proximity. He wore a charcoal gray suit and a black silk shirt, each perfectly tailored piece worth a small fortune, and he did not look happy.
“Mi-ister Genovese,” Mina stumbled over his name. “What a surprise.” She swallowed hard and tried to calm herself. There had to be a perfectly reasonable explanation for him being there.
She just couldn’t figure out what it was.
His expression was blank, his dark eyes inscrutable as they met hers, but for some reason she would swear he was blindingly, blisteringly angry. Not that he had any reason to be. I mean, yes, she left without saying anything. Snuck out, actually, but he couldn’t have expected her to stay. That would’ve been crazy.
Wouldn’t it?
Dr. Peabody’s excitement made him impervious to the undercurrents in the tiny office, but Ivy’s eyes were threatening to fall out of her head. She flicked a finger at Mina to get her attention and Mina shook her head tightly, silently begging her not to ask any questions. Ivy slowly nodded in understanding. The look her friend shot her guaranteed she was going to have some serious explaining to do, but she didn’t care. She’d explain until she was blue in the face as long as she could get out of the next ten minutes with her professional reputation intact.
She pasted a smile on her face.
“A very welcome surprise, of course.” Mina’s voice cracked and she hurried on to cover it. “I cannot tell you how pleased I am that you’ve decided to allow the Oppen Institute to arrange for the display of your collection.”
Hell, she thought a little wildly , I don’t think admitting that I didn’t even know you HAD a collection would go over very well . Mina was a terrible liar but she learned how to play politics with Ethan and his cronies. As long as you didn’t come right out and insult them people didn’t pay attention to what you actually said they just heard what they wanted, which made skating by the truth good enough for most people.
Somehow she doubted Marco Genovese was most people .
“Your pleasure is my pleasure.” His voice was low and sensual and she shivered in the warm room remembering words whispered in the dark… Touch yourself. Take your pleasure. Your pleasure is my pleasure… Mina swallowed thickly and he continued. “When I arrived this morning I told Dr. Peabody how much faith I had in your abilities, and he informed me that of course his very best student would be available to curate the display.” He held her gaze, challenging her to argue. “I must say I was very relieved. You have no idea the disappointment I’ve faced since arriving in Miami.” Mina couldn’t help but wince. “It’s good to know I’ll be in your very capable hands.”
Definitely not most people .
Mina’s capable hands were shaking. She couldn’t believe he wanted her to curate the display. She’d never managed anything that large. An exhibit? Sure. Two? Maybe. But an entire collection? No way. Dr. Peabody expected her reaction, though, and jumped in to save her.
“Of course she’ll have a team to help her,” he said, smiling broadly, and patting her shoulder soothingly, “but as you requested she will be the curator in charge. She will have the final say in all of the arrangements, and will be your main point of contact with the museum.” He turned his proud smile on Mina. “From the time they first joined the Oppen, Mina and Ivy have been my hardest workers. Between the two of them I’m positive that you’ll have everything exactly the way you want it.”
Ivy gasped when her name was included and Mina’s eyes flew to hers. A collection like this could make Ivy’s career. She’d been working through the ranks, repairing, organizing, archiving… anything and everything that was asked of her. She’d never put anything ahead of her work. She’d gotten her doctorate
“Mi-ister Genovese,” Mina stumbled over his name. “What a surprise.” She swallowed hard and tried to calm herself. There had to be a perfectly reasonable explanation for him being there.
She just couldn’t figure out what it was.
His expression was blank, his dark eyes inscrutable as they met hers, but for some reason she would swear he was blindingly, blisteringly angry. Not that he had any reason to be. I mean, yes, she left without saying anything. Snuck out, actually, but he couldn’t have expected her to stay. That would’ve been crazy.
Wouldn’t it?
Dr. Peabody’s excitement made him impervious to the undercurrents in the tiny office, but Ivy’s eyes were threatening to fall out of her head. She flicked a finger at Mina to get her attention and Mina shook her head tightly, silently begging her not to ask any questions. Ivy slowly nodded in understanding. The look her friend shot her guaranteed she was going to have some serious explaining to do, but she didn’t care. She’d explain until she was blue in the face as long as she could get out of the next ten minutes with her professional reputation intact.
She pasted a smile on her face.
“A very welcome surprise, of course.” Mina’s voice cracked and she hurried on to cover it. “I cannot tell you how pleased I am that you’ve decided to allow the Oppen Institute to arrange for the display of your collection.”
Hell, she thought a little wildly , I don’t think admitting that I didn’t even know you HAD a collection would go over very well . Mina was a terrible liar but she learned how to play politics with Ethan and his cronies. As long as you didn’t come right out and insult them people didn’t pay attention to what you actually said they just heard what they wanted, which made skating by the truth good enough for most people.
Somehow she doubted Marco Genovese was most people .
“Your pleasure is my pleasure.” His voice was low and sensual and she shivered in the warm room remembering words whispered in the dark… Touch yourself. Take your pleasure. Your pleasure is my pleasure… Mina swallowed thickly and he continued. “When I arrived this morning I told Dr. Peabody how much faith I had in your abilities, and he informed me that of course his very best student would be available to curate the display.” He held her gaze, challenging her to argue. “I must say I was very relieved. You have no idea the disappointment I’ve faced since arriving in Miami.” Mina couldn’t help but wince. “It’s good to know I’ll be in your very capable hands.”
Definitely not most people .
Mina’s capable hands were shaking. She couldn’t believe he wanted her to curate the display. She’d never managed anything that large. An exhibit? Sure. Two? Maybe. But an entire collection? No way. Dr. Peabody expected her reaction, though, and jumped in to save her.
“Of course she’ll have a team to help her,” he said, smiling broadly, and patting her shoulder soothingly, “but as you requested she will be the curator in charge. She will have the final say in all of the arrangements, and will be your main point of contact with the museum.” He turned his proud smile on Mina. “From the time they first joined the Oppen, Mina and Ivy have been my hardest workers. Between the two of them I’m positive that you’ll have everything exactly the way you want it.”
Ivy gasped when her name was included and Mina’s eyes flew to hers. A collection like this could make Ivy’s career. She’d been working through the ranks, repairing, organizing, archiving… anything and everything that was asked of her. She’d never put anything ahead of her work. She’d gotten her doctorate
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