Page 10 of Partnering with the Artist

Sometimes, I do wish I were a little more in tune withfeelings, so I’d know better what’s going on with other people who have them and let them affect me, but mostly it’s hard to want what I have no realm of understanding for. If ever I had a soul, it’s been too long for me to remember what that’s like. “Please, Viktor. It’s literally for work. And I think I’m pretty good at keeping up a professional front, don’t you?”

He heaves another sigh. “I’ll think about it.”

That’s another way that my darling brother saysno.

Before I can open my mouth again, however, my cell phone rings, so I grab a towel to wipe my hands, pluck the device from my pocket, and tamp down the smile that responds when I see the unknown number. I knew my offer was too tempting to resist. “Hello? Zakery Bachelor speaking.”

“H-hi.”

Cutie. I love her stammers. Her hesitation. Herums.

“This is Maelin, from the con?”

“Oh, Maelin!” I smile. “That was fast. You’ve changed your mind already?”

A fortifying moment passes, suggesting that wasn’t the right thing to say, but then desperation fills her voice.

“I have. M-my sister just lost her job. She’s a very good worker. Very, very good. She only lost her job because she’s not blonde, and her employer wanted her to be blonde.”

I scowl. “What a sicko.”

“Yeah. Um.” A shaking exhale makes its way through the line. “Mr. Bachelor, I don’t know what exactly you were considering by the way of hours for me, but…well…we only have one car, and depending on what you were thinking, I don’t know if it’d be enough to cover our expenses. Is there…anypossible way that maybe you have room on your staff for a maid, too?”

Well, well, well. If that’s not fate, I don’t know what is.

I cut my attention toward Viktor, who’s pretending not to listen in as he settles the steaks into his mushroom gravy. I tilt the phone away from my mouth and ask, “Did you catch that, Viktor?”

Articulately, he grunts.

“Prettyplease?”

His shoulders fall. “Fine.Onemaid.Onemodel. No special treatment. And this better not come back to bite me.”

Of course it won’t. It’s not like I’m trying to hireHarry. Thatman looked like he bites—and not in a fun way. Thrilled, I lift the phone back to my mouth. “Do you know how to get to the main manor on the Bachelor property, princess?”

“I think so?”

Very good. Most everyone in Sunset should know just about where this palace on our property rises above the treelines off the main roads…

“Perfect,” I say. “I’ll see both you and your sister here Monday at nine o’clock. We’ll get you two settled in with expectations and orientations that morning, then you can start the same day.”

Relief swells, overwhelming her voice. “Thank you so much, Mr. Bachelor. I really appreciate this.”

“Don’t mention it. Also, we’re a housefullof Mr. Bachelors, so you might as well get used to calling me Zakery.”

“O-oh. Okay. That makes sense. Thank you, Zakery.”

I really like the sound of my name on her lips.

Smiling, I hang up and chirp to Viktor, “She’s really,reallypretty.”

“Uh-huh.”

“You’ll see.”

“Mm.”

“I’m so excited.”

---