Chapter 16
Chapter Sixteen
I t should’ve been a quick task. After all, Kat kept notes on the projects she’d worked on in the past four years.
She had copies of all her stellar performance reviews.
She had excellent references. And she could write.
Hadn’t she just finished writing succinct, descriptive information plaques for the new exhibit?
All of that was true, but still, she kept getting stuck on the résumé update. Every time she came to a question related to goals and the future, her stomach knotted. She kept wondering where Nick fit into the picture. She rubbed her temples and read the question again.
Where do you see yourself professionally in the next five years?
How could she answer professionally without thinking personally as well?
Kat pushed back her chair and stepped into the kitchen to reheat her tea. With a deep breath, she grabbed a piece of chocolate before returning to the computer. Her phone buzzed against the table, and Nick’s picture came to life on the screen.
Her heart bounced, and she glanced at the time—and found she’d been staring at her computer longer than she realized.
“Hi there. What are you up to?”
“Just sitting here wishing you were sitting here.” Nick’s deep voice filled the air.
“Mmmm. That would be nice. How was your day?”
“Uneventful. Spent all day working on my scripts.”
Kat gave a soft laugh. “Those words are so cool.”
Nick grinned. “It’s interesting, for sure. What are you working on?”
“Updating my résumé. Cassie’s job was posted today, and I want to get my application in tomorrow. Amy said it wouldn’t stay on the website long. Not sure what that means.”
“Anything I can help with?”
Kat sucked in a deep breath. “I– No, the résumé is done. I just need to answer a few more questions on the application.” She decided to dip her toes into the muddy waters.
“They want to know where I see myself in five years.” She sputtered something between a laugh and groan.
“I’m not sure where I see myself in five months. ”
“Ah, that’s not true. Tell them you want to find new and exciting ways of bringing the world of art to the public through innovative exhibits and interaction.”
“Wow. That’s pretty good. I might plagiarize you.”
“Go ahead.” He leaned forward. “But it’s not really true, is it?
In five to ten years, you don’t even want to be working an eight-to-five job, right?
Isn’t your goal to make a living from painting?
I see you in a fabulous studio creating amazing masterpieces to be sold in the swankiest galleries all over the world. ”
Kat nearly spit her tea. “That’s a sweet thought, but maybe a tad over the top.
” That warmth in his eyes radiated through the screen and wrapped around her.
It was nice to have another cheerleader on the fan squad.
But somehow, hearing the words made them sound too grandiose to be real.
Like a fairy tale. Were those realistic goals?
“You never know,” Nick said. “If anyone had asked me where I thought I’d be, there’s no way I would’ve said TV.”
Oh, for a crystal ball.
“The thing is…I keep getting tripped on what…” She dropped her voice to little more than a whisper.
“What that would mean for us.” She couldn’t help squirming.
But she had to be honest. Could she have a love life and a career?
Did she have to sacrifice one for the other?
She refused to believe she had to compromise on either score.
“I mean, if I’m entrenched in New York City… ”
Nick’s expression turned thoughtful. “Kat? I want to be clear about something.”
She caught her breath. “What’s that?”
“No matter where you are, I want that promotion for you. I want you to get all the raises and recognition and kudos you deserve.”
Tears burned her eyes. His wonderful, supportive attitude was incredible, but in truth, it only made things more complicated—made her wish she was closer. Made her wish she could melt into his arms.
* * *
A few minutes before midnight, Kat pushed ‘submit’ on the job application.
It was still on her mind, the next morning, but as she exited the subway, she forced it to the back burner.
There was nothing more she could do and worrying wouldn’t help.
Construction had started on the exhibit, and she had to be mentally present.
Already it was coming together. Workers finished the floor yesterday, and now the exhibit crew was putting up walls.
Live bamboo would be delivered tomorrow.
In her office, Kat opened her computer files to track the progress of the frames.
Delivery right on schedule. The details were falling into place.
On Wednesday, she took a notepad and her phone down to the exhibit space to document the progress. She’d been designated the official scribe for the project.
