Page 22 of All I Want for Christmas

She stared at him, feeling stunned by the fierce disappointment spreading through her chest at his words. For several seconds, it felt too difficult to speak. She felt sure her cheeks were burning, betraying the feelings she was struggling to keep hidden. ‘That’s what you came down here to tell me?’

‘Yes.’

‘...Even though I had already unmatched you?’

He fell still and for the first time, he looked on the back foot. ‘I just don’t want there to be any misapprehensions. We had made private contact before we actually met, but clearly this is a professional relationship now, and we should...’ His gaze fell to her lips. ‘Act accordingly.’

She hesitated. It was like watching him go down those steps all over again, walking away from her. ‘...That’s perfectly fine,’ she said, as flatly as she could. ‘I really hadn’t thoughtI would ever see you again anyway. There are no expectations on my part.’

He nodded. ‘Right...Good.’

For a moment, he just carried on staring at her as if he wanted to say something further – or perhaps he was waiting for more from her – but then he straightened up. ‘Well, good luck with it all. You’re in excellent hands with Rask.’

‘Yes. Thanks.’

‘Bye, then.’

‘...Bye, Max.’

Strike one. Her first prospect had been shot down in flames.

She watched him go, unable to explain the sense of panic it drew up in her to watch him leave. Again. It felt as if the air was being sucked out of the room.

‘That’s strange,’ Viggo said, coming and standing by her as their unexpected visitor disappeared up the stairs. ‘He’s never once come down here before.’

‘No?’

‘No. The executive offices are downtown.’ The old archivist looked at her with a concerned expression. ‘Is everything all right? He does have a bit of a reputation.’

‘Reputation?’

‘For being bullish. He’s not pressuring you, is he? Obviously everyone’s under a lot of pressure with this new discovery in the headlines.’

The comment perplexed her. ‘Well, yes – but at the Academy, surely? It isn’t a Madsen Foundation issue.’

Viggo smiled. ‘Anything to do with Johan Trier is a Madsen Foundation issue. We see him as ours. And Max Lorensen certainly does.’

Darcy was quiet for a moment. ‘I don’t understand. He told me he’s a corporate lawyer.’

‘Yes, he is. He’s a big cheese at the parent company, Madsen Holdings – but he’s also the chair of trustees at the Madsen Foundation. He masterminds the gallery’s expansion ambitions and oversees brand partnerships, sponsorships, acquisitions...’

‘That sounds like a big job for someone so young.’

‘Thirty-two. Not that young. And, like I said, bullish. He knows how to throw a punch, as they say – so don’t let him bully you.’

‘No, I won’t,’ she said quietly.

They hadn’t even had a date, but he’d gone out of his way to dump her anyway. Did that count?

Chapter Six

‘I can’t believe you changed your mind.’ Erik smiled at her across the restaurant table, looking better than he knew in the candlelight. ‘I’d almost given up hope.’

‘I’m sorry, I wasn’t giving you the run-around. It’s just been a trying day,’ she replied, trying to muster some social energy. ‘I wasn’t sure I’d be good company.’

‘How could you not be? You’d be good company on a silent monastic retreat.’

She smiled. ‘Well that’s a very kind thing to say.’

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