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Still, she seemed happy, and it was a huge relief. There was still one more hut to show her, but I could live with two out of three on this sort of day, especially when there was something I had already been praised for and asked to do more of.
As Lukas came through the door, we all looked his way again. Henry wasn’t with him, and he was frowning.
“Henry?” Sarai asked, but her voice was gentle as if she was concerned more than wanting gossip.
“He had to head back to the office. I need him to do something for me.” Lukas smiled, ever the professional, but I got the impression Henry had been sent back to the office, not required to go.
There was no way I was going to ask about it, however. If Lukas didn’t want to say, I couldn’t pry. But I fully intended to ask him if we were still all right with each other as soon as we were alone.
For now, Richard beckoned Lukas over to him and showed off the booklet I’d made again, while Sarai continued with her tour. Not wanting to stand by myself or butt into Richard and Lukas’ conversation—or listen to them talking about me—I followed Sarai.
“Well, that was awkward,” she whispered when we were alone in one of the bedrooms.
I nodded, not sure what I could add to the conversation and wanting to forget it more than I wanted to keep talking. I was already so embarrassed by everything and my own outburst.
“Do you think it was because he criticized your lovely work?” Sarai asked. “I’d heard Lukas could be protective, and I know you two have a thing for each other. But Henry has been working with him for a long time now.”
Not sure what else to do, I shrugged.
Sarai gave me a hard stare for a few seconds, and it made me feel guilty, even though I still had no idea. Was I supposed to know?
“Well, I guess it will remain a mystery, but I hope he stood up for you. You’re doing a good job here, and I’ll sing your praises when the time comes.”
“When the time comes?” I replied, ready to ask almost anything to move the conversation along.
“Oh yes. The press will attend the launch party, I’m sure, and I know that many in the industry will take an interest. There are always some. Friends, other businesses whose managers I get along with, all sorts of things like that. I’ve invited a lot of people to the launch, and you will have to be there to talk about your inspiration. They’ll all be dying to know how you’ve pulled all of this off, my dear.”
I gulped. I didn’t want to hear how I was going to be put on a pedestal or thrust into the spotlight at the end of this project. I didn’t want to be in the limelight, and as much as the money was good, I wasn’t sure what other jobs I would want to take. After this project, I either wanted to suggest that I stay here with Lukas or I wanted to go back home to my friends.
Although I loved the project for the most part, and Sarai and Richard were great to work for, I was getting more and more homesick, especially in moments when I wasn’t working or the days I was with Lukas. I was less independent here than I wasused to. I was used to being able to walk almost everywhere I needed. Everything in the US was too far away from each other, and having a car was pretty much a necessity.
“Don’t worry,” Sarai said, patting my shoulder. “They’re going to adore you. I know, because we all do. And please don’t let Henry’s comment from earlier get to you. I know what it can be like being creative in any field. You wear your heart on your sleeve, and it’s so easy to feel like you’re failing when just one person doesn’t like something. He showed his ignorance, not your lack of skill.”
I nodded, looking down. As much as I appreciated Sarai’s words, I knew I wasn’t entirely ready to hear them. Sometimes, the mind didn’t want to play ball.
CHAPTER FIFTY-FOUR
Lukas
I hesitated outside the hut I knew Sarai, Kit, and Richard were in. They no doubt would have seen the conversation with Henry, and I thought Kit had noticed the argument and how heated it had gotten afterward. It had left a bad taste in my mouth, and I didn’t know if I had done the right thing by sending him back to the office to cool down.
He had accused me of being protective of Kit, and I knew there was an element of truth there. She was mine and had agreed to be my submissive, and I was always going to be protective of her. While I was her dom, her safety in everything was my responsibility. Letting her know she was safe, making her feel safe with me—that was the basis of my role in her life and the foundation of the trust between us.
And Henry had been unkind and expressed an opinion when he hadn’t been invited to do so, with a tone and attitude that had belittled her. That much I felt sure of. I had seen the brief look of shock on Richard’s face, how nervous Kit had been already, the way she rubbed her hands together when she didn’t think anyone was looking, and even Sarai’s reaction.
I couldn’t stay out here and dwell on it, however. This was my job and I needed to remain professional no matter what. I wasn’t going to let another woman take that away from me either. As if by magic, the perfect words formed in my head to explain all this.
Going inside revealed my three companions and work colleagues already busy looking around the second hut, and the subtle differences were astounding. It was almost a shame that I had sent Henry away. He wouldn’t be able to see the work she had put in to make the style of this one also feel African but obviously base it on another tribe.
My heart swelled with pride as I gave my explanation to the room. Of course, Sarai had been the one to dare ask where Henry was, but they said no more and left me to my excuse. Richard then called me over to show me the kids’ pack Kit had made for this hut.
It quickly showed all the ways she had incorporated the differences, and I understood how smart she had been. A quick glance at it would tell every adult what they needed to know to appreciate the art and tribe the design was based on, and then there was even more for a child to enjoy. No one who understood the difficulty of interior design for the themes she had been given could deny the genius in her process.
Standing with Richard and looking through the pack helped calm the awkward atmosphere as the two women went around the hut. By the time they came back, Kit was more composed, but she wouldn’t meet my gaze, and I could see the fear hidden inside her. This had unsettled her.
I admired her ability to pull herself together and keep going as she led us to the third and final hut of the African section, but I worried for her. This had knocked her confidence and she clearly feared that we would think less of her.
Sarai went out of her way to praise Kit for her final design. Of the three, it was the most clever. Once again she had kept certain elements that spoke of Africa but switched out the tribal elements, the color scheme, and the subtle touches that spoke of another culture within a culture.