She stepped inside the heavy plastic sheeting, and one of the exhibit crew members she’d worked with several times winked at her. “Don’t worry, Kit-Kat, we’re being careful.” He kept moving as he held up one side of the long, narrow box that would house the live plants.
Kat grinned. It looked great. When the plastic rustled again, she turned to see Amy escorting a man in a sharp charcoal suit. He didn’t look familiar.
“Hello, Kat,” Amy said as they approached her. “It’s really taking shape, isn’t it?”
“Yes. Can’t wait to see the bamboo in place.”
Amy smiled and gestured toward the man at her side. “Kat, I’d like you to meet Blake Carroway. He’s in from Boston.”
The man extended a hand. “Pleased to meet you. I’m enjoying this behind-the-scenes tour.”
Kat’s smile froze. Blake from Boston? The hot-shot guy Cassie had mentioned? That would explain his appearance—he looked dressed to impress. They were already interviewing? Bringing in candidates? Kat’s heart skipped a beat. She hadn’t gotten a call.
She murmured what she hoped was an appropriate response while her thoughts ricocheted all over the place.
This was not cool. She remembered Nick’s words of optimism about her future.
Unfortunately, she could be years away from supporting herself with her art.
She needed the museum job. And she needed to move up.
“Enjoy the tour,” she told Blake. She met his eyes and gave a cordial smile—and wondered if he realized she was his competition.
At least she hoped she was. She held up her phone.
“I’d better get back to work. These guys are moving fast, and I’d hate to miss something.
” She stepped away but couldn’t help a few cursory glances back toward Blake from Boston.
If he was the successful candidate, he’d be her boss.
She hadn’t had a male boss since her internship at the Denver Art Museum. Jim had been good to work with, but Kat liked the dynamics of her current reporting structure. Change was inevitable, but it’d be harder to work with Amy if she handed the position to an outsider as a favor.
With a heavy sigh, she moved around the display and snapped photos of the progress. Whatever . She could adapt. And she had the motivation to move on before she got stuck in a dead end.
But by the end of the day, Kat found herself not only watching the clock, but seriously considering taking a mental health day.
She toyed with the idea. If she took off Friday, she could leave New York Thursday night and fly into Colorado Springs.
It’d be a late night, but with the two-hour time difference, they’d manage.
Heat rushed to her face. Not as if she’d be going to Colorado for a good night’s sleep, anyway.
She could stay until Sunday afternoon. Hmm .
It’d be cheaper to fly into Denver, and she knew Nick would pick her up.
But that would waste time and– Oh, damn.
She was supposed to go see her framed work before everything got shipped over to Loft on Friday.
Maybe she could take a long lunch tomorrow and skip over there. Or– Oh, who was she kidding? She slammed a file folder onto her workspace. A last-minute plane ticket would be absurdly expensive. Her heart said, “so what?” but her head gave her a soft slap and told her to get real.
Ugh. Enough. Time to go home and get lost in her paints.
She unlocked the file drawer under her desk and pulled out her purse.
As she leaned over to flip off the desk lighting, a message popped up on her computer.
She flopped back into her chair to take a look—and froze.
HR had added a meeting to her calendar. This, she had to open.
Holding her breath, she clicked to open the notification. All right . She fist-pumped the air. An interview set for ten o’clock Friday morning. So, fate intervened again. No way could she take off Friday after all. And she’d need to channel all her energy into prepping for the interview.
* * *
Friday came fast. Kat dressed with an eye to every detail to look professional but artistic at the same time.
She chose a black sweater dress paired with a denim jacket and a bright floral scarf.
Just before ten, she entered the Human Resources area and was directed to a small meeting room.
Amy and one other person already sat at the table.
The exhibits director joined a moment later.
They asked all the expected questions but seemed hung up on Kat’s lack of managerial experience.
How the heck was she supposed to gain that if she didn’t get a chance at it?
She calmly gave examples of her teamwork and people skills, her ability to include others without micro-managing.
Her answers were met with smiles and nods.
The entire interview lasted only thirty minutes.