Chapter 12
Chapter Twelve
Six Weeks Later
“You’ve lost too much weight.”
I shrieked and flailed as I tried to stay on the step stool I was perched on.
I swear, I’d never been this clumsy before.
Clumsiness had become a constant companion since my first night with Elijah.
Strong hands locked on my hips, keeping me from falling.
They kept their grip as I climbed down the two steps to the floor and whirled to face my boss.
“You scared the shit out of me, D!” I yelled, leaning over to rest my hands on my knees.
“Sorry, I thought you heard me when I called your name three times in a row,” he replied in a dry drawl.
I straightened and scowled at him, tugging my loose pants higher on my waist. Even with the slender black belt around my waist, they didn’t want to stay put.
Heartbreak—the best weight loss tool a girl could find.
“So, when I didn’t answer, you decided to sneak up on me anyway?”
The look he shot me was even drier than his words. “What are you doing?”
“Organizing,” I answered, gesturing to the shelves in the supply closet behind me.
“Why?”
“Because it needed it.”
His look clearly said he thought I needed it more than the closet did.
“Can you take a break?” he asked. “There’s something I need to talk to you about.”
I glanced at the closet. Honestly, I’d finished organizing it ten minutes ago. I’d just been…fiddling. I needed to do something to keep my hands and mind busy.
God, I was pathetic. Why was I so upset over a man I dated for a month? Why couldn’t I move on?
“I’m done,” I finally answered. “I just need to wash my hands.”
“Meet me in the office. I’ll make you a cappuccino.”
“Sounds good.”
When I went into the restroom to wash my hands, I avoided my reflection in the mirror.
I knew what I would see if I looked. My skin was pale, and my concealer wasn’t quite up to the task of hiding the dark circles beneath my eyes.
I still did my hair and make-up every day for work, and I always put together an outfit the night before, even if I didn’t feel like it.
I was going to fake it until I made it. Just because I felt like shit didn’t mean I needed to look like it, too.
The scent of coffee and sugar greeted me when I stepped through the doorway to Davide’s office. There were two cappuccinos on his desk, and a light blue bakery box was open next to them. Instead of sitting in his desk chair, he was in one of the two club chairs he set up for visitors.
“Come have a seat,” he said, gesturing to the other chair.
I moved to sit next to him. It wasn’t uncommon for Davide to bring treats to work or make me a mid-afternoon cappuccino, but we never had them in his office. We usually sat on the couch in the front of the gallery, or I would sit at the reception desk, and he would lean a hip against it.
He picked up the small white plate sitting next to wide white cup full of frothed milk and coffee and began putting tiny baked goods on it. There were miniature cookies, small brownie squares, and even a pint-sized cannoli. Without asking if I wanted any, he handed the plate to me.
As soon as I started to set it to the side, he commanded, “You will eat those.”
My first instinct was to argue, but the scent of butter, sugar, and chocolate hit my nose and my stomach growled. “Okay, but I’m not holding it the entire time I’m sitting here,” I said, sliding the plate onto the desk next to what I assumed was my coffee.
“Try a brownie. They’re amazing.”
I picked up the baked good, the brownie cut in a one-inch square, and popped it into my mouth. The rich flavors of chocolate and coffee melted on my tongue.
I held my hand in front of my mouth as I said, “Wow.”
“I know.”
Without asking, Davide set another brownie on my plate before he filled his own. I waited until I was done chewing before I spoke again.
“What’s going on?” I asked, picking up my cappuccino for a sip.
“I wanted you to be the first to know…” He smoothed down his shirt. “I have a showing in New York in six months.”
My eyes widened, and I set cup aside so I could throw my arms around my boss. “That’s great! Congratulations!”
I knew Davide sculpted. He’d even sold a few of his pieces here at the gallery. They were beautiful. But because he was always so busy with running the business, he rarely had time to work on any sculptures.
He hugged me back, squeezing tightly. “Thank you. I’m nervous as hell, but it’s time.”
“It’s amazing news!” For the first time in over a month, my smile was genuine.
“It is.” Davide cleared his throat and took another sip of his cappuccino.
“But it means I have to make a big change in my working hours. I thought about hiring someone to manage the gallery, but…” His words trailed off, and I knew by the way he was looking at me that I wasn’t going to like what he had to say next.
“Just tell me,” I whispered.
“I got an offer on the gallery. Not just the business, but the building itself, too.”
“What?”
“I told them the only way I would sell is if they kept you on at your same salary and benefits until you either found another job or decided you wanted to keep working for them, and they agreed immediately.”
