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“So?” Dante looks over his shoulder, and they follow his gaze. “Which one is your girlfriend? Is it the fair-haired beauty?”
“That’s my sister,” I tell him, cold. “And she’s not even legal, so don’t even think of sniffing around her.”
“So the rumors are true,” Dante studies Lena with a little too much interest. “So then the woman next to her must be the one you’re involved with. She looks young, too. I never really took you to be the dating type.”
Megan and my sister walk over to us and I curl my arm possessively around Megan’s waist as I reluctantly introduce them to Dante.
“Megan, Lena, this is Mr. Dante DiAngelo. He owns the DiAngelo Group and is a well-known art investor.”
“It’s such a pleasure to meet you, Mr. DiAngelo,” Megan offers a little too eagerly. “I’ve heard a lot about you.”
Dante beams at them both. “Miss Taylor, I saw your name under one of the sketches that caught my eye. I really enjoy your work. You’re very skilled, and you have a lot of potential.”
Megan smiles brightly at him and it makes the vein in my neck throb.
“Thank you.”
“I was actually thinking of buying a few pieces, but I only managed to get one. Yours were the first to be sold out.”
Megan’s mouth is agape. “Wait, what? Somebody bought my work?”
I give Dante a dark look. “So you were the one who bought that sketch of me?”
“I was going to hang it in my office for motivation.” He grins devilishly.
Lena chuckles but immediately straightens her face when I give her a stern look.
“I’ll buy it off you,” I tell him.
“It’s priceless to me, Hunter,” Dante says, false sincerity dripping from his tone.
“I’ll sketch you a new one,” Megan puts her hand on my chest, and I like the proprietary feel of the gesture. And then, she adds, “But I wonder who bought the rest of them?”
“That’s an interesting question, isn’t it?” He offers me a knowing grin and I want to smack it completely off of his face. He’s playing games.
“I’m sure –“
Megan doesn’t even allow me to finish my sentence, her eyes widening, “Please say it wasn’t you, Hunter.”
I have no reason to feel guilty, but I still avoid Megan’s eyes because I know what she’s thinking. The student who sells the most art tonight qualifies for the New York showing, and I’ve just fast-tracked her to the finalist spot.
“I liked them, and if I like something, there’s no reason I shouldn’t have it.”
A defiant fire lights up in Megan’s eyes. “If you liked them so much, you could’ve just picked something out from mepersonally. There’s a reason why I didn’t want you to pay for my work.”
I hate that Dante is still here, watching this conversation unfold between us. Every interaction I have with Megan is a chance for him to learn more about me and my weaknesses. I’m fucking up.
I’m about to put an end to the conversation when a familiar someone interrupts and beats me to the punch. I just wish it had been someone else.
“Mr. Middleton!” I always wonder how Dean Darwin looks so terrified and yet reverent when he sees me. “How are you? I didn’t expect to see you here tonight. Can I get you anything?”
“I’m fine, thank you.”
“Just let me know. This is a fine showing, Miss Taylor. You should be proud.”
“Thank you, Dean.”
Megan’s lips flatten into a straight line as Darwin walks away to kiss some more ass. She had no idea that I have a familiar relationship with the Dean of her school and I’m sure a lot of wild thoughts are racing through her head.