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“Let me know what happens Saturday and I’ll figure it out then, I guess.”
“Okay, but you dick around too much and me and my boys are going to double my fee.”
“Don’t really give a fuck. You do a good job, double it. You just let me know what’s going on and keep Helena safe.”
“I will as much as I can what with her ass bare and hanging out in the wind.”
I roll my eyes, shake my head, and hang up without another word.
Then I close my eyes, while I plot ways to make Helena pay for giving me a headache.
Shit.
Chapter 34
Helena
The showing is a success. I look around the gallery with a sense of pride. Not to toot my own horn, but I know I’m the major reason it has gone so well. I’ve worked my ass off. Zervas appreciates it. He’s told me often. I do have regrets, though. Mostly, I’m regretting having lunch with him the other day and laughing at his jokes. I can even admit I let myself be distracted by the way he made me feel beautiful. In my defense, it’d be hard for any woman to ignore when a guy as sexy as Zervas gave them attention.
I’ve put distance between us since he told Ivan Levkin that I belonged to him. That hasn’t been hard to do because I’ve been swamped with work for this event. Still, I know I have to quit putting things off and talk to him. I don’t know what’s going on with Marco, but I do know we have things to discuss and figure out.
Once this event is over, I know I will have to talk to Zervas and address the elephant in the room. I normally face things head-on. Right now, I just can’t deal. Until tonight is over, I shall be like an ostrich and keep my head buried in the sand. I have a job to do and I’m doing it awesome. That way, when I return to Greece, I will be welcomed back to the gallery there. If Marco doesn’t prove he can be the man I need him to be—or tells me I’m not the woman he wants—then, perhaps I will take Melina up on her offer and see if Antonio can find me a position in a gallery in Miami.
The best part is that with my experience here, I’ll be able to demand a reference. If Zervas proves he’s a shitty person and won’t give me one, I will at least have vendors and artists that can vouch for me.
“There’s the woman I’ve been looking for.”
I turn to look at EZ, mostly ignoring the way his voice slides over me like whiskey—warm heat that vibrates as I drink it down. Why can’t Marco give me that kind of attention? Why can’t he be here?
“You’re not fooling me. You’re here looking for Liberty.”
“Guilty, but if a man is any kind of a man he can handle two women at the same time,” he purrs.
“Sorry, EZ. I’m the kind of woman that doesn’t like to share and I can’t be sure because I’ve never had that discussion with Liberty, but I’m pretty sure she doesn’t either.”
“I’ll make note,” he says, his eyes sparkling.
“That might be wise,” I laugh.
“Is Liberty here?”
“She texted. I told her to alert me when she got here and then I’d meet her in the office. She promised my boss that she would be here in case bids were received—which they have been. Usually, we have to conduct business over the phone, but she hadn’t met with Zervas yet, since he just took over the gallery. So, she agreed to do it this way.”
“She got something wrong with her?”
“I’m sorry?” I ask, confused.
“The way it sounds, she doesn’t want to show her face in public. In my experience, that means she’s either wanted by the law or is afraid of making kids run away screaming and crying.”
I blink. “Um… She’s kind of beautiful,” I whisper. Okay, it’s true I haven’t seen her in person. I’ve only spoken to her on the phone, but I’ve seen her file and there’s a picture in there of her and she is definite breathtaking. I don’t explain that to EZ.
“So, she’s wanted by the law.”
“I don’t think so. The gallery usually vets every artist pretty thoroughly,” I point out.
“Then, what is her story?”
“I’m not sure she has a story. Maybe she’s just a private person?”
“That would be a shame.”
“It would?” I ask, thinking this conversation is getting extremely confusing.
“You said she was beautiful. All that beauty needs to be shared if so.”
I smile. I don’t know why, but I think that’s kind of sweet. “Well, she’s going to text me when she gets in the office. I’ll talk to her then. For now, I better go mingle and make sure everything is running smoothly.
