Page 21 of Dr. Stone
“Very well, then,” he glanced at his Rolex. “I have a helicopter landing in thirty minutes.” He looked back at me, “Are you comfortable with Ash giving me your number so I can make arrangements for a later date?”
I shook my head. “You don’t have to do this,” I said in disbelief that the guy was still pressing for a date with my single-mom ass.
“I never do anything out of obligation,” he pressed.
“Well, if that’s the case,” I said with a small smile, “then I’m fine with it.”
I already knew that the second he walked out of this gallery, his work and lavish lifestyle would reclaim him. The only thing he’d take with him would be the memory of describing himself—flirtatiously, unapologetically—through one of Ash’s stunning sunset portraits.
“It’s been my pleasure,” he said, then he nodded, smiled, and strode out of the room with an air of command and supreme confidence.
What just happened? I glanced back at the portrait, then back through the doors he just walked out of to head downstairs and exit Ash’s art gallery.
As I sat at my desk—thankful no clients were in, so I could gather my senses after being under Titus’s spell for the past hour—I untangled my mind and went to work, gathering Titus’s details to have his painting delivered to his home.
“Damn it,” I said to myself.
“What’s wrong, babe?” Ash asked, coming in after conversing with Titus when she walked him out.
“That man got my ass,” I said with frustration.
“I know, he told me,” she beamed. “And look at you, taking him up on his generous offer?”
I subtly grinned, feeling the same excitement Ash felt. It was nice to be hit on by that man. “Yeah, and it’s why I didn’t get the chance to upsell him on anything. I didn’t even get to jack up the price and make more money from the painting, like I always do. Mr. Snake Eyes made sure of that.”
Ash chuckled. “He’s a damn fine businessman,” she said. “You know Jim only associates with the savviest of them all. Titus knows exactly what he’s doing with money, and apparently, with you too. He kept you charmed the entire time so you wouldn’t upsell him anything or inflate the cost of the portrait.”
I sighed, then rose to my feet as a potential client walked in. “Trust me, I’m not done with his pockets yet. He invited me to dinner to show his gratitude, and at said dinner…” I let a slow smile form, “…maybe that’s where I’ll find a way to dig a little deeper.”
“I can’t wait to hear how this plays out,” she laughed. “Hey, do you want to have lunch with Nat and Avery at The Ivy today?”
“That sounds perfect,” I said, loving the quaint charm of the restaurant that drew in many celebrities. “What time are we heading over there?”
“We’ll just close at two today. Mondays are always slow days, and wemustfill in Nat and Avery on this shit,” she said, her eyes vibrant with excitement.
This would make for great conversation with the wives of the two executives partnered with the gorgeous real estate tycoon who had practically demanded I have dinner with him.
As surreal as Titus’s invitation was, I was oddly glad to be in a place where I could accept it. A month ago, I would have shredded him with sarcasm for the same behavior, but now I wasn’t afraid to see where it might lead.
How much time had I wasted drowning in that pit of despair, convinced there was no light at the end of the tunnel? The truth is, there’s always a light. You just have to be patient. Life’s tests aren’t meant to break us but to forge something stronger.
And when you finally survive the storm, when you step out on the other side, boom. There it is. The damn light.
ELEVEN
Jace
I glanceddown at my phone after it buzzed, alerting me to a new text that had just come through.
Jake: There’s an accident on the 5, take side streets.
I hated going back and forth on text, so I immediately called him back.
“It better be good. You just interrupted Metallica,” Jake said, answering on the first ring.
“Well, from the sound of it, you’ll have plenty of time to listen to them long after I’ve arrived at Seraphina to meet the guys for drinks.”
“True that,” he exhaled. “The freeway is starting to loosen up and move a little, but I’m hitting the next off ramp when I get to it.”
