Read Online Liberate Yourself (The Desires Unlocked Trilogy Part One) by Evie Blake - Free Book Online

must say,’ says Stephano, sitting down at his desk, ‘you look just like her.’
    Valentina nods in acknowledgement, but she is irritated. When will the Milanese forget her mother? She has obviouslylong forgotten them. Tina Rosselli hasn’t set foot in Milan for more than seven years.
    ‘Here.’ Valentina brusquely shoves her portfolio at him to shut him up. Stephano opens it and pores over it, saying nothing for a few minutes. He spends rather too long looking at the last picture, the one of the reflection of her private parts in the Venetian canal. She knows they are not actually visible, but still, it makes her slightly uncomfortable to think he is looking at her completely exposed.
    At last he shuts the portfolio with a snap.
    ‘These are good,’ he says, blinking at her behind his glasses, ‘but I am afraid not appropriate for the Linardi Gallery.’
    ‘What do you mean?’ Valentina realises she is surprised. Deep down she knew they were good too.
    ‘This is a fine art gallery, principally paintings, a little photography, but what we do exhibit in terms of photography is not pornographic.’
    ‘This is not porn,’ she counters icily.
    Stephano Linardi shrinks from her glare and flings open the portfolio again at the last image.
    ‘And how would you describe this photograph, for instance, Signorina Rosselli?’ He peeks at her from over his glasses.
    ‘It’s erotic photography. It’s art.’
    He huffs, closing the portfolio.
    ‘Maybe in your opinion. Don’t misunderstand me, it is beautiful, and your technique is interesting, but we have acertain kind of client here in Milan. I am not sure this is the right place for your work. I am sorry.’
    Valentina snatches back the portfolio. This man is an art snob, and she already dislikes him.
    ‘It’s fine. I’ll find another venue.’ She is not going to persuade him. She has never begged for anything in her life, and she can see his mind is made up.
    ‘But look,’ he says, putting his hands together and knotting his fingers. ‘Why don’t you leave the memory stick of your images with me? I do think you are very talented and I will ask around to see if there are any galleries of a more avant-garde nature who might be interested. How about that? I really am sorry. This
is
Milan. Maybe if you were trying to put it on in New York or London, it might be easier.’
    Valentina forgets about Stephano Linardi and his gallery. She refuses to be disappointed and decides that in fact this gallery is way too conservative for her libertine sensibilities. She thinks of going home, but she doesn’t want to have to sit in on her own, so she hangs around the gallery, waiting until Antonella and a gang of her friends decide to continue the night out dancing.
    Valentina has been friends with Antonella since art college. The two of them naturally gravitated towards each other through their mutual disregard for following the crowd. Both of them focused, passionate and ambitious. Antonella specialised in fine art, whereas Valentina of course had gone forphotography. Antonella was different when they were at college. Quieter, most certainly, and more serious. She is still obviously very ambitious, but the last year or so she has come out of her shell. She is a tiny woman with a zesty smile, brilliant brown eyes and the most disproportionately large chest for such a small frame. Men cannot help but be drawn towards her, so that she is never without some new beau on her arm. Yet despite all her many affairs, she claims she is searching for true love, a Mr Right to come into her life. A mythical figure Valentina has great fun teasing her over. Still, Antonella always has the effect of making Valentina feel lighter of load, as if there is hope for a Hollywood ending one day.
    Tonight Antonella is elated from her exhibition success, almost unbearable company. Yet still Valentina trails along, unsure whether she has actually met any of the other people with her friend. They go to