Willow sighed and sat beside her.She crossed her legs and leaned back on her palms.After a minute of comfortable silence, she said, “Lemme guess, you realized that maybe your sexts with Rafa will be leaked?”
Sal let out an astonished laugh, and Willow crinkled her nose as she smiled in response.“You needed that laugh.”
“Yeah, I did…” she giggled.“I realized we can’t afford this, and I feel stupid for not asking the total cost of renting something like this beforehand.”Sal rested her elbows on her knees.
“Well, it’s not like we knew they’d be this big.”Willow tilted her head and lilted her voice.
“I knew they were big.Hence, me being short-sighted, Sal responded.
Willow sighed.“We have a lot of other museums on the itinerary, so just enjoy the trip, and if you really want to slash off some museums from the list, we’ll definitely do that,” she said, trying to sound motivated.
Sal nodded and bit her lip.“Harmon might not like removing some museums from the list.He’ll think it isn’t fair, and that we withheld potentially better and more affordable museums.”
“Pfft!Let him.We just won’t go to the ones that are expensive, that’s all.”
“They’reallexpensive in Manila, Willow.”
“Well, then… We’ll go to the least expensive ones.Maybe pick the one that will get us the best crowd turnout.”
Sal nodded.“But it’s nothing compared to the market in Manila.We need a competitive museum that people would want to go to.”
“We’ll make it happen, Sal.”
“If I don’t?I would’ve wasted all the money on this stupid wager and lose everything I built in St.Stephenshire.”Sal buried her face in her palms.
Willow patted her back.“Hey, eyes forward.We’ve committed to this, and there’s always a way if you want something badly.”
Sal looked at her friend affectionately.“That’s what you tell yourself when the odds are stacked against you, huh?”
“Especiallywhen the odds are stacked against me.But in this case, us,” Willow said, and for the time being, that was enough for Sal.
***
It was only she and Harmon in the receiving area of the museum director’s office.They sat on opposite sides of the single couch.She was busy taking notes while Harmon took some calls.Taking notes on this museum would be helpful even if she would not exhibit there.She figured gathering information on how Harmon would execute his exhibit would benefit her in the long run.
Her thoughts ran amok again as she wrote on her notes.If he chose this as a stage for his art show, then she might as well throw in the towel.Willow’s optimistic voice echoed in her mind, though, so she squared her shoulders.Even if she were battling a giant, she would at least do it proudly.
Sal overheard Harmon talking about ordering someone to get medicine and getting frustrated that his assistant had to see a doctor for a prescription.
“Sorry for the wait!”a shrill voice called through the hall.Sal nearly jumped in her seat.Harmon ended the phone call.The voice belonged to a lady who introduced herself as the director’s secretary.She told them to come in, and within a few minutes, they were seated and began the negotiations.
It was fairly quick.The brevity of the meeting was largely thanks to Harmon, because he asked questions that only had simple answers.She may not have had bargaining power, but at least she had the unique opportunity to observe her rival.Harmon was skilled in the art of persuasion.He was articulate, firm when it mattered, and polite when necessary.It also helped that he had a handsome face.
After the meeting, they walked toward the elevator in silence.Sal was preoccupied, thinking about which museum on the list would be in the budget.When the elevator doors opened, it was empty, and Sal hesitated for a moment.But when Harmon went in and held the doors open, she mechanically stepped in.Again, they stood there, not talking to each other.
Then the elevator jolted.The light flickered.Before she knew it, a force made her fall off balance.She grabbed at the rails on the side of the elevator.What was happening?Had the elevator malfunctioned?
Harmon pressed the emergency button and spoke into the receiver.“Hello?”he bellowed.“Is anyone there?The elevator’s stuck!”
There was another jolt, and Sal steadied herself.
The elevator stopped jostling violently.After a minute of silence, Harmon spoke again.“Well, at least we still have light.”He was probably speaking out loud to calm himself.But no sooner had he said that than the light completely flickered out into darkness.
Sal let out a long exhale.“You were saying?”She couldn’t stop herself from half-smiling.
He sighed.“I’m calling my driver.”The glow from his phone screen was the only light in the elevator.“There’s no cellular signal in here.Can’t you call someone using your phone?”he asked her.
“I don’t have my phone.”
