Total pages in book: 88
Estimated words: 82698 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 413(@200wpm)___ 331(@250wpm)___ 276(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 82698 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 413(@200wpm)___ 331(@250wpm)___ 276(@300wpm)
Clay’s voice pulled her back. “You were so good at encouraging Gareth. Dylan too. Maybe you need some encouragement to try your art again.”
It was almost like he was forcing another lie out of her. “No.” She shook her head. “I don’t think so.”
But he wouldn’t let it go. “I don’t understand why San Holo doesn’t encourage you.” Then, on a lighter note, he added, “I really need to have a talk with San about how he should treat his employees. Maybe I’ll look at your stuff and tell him he needs to find a new assistant.”
She almost laughed. “Are you paying me back for saying you need a new lawyer?”
His smile warmed her, especially after the emotion they’d just gone through together. “Tell me who San Holo is so I can have that talk with him.”
She wagged a finger in his face. “You’re so tricky, but no, I’ll never tell you.” Then she had to say, “Really, my art is nothing like Gareth’s. A person knows their own limits.”
Though they were joking, the guilt stabbed her again. I’ll never tell you. It sounded so final. How could she keep on sleeping with a man who didn’t know who she really was? The thought was an ache in her soul.
For the first time in five years, since she’d become San Holo, she wanted to tell, wanted to take credit. She wanted Clay to look at her like she was a genius, wanted to feel his admiration. To know that she was San Holo—not some man, but her.
But wanting all those things from Clay was like walking on hot coals and expecting them not to burn her feet. She’d been alone a long time, and it had worked well for her. Even though Clay was nothing like Hugo, he was still a threat to the life she’d built for herself.
She put the final question to him. “If San Holo does agree to do your mural, are you going to turn the whole thing down because he won’t meet with you?”
He didn’t even hesitate. “I want the mural. But I also want Dylan to meet his hero.” She actually winced as he went on, “I’m hoping that after he starts the mural, he’ll change his mind.” Then he smiled, the sexy, wicked smile that got her blood pumping. “And I’m going to work on you about taking up your art again.”
He wasn’t just dangerous; he was a triple threat.
But she knew what she had to do.
Saskia couldn’t even remember the excuse she gave Clay for leaving his flat only an hour after Gareth. The moment she was out on the street, she called Adrian. “In thirty minutes,” she said before Adrian could get out a word, “I want you to call Clay and tell him that San Holo will paint his mural.”
She could almost hear Adrian fall out of her seat. Her friend laughed. Then they laughed together. Saskia added, feeling the smile shooting to Adrian all the way through the phone, “I’ve also found you a new client.”
Gareth Tate really needed to give up his law career.
And San Holo needed to fill the walls of Clay’s entire warehouse with all the images wanting to burst out of her.
Chapter Fourteen
No boilerplate contract would do for this commission. Adrian and Saskia had gone over the details, and two days later, on Wednesday morning, they gathered in Adrian’s office. Saskia, the supposed assistant, Clay, who was seated at the desk opposite Adrian, and Gareth Tate.
Adrian had sent a copy to both of them, and Clay and Gareth would have had a long conversation about the terms.
Sitting on the sofa, Saskia tried not to chew nervously on a thumbnail while she waited to hear what Clay had to say.
Adrian spoke formally. “We’ve detailed how your expectations will be handled.”
Clay looked first at Adrian, then at Saskia, and he chuckled softly. “According to this, I’d better not have a lot of expectations.”
Adrian raised an eyebrow. “I told you how San Holo works. So did Saskia. You agree to give him free rein within your guidelines.”
Clay laughed again, the same good-natured laugh he used with Dylan or any number of artists in his warehouse. “It seems I’m allowed a few guidelines,” he drawled, then looked directly at Saskia. “Saskia has practically guaranteed I won’t be disappointed.”
Before Saskia could say anything, Adrian shot back, “Very few of our clients have been. In fact, most were amazed that San Holo gave them what they were looking for, even if they didn’t know exactly what that was.”
Gareth stood against the wall next to the water cooler, arms folded, probably wondering what the hell Clay had gotten himself into. Adrian turned to him. “I’m sure you’ve looked for flaws in the contract. But you won’t find them.”
He smiled, saying in a deep but warm voice, “All I do is warn Clay. He signs what he wants.”