My dream didn’t end here. I wanted to set up my own gallery someday. Not exactly like what John did with Impasso, but something more along the lines of what took place making my shows more interactive. His style was like what you’d see in a promenade theater, and it had that play-like feel. Like you really were at a show.

  It was awesome, and I didn’t think much existed like it.

  I sat in the reception running through a music magazine. It was a mindless attempt to focus.

  “Jia Callahan,” the receptionist called out.

  I lifted my head and smiled at her as she walked up to me.

  “He’ll see you now.” She smiled.

  I stood up and pulled in a deep breath. “Do you remember the way to his office?”

  “Yes. I do.” I remembered all too well. At least I remembered something.

  I offered up a smile and made my way down the corridor.

  John’s office was up the stairs at the end, and it took up the whole floor. It also offered a floor-to-ceiling window with a view of the whole gallery below, which he’d converted from an old movie studio. Situated in Burbank, which was like the movie studio land, the place was perfect. It was a small-time studio back in the sixties. A lot of budget films were done here, and porn. I heard that through the grapevine.

  I made my way along until I got to his door. I knocked and pulled in a very deep breath hoping this meeting would go smoothly. I’d been told I got the placement, but the problem was, I couldn’t just fall back in line to where I had been when I left.

  I had to go through everything again as if I was a new intern.

  I didn’t see why since I worked with the company for over a year, but that was John. Like it or leave it.

  “Come in,” his voice called, and when I opened the door, his smile greeted me.

  His smile, which immediately set me at ease.

  He got up from his broad leather chair and came to me to give me a hug.

  “Jia. It’s so good to see you and have you back,” he beamed.

  “Thank you so much. It’s amazing to see you.” That was the truth, and I could see he hadn’t changed one bit. He still had that eccentric style that made him look classy, and he still had that cavalier moustache that made him look a little like a French musketeer. With his black, wild curly hair, he carried off the look well.

  “Come sit.” He ushered me to sit in the chair opposite him. There was another chair next to that, and I wondered if someone else would be joining us.

  “I’m really excited to be back,” I bubbled.

  “We’re all excited to have you back. The crew were ecstatic to hear you’d be joining us again. I do sincerely hope you haven’t lost your touch.” He tilted his head to the side and gave me a penetrative stare.

  He had a playful manner about him, but I knew he was being serious. I may have to go through the standard trials like everyone else who joined, but I never had to re-audition.

  That was a big, big thing. For him.

  John didn’t do things like that unless he truly liked you.

  “I promise you I’m better.” That was the right answer. Definitely not to tell him that I was the same because in his book an artist should never stay the same forever. Getting better was always the goal.

  Sure, stay true to style but get better at technique and add to yourself.

  I agreed wholeheartedly, and that was the very thing I’d done.

  “Perfect. That’s what I love to hear.”

  After Todd’s accident, I went back to Atlanta and took on a job as a secretary in an accountancy firm, and when things got bad, I took on the job at the hospital in their reception. But I still painted a few pieces a month and showcased them at the local library and the indie art fair. That was me staying in touch with myself.

  It was all I could do with my busy lifestyle.

  “Right, there’re a couple of things we need to talk about.” John straightened, and the cheerful expression on his face was replaced with a more serious one.

  I supposed this was the business talk.

  “I’m ready.” I nodded and smiled.

  “Good, so this year, I did things a little bit different. I’d just decided on accepting my intern when I got your call. And you know how I like things here.”

  Small. That’s what I remembered him saying.

  I smiled and held up my hand, circling my thumb and forefinger the way he did habitually. “Small.”

  “Exactly.” He chuckled. “But there’s more. I recognize talent when I see it, and I try to harness it and sometimes keep it.”

  “I understand completely.” I didn’t exactly know how that would bode for me, but I understood.

  The company consisted of ten members including himself. They were the crew. The last time he kept anyone on to join the crew was three years before I’d last seen him.

  He took on and kept Stephan.

  Stephan had been a really good friend to me. A really good friend. It was he who told me to try and apply again, and I didn’t doubt that he must have put in a really good word for me.

  That, however, could have been heavily because of the interest he had in me. We’d been a couple before I left. We broke up after he cheated on me but stayed friends.

  That aside, I was grateful to him for his help in getting me back here.

  “So, this year, I thought I’d make things a little interesting and take on both of you.”

  “Oh...” I didn’t think he was going to say that. He’d never taken on more than one person before. “Both of us.”

  “Two of you, but for one position,” he clarified, and instantly, my blood ran cold.

  I searched his bright green eyes, trying to understand what he was saying to me. I opened my mouth to talk, but no words came out.

  “Um... one position.”

  He sighed and leaned back in his chair, steepling his fingers.

  “I knew this would come as a shock to you, which was why I wanted to see you first before I introduce you to the other intern.”

  “Why?” I blinked several times and bit the inside of my lips to keep that calm I was trying so hard to maintain.

  “Why meet with you first?” He raised a brow.

