Page 49 of For the Love of Art

Nathan’s confusion turned to understanding. “Oh. Oh! Shit! Isla, I didn’t–” He ran his fingers through his hair. “I’m sorry, I didn’t put two and two together.”

“How could you not?”

Nathan’s shoulders dropped. “Isla, this is New York. How many people do you think have the same last name?” I thought about it and realized he was right. “I met him at the opening, and I knew you had an ex-husband, but neither of you mentioned the other.”

I crossed my arms. “Well, shouldn’t I know about this stuff before it happens?”

“Isla, you’re my Curator. I’m the business side of this.”

“Well, I–”

I had nothing.

Nathan leaned back in his chair. “Nothing nefarious is going on here. It’s purely coincidence.”

I nodded, not sure what to say.

“Do you want me to get the firm to send someone else?”

I sighed. “No. Don is the best choice from there.”

I hated to admit it, but it was true. The others could talk a good game but often fell short of delivery. Don was able to both give a good pitch and follow through.

“Nothing has to be done here. I have another gallery closer to his firm, so I can take him there for meetings.”.

I hated that Nathan was being so reasonable. It made me feel bad for bursting into his office.

“Okay, well, now that’s sorted, I should get back to work.”

I slowly backed out of his office, our eyes locked on each other. As soon as I was out of his line of sight, I ran to my office, closed the door, and slowly sank onto the floor. Once I was in a heap on it, I let the humiliation wash over me.

Fuck.

“So let’s review,” Lianne said later.

“Do we have to?” I moaned.

“He took you to dinner, then his apartment, where he made a move.”

“Yep.”

“Then you ran away, and then he apologized, things were good, then Don showed up, and you freaked out at your boss thinking he hired him because you said no to his advances.”

“In my defense, he doesn’t know that’s what I was thinking. I intelligently kept that a secret.”

“And then finally, you snuck out of work so that you didn’t have to see him after all the events I listed,” Lianne said, and I nodded. “You know, I mean, maybe it’s not that bad.”

“Lianne. I have spent the majority of my day on the floor. I am lying on your floor. Does it sound like it’s not that bad?”

“Fine. Come back to the cheese shop. We have room for you.”

I sat upright.

“Lianne! Are you serious?”

“What? You’re making it out like this is the end of your career at the gallery.”

I leaned against the couch. “I’m just embarrassed by everything.”