Total pages in book: 109
Estimated words: 104532 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 523(@200wpm)___ 418(@250wpm)___ 348(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 104532 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 523(@200wpm)___ 418(@250wpm)___ 348(@300wpm)
Holly wrinkles her nose. “It’s just not me.”
Sighing, Joseph crosses his hands over his stomach and leans back in his chair. “Take it or leave it, sweetheart. I have other clients to see.”
Vero studies the drawing sideways, tilting her head left and right. “What was the brief?”
“Timeless and love hurts,” he says. “She said she liked roses.”
“I don’t know.” Holly slaps her thighs. “Maybe it’s the cross. Maybe if we try without it?”
Vero picks up the sketchpad. “Is that what the reflection symbolizes? Timelessness?”
“It’s a symbol of timelessness, yeah.” Joseph addresses Holly. “You sure you don’t want the cross? It’s a good symbol for sacrifice and pain. Listen, sweetheart, it’s your body, but if you want my opinion, it’s going to be unbalanced without the cross.”
Holly grimaces. “That’s just…” She lifts her eyes to the ceiling and says after a moment, “Too in your face.”
I take in her attire. She’s dressed in a sundress that fastens with ribbons on her shoulders. Her long hair is braided down her back. Her strappy sandals are feminine, as is the pale pink color of the varnish on her toenails. She’s classic, ultra-feminine, and judging by the absence of jewelry, minimalistic in her style.
“May I?” I ask, reaching for the sketchpad.
“Hey.” Joseph rides on his chair. “Knock yourself out.”
Vero hands me the pad. I turn the page, take a charcoal pencil, and draw a rough outline of a single rose with a thorny stem that bleeds into an infinity sign. I turn the pad around to show Holly.
She leans forward, her neck straining as she studies the drawing.
“This will work beautifully on your side,” I say. “It can run from under the curve of your breast to your waist. The lines will be thin and the only color red. With Joseph’s skill, he can add some transparency to the petals.”
“Yes,” she says slowly, her eyes lighting up. “That’s more like me. I’d like to add a few more thorns though.”
I give the pad back to Joseph. “I hope you don’t mind the input.”
Vero grins at him. “I say she’s hired. What do you say?”
“Fuck, yeah.” Joseph winks, addressing me. “But I don’t tweak other people’s art. You’re going to have to finish this baby yourself.”
“Really?” I look between Joseph and Vero. “Do you mean that?”
“Shall we make an appointment for next week?” Vero asks Holly. “Violet will have a detailed drawing ready for you then. If you’re happy with the end-result, we can fit you for the tattooing in about six months’ time.”
“That sounds good,” Holly says.
Joseph stands. “You can go back to reception, sweetheart. They’ll jot you down for your next appointment.”
“Follow me, Violet,” Vero says, walking with swaying hips to the door. “I can give you a contract to read over right away.”
I say goodbye to Holly and Joseph and follow Vero to her office.
“Joseph is crazily good with tats,” she says soft enough for her voice not to carry through the door. “But he struggles to read people. I have a feeling the two of you are going to complement each other well.”
Another fifteen minutes later, I’m hired, earning not only three times the salary Gus paid me, but I also have three weeks of paid leave per year and a pension fund. Vero explains that they don’t have a company medical aid plan, but that the higher gross salary compensates for that and allows me to choose a private aid of my preference, at which Leon assures her that I’m already added to his medical plan with full benefits. Which only leaves signing the contract.
I’m walking on air when we leave. I can’t believe I’ve been so lucky. Although, I’m sure landing the job had more to do with Leon’s name dropping than my talent.
“Congratulations,” Leon says, kissing my temple as he opens the car door for me. “I never had a doubt you’d get the job.”
“Thank you,” I say, meaning it like never. “Your friend, Walter, must have some serious influence with Vero.”
He smiles. “You heard what Vero said. She wouldn’t have given you the job if you didn’t merit it.”
Glancing at the neon name running over the building when he pulls out of the parking lot, I say, “I hope I’ll live up to their expectations.”
“I’m sure you will.” He cups my knee. “I have faith in your abilities.”
I don’t miss the carefully chosen words. He didn’t say he had faith in me.
“I think we should celebrate,” he says. “Let’s have dinner out tonight.”
A memory of our last failed attempt at dining at a restaurant flashes through my mind. I don’t say yes or no. It won’t matter what I say.
Leon drops me off at home and announces he has to catch up with work at the office. Dragging me against him, he says, “I’ll make a reservation at Oscars for eight, so be ready at seven-thirty. I’ll make sure I’m home at seven to change.”