An unexpected visit

The midday light filtered through the half-open blinds, bathing Magi’s cold, untouched breakfast. She was sitting on the edge of the bed, the silk sheet wrapped around her torso like a useless cocoon, unable to move, to think, or to be. Lilith’s mantra—"it's just your body"—echoed in her head, a hollow spell that did nothing to calm the tremor running through her core.

Suddenly, the front doorbell chimed, an elegant and intrusive carillon that cut through the suite's oppressive silence.

Lilith, who was reviewing images on her tablet in the armchair, frowned with irritation.

"I wasn’t expecting anyone." Her eyes fixed on Magi. "Don't move. Don't make a sound."

She got up and left the room, closing the door behind her. Magi heard footsteps receding, then the distant sound of the main door opening. Voices. A deep, familiar male voice greeted Lilith confidently.

"...just passing through the neighborhood and thought I’d surprise you. Am I interrupting?" the voice said.

"Not at all, Alexander. Come in," Lilith replied, her tone shifting to a social, affable, false one.

Alexander. The client in the expensive suit. The one who had complimented her "authentic shame." The knot in Magi's stomach tightened until it choked her.

The footsteps approached down the hallway. Magi instinctively recoiled, trying to cover herself more with the sheet, but it was useless. The bedroom door swung wide open.

Alexander stood in the doorway, impeccable in a casual but clearly costly suit. His welcoming smile froze on his lips as he saw the scene: the dimly lit room, the abandoned breakfast, and Magi, pale and trembling, semi-naked in the bed, the sheet her only shield. His eyes, accustomed to evaluation, settled on her with immediate, intense curiosity.

Lilith appeared behind him, a tense smile on her face.

"As you can see, I was in the middle of a… private training session. Magi is preparing for the new project."

Alexander entered the room without waiting for an invitation, his presence filling the already claustrophobic space.

"Training, huh?" he said, his voice a humorous murmur. "It looks intense." His gaze scrutinized Magi, from her bare feet to her distressed face, missing no detail. "She looks… committed to the process."

Magi wished the earth would swallow her. She was being evaluated again, but this time in an intimate, domestic context, which made it a thousand times worse. the "process" Alexander spoke of was her own breaking.

"Yes, well," Lilith intervened, with a false lightness. "We were working on comfort in exposure. Eliminating the last remnants of shyness." She approached the bed and, with a gesture intended to be natural, gently pulled the sheet Magi was clinging to. "Magi, darling, there’s no need for that with Alexander. He has already seen your work. He knows what you are capable of."

The sheet gave way. Magi was left completely exposed again, under the dual gaze of Lilith and Alexander. A scorching blush rose up her neck and cheeks.

Alexander emitted a low sound of approval, like a gourmet savoring an exquisite bite.

"Impressive," he murmured, more to himself than to them. "The raw vulnerability, but in a domestic setting… it adds a fascinating layer of verisimilitude. Almost like watching the animal in its cage, isn't it?" he commented, addressing Lilith as if Magi weren't there, or as if she were part of the decor.

"Exactly," Lilith nodded, crossing her arms. "We are breaking the fourth wall between the model and real life. Integrating the art into every aspect of her being."

"Brilliant," Alexander concluded, and then, his gaze settled on Magi again, speculatively. "Hey, Lilith, since I’m here… do you mind if I take a few shots? Informally. The light in this room is… interesting." He took out his latest-generation phone. "Just for my personal archive."

Lilith hesitated for a fraction of a second, but then smiled. It was a golden opportunity to impress such an important client.

"Of course. Magi, do you see? It's a perfect opportunity to practice. Alexander is a connoisseur."

Magi couldn't believe what was happening. The violation of her privacy was turning into an impromptu photoshoot. Alexander stepped closer, framing her with his phone.

"Come on, Magi," Lilith said, with a hint of warning in her voice. "A relaxed pose. As if you were resting. Natural."

Magi, with heavy limbs and a shattered soul, lay back on the pillows. It was a parody of relaxation. Every muscle was tense, every nerve on edge. The silent click of Alexander's phone sounded like a gunshot.

"Yes, like that…" he murmured, moving around the bed. "The light on your shoulder… perfect. Now turn your head. Look out the window. As if you wished you were somewhere else."

It was an exquisite ****. Magi obeyed, feeling tears well up in her eyes, but she refused to let them fall. Alexander captured every micro-expression, every glimmer of contained anguish.

"Magnificent," he finally said, lowering the phone. "You have an incredible talent, Lilith. For finding rough diamonds and… polishing them until nothing of the rock remains." He winked at Lilith, and then bid Magi farewell with a distracted gesture. "It's been a pleasure, Magi. I hope to see the results of this… training in the next session."

When he left, the silence he left behind was even heavier. Lilith closed the main door and returned to the room. Magi had already wrapped herself back in the sheet, trembling uncontrollably.

"See?" Lilith said, picking up the breakfast tray. "It was a perfect test. And you passed it. Alexander is more interested than ever. Your value just went up." She paused at the door. "Rest. We will continue later."

Magi was left alone, the mark of Alexander's phone burning her skin more than any whip. The humiliation no longer had limits. Her cage was no longer the studio, nor Lilith's house. Her cage was her own body, and now everyone had a key. Even unexpected guests.