Dinner with Shannon, Anastasia, & Brianna.

After agreeing on a restaurant to meet for dinner, you wrap up the day at the studio, then wait for Shannon to wrap up things at the front desk, before you leave. You let Shannon park her small car on the side of the street near your condo, then she rides shotgun with you in your SUV, on the way to the restaurant. In this particular case, it's an Applebee's somewhere near Brianna's home, and you find a parking space somewhere near Brianna's ride. While there's still a week of work left at the studio, before the long holiday break, you find this long-planned dinner with Shannon to be refreshing--even if it's in the company of a couple of clients.

The night goes on without a problem, as you order your choice of meals, while sharing some of the party-size appetizers with the ladies. In between the appetizer & the entree, you talk with Anastasia & Brianna on the history of your photography studio, & delve more into your family upbringing. Shannon listens, as she sips her water, her hand that is closer to you moving to rest innocently on your side, below the table's height.

"So you've been Alex's secretary for 3 years, Shannon?" Anastasia asks her. "Have you been living a geeky life before you started working for him? Or has his work influenced your lifestyle?"

"I've been geeky since I was a little girl." Shannon tells Anastasia.

"How did you & Alex meet?" Brianna asks Shannon.

"His line of clients were getting too big for him to juggle with everyday business operations by himself." Shannon tells them. "So when he posted a job opening for a secretarial position, with preference going to those that have an extensive knowledge of pop culture, I was one of many that applied."

"What made her stand out from all of the other candidates, Alex?" Anastasia asks you.

"Well..." you tell them.

(3 years ago, at "Lionheart Images")

Shannon, at the time, was more of an average, young, nerdy woman; and the last candidate you saw that day. She dressed for the job interview, wearing a dark blue business suit, with a white button-up blouse on. Her hair was pinned up into a loose bun, her skirt goes down to her knees, and she wore a nude-colored pantyhose, with matching dark blue heels. Taking her to your working desk, in the part of the studio that now serves as the front desk area, you go over her resume, as well as the notes you took from her references.

"...so you follow things in the field of comics, movies, TV, and magazines." You told her. "Which particular magazines do you regularly read?"

"Mostly fashion magazines." Shannon told you. "Sometimes, I take a peek at my older brother's naughty adult magazines, or car magazines."

"What about the kinds of comics you read?" You asked her next.

"Many of the top publishers' title," Shannon told you, "as well as some titles from the smaller publications. I like the ones where the characters are well thought out."

"I see." You told her. "You see, the main reason I posted on the job openings list that I prefer candidates with an extensive knowledge of pop culture, is because most of my photography work is done at comic conventions, or out in the field with cosplayers, and models of various kinds. Aside from the usual front office work of a secretary, there may be times out in the field, where I require assistance with my work. So if I were to hire you, Shannon, what can you bring to this photography studio?"

"I've been following the way the cosplay culture has evolved from its tight-knit community," Shannon told you, "to its rising popularity. I follow many cosplay groups on social media, so I can help you identify & work with any new cosplayer clients. I also have an extensive knowledge of the modeling community."

"I've been meeting many new cosplayers at the comic cons." You told Shannon. "Say that I want to be introduced to a new, local or regionally-based cosplayer. Would you be able to do that?"

"Yes, Mr. Leon, I can do that." Shannon told you, and strums quickly through her smartphone. "In fact, I've been following one of those local cosplayers, since I started following the cosplay community."

"Do you have a name of that cosplayer?" You asked her.

"Yes, I do." Shannon told you, and shares the Facebook page of the cosplayer in question. "Her cosplay name, is..."

(Now)

"...Mia Rocha." You tell Anastasia & Brianna. "It was Shannon that first introduced me to Mia, when she was improving her cosplay creations, and working her body into the shape she's in today. In the week between the day of that job interview, and the day I officially hired her, I did an extensive in-studio photo shoot with Mia in her cosplays. The photos I did with her, helped me get on the photography map, and it helped Mia get on the cosplay community map. On that same year, I got recognition from another major cosplayer, 'Neko-Sana'."

"So that's how your professional photography business really took off?" Anastasia asks you.

"It did." You tell her. "The bigger my business became, the more stressful it got, so that's why I expanded the staff to the crew you & Brianna saw earlier today."

"So Mia is your primary cosplay client?" Brianna asks you. "Are there any other locally-based cosplayers or models you regularly take photos of?"

"A handful of others." You tell them. "They don't come as frequently as Mia does, but I have a strong, working relationship with them. Sometimes, other types of models come to the studio, though not as often, because of their respective professions, and their more distant locations."

You finish talking with the ladies, as the rest of the food comes in. After that, you resume you talk with them, as you finish the night with them. After everyone has paid their share of the tab, you walk with them out of the restaurant. You give Brianna & Anastasia a hug, before letting them head home for the night, while you & Shannon return to your SUV, to return to your condo. After that, Shannon gives you a goodnight hug, followed by a kiss to your cheek, then waves to you, as she hops into her car, & drives off.