I laugh aloud. I haven't tried to hide my nervous agitation. I don't like having my picture taken. I never have. I was the kid in grade school who would perfectly time a stomach ache so she could stay home in bed on photo day. I can't avoid this. The portrait Noah takes today is going to be included in all the promo material Foster Enterprises distributes during the pre-launch period for the Ella Kara collection.
"I'm not like the other people you photograph," I hesitate briefly. "I saw all the famous faces on your website."
"Do you know any of them?" He takes a series of pictures while I lean forward on the stool he sat me on when I arrived. He didn't let me fix my hair or my makeup. His assistant brushed a piece of lint from the front of the red dress I'm wearing before she took a seat at a small desk, her eyes trained to a laptop that instantly displays every picture he's taking.
"Nicholas Wolf," I say evenly. "I've met him."
"You've more than met him." He snaps another picture. I glance at his assistant's laptop screen to see if my mouth is hanging open the way I expect it to be. It's not.
"What's that supposed to mean?" My eyes narrow. I know for a fact that there was no inflection in my tone when I said the name of the man who singlehandedly tried to fuck up my entire life. Noah can't know anything unless Gabriel said something which is highly unlikely since Mr. Foster doesn’t discuss personal things very often. He hasn't mentioned Nicholas at all to me recently other than when he told me he fired Joe because he was the one who stole the book.
"Gabriel told me about you and Nick." Noah moves closer, the faint sound of the shutter of his camera fills the air as he rapidly takes one picture after another of my face. "He said you two were dating until recently. He's obsessed with Nick'sbooks. When he found out I had photographed Nick last year for his book cover, Gabriel was pissed that I didn't ask for an autographed copy ofBurden's Proof."
"He has one now." I sweep my hair from my forehead. "I feel like my hair is a mess. I think my headshot should be polished."
He reaches forward to move my hair back to where it was. "Your headshot should be reflective of who you are, Sophia. I'd say your hair is perfect."
I take it as a compliment because I just want this photo shoot to be over.
"Nick's a good guy." He takes half a step back. "When I first met him he asked about my wife. He wanted to know how I found someone in this city who didn't give a shit that I was the Noah Foster."
"He did?" I'm mildly surprised by that. I know that Nicholas had a reputation before we met. I also know that since we stopped seeing each other, it's highly likely that there are a few more of his books floating around Manhattan with lunch invitations written on the inside of the front cover. He seems like the type who would get over a woman in ten seconds flat.
"He did," he confirms. "You don't give a shit that he's Nicholas Wolf, do you?"
"I don't." I shake my head slowly.
"He's the one who fucked up what you two had going on. I know I'm right."
I smile and nod slowly. "You're right."
"He's an idiot." He lifts the camera up again to eye level. "You remind me a lot of my wife. You're genuine. You have an honest soul."
"That's quite the compliment." I don't know a lot about his wife, Alexa, other than what Gabriel has mentioned in passing. I know she's a teacher and just as devoted to her kids as she is to her husband.
"One day he'll realize that you're the one who got away. I fucked things up with Alexa once. By God's grace, I got her back and I can tell you that I'd eat glass for that woman. Nick will come around too."
I want to tell him that he's making assumptions he shouldn't, but I stop myself. I'm here for one reason and one reason only. I need a new portrait. I don't need to talk about Nicholas. He's my past and the portrait, and what it represents, is my future.
CHAPTER NINE
Nicholas
Two weeks.It's been two fucking weeks since I saw Sophia on the street outside Nova. I've been sending her text messages at least once a day since. Her one or two-word responses may vary slightly from day-to-day but they're always followed by the goddamn smiley face emoji which I've come to realize is her subtle way of flipping me off.
Her excuse is always that she's too busy or she already has plans.
She's stubborn, but so am I.
I've filled my time with plotting and outlining my next release. The book that was leaked online will still be sold but at a reduced price with all the proceeds going to a scholarship fund for students who want to pursue a degree in creative writing. It's not an ideal situation, but at least the time I devoted to writing the book won't be a total waste.
"Nicholas?"
I hear Gabriel's voice as he exits his office. I've been sitting in the reception area with his new assistant waiting for him toend a conference call. She's the one who called me late yesterday afternoon to tell me that Gabriel wanted to see me. The only thing we have in common beyond my books is Sophia, so I told his assistant I'd be at his office bright and early to meet with him.
"Gabe." I stand and extend my hand. "It's good to see you."
It is good to see him. It would be better to see Sophia. It's been pure torture being in this building knowing that she's here as well.
