downstairs and to the front of the building where Smith is waiting for me. Once I’m in the front seat of the SUV Smith is driving, Rick leans in and kisses me. “Tell Kirk the perv to keep his hands off of you,” he orders.
My lips curve and I say, “Thankfully Kirk is not supposed to be at this meeting.”
“Until he shows up.” He leans down to eye Smith across my lap and says, “Keep her close or I’ll kill you.”
“I’m shaking in my boots,” Smith replies dryly.
“As you should be,” Rick assures him, but of course, he’s just joking. Mostly, I think.
Rick kisses me again and then shuts me inside the vehicle with Smith.
“I think he wants me to keep you close,” Smith says dryly.
“Ya think?” I tease.
A few minutes later, we arrive at the museum, and with my portfolio on my shoulder, just in case Robin wishes to review the designs, I walk into the museum’s grand foyer.
The offices are upstairs and to the left, just past a giant dinosaur and several smaller ancient reptiles, and it’s not long until I’m standing at Robin’s office door. I peek inside her small but cozy office. Robin is indeed sitting behind her desk where it faces a wall, her gaze intently on a document, while bookshelves line the wall behind her.
I knock on the doorframe and her gaze jerks up and to me. She instantly pops to her feet. “You’re here?! I’m so excited. Are you excited?” She motions to my dress and then hers, which is also emerald green, and laughs. “This is how on the same page we are. This was meant to be.” She pats the arm of the guest chair next to her.
“It certainly seems that way,” I agree as we both sit down. “I wanted this project in a bad way and you just never gave up.”
“Honestly, I’m ashamed to tell you this, but I really had. Kirk called rather out of the blue and in a matter of days, here we are. As soon as I fax him your signed contract, he’s giving us five million dollars.” She slides the contract in front of me. “It’s the exact contract you were ready to sign before the prior financing fell apart.”
Yet another uneasy feeling slides down my spine and settles in my belly. “I’m curious. How did Kirk find out about the project?”
“Lucky us. He knows the prior investor who backed out. It just came together, as I said, like magic.”
I’m not sure why this situation is bothering me, other than of course, his demand for my involvement. But he is spending five million dollars. Perhaps it’s just a power play, him flexing a muscle to show he’s in control. Maybe this is just the beginning.
“Is he planning to be involved on a day-to-day basis?”
“He’s actually leaving town tonight, just as soon as we get your contract signed.”
This should make me feel better. It doesn’t.
“What’s wrong?” she asks.
I shut her door.
“Oh God,” she says. “You’re backing out. Tell me you’re not backing out.”
“Not backing out, just treading forward with caution. Kirk was a little inappropriate last night. And he tried to hold me prisoner. He told me that if I didn’t design his personal home, he wouldn’t give you the money.”
“Oh my. Oh no. Did you agree?”
“No. I don’t do residential work and I don’t intend to start for Kirk. I politely declined. I just need to know you can be the buffer between me and him.”
“Of course I can, but I’m not sure what to do. I can’t have someone working for the museum being sexually harassed.”
“I’m not going down that rabbit hole,” I assure her. “And I don’t want your team, or the many contractors who will make a living off this, to suffer. I’d just like to limit my contact with Kirk.”
“Are you sure?”
“I’m sure.” I pick up the pen on the desk and flip to the signature page. “I’m passionate about this project.” I sign the contract.
“Why am I not as excited as I was a few minutes ago?” she asks.
“Be excited. I am. But now I need to go. As you know, I have my final fitting.”
“No lunch?”
“Right before I squeeze everything into that dress? Ah no. But we will have plenty of lunches coming up.”
I stand and she follows me to my feet. “Thank you for coming so close to your wedding.”
“You’ll be there, right? I sent you an invitation.”
“I will,” she says. “I wouldn’t miss it