  “No, I mean, why do this? I was under the impression that I was going to get a chance to resume my work here, as this year’s intern.”

  “My dear Jia, if I simply gave everyone I liked a chance, I wouldn’t be the man I am today. I’m going to be real with you because I’m all about honesty. Yes, I know there are many hidden surprises with me, but I will never lie to you. So, this is me telling you that I took compassion on you because of what happened to your brother. It was most unfortunate. I think you are fantastic, but at the same time I have to be fair. I have to be fair to myself first and then to the talented artists who diligently applied for this round of internship. People who have been waiting for three years to apply.”

  My shoulders slumped. I totally hadn’t thought of that.

  “I see. Sure.”

  “One guy stood out to me, and he was going to be it for me, but since I like you, this is the fairest way I could come up with. Doesn’t mean I never valued your talent. It’s just fairness. It’s a test.”

  “What do I have to do?” I admired his ethos on fairness. It was great, but damn it to hell, was I ever going to seize this opportunity.

  This other person must have impressed the hell out of him, but there must have been a high bar of admiration for me for John to change things up.

  A knock sounded at the door.

  John smiled. “Wonderful. You’re both about to find out.” He straightened in his chair and called out, “It’s open.”

  I snapped my head around toward the door to eye up my competition.

  I had every intention of being the strong, confident woman I’d had to make myself be in the face of adversity. But I crumbled. That woman I was crumbled when the door opened, and Mr. Brad Pitt look-alike I’d left in bed this morning walked in.

  Chapter 4

  Jia

  ***

  Shock.

  Horror.

  Shock.

  My head...

  My heart ... did something weird. First it squeezed, then I swore it stopped for about two seconds before it leapt straight out of my chest. Sure, metaphorically and not in the literal sense, but Jesus Lord, I felt it. I felt my heart leap with mortification as Hunter Kane walked through the door.

  Hunter Kane. God, I remembered his name. I actually remembered something. Must be the fright, which turned into complete embarrassment when his eyes landed on me and recognition formed in them.

  He stopped by the door, eyes fixed on me. Wide.

  Fuck. What the hell was happening to me? The universe was seriously out to get me. Weeks ago, before serious shit started happening, I broke a mirror in the house, back in Atlanta. Sam joked about having seven years bad luck.

  I, of course, had waved off the thought because I wasn’t superstitious in the least.

  Thinking back now, I’d have to say that things had been crazy before, but they were next level bad now. Bane, waking up stark naked this morning in the arms of a man I didn’t know, coming here to find that I didn’t exactly have the job I thought I did, now this...

  Finding out I’d have to basically compete for the job and Mr. Brad Pitt look-alike was my competition.

  I didn’t know how much more I could take. My heart couldn’t take it. My soul couldn’t either.

  “Fantastic, you’re both here.” John clapped his hands with delight.

  Hunter made his way over to us and shook John’s outstretched hand.

  “Hey, there,” Hunter said to him, and just like last night, his suave accent rippled through me. It was the kind I’d heard people referred to as the Queen’s English. The kind you’d expect from someone who went to a private school, or on an actor like Anthony Hopkins or Jude Law.

  And like them, he carried himself with class and sophistication. Black suit that looked like Boss made it just for him, and that hair reminded me of Brad Pitt in Legends of the Fall again. Today, it was sleek straight and had that damn shimmer to it that made it sparkle.

  He looked to me, and I knew in that moment, my already crimson skin must have turned beetroot red.

  “Hello,” he said to me, and something flickered in the depths of his eyes.

  Something that made me forget my angst and horror.

  “Hello.” I didn’t know where my voice came from, but there it was.

  “Okay,” John stated in that tone which showed he must have taken note in our weird behavior with the staring and long pauses as we looked at each other.

  If only he knew that just hours ago, I‘d been basically wrapped around this man with my naked body pressed against his, and only God knew what we must have gotten up to last night.

  We both turned our attention to John. The tension in the room rose, and it made it difficult to breathe. Oh so difficult.

  “Hunter, this is Jia Callahan. She used to work with the company a few years back. Jia, this is Hunter Kane, the guy who took my interest this year with his amazing talent, which I must say blew me away.”

  Wow. I didn’t think I’d ever heard John say those words before. Hunter blew him away.

  I’d never blown him away. I didn’t think anyone ever had. Looking at Hunter now, I could see the artist in him. It was the style he had. There was creativity to it.

  “Great to meet you,” Hunter said to me.

  I didn’t know how he could say that with such ease. “You too.”

  To be polite, I gave him a quick glance as I answered, but I found it best to stare ahead. At John.

  “Good. Now that introductions are done, let’s get down to business. Hunter, the other day I’d messaged to let you know this year’s trial period for the internship was going to be different.”

  “You did.” Hunter nodded.

  “Well, this is it. I figure it was fitting as you are both unique. This year is also unique in the sense that I will have two people competing for the same job.”

  Hunter stilled when he heard that. Just like I had.

  “A competition?” he asked, voice wavering.

