and slapped his back. “As long as you don’t make her look better than my female lead it’s quite alright with me.”

“I don’t know if that’s possible,” Jonathan replied. He had the integrity of an artist to make sure his subjects looked the best they could look.

What he had captured for Valentina versus the other actors was simply one tier above the rest. It would be a disservice to dull her shine.

“Wow wow” Director Cranston laughed, “if even you say so, I have to look forward to the result! Still, let’s wrap up so you can get to editing.”