Page 109 of Getting Down to Business

She never thought she could feel such disappointment from having someone show up with a large check.

“Come on up.” She buzzed the woman in and opened the door at the top of the steps.

“How’s it going?” Becca glanced around at the supplies she’d thrown around.

“My muse is on vacation.”

Becca frowned and held out the check.

“I’m sorry about the sale for Thunderbirds falling through.”

“Well, when your boyfriend starts a fist fight in the gallery, it kind of hurts sales.”

“I heard a rumor.” Becca frowned. “I think I know why he might have hit Mr. Brenner.”

“Why?” Chanda desperately wanted an answer as to why her world went to hell.

“Mr. Brenner made a comment to Ms. Faum that your father buys your work and donates it. He inferred that no one would buy your work otherwise.”

“That’s not true.”

“I know that. But apparently, it’s widespread gossip throughout the art community.”

“Doug hit him to defend me?”

“That’s what it sounds like.”

Regret choked her once again.

She’d dated a lot of asshole guys in the past. After the exhibit, she thought Doug was the same, just better at hiding it. She should have known he wouldn’t have done anything to intentionally hurt her.

He’d been standing up for her and she kicked him out of her home and her life.

* * * *

Alyssa looked up as Mia slipped into her office Monday morning and shut the door.

“I’m in love,” Mia announced.

Alyssa made a show of looking at her calendar.

“We went out on Friday night. You said you needed to get laid.”

“Yes. Turns out I also needed to fall in love. And I did both.”

“All I did this weekend was my laundry.” Alyssa frowned.

“It was the guy I met at MacGregor’s. The blond guy.”

“You weren’t even going to go for it. You said you’d put more effort into Saturday night.”

“I know, but then you bailed and I wasn’t ready to go home.”

“And it was good?”

Mia wasn’t the type to fall in love. Sure she was always searching for Prince Charming, but she still had trust issues from all the times Prince Charming turned out to be a troll. But Mia’s trust issues were the normal kind, not the Department of Corrections type.

“His name is Andy and he is so sweet.” Mia’s eyes fluttered as she held her hands in front of her.