Page 58 of How to Get Even

Just Desserts WhatsApp Group. 11.58EST.

Astrid

How’d it go?

Bella

Like magic.

Sienna

whoop whoop.

But there was still nothing from Paige.

* * *

Chase was on his way back from the studio. He’d spent nearly the entire day with Sascha, working on the unifying idea for the show, whittling it down to something concise and the deepest, purest expression of thought. Now, it was down to Sascha. He’d pop in over the next few weeks, but they’d done much of the hard work, focusing her creativity, developing artistic expressions beyond the constraints of her degree training, pushing and stretching that creativity to where Chase was sure she could be.

It was just…

The paint. The artwork. The creativity.

It was tearing him apart not to be able to meet his own creative needs. Fuck.Thiswas why he’d got a job as gallery director. Because he’d still be in the world, still be able to be near it, but not have to force himself to be around others in the process of creating their art in the way that he no longer could. But now? Now helping Sascha create, hone, and refine her art was the only way he couldsave the job he’d never wanted in his best friend’s gallery.

And now it was the only way he could save the job he’d never wanted, in his best friend’s gallery. So yeah, he’d do whatever it took to make it work.

Whateverit took.

He hopped out of the Uber, thanking the driver, carrying the package he’d picked up on the way. He didn’t know what he’d been thinking. Clearly, he hadn’t been.

But as he’d left the studio, he’d recognised the bakery from the branding on the pastry box Bella had brought to the gallery at the beginning of the week, and he’d stopped at the window.

She might try to deny it, but Bella Carmichael had the sweetest tooth he’d ever known. He remembered her thumb tapping longingly by the description of the red velvet cake at the restaurant they’d gone to. Denying herself.

He hated seeing that. As if she didn’t think she was allowed a treat, an indulgence. No, Bella probably thought it wasbad.

And before he’d even known what he was doing, he’d stepped inside the bakery and bought one red velvet cupcake.

And here he was, riding the elevator up to their floor, with a small cardboard box, wondering if he’d lost his mind.

It was okay to buy a member of his staff a treat, wasn’t it?

Not when your motivation is questionable.

Questionable?he argued with himself.I’m doing something nice.

Two words. Bella. Tempted.

Oh fuck off,he told himself.

Perhaps this wasn’t such a good idea.

The doors of the elevator opened and he walked slowly down the corridor. He didn’t have to give her the cake, he mused. He could just…

But his hand was already knocking on the door.

Bella opened the door and his first thought was something was wrong. Her face was pale and her eyes were dull. Subdued was the word he was looking for. And in an instant, it disappeared under that familiar smile he was beginning to dislike so damn much.

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