Owning Jacob - SA Read Free Page B

as Ben bent to pick it up. The lens came away in his hand, sprinkling glass. There were one or two giggles, but most people seemed to realise that what had happened wasn't funny. The singer wasn't one of them.
    'You weren't going to use it anyway,' he jeered, and the last of Ben's restraint disappeared. He flung the broken camera across at him, more of a reflexive gesture than anything else.
    He expected the singer to block it, but he had taken that moment to turn and laugh with the girl sitting next to him. He was stil grinning when the camera struck him in the face.
    The singer cried out and fel back as blood spurted from a gash on his forehead. Ben had time to realise that things had got a little out of hand before another member of the band sprang up and swung at him. He ducked and felt the punch land on the top of his skul . His vision burst into popping lights and he flailed out himself as he stumbled and fel . The next seconds were a vague impression of bodies, shrieks and breaking glass. He felt himself hit several more times and covered his head, then he was being hauled to his feet by a burly pair of arms. He looked out through the eye that didn't hurt to see Colin's anxious face as he tried to calm everyone down, including the door staff, who seemed inclined to join in themselves. Beyond him, the singer's face was slick with blood as he pressed both hands to the cut on his forehead, while the musician who had thrown the first punch was cradling one of his hands to his chest and moaning.
    'Okay, it's cool, it's cool,' Colin was assuring everyone, his anxious expression belying the words. He shot Ben a look that was part concern, part anger, then spoke to someone at Ben's side. 'Take him outside. I'l be along when I've sorted out this mess.' Ben thought he was talking to the bouncer who had helped him up, but it was a young woman whom he had seen at Colin's table earlier. 'Come on,' she said. 'Can you walk?' They made their way through the dub to the exit.
    'Do you want to dean yourself up?' the young woman asked. She was wearing a matching dark jacket and skirt, the businesswoman's equivalent of Colin's suit. Ben shook his head.
    He stil hadn't spoken to her yet. The adrenalin was draining out of him now, and mortification was flooding in to fil the gap. It was only just beginning to dawn on him what a fool he had made of himself.
    They went outside and waited by the dub's entrance. The night air tasted like oxygen after die smoky atmosphere of the dub. It was September, stil warm but with enough of a cool edge to feel like a sobering flannel on his face. Ben pushed his hands into his pockets and tried to keep from shivering. He avoided looking at the woman, but he could feel her watching him.
    'So what happened back there? I take it they didn't want their photos taken?' Ben was uncomfortably aware that his teeth were starting to chatter from reaction. No, it, uh … it was because I wouldn't take any.' He could feel himself starting to blush.
    'Wel , that's a new one. A photographer beaten up in a nightdub for not taking photographs.'
    He couldn't help but respond to her amusement Teah, wel , you've got to be selective about these things.' Colin emerged from the club. Not even the neon light could disguise the flush on his cheeks as he strode over.
    'Wel , this is rucking great! Jesus, Ben, what the fuck were you thinking of?'
    "What was I thinking of? They smashed my camera!'
    'I don't give a shit about your camera! I've been working on this deal for the past six months and the day it's signed I get a singer who's going to need stitches and a bass player with a broken hand! And it's my fucking guest who does it! I mean, thanks Ben, this makes a real y good impression, doesn't it?' He had never seen Colin so angry, but a sense of injustice brought a spurt of his own anger. What do you expect me to do, smile and say thank you?'
    'Would it have kil ed you to take a few fucking pictures just to keep things quiet, if