“I surrender.” I look up at him. I might as well do it with dignity.
He looks…almost victorious, if not for a trace of melancholy in his eyes. “Safe decision.”
Safe? For whom? I keep my face composed as his eyes burn on mine.
“That leaves only one question before we move on to my other reason for coming here today. Why did you lie about it?”
“I didn’t lie,” I say defensively.
“It’s a loose use of the word but you cannot deny that you were trying to cover the truth. Why?”
Hmm, maybe he doesn’t know about Javier. Come to think of it, why would he? Javier is not in the personnel files. Still, I can’t have him dig further. I have to end this with me. I square my shoulders.
“Because I was working illegally, Mr. Hale. My student visa does not allow me to work off campus. My brief hours of modeling have provided some much-needed income.” I notice with satisfaction that my voice is back to normal and in fact, it has taken a defiant edge.
His eyes widen a little in surprise. “I see. That explains why there is so very little information about you anywhere.” His voice is now pensive and warm. There is no snake, no ice, no secrets in it. In fact, for the first time, I see tenderness in his eyes.
“You researched me?”
“As I said, I’m a man of means. But I couldn’t find much about you beyond your impressive academic credentials.”
I wonder if I should be worried that he has researched me but I’m only thrilled. Besides, didn’t I stalk him on the Internet last night?
“Yes, that would be CIS—the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services. They keep the records of foreign visitors strictly confidential,” I explain. This is why he doesn’t know I’m leaving soon. I feel the same irrational need to keep that from him.
“I must say, you’re unexpected Miss Snow. I thought you were an independent contractor, not an under-the-table worker. But don’t worry, I won’t turn you in. In fact, that brings me to my next point. I’d like to hire you.”
“Hire me?” My voice squeaks, high on Haleum. Hah!
“Yes, indeed. And yes, I realize that would break the law. Apparently, I don’t care.”
“But I have to finish my supplement first.”
He smiles. “I’m not talking about your supplement. I’m talking about a painting. I’d like to hire you to model for a painting for my eyes only.”
Bloody hell! What would Feign say about me brokering separate deals? On the other hand, it means more money for Javier. I hedge.
“What kind of painting? I don’t pose nude.”
He smirks. “What makes you think I want you to pose nude?”
Flame burns my cheeks. “I’m sorry, I assumed that’s what you wanted because of the nature of the paintings you already bought. My mistake.” I look at my cup of hot chocolate, willing it to swallow me whole.
He smiles diabolically. “You assumed both right and wrong. If I were the artist, your reluctance for nudity would be a problem indeed. But since I’m not, and you will have to pose in front of another man, I have no intention of commissioning a nude painting. Does that satisfy you?”
I try to stay coherent but all I can think about is posing naked for him. Bloody idiot, get a grip. “Why should you care if another man sees me naked?”
“I have pondered the question myself. For now, let’s just say that I like my art…unique. In fact, I plan to pay Feign a very handsome amount so that he does not paint you ever again.”
I watch him, gobsmacked. Is that the “unconventional proposal” he wanted to discuss with Feign?
“I regret that this will cause you to be out of a job you desperately need. I will compensate you on a fair trade commission, which will include the share of profits you should have received for your work.”
“That’s very kind of you, Mr. Hale, but you don’t need to pay me. I still have my job at the lab, and my student visa ends soon.”
I let that hang there, hoping he will think it means that my work restrictions will end soon too. For some reason, I hate that he wants to pay me. It makes me feel detached, like an employee. If he had asked me to do it for free, it would have been much better.
“You seem to be under a misapprehension that this is a negotiation, Miss Snow, but it is not. I refuse not to pay you when I’m the reason you will never pose for anyone ever again. And that’s the end of the discussion on this point.”
His words have hit too close to home. I make my voice as detached as possible, my usual way of dealing with anger.
“Mr. Hale, you seem to have picked up on the same thing that Feign has: that some immigrants don’t have any bargaining power. You’re unfortunately right, and you have me cornered because you know my secret. So I have no option but to agree. But make no mistake that, until your ultimatum, I was going to accept your offer with pleasure. Now, all you’ll get is the surrender you wanted. So let’s get down to business, shall we?”
Mr. Hale appears to have left Paradox and in his orange chair is sitting a dragon, slits for eyes, fire from the nostrils, smoke from the ears and scales on the skin. He looks like he is trying to calm himself down. I don’t look away from him. I don’t even blink. Finally, he speaks.
“I don’t view you as a second-class citizen, Miss Snow. But I suppose I can understand why my delivery would be offensive for someone in your circumstances. It was not my intent to make you feel used. My apologies.”
I give him a curt nod. “Accepted.”
He takes a deep breath and his voice is warmer. “Now, about the business details. I’d like you to model in my home.”
Well, that will never fly with Feign but it takes the wrath of the dragon away from me so I might as well agree.
“And I don’t want just glimpses of your body. I want all of it, including your face.”
Under other circumstances, this would be a deal breaker. But since he said no nudity, I guess I don’t mind. And truthfully, I’m flattered.
“I don’t know why, but okay.”
His eyes turn gentle. “You don’t know why?”
“No, not really. But it’s okay. You don’t have to give me some speech about how I really am beautiful and don’t see myself clearly.”
“It seems you’re familiar with that speech.”
“Yes, and frankly it never works for anyone. It would be better if we used our time productively.”
He shakes his head and narrows his eyes like he is plotting some other way to convince me. I feel some heat return to my skin so I start babbling. “What would you like me to wear?”
His eyes sparkle, and his teeth graze his lower lip just a tiny fraction. “My shirt.”
The quintessential morning-after attire. At this rate, I’ll blush until June thirteenth. “And what else?”
“Nothing else. Just my shirt.”
I have to negotiate on this because even if it’s just Javier and me in the gallery, I need my knickers. “Will the shirt be open or buttoned?”
“Open,” he mouths.
My mouth goes dry. “Umm, that might be a problem with the no-nude rule. I’d feel more comfortable if I could keep my knickers.” Mortified, I look down at my cup of hot chocolate again.
“Okay, knickers. But I get to pick them,” he says softly.
I nod. “Thank you.”
“That’s it. Unless you want to talk price.”
I shake my head. No, that would be humiliating.
“Now, I’d like the same color and style as the rest of the paintings but before I hire Feign, I need some information from you.”
“What kind of information?”
“Are you sleeping with Feign?” His voice is even and cold again.
Whoa! That’s abrupt and kind of offensive. But I guess he is entitled to suspect it given what he knows. “No, I am not.”
“Incidentally, are you with someone else?”
“No.”
He leans back on his chair. “Then, I’ll discuss the schedule with Feign and get back to you.”
I’m confused. “Why would you not hire Feign if I were with him or someone else?”