The next day, Maya arrived at the studio. She didn't dress for a "hot babe" photo shoot; she wore comfortable leggings, a hoodie, and her hair back—functional, professional.

based on a specific theme you have in mind.

"Go ahead," she said, offering a quick smile before returning to her screen.

They talked for two hours. Not about how she looked, but about depth of field, the anxiety of photographing strangers, and the magic of a perfect sunset shot. Liam was a photographer, too, but newer. He was struggling with capturing personality rather than just technical perfection.

"I love your style," he said, sitting down. "I'm Liam. I saw you shooting down on 4th Street earlier. You’re amazing with lighting." Maya paused. He saw the art. "Thanks, Liam. I'm Maya."

Maya looked up. A guy with a nervous smile and a bulky DSLR camera around his neck was gesturing to the empty chair.