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Charlotte fumbled for a business card. “Oh, um, okay. Well, my social media is here on my card…”
“Thank you for sharing your talent," the man said before suddenly turning on his heel and walking away, disappearing into the bustling swap meet crowd. He hadn’t taken her card.
Charlotte blinked, taken aback by his abrupt departure. She had been so sure that this interaction would lead to a sale or a commission, but instead, all she was left with were questions—and a rising sense of annoyance.
Unable to shake off her unease, Charlotte scanned the nearby crowd for the man, considering whether she should follow him and confront him about his intentions. But ultimately, she knew she couldn't abandon her booth and the other people who might be interested in her art. With a deep breath, she decided to let it go, even as her mind continued to wrestle with the implications of his actions. This was definitely not turning out to be her day.
Refocus. Stay positive.
The swap meet seemed to pulse with life, and she tried to recenter herself in the energetic, beating heart of New York City. A breeze rustled through the rows of colorful tents, carrying with it the scent of hot pretzels and fried dough. A street performer had gathered a crowd. Charlotte stood at her booth, letting new anticipation and excitement bubble within her. She still had potential customers browsing her paintings.
"Excuse me," a voice said, pulling Charlotte from her thoughts. She turned to see a woman in her forties admiring one of the paintings. "This is lovely. How much is it?"
"Thank you," Charlotte replied, trying to regain her composure. Then, she realized that there had been a question there—the price! "It's two hundred dollars."
"Such wonderful colors," the woman continued, unaware of the gnawing tension in Charlotte's chest. "You have a real talent."
"Thank you again," Charlotte managed, forcing a smile onto her face. But her mind was elsewhere, still grappling with the selfie and the man's abrupt departure.
“I’ll take it.”
Charlotte could have leapt for joy. “Oh! Absolutely. Cash or card?”
As she wrapped up the sale for the woman, Charlotte was mired in a mix of excitement and concern. Excitement because someone had shown genuine interest in her art, and concern because of the effort she might have put into this day for such little return.
"Here you go," she said, handing the painting to the woman. "I hope you enjoy it."
"Thank you! This will look perfect in my living room," the woman replied with a smile before walking away.
Well, it was something—one customer.
Charlotte felt her muscles tense as she scanned the crowd, searching for any sign of the man who had left her so unsettled. The cacophony of laughter, bargaining, and rustling bags filled her ears. She plopped down in her folding chair and took a sip of the sweet, tangy lemonade that she'd purchased earlier, its coolness a balm against the burning questions in her mind.
"Charlotte, are you alright?" a familiar voice asked. It was her friend and fellow artist, Sarah, who had a regular booth just four down from Charlotte’s own.
"Um, yeah," Charlotte replied hesitantly. "Just... something strange happened."
"Strange how?" Sarah asked, concern etched on her face as she glanced around the bustling swap meet.
"Someone took a photo with one of my paintings, posted it online, and then basically said ‘thanks for the content’ and left," Charlotte explained, biting her lip.
The petite blonde winced. "Ugh. An influencer. I get those, too. Perhaps they'll come back later?" Sarah suggested, trying to ease her friend's worries.
"Maybe," Charlotte sighed, still unable to shake off her annoyance.
“I gotta run. I have a lunch meeting. Don’t you have a meeting of your own today?” Sarah grinned widely, and Charlotte almost regretted telling her friend the secret. Not even Daniel knew it.
Charlotte checked her watch. Her chest tightened. She’d been trying to keep her mind off ofthe meeting, too. But Sarah was right.
“Yep. Four o’clock. With the gallery owners at Ashwood.”
“Ooh, good luck, girl!”
With a wave, Sarah was gone, and Charlotte caught sight of a young couple approaching her booth.
"Your work is stunning," the woman from the couple said, admiring one of Charlotte's paintings. "How much is it?"
"Thank you," Charlotte replied, forcing a smile as she tried to focus on the present. "That particular piece is $300."
