Mismatch - By Nana Malone Page 0,24

now becoming acquainted with your work. I heard you were doing a charity exhibit of your Homelands pieces. If Jessica, erm Miss Stanton would have let me change her mind, I would have loved the opportunity to work with you as well.”

Izzy laughed and patted Jessica on the shoulder. “Oh, he’s good.” Izzy shifted so she stood behind Samson and mouthed, “Wow.” Then she flicked her hands together until her fingers made a snapping sound, signaling that she thought he was hot.

Jessica was going to be ill. If only she could rewind the clock. “Mr. Marks, I thought I made myself clear at lunch. I cannot be your manager.” She gave Elaine and Izzy pointed looks, which she hoped they read as, “Go on. Get out of here.”

Only Elaine paid attention. Izzy had the nerve to sit back down like she was enjoying the show.

Samson smiled at Jessica, that same crooked smile that—she studied him again. It was the same smile, but his eyes were different. The intensity behind them was gone. He was more relaxed. And that wasn’t all that was different. As she looked closer, she could sense the differences in him rather than see them. He still had a yin and yang tattoo on his forearm. His voice sounded the same. But he was somehow lighter, more buoyant.

He offered her a hand. She considered refusing it, but that would be childish—and Izzy was watching. Jessica didn’t need to be embarrassed in front of her friend. She took his hand, bracing for the electrical charge of intimacy that had almost brought her to her knees more than once. But—nothing. Nada. Like all the crackling chemistry between them had evaporated. Oh, he was still hot. Just not her own personal Magnetic North. And his conservative gear was gone, too. Today he looked more the artist. Dark jeans and a casual hunter green sweater became him and brought out his eyes, but she wondered how she’d ever thought him so intense.

“I understand what you said yesterday. But I was hoping to talk you out of your decision. If you agree to take me on, I promise to work my ass off and stay on my best behavior. I need what you have to offer. I won’t let anything that happened in the past get in the way of our working relationship.”

Jessica shook her head, unable to trust what she was hearing. Even worse, she couldn’t trust what she was feeling. She needed an artist, but the cost wouldn’t be worth it. Would it? A few days ago, this guy made her panties wet just by looking at her sideways. But now he only gave her a lukewarm vibe. She couldn’t have worked with him yesterday, but he’d seriously dialed down the sexed-up vibe. Yet that wasn’t entirely true. He still had a sexed-up aura to him, but today it didn’t do anything for her.

She dared a glance in Izzy’s direction, who looked disappointed.

“If you’re a man of your word, then…” Jessica paused, not sure if she was making the right decision. But it wasn’t like she didn’t need the client. “I can work with you for now. My career is as important to me as yours is. If at any point we can’t work together, we will part ways. No harm, no foul. I will recommend you to another artist manager I know.”

He thought about it for several moments. “And what if she’s too booked with other clients?”

She narrowed her eyes, unsure if he was trying to pull something. But the question seemed genuine. “Then we’ll work together until your first opening. After that point, we’ll sever the relationship and direct you to other management companies you might have a more successful relationship with.” Then she added for good measure, “I take my job very seriously, Mr. Marks.”

“Samson. You can at least use my name.”

For some reason, Jessica felt like her name was Delilah and someone had just sold her a pair of shears. “Okay, Samson. You’ve got yourself a deal. We’ll start with a larger opening where you’ll perform, and we’ll display your pieces. Anything that doesn’t sell, and any new pieces you come up with for the next six months, will be displayed in my gallery. The official opening is in a few weeks. You’ll be one of my flagship artists. After that, we’ll open up your platform by doing smaller, more intimate shows for the glitterati set. This is going to take a lot of work and