Chapter 7 #2
Having stared Adrian down for a couple of seconds, Saskia finally said, “It sounds like it’s time for me to do some research myself.
Rather than just making the blanket assumptions I have so far.
” Because she hadn’t researched the man.
She’d read a few articles, watched some YouTube videos, and listened to a couple of podcasts.
But there seemed to be so much more out there.
Adrian raised her imperious eyebrow again, and Saskia said, “I know that look. I’m not interested in him. It was a one-night thing. But I would like to learn more about what he does, since you’ve become an insta-fan.”
Adrian smiled wide enough to crinkle her eyes. “It’s more accurate to say that you became the insta-fan. In his bed.”
Saskia had to laugh. That was how they were with each other.
Lighthearted teasing. Yet there were some serious feelings beneath it for Saskia.
Sure, there’d been pleasure so great that her body still vibrated with glorious aftershocks.
But also fear and curiosity. If he learned who San Holo was, he could blow up her entire world.
In a way, hadn’t he blown it up last night? Because what they’d done was just too good for one night only.
The truth was, though she wanted to learn more about his platform and whether it was damaging to artists, she was dying to see him again.
Not as San Holo, but as the mysterious Saskia in his bed.
Adrian swiveled her chair back and forth with her foot. “There’s a foster kid involved in all this too.”
Saskia leaned in, almost without thinking. “How so?”
Adrian sweetened the pot. “He’s why Clay wants to know who you are. The kid is your biggest fan, and he wants to meet you. In fact, it was the kid’s social media post that brought your latest mural to light.”
Saskia closed her eyes. A foster kid who loved her art. And wanted to meet her. That changed things up.
“His name is Dylan. Clay thinks he’s a brilliant street artist. He’s almost eighteen and close to aging out of the system. He needs guidance. The way I understand it from Clay, he and his friend Gideon Jones are providing that guidance.”
Saskia bent forward, setting her elbows on her knees and clasping her hands between them.
She hadn’t grown up in foster care, but her parents had kicked her out at the age of sixteen.
They’d hated her art. When she wouldn’t stop, they’d cut the cord.
She’d found a place to live with some of her street artist friends.
Even if it had been a dingy, overcrowded garret, at least she had a roof over her head.
But that didn’t mean things had been easy.
She’d bet things hadn’t been easy for Dylan either.
Saskia pointed an accusing finger at Adrian. “You knew this kid’s situation would resonate with what happened to me.”
Adrian gave her a wicked grin. “Yeah. But don’t tell me the only thing resonating is the foster kid. Admit you want to see Clay again too.”
But Saskia was already shaking her head. “This has nothing to do with last night. I’m thinking about the kid. I can pose as San Holo’s assistant with Clay, the way I do with everyone else. That would give me a chance to help the kid too.”
Adrian only looked at her with that all-knowing gaze until Saskia had to admit the truth. “Okay. Maybe there’s a part of me that wants to see Clay again. If only to find out whether the sparks blowing up like crazy last night are still there in the light of day.”
Adrian shot her with a finger pistol. “Bingo.”
Saskia pointed her finger and shot back. “I still want to meet this kid.”
After all the gunplay, Adrian turned serious.
“Despite what happened between you and Clay, even despite his desire for you to meet Dylan, it’s a great opportunity.
Think of it—an entire building.” She spread her arms. “You’ve never done anything like that.
It’ll become part of the San Francisco landscape.
You’re big already, but this could make you mega.
Let’s talk seriously about how we’ll make it work. ”
Saskia shrugged. “Like we always have. I go in as San Holo’s assistant, talk to Clay about what he wants, tell him the rules about anonymity.”
Adrian nodded. “I already told him, and he agreed to guard your anonymity.” She smiled. “Even from himself, for the time being.”
Saskia had to smile too. The Clay she’d slept with last night would never let it go at that.
“After I get an idea of what he wants, I’ll give him the usual spiel, that San will keep in mind his general theme, but then the artist’s imagination and creativity will take over.
