The art of surprise

“Maria and the art of surprise” Maria was never one to stick to conventions. Why sign up when you could upset someone much more with a surprise visit? With this in mind, she opened the heavy door of the photo studio. It was quiet inside, except for the occasional noise from the back room, where the photographer was probably still busy. “I’ll be right with you!” a voice called from inside the studio. Maria smiled. “No stress,” she replied calmly as she looked around. The studio was tastefully furnished – a soft yellow sofa, a table with a newspaper and a large plant in the corner that shimmered golden in the light. Perfect, she thought. She let her bag slide to the floor, sat down on the sofa and picked up the newspaper. But the lines blurred before her eyes while another thought took hold. How would he react if he found her in a slightly more… more risqué state? She felt a smirk curl her lips. Her rebellion had always had a playful undertone. With a soft sigh, she stood up, took off her clothes piece by piece and laid them neatly to one side. Her delicate, youthful skin shimmered in the warm light, so flawless that she felt like a work of art herself. Her narrow shoulders, the gentle lines of her body and the soft grace of her silhouette made the room seem alive. She sank back onto the sofa, stark naked, the newspaper back in her hand as if nothing had happened. The sound of footsteps broke the silence. Her heart beat faster, a tingling sensation ran over her skin. The door opened and he entered, camera in hand, engrossed in polishing a lens. When he looked up, he stopped abruptly. His eyes widened, first in surprise, then in fascination. “Maria…” he began, but his voice stuck. “I thought I’d make it easier for you,” she said with a smile that feigned innocence, although her posture betrayed the exact opposite. Slowly, she lowered the paper a little, just enough to further stimulate his imagination. He raised the camera, almost as if by reflex. “Stay like that,” he finally said. The first click of the camera broke the silence – and Maria knew she had won.