She leans forward, her lips pursed for a kiss. The glittery dress had a low neckline, with the thin cloth only just covering her nipples, revealing the pale curves.

She spread her legs to let the flap of her dress fall between her thighs. The name of the club was written upon it in golden calligraphy, two dragons crawling around it.

The balls of her feet firmly on the ground, she pressed a finger against her lips. Around her the light flashed and blinded her for an instant.

" All wrong!", he cried and gestured to the silken folds beneath her. The skinny girl with the large eyes knelt down at her feet and began to rearrange the shiny cloth. She looked up at the model with this frightened gaze. She resisted the urge to smile back and lay a comforting hand on her shoulder. It was not her business.

The photographer gestured at her lap and she felt the girl's hands plucking the silk around her loins. They weren't manicured and tender like her own, they were worker's hands, strong and raw. Hands that made her proud of her own delicate fingers, but meanwhile made her wonder about the power in the girl's. Would her grip be more forceful than a man's?

The lights flashed again and the photographer grumbled another order. She crossed her legs and tossed her hair over her shoulder.

" More seductive."

She blinked and smiled her loveliest smile.

" I did not say cute. I said seductive. Be horny."

She swallowed and took a deep breath, thought of the money. Money... It was what the world revolved around, it was all that mattered. How much more would she need?

" You look so pretty in that dress."

If only they could read what the words said or knew how she posed in it. They never complained, but she knew they expected more from a girl wearing such expensive clothes. Surely she was rich, wasn't she? She had her own driver and a swimming pool. She was successful... Did she dare to tell them otherwise? Let them dream. There was no need to tell them where the money really came from or that what she sent them was nearly all she earned.

She wondered about the girl with the strong hands. Where did she come from and what other jobs did she have? Good looks were capital, just like powerful fingers. What did those hands do at night?

" All right, we're done. You can change."

" Can you make one more picture? To send home?"

He sighed and nodded. She took a more decent pose, made sure the jewellery reflected the flashlight and that the characters were hidden from view.

--

She knelt down before the statue and kowtowed three times. Smoke curled upwards from the sacrificial vessels and filled the air with its sweet smell.

The model looked up at the statue and felt like a child clinging to the skirts of her mother again. The goddess smiled at her and seemed ready to bow forward and stroke her hair, to embrace her and allow her to lay her head against her chest. The goddess told her that all would be right. She had seen all sins and suffering.

The goddess knew, but did not condemn.