Page 26 of Alpha Bait

"Oh honey, come right back to Ken's office. He's with a client right now working out a deal on his hurricane Katrina installation but he can make time for you."

I followed her as she scurried through the crowd in the large, industrial gallery. She knocked once on Ken's office and opened the door. The client Ken was busy with? Rich Carmichael.

My mouth dropped open and I averted my gaze.

"Indie!" Ken greeted me, rushing over to me and wrapping me in a large hug.

"Hi Ken, I see you're busy right now. Maybe I should come back later."

"Nonsense!" Ken boomed.

His thick New Orleans accent and warm smile could have tempted me to stay.

"You know what, I think I'll head out now," Rich said.

Ken furrowed his brow, "are you sure Mr. Carmichael? We can work out a deal for the second installation. No need to wait for it."

"We'll talk in a bit. See you, Kenneth."

Rich pushed past me and I breathed a sigh of relief.

"You're working with Rich Carmichael?" I asked.

Ken chuckled, "Y'all still got beef?"

I shrugged, "I'm not the one with the problem."

"Rich is a nice guy. You don't have to worry about him."

My face grew hot.

"I'm not worried about him. Just surprised you're doing business with him..."

"Come on, don't worry about it. But uh, don't tell Jamal."

"Say no more. Show me the paintings so I can get out of here quickly."

"Busy day?"

"You don't know the half of it, Ken."

As we looked through Ken's latest collection of ten-foot-high art installations to decide which ones to truck out to the Hamptons, he explained that Rich Carmichael had been searching for a new painting for his apartment bedroom. I couldn't have cared less but Ken was an artist paying city rent who had just made a huge sale. He deserved the right to celebrate.

Annoyed that I had to hear about Rich Carmichael, I hastened Ken to decide on the pieces and we arranged to send all five installations out to the Hamptons.

"Say hi to Jamal for me!" Ken called after me once I'd left.

I walked out of the gallery and turned left to walk towards my car which I'd parked a few blocks away.

I'd only walked a few steps when a hand tapped me on the shoulder.

I'd turned around, expecting it to be Ken, but Rich Carmichael towered behind me.

"Hello, Indie."

I turned away from him and started stalking away.

"Indie! Where are you going?"

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