Catching the Klutz

Chapter 4: Standing In

CHAPTER FOUR: STANDING IN

"Are you sure you're going to be okay by yourself Addy?" I asked whilst frantically shoving papers into my bag.

"Oh please I'll be perfectly fine. Let's not forget that out of the two of us I'm not the one who's capable of burning water." She giggled and nudged me toward the door. "Plus Rocky said he'll be home in a few days so I can move in with him and get out of your hair!"

"You're never a bother you could always just stay here."

I mentally snorted remembering the infamous Rocky Stone. What a name man, Rocky Stone!

"We'll talk when you get back. I may go out and try to hit up Neeks agency for her where abouts." She nudged me again.

Of course the nudging was rather awkward what with her sporting crutches and all. Reluctantly I kissed her quickly on the cheek, ran my eyes one last time over the apartment and then hopped into the elevator. Everything would just have to stay in one piece for the two hours I'd be gone.

"Have a good meeting sweetie. You're going to kill it!" She called after me just as the doors dinged shut.

I grumbled about life's general unfairness as I trudged along in the morning chill. Become an artist they said, it's freeing they said, you paint all the time they said. What they hadn't mentioned was the hours you spent in meetings with judging clients who don't know what they want, just that it's not that. The higher up the food chain you went the more picky and weird the clients got.

Usually it was sort of fun to sit in and listen to the crazy half formed ideas. I mean art was nothing if not open to interpretation. But today was a drag, every time I went to meet this particular client I landed up with his secretary who very politely tells me that his boss is busy. We reschedule and rinse and repeat. It had been four times already.

I was almost ready to drop the client or recommend him to someone with far more patience that myself. If he cancelled one more time I'd give him art all right, by drop kicking one of his fancy glass walls.

With the fowl mood I was in I barely noticed the perky brunet who placed a cup of tea in front of me. "Miss Ryder, Mr Chance-"

"Regrets to inform me that he's busy and that we should reschedule for next week? Look I'm really sorry Arron but-"

"Actually Mr Chance is very much in and eager to meet you. He does however apologize for the last few missed meetings." Aaron Kent, was an amazing assistant I'd have to hire him away if the business aspect of this got to be too much to manage.

I shot him one last apologetic smile which he returned with two deep dimples before walking into the previously closed off glass office. If I ever doubted Mr Chance's style I regretted it as soon as I walked in. The office was a marvel of modern architecture and artistry.

Clean lines, brilliant colours and bold statement pieces littered the room, all encased in shimmering glass. Yes he certainly would be an interesting client.

" Miss Ryder I'm so sorry to have kept you waiting for the last several weeks." A voice murmured from behind a large chair. "I've been quite indisposed dealing with a competitor. But I am here now and ready to do business."

The chair swiveled around and I thought I would shit myself, because sitting in that plush chair was Kaden Chance, the only boy who had terrified me as much as Falcon Avery if not more so.

The boy or rather man, who had been infamous at the Academy was perched on a chair staring back at me and I struggled to keep my face neutral. If I was lucky he'd never realize I was his old classmate- specifically the one the entire school thought dated his rival.