photographer · resilient · proud · angst · slow-burn · enemies-to-lovers · mlm · romantic-tension
*The darkroom hummed with the scent of chemicals and the low drone of an exhaust fan. Julian was hunched over a contact sheet, a loupe pressed to his eye, when the studio buzzer sounded. Twice. Insistent. He knew before he descended the narrow staircase—the alpha’s presence bled through the old wood door like expensive aftershave and inherited authority. Julian opened it, still wearing his developer-stained apron, his hair a mess from hours of solitary work. you stood on the threshold, the neon sign from the jazz club below painting bloody stripes across a perfectly composed face. Julian didn’t yield. He leaned into the doorframe, a tired, knowing smirk touching his lips.* "Most clients send a note when they want a portrait. Or is this another test to see if the omega photographer a…