Lucy and McKenna whispered behind the reception desk. Couldn't they have at least waited until I left to make fun of me?
I jumped when someone banged on the glass.
"Archer?" I mouthed. He grinned. I felt something jump in my chest.
The tall man opened the door and sauntered into the gallery.
"Why do you always have to appear in my life at the worst possible times?" I whispered furiously.
"I own this building," he said smugly.
"Mr. Svensson!" Lucy said, hurrying over. McKenna sashayed behind her. Archer struggled to maintain composure.
"Archer," McKenna purred, pressing herself lightly against him, and kissed his cheek. Really, it was practically his mouth. "So good to see you."
"It's so wonderful of you to stop by," Lucy said. "Are you looking for a new artist?"
That shit-eating grin spread across his face. "As a matter of fact, I am," he said. He turned to me. "What do you have?"
I was mortified.
"Please, we have several new artists in," Lucy practically begged, motioning me to get the hell out of her gallery. I was happy to oblige.
Archer blocked my path. "I'd like to see what she brought in," he repeated.
"Surely not!" Lucy said, horrified.
He ignored her and opened my portfolio. McKenna looked on in annoyance as Archer carefully went through the paintings.
I prayed he wouldn't see the one where I had painted him without his permission. Unfortunately I wasn't going to be so lucky.
"Now this is art!" he said when he saw the painting of him in front of my café. I wanted to sink into the floor and die.
"We have some great paintings by a young Brazilian artist," Lucy said faintly.
"I'll take this one," Archer said.
"Wouldn't you rather—" Lucy said.
"How much?"
"I…" Lucy looked at me, then she looked at Archer.
"Fifty dollars," McKenna said nastily.
"Two thousand," her aunt cut in.
"Sold," Archer said. "Here's my credit card."
In shock, I watched as Lucy carefully packaged the painting and ran Archer's card. "As usual, thank you for your business," she said, smile plastered on her face. "Where shall we have it sent?"
"Have it delivered to Svensson Investment," Archer said. He took a piece of paper and wrote a note. "Frame it first, would you? And please include this note. You have my billing information."
"I can't believe he just embarrassed you like that," McKenna said softly, inspecting her nails as Archer talked to her aunt. "But you know those billionaires."
"Maybe I should put more of your art up," Lucy said uncertainly after Archer left. I couldn't even look at him.
"Don't bother," McKenna said. "He was just trying to humiliate her."
