Page 5 of Isabella and the Slipper

Just what he wanted.

Not.

Chapter 2

Isabella pushed open the front door to the Vibrant Hue Art Gallery, and the familiar bell sounded. Her heart pounded in her chest. Chase Hawkins was texting her. She had his phone. It even smelled like him ... a little. Yes, she’d smelled the phone.

She had a problem. She admitted it.

Leilani looked up from the hostess desk. “Hello, Isabella.”Leilani was the epitome of petite; she always wore something hip, and her hair was cut short in one of those inverted-bob styles.

“Slow day?” Isabella asked, trying to calm her pounding heart.

“Mr.Kato came in and boughtWater Lily. Other than that, we’ve been dead.”

“He’s been looking at that one for a long time. I’m glad he decided to buy it.” Isabella took her backpack off and went into the office.

“Elenore wants you to take it down from the website,” Leilani called.

“Will do,” Isabella said, turning on the computer.

She took in a deep breath. She loved the smell of the gallery, the bright artwork on the walls, and the intricate sculptures on the pedestals. Someday her paintings would grace these walls, like her father’s had in the past. Mrs.Elenore Shepherd didn’t think she was good enough yet, which was funny because Elenore had tried to sell her own paintings in the gallery—and failed. No one wanted them.

As Isabella waited for the computer to boot up, she pulled a photograph from her back pocket and touched the surface. Her mother was seventeen in the picture. She was smiling at the camera like she didn’t have a care in the world. She had dark hair, like Isabella’s, cascading down her shoulders. She looked positively gleeful. Her name was Emma.

“It’s been a good day, Mom,” she said. It was silly, she knew, but talking to the photo helped her feel better about life. And she hoped, somewhere, her mother could hear her.

Chase’s phone chimed. She stuffed the photo back in her pocket. She’d messed around until she’d turned off the Snapchat notifications, so she knew it was Chase.

A tiny thrill shot through her. She took his phone out to look at the screen.

Why don’t you have any numbers in your phone?

She punched in her response.Why are you looking?

You won’t tell me who you are. I got curious.

It’s a new phone. I haven’t put them in yet.

What are you doing?

She peered around the office.

I’m at work.

I have to memorize lines for an audition I don’t want to have.

She thought about what to say to him. If he really didn’t want the part, there was an easy solution.

Then mess up your audition.

What? Are you serious?

Why not? If you don’t want the part, don’t be right for it.

U R A GENIUS.

I know.

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