Page 92 of Fresh Canvas
Chuckling, I swatted at her. “Will you shush? Kendra knows Blythe knows, who doesn’t know Val knows, who’s probably guessed you already know.”
“Oh, what a tangled web you weave.”
I laughed even as excitement vibrated up my spine. “I’ve dreamed of planning an event like this for as long as I canremember! And Blythe said she’d even consider my thoughts on the placement and flow of his sculptures in the exhibition.”
“Amantha.” Kate’s coal-dark eyes glittered with pride. “I’m so proud of you. I’ll help out in any way I can. I mean,you’rethe boss.”
“If that's the case, go fetch me a latte, you peasant!” I did my best British accent, acting all the regal queen I wasn’t.
Kate stood and lowered into a ridiculous curtsy with her wide-legged, black trousers. “Yes, my liege.”
Ignoring my giggling attempt at an explanation, Kate theatrically marched out of the office.
Val rounded the corner with a bewildered expression, peering back down the hallway where he had obviously passed a marching Kate.
My heart tripped over itself at the sight of him in a charcoal suit and a burgundy silk tie. G.Q. was definitely missing a cover model. He stopped short at the sight of me already seated at my desk. Couldn’t blame him. I usually ranged from an on-the-dot to a five-minutes-late kind of gal.
Thanks to the vacant curation wing, I dared to waggle my fingers at him with a sly smile. My words died on my lips as Val abruptly turned away with a stone-faced expression, swept into his darkened office, and flipped on the lights. The thud of the closing door made me flinch.
Kendra or Blythe must be walking in behind him.
So I brushed off his cold response, knowing that concealing our relationship was par for the course. The tingling memory of Val’s words brushed against my ear.
“I care about you very much.”
I smiled at the glowing reminder as a deep breath of calm filled my lungs. Feeling like the luckiest girl in the world, I resumed my task.
Not even a minute later, my eyebrows fell.
Neither Kendra nor Blythe had turned the corner. No footsteps. No voices.
A knot formed in the pit of my stomach, the sensationmaking it difficult to focus. Sliding my phone out of my purse, I opened Val’s text conversation.
AMANTHA: Good morning, my incredible boyfriend. I can’t wait to see you today!
A slight twinge of panic now edged the knot in my abdomen. In addition to the text I’d sent yesterday, Val hadn’t responded this morning, either. I hadn’t given it a second thought until now.
My gut insisted something was off, though I continued to ignore it. For heaven’s sake, my ex-husband had led a double life for almost a year without my gut getting involved once.
But then again, the last time a man stopped texting me back, he was sleeping with his paralegal. My stomach twisted.
Through the glass panes of his office, Val appeared normal, wearing his usual “work scowl.” I typed a quick message, asking how his evening had gone with his family. I watched Val’s phone vibrate beside his keyboard, but he barely even glanced at it before returning to his computer.
Maybe his family got in a fight?Did Camilla not like me or something?
I hated how insecure I felt. Regaining my confidence after Ryan had been a long and arduous process. One that was still ongoing. Setting my jaw, I tried to reaffirm myself. Gone was the woman who sat paralyzed in her car, witnessing her husband and his mistress. I now felt more like the person I wasbeforeRyan than I could have ever hoped. Far too old to be playing passive, childish games, I boldly sent another text.
AMANTHA: Are you okay? Are WE okay?
No response.
The knot tightened.
Icould have sliced the tension in the boardroom with a knife. The wooden table might as well have been an ocean with how distant he felt. Val stayed laser-focused on Blythe and Kendra as they informed the already-aware curation team about my promotion to lead Stirling’s account.
Kate’s genuine cheer tugged the corners of my lips, rendering a small smile. Forcing enthusiasm into my voice, I stood and thanked Blythe and Kendra for the opportunity. My smile slipped as I began to sit, noticing Val’s profile hadn’t shifted a millimeter.
I bit my lip, blinking furiously as we left the boardroom. Sinking behind my computer, I struggled to keep my smarting tear ducts from spilling over. Only two nights ago, Val had professed his feelings for me. The soft blue glow from the TV still illuminated his shy smile in my mind. What could have changed since then?
