I smiled gently. “I’ll be home before seven.”
“Good. I’ll see you then. I love you.”
“I love you, too, Gav. See you at home.”
After hanging up the phone, I got a bit more work done before deciding to take a break. I stood from my desk to walk out to the Victorian museum and gallery that I called my second home. It smelled faintly of polished wood, old money, and the sweet smell of aged paper and oil paint, the kind of scent that clung to history itself.
On the ground floor, we hosted regular viewings of ancient artifacts or newer pieces of art that came in, and the upper floors were used for limited-time showings and all other events.
Kira’s sales pitch drifted my way. “Well, welcome! As you know, we have three different locations in total, and we can accommodate many compositions of art for display and for sale. And right over there is our director, Rosenna Hart. Let me introduce you.”
Turning toward their voices, I plastered my charming smile across my face, only for my gaze to land on an older man with an air of effortless authority. His presence commanded attention, his wealth apparent not only in the immaculate cut of his suit but in the way he carried himself—almost as if he owned the very ground he walked on.
There was something eerily familiar about him, the sharp eyes, the sculpted, almost regal features.
“Hello, Mrs. Hart.” His gaze flickered to my ring, his tone polite but intentionally acknowledging it.
I cleared my throat slightly as I smiled. “Please, call me Rosenna. I see Kira has gotten you well established and informed of what we do.”
Kira smiled, and the man chuckled, his low laughter dripping of decades of wealth.
“She sure has. I have to say, I am very impressed with the architecture and level of detail you’ve taken. You seem to have a lot of potential for going on only two years.” The words were complimentary, but the way his eyes settled on me, it felt more like an evaluation.
“Why, thank you. Are you interested in working with us to display and sell your work?”
His head shook. “I’m no artist, Rosenna. My son, however… you couldn’t rip the paintbrush or pencil out of his hand if you wanted to.” He chuckled, and both Kira and I laughed our“we need to land this client”laugh.
Despite his charm and flattery, the scrutiny in his eyes was clear—for good reason given he’d graciously decided to give us his time and energy.
Deciding the trip must have been worth it though, he looked between the two of us for a split second, and shortly after, he pulled out a sleek black business card. “Take my card. I’ll have my team get in contact with Kira, and we’ll schedule a few things to give my son a bit of exposure. See if it’ll be a good fit.”
“Absolutely, sir. It’s been a pleasure to speak with you.” I shook his hand.
He nodded, studying me for a moment longer than necessary, his gaze sharp, calculating, like a man used to reading people in a single glance. There was something unnerving and oddly comforting about it all at the same time.
“Likewise. Kira, darling, would you mind showing me out? I have another meeting in roughly fifteen minutes.”
As she walked him out, I looked down at his black business card.
Vincent Garcia.
My stomach tightened, my fingers gripping it a little harder than necessary. All of a sudden it felt like a brick in my hand.
When Kira returned, I looked at her wide-eyed. “Kira. What did you do?”
She bit her lip. “If I tell you, you can’t fire me.”
I waited impatiently, and she let out a reluctant sigh.
“I contacted Mr. Garcia’s assistant asking for a meeting twice every day for the past five months, and eventually he noticed my persistence. He was quick to say he didn’t want to do regular business, and I told him I wasn’t interested in that, but I was interested in his son’s work. His son is an artist and is somewhat low-key and off the grid, but he’s amazing. Not good, not great,amazing. Mr. Garcia seemed hesitant at first but agreed on a small meeting, and this afternoon was just that.”
I couldn’t help but stare at her in utter confusion.
“Kira... you harassed a billionaire tycoon for five months and set up a meeting with him so we could gain his equally rich and talented son as a potential client?”
She held her hands up in surrender. “I told you you can’t fire me!”
I ignored her as I wrapped my arms around her, letting out a sigh of relief as she patted my back awkwardly.
