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Talking dollar amounts were very uncouth at an art collection, and so only those with deep pockets tended to attend.
Amelia recognized most of the pieces and was surprised to see some new pieces in the mix. She loved them.
“These are absolutely gorgeous.” Emma, who was also an author, gasped.
“Told you.” Amelia smiled, proud of her friend.
“Mele!” Chang said, sidling up to her, using the nickname she hated. But it was Chang, so she smiled. As an art dealer, he was very influential and often sent clients her way, so she sucked it up.
“Hi,” she said, accepting his air kisses on both cheeks as Emma released her arm. “Everything looks amazing, Chang.”
“So amazing. All the top buyers are here. Including you, I hope.” He smirked.
“Not tonight. I promised Stella I wouldn’t open my wallet,” Amelia stated.
Chang stared at her, then leaned in and winked at Emma as he said. “Okay, but which piece do you want me to put aside?”
“The Apple.” Amelia nodded across the room at the bright green painting she had loved for a while.
“Done.” He smiled, flipping his long, dark bangs off his face. “And...”
“Full price,” she said. “Put the sale under a pseudonym, though.”
“Of course, darling.” Chang nodded. “You’ll have to tell her unless you plan to keep it in a cupboard.”
Amelia laughed. “I’ll tell her. It’s a little big to hide and I love it too much to put it away.”
“What do you love?” she heard Stella behind her.
“You, darling. Congratulations. Everything looks incredible.” Amelia turned and hugged her best friend.
They’d been friends since they were seventeen, meeting in art school. They’d almost grown up together, and while their home lives were very different—Stella came from a middle-class family—they had clicked.
She’d had a crush on Logan, as most of her friends did, but now she was married to a wonderful man called Luke.
He was a banker, and while Stella had argued that men in suits could accept a creative woman in their world, Amelia kept her thoughts to herself. Stella’s art was way more mainstream than her abstract pieces.
It was different.
At least in her head.
Also, Stella painted during the day and usually spent a few weeks on her pieces.
Amelia took months.
Different.
“It really does, but I still want to puke,” Stella replied, her free hand going to her belly. The other gripping her champagne.
“Do not puke,” Chang said seriously, and all three girls laughed. “Ladies, I need to circulate, and so do you,” he added pointedly to Stella.
“I want two minutes with my friends.” She waved him away. He faux huffed off, and they all smiled at each other.
“Emma, I’m so glad you could make it,” Stella said.
“It’s amazing. I’m going to look around and keep my eye on the Dufort men so they don’t get into trouble.”
“Good idea,” Amelia said, glancing across the room to where Aidan was nudging Logan’s shoulder. Bad move on her behalf, insisting they attend. Next time, she’d just invite Emma.
