“Here.” I pass it to her. “Oh, forgot to tell you I found an art studio near the office where I can rent time to make my pieces.”
“That’s good. But I think it’s time you invest in your own studio. It’s not like you can’t afford it.”
“How would I explain it to everyone?”
“Why do you need to explain anything? And why are you still hiding this? You’re practically famous.”
“Maybe one day I’ll go public. But I’m not ready to expose myself.”
I bend to tie my shoes, smirking as the full weight of my secret life flickers through my mind.
Over the years, I’ve perfected the craft of glassblowing, even venturing into lampwork using a torch to manipulate the glass. Eventually, I added kiln casting to the mix, where I design and sculpt my own molds and pour molten glass into them.
This technique unlocked a new level of creativity for me, and my love for the art has grown exponentially.
I’ve expanded my craft from jewelry making into sculptures, and I’ve become more addicted than ever.
Two years ago, Mase saw a piece and asked if I wanted to donate it to his team’s charity auction. I said yes, of course, on the condition that my name wasn’t attached, so on the spot I made up an alias—Cherry, one word.
The meaning, we’ll pretend, is not significant.
The piece raised over four hundred thousand dollars at auction. Since that night, “Cherry” has become an elusive artist people are obsessed with learning more about.
My pieces are sold for tens of thousands of dollars, and my social media following is in the millions.
The only person who knows about any of this is Addie.
Mase and Mama don’t follow art, so they’re completely in the dark. I’m incognito, and it feels exhilarating to have this secret life.
“So are you ready for Monday? You’ll be okay working at M-Squared?”
I nod confidently. “I’m a professional, and working beside Leo is a dream job.”
“And what about Nate? The one whose name you keep avoiding saying.”
“Leo assures me he’ll be in the London office for the first few weeks and that I won’t have to work with him. I barely ever saw upper management unless on a project with them while working here in Georgia.”
“Oookay.”
“What does that mean?” I narrow my eyes, mimicking her words in her drawn-out tone. “Oookay.”
“You worked for a global company with thousands of employees. Of course you didn’t see your bosses. M-Squared is a boutique firm. Why are you pretending that won’t change?”
“Have you ever heard of denial?” I arch a sarcastic brow. “What else am I supposed to do? I don’t want to acknowledge what I’m walking into, because there’s no other option. I’m an adult who has to face her past. I’ll get over it, because if I don’t, I’d be turning down a dream position as a senior architect. In my dream city.”
She hums, unconvinced. “And what about Corey?”
“What about him?” My eyes are drawn to the small table in the corner of the room, where the light shines down on the diamond ring, illuminating the wall.
It’s gaudy and big enough for a queen. Except a queen would never wear something so ostentatious.
“Hmm, I don’t know? You just got engaged, and now you’re leaving for New York. He’s cool with this?”
I’m two-for-two in the denial department. But right now, my only focus is my new, more prestigious job position. I can’t afford to think about anything else.
“He’ll visit, and I will go home often. It’s Atlanta, not Africa.”
She gives me a skeptical look but keeps her mouth shut as she continues to pack the rest of her belongings into her duffel bag.
