ideal,” he countered, as if reading her mind.
She smiled, unable to help herself. “They are.”
“And yet you are not in New York today.” His frown held something akin to consternation.
“I’m not leaving here without making sure my obligations are all taken care of.”
“So you said on the phone last night.”
“And your answer was to hire a fundraising expert?”
His shrug said it all.
If he saw a problem, he fixed it.
Chloe shook her head. “You’re probably paying Angela more than the funds we expect to raise with the auction.”
“I offered to donate a lump sum in lieu of the auction.” There was no mistaking the disgruntlement he felt at her rejection of his money.
“The auction isn’t just about raising funds for community projects. It’s a social event residents of the area look forward to all year long.”
“That was the impression you gave, yes.”
“Ariston!”
“What?”
“You’re very frustrating.”
“I do not understand why. You expressed your concerns and here am I, meeting them.”
Suddenly realizing that she and Ariston had stood there talking as if Angela wasn’t even in the gallery, Chloe felt heat crawl up her cheeks. She had ignored the other woman’s presence to the extent that Chloe had as good as gotten into an argument with Ariston in front of her.
A headache forming right behind her left eye, Chloe turned to the newly hired event coordinator and grimaced apologetically. “Please pardon my lack of manners. Thank you very much for flying across country at a moment’s notice to take on this job.”
“I’m happy to be here,” Angela replied, looking supremely unfazed by her very last-minute double cross-continental trips.
“Not that you’ll be here very long at this point.” Chloe’s grimace slipped into a full frown. “You can’t be looking forward to hopping right back onto the plane.”
Angela smiled winningly. “My job often calls for travel and I’ve got to say, flying in the Spiridakou jet is a lot more comfortable than commercial.”
“It is,” Chloe had to agree. “But even the most comfortable transportation doesn’t make up for spending so many hours of a single day in the air.”
“I notice you evince no concern on my behalf,” Ariston interjected in a teasing tone.
She found no humor to match his at that moment. “You do exactly what you like, Ariston.”
“Are you implying that I shanghaied Angela? I can assure you that is not the case.”
“No, indeed,” the event coordinator affirmed. “Ariston presented a very appealing offer, both in terms of remuneration and scope.”
“Then, here’s hoping his perception meets reality for you.” Because Chloe would not be happy with either of them if Angela didn’t follow through on the job.
If Chloe put their departure off with one more excuse, Ariston fully intended to simply pick her up and carry her off to the airport.
She’d insisted she needed to go over things with her new managers one last time, and then that the mayor had to meet Angela Carston and approve her taking over Chloe’s role as fundraiser for the community auction. Chloe hadn’t stopped there though, as Ariston might reasonably expect.
No, she’d then been adamant that she needed to call one of the local artists personally and tell him she was leaving for New York. According to Chloe, she’d already introduced him to the new managers, but the artist was both brilliant and a recluse, which meant a little extra coddling to make sure he knew he wasn’t being forgotten.
Ariston had actually found himself getting jealous until Chloe informed him the artist was in his sixties and determinedly gay.
When she’d said … finally … that she needed to pack her things up in the hotel room, that at least Ariston had been able to do something about. He’d instructed his security team to take care of it while Chloe and Angela met with the mayor.
But the meeting was over and Ariston was ready to be on the road. Had been hours ago, to be precise. “Come, Chloe. It is a ninety-minute drive to the airport.”
“Yes, I know.” Chloe took a last sweeping glance around her hotel room, much as she had the gallery when they’d left it.
He did not see what could have put that wistful look in her emerald eyes. “Surely you will not miss living out of suitcases?”
“I wasn’t,” she contradicted while following him to the car.
“No. You had unpacked and organized your belongings as if preparing for a long stay.” He helped her into the back of the rented limo and the door shut behind them.
“Where is Angela?”
“She’s riding with the security team in the