“Oh, sure. Of course.” Emma nodded, her enthusiasm from only a few minutes before suddenly wilting as she reached down for her bag.
Inez leaned forward, keeping Emma’s attention on her. “But I want you to know that I have truly enjoyed our conversation.”
A smile returned to Emma’s face. “I did too.”
“The Executive Internship Program will be lucky to have you in the fall.”
The flutter was back, making Emma’s stomach feel like it could take flight on its own.
“Really?” Emma asked, eyes wide with shock.
Inez stood, offering Emma her hand. “Congratulations.”
Emma took it, trying to bite back her wide grin but failing miserably. “Thank you. Thank you so much.”
Inez let out a dry laugh. “It was my pleasure. To be honest, I don’t think we would have picked your résumé out on its own, but thank goodness the folks in HR recognized your name and put two and two together.”
Emma stilled. It was like the world had stopped on its axis and she was frozen in place. Her pulse thundered in her ears.
Inez watched the smile fade from Emma’s face. “Everything all right?”
“I… didn’t know,” Emma managed to say.
“Well, it would have been hard to avoid it, I suppose.” Inez shrugged one shoulder. “Henry Woodhouse is one of our biggest patrons.”
The ringing in Emma’s ears grew louder. “Yes. That’s true.”
She turned and started to walk to the door, her body on autopilot.
Thank goodness the folks in HR recognized your name and put two and two together…
And there it was: Emma Woodhouse had yet again been given what she wanted without having to do anything at all to earn it.
Her feet stopped in the doorway, and she slowly pivoted around to face Inez again.
“I can’t accept the position.” She said the words before she even had time to process them.
Inez already had her phone to her ear as if she were about to make a call, but paused. “Pardon?”
“I’m so sorry that I wasted your time,” Emma continued, her hand going to the doorframe to steady herself. “I just… I came here to earn this position on my own. I’ve spent months preparing for it. I can’t accept it if the only reason it’s being offered is because of who my father is.”
Inez put the receiver down slowly, her expression confused. “Emma, I’ll be honest. This program is incredibly competitive. That said, you’ve proven yourself to be an exceptionally qualified candidate, regardless of how you secured an interview.”
Emma offered her a sober smile. “Then I should have no problem obtaining a position somewhere else. I just… I need to do this on my own.”
Inez watched her, the confusion dissolving from her face and replaced by a new understanding. “I want to give you something.”
She reached down and opened her desk drawer. A moment later she pulled out a business card and extended it out. Emma crossed the office and took it from her hand.
The crisp white cardstock had the name Olivia Mason across the top, along with a phone number and email address. Below that was the name of a company: Casamentero Art Advisors.
“This is my wife’s company. She’s still early in the hiring process, but…” Inez nodded to the card. “You could be exactly the type of person she’s looking for. If you’re interested, you should give her a call.”
Emma’s mouth fell open, but it was another moment before she said, “I will. Thank you.”
“She’d be lucky to have you.” Then Inez gave her a smile. A real one this time.
Emma rode the elevator back up to the main floor of the museum in a daze. It was near closing time and the crowds had thinned, but she barely noticed as she wandered through the galleries and up the main staircase to the European Paintings gallery.
