ollectors, who had ignored her moments before, were now pressing their
ece! I'll give you five m
nored to represent y
way. "I'm sorry, it's not for sale. It'
. "My deepest apologies for my... unprofessional assessment." He cleared his throat. "I happen to manage this gallery. We have a prime retail
had come for. "I'd be ve
is office, the small hand that had bee
a shimmering kinetic sculpture
room upstairs. He was with a potential investor, discussing a new art fund, but his mind was elsewhere. It
stairs, his eyes scanning the
on the cuff of his
oked
lding a worn-out stuffed rabbit and had the biggest, most serious blue ey
found them noisy and unpredictable. But there was somet
the outdoors after it rains. It was a strange, comforting scent, one that reminded her of the way h
d out her small arms, and wrapped
voice no one but her mother and brothers h
ad
ning bolt. His entire body went rigid.
ing as they turned to stare. The investor at his side
off him. But as he looked down into those trust
nch, a signed lease agreement in her hand. She turned, a
was
ized her. "Ella?" she cal
gazes of the crowd, tracing th
ghter. Clinging
he saw the
lease agreement slipped from her num
ssa
s image from her memory, he was here, just feet aw
ad feared above all
rd, melting into the shadow of a large bronze statue, her h
to do? If he saw he
ng to gently detach the little girl. His voice was str
st his leg, content in the presence of a father she
-
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