Oh for God’s sake!
–Tasha: Even if he really did have a cat, and it really did die, it wasn’t your fault. If he was an honorable person, he’d have offered to give you your deposit even before you asked!
That’s true. Annoyance bubbling, I type up a response.
From: [email protected]
Subject: Re: About that PayPal dispute
Dear Bruce,
Thanks for your email. I’m sorry for your loss.
However, I don’t need the service anymore, as it’s after the date that we agreed upon. Therefore, I’d like my money back.
Thanks,
Becca
I stare at the message. Does it sound cold? But how am I supposed to be more sympathetic to a man I’ve never met, over a cat that probably never existed?
I hit send.
That done, I skim down my inbox and see one from Catherine.
From: [email protected]&wilson.com
Subject: The second commissioned piece
Hi Becca,
Hope you’re doing well. Barron finally decided on what he’d like for the second out of the three paintings he commissioned.
Oh, good. I’m still working on the first one, but if the second one calls to my muse more, I might get that done now, then go back to the first one.
He wants a portrait of Stella Lloyd. He’d like to give it to her for Christmas, so it should be done relatively fast. But if you don’t think that’s possible, her birthday will work. It’s next spring.
Just let me know whichever deadline you prefer, so I can tell Barron. He’s started Christmas shopping already.
Thanks,
Catherine
My gut clenches. A portrait? Why, oh why, is she asking for a portrait? I want to tell her that Barron Sterling can have his money back, but… It isn’t that kind of situation. I owe Catherine a big one for backing my first solo show. She told me Barron Sterling isn’t just her boss, but a man who gave her a chance when not even her own mom thought she was worth anything. The woman will not allow me to disappoint him.
But a portrait? I don’t do portraits. I simply can’t. It’s impossible when you’re face blind. The only portraits I do are self-portraits. Unlike what some critics think, it isn’t because I have a massive ego, but because nobody gives a damn how I draw my own face!
But Barron Sterling is definitely going to care if I don’t do justice to this Stella Lloyd lady. And even if he’s okay, she might not be. I’ll have to satisfy two people…
I should tell Catherine to pick something else. Anything but a portrait. I can even throw in an extra painting.
She might turn me down, though. For the same reason I turned down Bruce’s offer to “reschedule.” It could be that Barron Sterling only wants a portrait. He’s supposed to be fairly opinionated.
Shit, shit, shit.