Page 76 of An Inevitable Marriage
Great.
I took a deep, steadying breath, then another and another before finally pushing through my door.
I barely entered when the Brazilian yelled, “You lied!”
Hiding my groan, I forced cheeriness into my tone. “Good morning, Francisco.”
“No, it is not a good morning. If it were, I wouldn’t have a bunch of lifeless dolls staring into my lens.”
I took my time, shrugging out of my jacket and slowly heading to my desk. Francisco was already seated in front of it. His expression was that of someone who’d just learned of a loved one’s death.
“The new agency didn’t work out?” I asked, parking my butt on the plush leather.
The words were barely out when the photographer’s gaze shot to mine. “Is that a joke?”
“Francisco, I’m trying here.” Steepling my fingers under my chin, I released a breath. “You can’t tell me there isn’t at least one woman who didn’t stand out.”
He didn’t answer. Simply glared at me like he envisioned fifty different ways to make me disappear.
“All right, we’ll try a different agency then.”
I was at the end of my rope with this. I’d wanted this line to launch at our year-end function, but at this rate, I had a feeling it wasn’t going to launch at all.
“No,” he said firmly. “No more agencies. Find me someone filled with passion. Someone relatable. Effortlessly beautiful. Someone who—”
As he continued with his long list of demands, an image started to form inside my head. And the more he spoke, the clearer it became.
Snow.
She was perfect.
“Are you listening?” Francisco huffed.
I tapped the desk twice and nodded. “Of course I’m listening. Just…give me a few days, and I’ll get back to you.”
“All right.” He pushed to his feet. “One more chance. If you don’t bring someone I can work with, I walk.”
His glare burned into me for two more seconds then he spun around and marched out of my office.
A huge sigh blew over my lips as I fell back in my chair. I scraped a palm over my face, my gaze drifting to the clock on the wall.
Eight thirty.
Only three and a half hours to go until I saw Snow. Which reminded me, I’d probably need food if I wanted her to stay for lunch.
Picking up the phone, I dialed Tamara’s extension.
“Boss-man?”
“I need lunch.”
The typing on the other side stopped. “It’s still morning, but each to their own, I guess.”
“No, I meant I need you to order food for lunch.”
“You could have just said that. Why do you always make everything so damn hard?” Her voice was full of amusement. “What would you like?”
It should have been an easy answer. Only I had no idea what the hell Snow liked besides those damn apples she ate every morning and Rafe’s nonna’s chicken.
