Page 48 of Isabella and the Slipper

“You’re taking over for Leilani today. Helping customers will be your main priority. I don’t want you focused on other things. Wait until after business hours to take down Elsa’s art.”

Isabella ground her teeth together. If she said anything back to Elenore, she’d regret it. “Okay.”

She left before Elenore could tell her to also scrub the floors.

Chapter 15

Disappointment settled in Isabella’s gut as she walked, her backpack slung over one shoulder. She had been looking forward to spending the evening with Chase. Especially after last night. Now she’d be stuck at the gallery all night, rearranging the sales floor.

Thoughts of Chase standing behind her, showing her his phone app, made her pulse race. She unlocked the gallery door and flipped over the Open sign. After turning on the lights and waking up her computer, she leaned back in her chair and waited for someone to enter the gallery.

Twenty minutes later, the front door chimed and Mr.Kato walked in wearing his ever-present three-piece suit. Isabella ran to the front room to greet him. “Welcome, Mr.Kato. Come on in.”

“How’s my little art mouse?” He pulled her into a hug.

Isabella laughed at the silly name he’d started calling her when she was younger, back when her father had run the gallery. “I’m fine. How are you?”

Mr.Kato wore a smile like some women wore makeup: with gusto. He was a short man, like his wife, and Isabella had passed him up on height last year when she’d finally reached five foot six. His black hair had a few rebellious gray ones growing in around his ears. He pulled back and searched her face. “You look more and more like your father every day.”

“I don’t know if that’s a compliment or not,” she said, laughing. Her father had been handsome, but she wasn’t sure she wanted to look like a man.

“A very feminine version,” he corrected. “How’s the painting going?”

She pulled her phone from her pocket. “I’ll show you.”

His eyes lit up. “Ah, you have a photo?”

She swiped the screen and touched the image of her poppies. “I painted this last week.”

He took her phone from her and smiled. “I like the movement in this one. I can see the wind.”

“That’s why I like it, too.” She ran her finger across the screen, and her latest painting showed up.

“Ah,” he said. “I love this one.” He turned to her. “Your use of light in this is amazing. You have improved.”

She grinned. “Really?”

“You are just as good as your father.”

The compliment made her blush. “Thank you.”

“Would you sell this one to me?”

“Yes! Totally!” She tried not to bounce up and down on her toes. She’d never sold a painting before.

“I’ll give you a thousand dollars for it.”

“What? It’s not worth that.” She blushed again.

“My dear,” he said, putting his arm around her shoulders. “If your father had painted it, I would be paying one million for it. A thousand is a bargain. And I believe you will go on to surpass your father’s fame, so for me, it’s an investment.”

Warmth radiated through her. She hugged Mr.Kato and held in a squeal. “I don’t know what to say.”

His grin widened. “Say you’ll bring me this painting.”

“I will!”

Mr.Kato walked through the gallery and purchased one more painting. Isabella wrote up the sales ticket for it and removed it from the wall. She helped him get it into his vehicle, her heart beating wildly. After he left, she couldn’t stand it anymore. She pulled out her phone.

---