Read Online A Forbidden Love (Eligible Billionaires Book 9) by Maggie Marr - Free Book Online
Authors: Maggie Marr
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day sat on the table next to the front desk, blooming and fragrant.
“How are things going with Mr. Outrageously Good-looking?” Amelia lifted an eyebrow. “I’m guessing by the shade of pink on your cheeks that they’re going well.”
“I”—Ilana took a deep breath—“I’ve never been this happy.”
“You deserve to be this happy, you know that, right?”
Ilana nodded. It was hard to believe in happiness. She couldn’t quite grasp that joy could be perpetual. While she wanted to believe Amelia, to feel as though she deserved this happiness, she couldn’t help thinking something bad would happen.
“We’re both going to the show tonight.”
“Of course you are.” Amelia flashed a smile.
“Are you nervous?” Ilana knew this show meant a lot to her friend.
“Does it show?”
“Maybe just to me.”
Amelia laid her palm flat on her stomach. “Honestly, I feel like I’m going to be sick.”
“You’ve had lots of shows.”
“Right, but this one feels different somehow. Maybe because it’s my hometown?”
“You’re right on the cusp too.”
Amelia nodded and took a deep breath. “That too. I’m a little freaked out by the guest list. Buyers from MOMA and The Broad are supposed to be there tonight.”
“Well, I love the collection.” Ilana shut down the computer at the front desk. “I think it’s some of your best work.”
“From your lips to God’s ears.” Amelia glanced around the front room of the Center. “I’d love to sell out this entire collection. That would help a lot, you know?” Amelia’s brown eyes landed on Ilana. “I…I just want this, the Center, to work. This place is as important to me as my art. The two feel tied together somehow. And if the collection sells out, that’s a lot of money.”
The muscles in Ilana’s shoulders pulled tight to the bone. She nodded, but her gaze fell to the floor. She felt too ashamed to look at Amelia. My God, she was the absolute worst friend. She still hadn’t told Amelia about Mrs. Luskey and the lease and how the owner had refused the assignment— “Amelia?” But now? Before Amelia’s big opening at the Legend Gallery? Really…was this the right time? But would there ever be a right time?
“Hmm?” Amelia paused from digging through her purse for her keys and turned to Ilana. In that unguarded moment, Ilana could see the tension building on Amelia’s face, the anxiety she’d been hiding under cheerfulness for a week or more. Amelia had worked for years as an artist to get to tonight, to have such a big and successful gallery showcase her work.
Ilana licked her lips. No. She wouldn’t ruin Amelia’s opening night. “I just…good luck tonight.” Ilana pulled her best friend into a hug. She’d find a solution to the problem, she would, and if she didn’t and soon, then she would tell Amelia and they would find a solution together.
Wouldn’t they?
“Thanks.” Amelia slipped from Ilana’s arms. “See you in a couple hours. I’m so glad you’ll be there with me.”
Ilana nodded. She shut the door behind Amelia and locked it again. She looked up at the ceiling and closed her eyes.
A solution…she would find a solution, because she couldn’t go on hiding the truth about the lease from Amelia. That simply wouldn’t be fair.
*
Amelia DeLoitte was a big deal. An eclectic mix of art collectors, critics, entertainment industry executives, and celebrities packed the Legend Gallery. Brad Pitt and Dillon McElroy stood in the far corner discussing Amelia’s piece Desperation City with Rhiannon Legend, another huge L.A. artist and sister-in-law of the Legend Gallery’s owner, Amanda Legend. But Ilana wasn’t really surprised. Amelia’d been a big deal even in first grade when Ilana met her.
Ilana’s first day had been midyear, and she hadn’t known anyone. New to Venice, she was too shy to talk to any of the kids. Popular Amelia, with her beautiful braids decorated with pink and white beads
“How are things going with Mr. Outrageously Good-looking?” Amelia lifted an eyebrow. “I’m guessing by the shade of pink on your cheeks that they’re going well.”
“I”—Ilana took a deep breath—“I’ve never been this happy.”
“You deserve to be this happy, you know that, right?”
Ilana nodded. It was hard to believe in happiness. She couldn’t quite grasp that joy could be perpetual. While she wanted to believe Amelia, to feel as though she deserved this happiness, she couldn’t help thinking something bad would happen.
“We’re both going to the show tonight.”
“Of course you are.” Amelia flashed a smile.
“Are you nervous?” Ilana knew this show meant a lot to her friend.
“Does it show?”
“Maybe just to me.”
Amelia laid her palm flat on her stomach. “Honestly, I feel like I’m going to be sick.”
“You’ve had lots of shows.”
“Right, but this one feels different somehow. Maybe because it’s my hometown?”
“You’re right on the cusp too.”
Amelia nodded and took a deep breath. “That too. I’m a little freaked out by the guest list. Buyers from MOMA and The Broad are supposed to be there tonight.”
“Well, I love the collection.” Ilana shut down the computer at the front desk. “I think it’s some of your best work.”
“From your lips to God’s ears.” Amelia glanced around the front room of the Center. “I’d love to sell out this entire collection. That would help a lot, you know?” Amelia’s brown eyes landed on Ilana. “I…I just want this, the Center, to work. This place is as important to me as my art. The two feel tied together somehow. And if the collection sells out, that’s a lot of money.”
The muscles in Ilana’s shoulders pulled tight to the bone. She nodded, but her gaze fell to the floor. She felt too ashamed to look at Amelia. My God, she was the absolute worst friend. She still hadn’t told Amelia about Mrs. Luskey and the lease and how the owner had refused the assignment— “Amelia?” But now? Before Amelia’s big opening at the Legend Gallery? Really…was this the right time? But would there ever be a right time?
“Hmm?” Amelia paused from digging through her purse for her keys and turned to Ilana. In that unguarded moment, Ilana could see the tension building on Amelia’s face, the anxiety she’d been hiding under cheerfulness for a week or more. Amelia had worked for years as an artist to get to tonight, to have such a big and successful gallery showcase her work.
Ilana licked her lips. No. She wouldn’t ruin Amelia’s opening night. “I just…good luck tonight.” Ilana pulled her best friend into a hug. She’d find a solution to the problem, she would, and if she didn’t and soon, then she would tell Amelia and they would find a solution together.
Wouldn’t they?
“Thanks.” Amelia slipped from Ilana’s arms. “See you in a couple hours. I’m so glad you’ll be there with me.”
Ilana nodded. She shut the door behind Amelia and locked it again. She looked up at the ceiling and closed her eyes.
A solution…she would find a solution, because she couldn’t go on hiding the truth about the lease from Amelia. That simply wouldn’t be fair.
*
Amelia DeLoitte was a big deal. An eclectic mix of art collectors, critics, entertainment industry executives, and celebrities packed the Legend Gallery. Brad Pitt and Dillon McElroy stood in the far corner discussing Amelia’s piece Desperation City with Rhiannon Legend, another huge L.A. artist and sister-in-law of the Legend Gallery’s owner, Amanda Legend. But Ilana wasn’t really surprised. Amelia’d been a big deal even in first grade when Ilana met her.
Ilana’s first day had been midyear, and she hadn’t known anyone. New to Venice, she was too shy to talk to any of the kids. Popular Amelia, with her beautiful braids decorated with pink and white beads
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