What comes out is what Mr. Clay Harrington gets. ”
Saskia had always vetted clients this way.
Adrian was a good judge of character. Saskia was, too, especially with the way she’d grown up.
Okay, Hugo had been the exception. Major screw-up there.
But when she met clients, just as they judged her work, she was judging them.
If she got a bad vibe, she didn’t take the commission.
It hadn’t happened often, especially after the client had gone through Adrian first, but there’d been a few.
Honestly, she’d already vetted Clay last night. Now she just had to see exactly what he wanted San Holo to do. And make sure he understood that meeting San in person wouldn’t happen.
She slapped her hands on her thighs. “All right. Let’s do it. Set up a meeting.”
Before Saskia could even stand, Adrian picked up the phone and punched in numbers. “Let’s strike while the iron’s hot.” She chuckled. “No pun intended.”
Saskia would have laughed, but her stomach sank. Whether it was a good sinking or bad, she couldn’t be sure. She hadn’t thought to see him again, especially not so soon. Especially not in her assistant’s disguise. How would this go down?
She keyed in to Adrian’s half of the conversation.
“I’m glad I reached you, Mr. Harrington…
Yes, San has agreed to consider the commission.
I’d like to set up a meeting… Sure, today would be great…
That time sounds good. At your warehouse in the Mission.
” After another pause, she added, “But you won’t be meeting with San Holo himself.
He’ll send his assistant, Miss Oliver, as usual.
” She shook her head at whatever she heard.
“No. Absolutely not. The first meeting is always with Miss Oliver. I will remind you, San has not agreed to reveal his identity.” She paused again, then said, “Yes, that’s how we work.
You tell Miss Oliver what you’re looking for, she’ll relay that information to San Holo, then he’ll decide whether or not to take on the project.
Do you still want to go ahead with the meeting?
” Adrian’s blue eyes sparkled brighter than the sun glittering on the bay.
“Take it or leave it, Mr. Harrington. It’s your choice.
” She winked at Saskia. “Good. You can expect Miss Oliver at two o’clock. Goodbye.”
Barely a moment later, Adrian jumped from her chair and did a happy dance around the room, punching the air. “Clay Harrington. Do you know what this means?”
Saskia couldn’t get out of the chair. She knew exactly what it meant. She would see him again. She would breathe in his spicy, seductive scent that made her crazy. She would remember every kiss, every touch, every lick, every taste.
Would he be angry when he saw her and throw her out?
Or would he want to do it all over again?
Because if he did, there was absolutely no way she could resist.
Adrian watched her best friend leave as if she had a fast-moving zombie on her heels. Were there any fast-moving zombies? Whatever. Saskia had raced out of Adrian’s office, probably wanting to dress up before she met Clay for the second time.
But wait, this was Saskia. Dressing up wasn’t in her vocabulary.
Adrian strode to the sideboard and pulled out a glass and a bottle, pouring a finger of whiskey.
Best day ever. It deserved a celebratory drink.
Crossing to the bank of windows, she gazed out at the bay, Alcatraz, the Golden Gate, and sipped.
Moments later, she saw Saskia bounce out onto the sidewalk below.
Adrian had never seen her friend glow like that, as if she were lit from the inside.
Even though this affair could end in utter disaster, Adrian had seen that spark.
Not just a spark, but a blaze. It was time for Saskia to get over everything that had happened with her ass of a boyfriend.
Hugo Lewis wasn’t worth it. Saskia needed to come out of isolation.
Maybe she didn’t have to come out to her adoring fans as San Holo, but she needed to get out, to stop working only in the middle of the night like a vampire.
As San Holo, she was always wrapped in that anonymity. It was time to move on.
Maybe it was time for them both to move on.
Because Adrian hadn’t been doing much in the outgoing department either, unless it was work-related.
Growing up, she’d had it far better than Saskia, with loving parents who supported her life choices, her Oxford education, her desire to get her law degree, even her move to the United States.