“Hold on a sec, Bee. My PA has a question...”
It was a temporary reprieve, but it gave Beah time to think. Memories tumbled as Beah waited for Keely to return her attention to their conversation. She’d been twenty-one and had left London for New York, excited to work in a new city. With honors degrees in both economics and fine art, she secured an internship at Murphy International—a world-renowned art auction house. Within days, she’d she met the brilliant, terribly sexy Finn Murphy, a stunning combination of geeky nerd and sexy jock.
A few months later she’d hurtled into marriage with the youngest Murphy brother, hauling along a cruise liner’s worth of baggage, all rational thought doused by their hectic sexual attraction.
Like moths to a flame, rivers flowing to the sea and stars burning out, her landing in Finn’s arms and in his bed had been inevitable.
Beah was terrified that on meeting him face-to-face again, history might repeat itself.
Since their divorce they’d both made a silent but concerted effort to avoid each other, even though they both still worked for Murphy International. Living on two different continents helped, and on the few occasions she’d needed Finn’s expert opinion on a painting or an objet d’art, she sent him detailed photographs or, if that didn’t suffice, he met the client on his own.
They’d made avoiding each other into an art form.
“Look, I know you can’t possibly be nervous about having a business meeting because you’re nothing like the girl you used to be,” Keely said, returning to their conversation. “You’re head of acquisitions, responsible for advising Murphy’s rich clients on their collections, about what they could acquire and what they should dispose of. You’re smart, funny and gorgeous.”
This was why every woman needed a best friend, someone to shore up her defenses when the cracks started to show. “You need to remember how far you’ve come, what amazing things you’ve done, Bee.”
Beah closed her eyes, happy to let her friend talk.
“You walked out of your marriage and soon afterward you moved back to London, joining Murphy’s UK office. You worked your tail off, clawing your way up the ladder to become one of the most powerful people in the organization. Murphy’s is lucky to have you, Bee, and that’s why they pay you the very big bucks, because they know your clients are loyal to you and will walk if you walk. Hell, you could open your own art consulting company right now and you’d have a list of wealthy clients as long as your arm.”
Yeah, about that...
“Um, actually, that reminds me of something I’ve been meaning to tell you,” Beah said, and asked Keely to switch to FaceTime. When Keely’s face appeared on her screen, she smiled at her brown-eyed, blond-haired friend. “There you are...”
Keely waved her words away, eyes bright with curiosity. “What? Have you met someone?”
Beah rolled her eyes. “I don’t have time to date.”
“No, you don’t make time to date because you use your busy work schedule as a shield. You think that if you keep busy, you won’t have time to feel anything for anyone.”
Okay, a bit too close to the truth. And not something she wanted to think about right now... “Do you want to hear this or not?” Beah demanded.
Keely handed her that patented, I’m-so-smart smirk. “Sure, go for it. But we will revisit this topic at a later date.”
Not if Beah could help it.
“Michael Summers. Have you heard of him?” After Keely shook her head, Beah continued. “He’s a prominent art adviser, consultant and dealer. One of the most respected in the world. He has decades of experience and is an art guru...”
Beah twisted her vintage flower ring around her middle finger. “He wants to retire and he’s looking for someone to run his business, to start taking over his client list.”
“You?”
“Me.” Beah nodded. “It’s a hell of an opportunity, Keels. He’s a legend and I’m honored he wants me to join him. But...”
“But it would mean leaving Murphy’s.” Keely tapped her finger against her cheek. “Could you still work with Murphy’s or would you be persona non grata?”
Beah tasted panic in the back of her throat. Murphy’s was the only place she’d ever worked, all she knew.
Beah pushed her fear away; she was just scared of the unknown. Change was never easy and she hadn’t signed an oath in blood or a lifetime contract to work for Murphy’s.
She was allowed to move on. “Not that they ever would, but they would be stupid to blackball me because a lot of Michael’s clients purchase art from Murphy International. They’d be cutting off their nose to spite their own face.”
“And I presume Murphy’s has had other employees leave, other salespeople, nicking their clients?”
“Sure, it happens all the time.”
“And Murphy’s has survived?” Keely persisted. “So in this context, you are not thinking of yourself as an employee but as a Murphy, as Finn’s wife.”