  “Yes, a competition. You are both very talented people I would love to work with, but there is only one position available. To qualify for that position and get the chance to work with me for the next three years, you’ll have to pass the tasks I’ve set for you over the next sixteen weeks. At the end of that time, I will notify you of the winner.”

  “I don’t mean to interrupt or anything, but I’m not sure how I’m supposed to compete against someone who’s worked for you before.” Hunter looked agitated. As agitated as I felt.

  Except I couldn’t form that many words. And if I tried, I knew I would say the wrong thing.

  The whole idea was ridiculous. It was ridiculous because it was just sprung on us without warning.

  “That shouldn’t be a problem. You will be required to find your own path. That is what I’m interested in. Your initiative, eagerness for the job, and your talent. You don’t need anything else.”

  I wasn’t sure about that at all.

  Something told me I wasn’t going to like this whole plan, not one bit.

  “Okay,” Hunter replied.

  “As this is the first time that I’m doing something like this, I will be willing to offer the unsuccessful party a full reference that you can take with you to another company. Carla, my PA, will go over everything with you tomorrow at nine a.m. sharp. Please don’t be late. I want to get basics over and done with as soon as possible. Use the next two weeks as your induction and the crew as your resources. Also know this. You may be competing against each other, but you will be required to work together like you’re part of the crew.” He nodded and smiled like this really was the best idea in the world.

  The door opened, and Carla came in. She smiled when she saw me. That woman was a tough cookie to crack, but she liked me.

  “Hi, guys, sorry to interrupt. John, Giorgio is here to see you for the booking.”

  “This day just keeps getting better and better.” John beamed rising to his feet. “You guys get to know each other. Hang around for a bit and explore the set for the new show. I’ll catch up with you tomorrow.”

  He looked so happy as he left us.

  I watched him walking away from us looking like he was floating. I could imagine for him, this really must have seemed fair and like the best idea ever. But for me, no, not so much. Inside, I was screaming, begging him to stay and not leave just yet because my legs were shaking, and I couldn’t move.

  When the door closed, awareness hit me tenfold.

  Feeling Hunter’s eyes on me, I turned my head slowly, oh so slowly to look at him.

  Our eyes locked, and my cheeks burned. My cheeks burned like I’d been standing too close to the fire on a superhot summer’s day, and again I had that choked-up stifling feeling.

  Locked within his blue gaze, I didn’t know how I was supposed to react or what I was supposed to say.

  At least he was doing better than me because he looked fine, and that kind of infuriated me. Maybe he was used to picking up women at a bar and taking them home, and I was just last night’s lay. On a damn Monday night. It was my own stupid fault. I got me into that trouble. Not him. Me.

  “Well, as far as coincidences go, this is one hell of a coincidence, don’t you think?” he said tentatively.

  I blinked, still not knowing what to say. Maybe I should just come right out and ask him if we really did sleep together. Maybe we didn’t, and it was a stupid night of drunken fun in other ways. That kind of would be not so bad. Bad but not too terrible, definitely not as bad as thinking I’d slept with a guy I’d be working with and competing against for the same job.

  “You didn’t seem this quiet last night.” He smirked, still trying.

  “Last night.... I wasn’t myself.” That was a start. It set the stage. Now to gear up and ask him what happened.

  “No? What part of you wasn’t yourself?” He gave me a pensive stare.

  “All of it. I was drunk, and I don’t normally...” I couldn’t bring myself to say it. I didn’t judge people, but I had certain standards I lived by. One-night stands were not me. And damn it, for the last few years, I’d tried to be the perfect role model for Lana because at her age impressions mattered. Now look at me.

  “Normally what?” he prodded, raising an eyebrow. “Go home with strange men and see how quickly they can undress you?”

  My lips parted, and I sucked in a sharp breath. “Oh God,” I breathed.

  “Yeah, it was kind of funny.”

  “Funny?” Annoyance was taking over. “You think this is funny? I just told you I wasn’t myself. I don’t do one-night stands or sleep with men I just met.”

  I felt like I was going to faint. That lightheaded feeling intensified when he started laughing.

  “Stop laughing.” I grabbed my bag and stood. I couldn’t stay here and endure any more of this shit.

  There were bigger problems to think about. This job was one of them.

  “Okay, laughter over. I get you weren’t yourself.”

  “That’s what I said. Also, how dare you? How very dare you? You saw how drunk I was, and yet you took me to your house and took advantage of me.” It just dawned on me that while this was my fault, he had to be some kind of creep, because what kind of man would do something like that?

  My words must had hit a nerve because he suddenly looked thrown.

  “Right, because it would have been better for me to leave you in the pub so that someone who really wanted to take advantage of you could have?”

  “And you thought it was better if you took me home and took advantage. What kind of asshole are you? Why couldn’t you have asked me where I lived and sent me home?” Surely, that would have been the right thing to do.

  “Look love, you were plastered right from the minute I entered the pub. You didn’t know your head from your arse.”

 

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