A Little Holiday Temptation by Janice Sims

Author:Janice Sims [Sims, Janice]
Language: eng
Format: mobi, epub
Publisher: Kimani Press
Published: 2012-03-17T04:00:00+00:00

Chapter 8

The night of the show arrived before Ana knew it. She had been trying to mentally prepare herself for it but she had sadly failed. Nervousness trumped every other emotion as she and Erik were driven up to the gallery in a hired car.

Damon had warned her that the media would be out in force, and they were. She supposed even in a city as large as New York where celebrities were a dime a dozen, she was news. Three local news stations were represented as well as several online celebrity gossip sites.

She was dressed all in black. A fitted pantsuit that cinched her waist, underneath which was a crisp white shirt open at the collar to reveal a bit of cleavage and platform pumps. With the black overcoat flung across her shoulders she looked smart and stylish. Erik was handsome in a tailored black suit also with a white shirt underneath and dress shoes. He was not wearing a tie tonight, which Ana thought lent him a sexy, roguish air.

Their picture must have been taken dozens of times before they made it safely inside the gallery. Damon greeted them. Ana smiled. “You look wonderful tonight.”

“So do you,” Damon said, briefly kissing her on both cheeks.

He shook Erik’s hand. “Delighted to see you, Erik,” he said, his eyes darting around them. He grasped Ana by the hand too tightly. She winced. Something was definitely up with him.

“I have to warn you,” he said regrettably, “that Russo is here.” He looked behind him before returning his attention to Ana.

She followed his line of sight and saw Jack Russo, surrounded by his entourage, holding court in the back of the room. She noticed that members of his inner circle were effectively keeping the common man from getting too close to him.

She sighed. What the hell was he doing here? Was his career going down the drain so rapidly that he had to put in an appearance at his ex-girlfriend’s art exhibit in order to keep the gossips buzzing? Any publicity was good publicity to people like him.

Ana had not voiced any of her thoughts so Damon wasn’t sure of what she wanted him to do about Jack Russo’s attendance at the show. “What do you want me to do?” he asked plaintively.

Ana started to suggest he be tossed out on his ass. However that kind of behavior would feed the gossip mill more efficiently than a story in which everyone had conducted themselves like mature adults.

She looked to Erik for advice, her eyes somewhat panicked. Erik pulled her close to him reassuringly. “This is your night, sweetheart. Ignore the bastard.”

“Then you agree that it would be worse if I made a scene?” Ana wanted his opinion clarified.

“Yes,” he confirmed.

Ana hissed to Damon, “But don’t sell him any of my work. Nothing, do you understand?”

“Gotcha,” said Damon, relief softening his expression. “Let’s do this, shall we?”

He stepped up to the podium that had been set up in the middle of the huge showroom.

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