my face

I wouldn't give them the

hand on my arm, a

heek, her perfume cloying. "Y

re cool. I

xpression unreadable, but there was a flick

I was just a pi

announced. My

plause. Victoria beamed,

? I take care

. Like I w

ughed. A small,

his chest, a pained e

suddenly weak. "I don't feel well.

ictoria's fo

all her concern,

t is it? Are

y arm as if i

, her hand on his forehead, her

p! We need to get

he cool, powerful CEO was gone, rep

even glance

the exit, her arm around

r," I heard her say

oned.

ily fo

felt co

za, leaving the grant c

er charity. I d

nt, I spent the next few

inally broke, I

to pack, m

every sketch I' d made for her,

to of us at a gallery opening, her arm around me, both of u

it all i

n she talked about design, the rare moments I thought I

beautiful, dangerous d

orbell

ctoria. A

t smug. He was ca

sn't feeling well. The doctor said he needs rest. He'll be staying

my tiny a

e boxes. "What's all t

as light,

some old things," I

d a hand dismissively. "Marcus will need the bedroom,

't a qu

d at me over

n," he said. "I'm

directing him to th

of your things from the clos

range sense of detac

The final a

e, but underneath it

would