I realized what he was saying. “You sold the gallery?”
He winced. “I didn’t want to, but then I got that showing and I knew there was no way I could meet my deadline if I was still working here full-time.”
I nodded, but my entire body felt numb. I’d finally found a job I truly enjoyed and a boss I loved working for, and now he was leaving.
“I’ve avoided pushing my art career because I’ve been afraid,” Davide admitted. “But I realized that my life is passing me by because I’m not taking any risks or trying new things. And that’s not how I want to live.”
I nodded again, my heart in my throat. I understood what he was saying. I truly did. But I couldn’t ignore the faint whispers in the back of my mind reminding me that everyone left me. My biological parents. Foster parents and siblings. Elijah. And now Davide.
I shut those thoughts down. It wasn’t true, and it wasn’t fair to Davide.
“I understand,” I finally said.
He took my hands in his. “I’m not moving away.
I’ll still be here. And we’re still going to meet for happy hour, or I’m going to make you go to lunch with me.
We just won’t be working together.” He squeezed my fingers gently.
“And, once I’m a famous artist, I can afford to hire you as my personal assistant, and I’ll act like a complete diva until you’re ready to throw one of my own pieces at my head. ”
His sculptures were chiseled and carved from marble, granite, and other types of stone. There was no way I’d be able to pick one up and chuck it at him, but the image made me laugh.
I took a shaky breath. “I really am happy for you, D. I’m just going to miss you.”
He pulled me into another hug, and tears gathered in my eyes.
Dammit. Why was I such a crybaby all of the sudden?
“I’m not abandoning you,” he stated. “Like I said, we’re still going to see each other all the time. You’re one of the few people I can tolerate on a daily basis, so I need you.”
I snorted at his words and popped one of the mini cookies in my mouth. The flavors of orange and shortbread burst on my tongue, and I bit back a moan. I needed the name of the bakery so I could buy treats there all the time.
We ate the treats in silence and finished our cappuccinos. It wasn’t until we were done that I asked the question I should have asked immediately.
“Who bought the gallery? Anyone I’ve met since I’ve been here.”
“An LLC bought me out, but I don’t know the owner’s name. They intend to hire a manager to take my place, but that’s subject to our approval.”
“Our approval?” I asked, frowning. “You and the new owner?”
“No, you and me. If we can’t find anyone, the new owner will come onboard in the meantime and take over the role.
Once I’m gone, you’ll have the final say on who they hire.
” He paused. “I tried to talk them into making you the manager, which they were interested in doing, but because you haven’t been here long enough… ”
I understood. And I was relieved. If I had more experience, I would have been excited by the idea, but I knew that I had a lot more to learn before I was ready for that responsibility.
“The good news is that they would prefer to promote you when you have more experience. It sounds like the company wants to expand the gallery. Maybe even open up some other locations. If that happens, you’ll have plenty of opportunities to grow and learn.”
My heart thumped with excitement for the first time since he made his announcement.
I wouldn’t be stuck as an assistant forever.
I might even be able to manage more than one gallery at some point.
Surely, they would need someone experienced to keep an eye on all their locations if they had more than one?
I wouldn’t be qualified…yet. But in a few years?
It would definitely be something I could do.
“You don’t look scared anymore,” Davide observed.
“I wasn’t scared,” I retorted.
“Could have fooled me. Your eyes were huge.”
“I was sad you were leaving me and trying not to cry.”
I said it with a teasing tone, even though it was the truth.
“Ha! More like trying not to cry tears of joy that you don’t have to listen to me complain about the artists I deal with.”
I shrugged. “I’m willing to tolerate a few flaws in my bosses.”
He rolled his eyes and laughed. “Well, hopefully you’ll get to pick a good boss the next time.”
I patted his leg. “I already picked a good boss. But I wouldn’t be opposed to a better one.”
Laughter burst out of me, and I flinched back when he smacked my knee.
“Seriously, though. I’m happy for you, Davide. You’re so talented. I’m glad you’re pursuing your passion.”
A flush worked across his cheeks. “It’s terrifying.”
I put my hand over his where it rested on his leg. “I know. But it’ll be worth it.”
“Remind me of that when you come to my show, will you?”
“Oh, I’m invited to New York?”
He turned his hand over and squeezed my fingers. “Of course you are. You’re my voice of reason. I’ll need you to talk me off the ledge.”
“Figuratively or literally?”
“Probably both.”
I could do that.