Chapter 30 Her Biggest Fan
The fresh new day brought better prospects. When Emily awoke, she found a few emails already waiting for her. Three new students wanted to sign up for lessons!
Emily arranged for them to come in as soon as possible, with the first one starting that same afternoon.
Now that her brother was staying in the apartment, it would have been nice if she could use the studio Byron got for her, even if it wasn’t fully refurbished yet, but Emily didn’t know whether she was still welcome there. She texted Byron:
Can I still use the studio space, or are you mad at me?
Less than a minute later came the reply:
Not mad at you but I want you. I can wait... take as long as you need.
She should have been mad at him for insisting on his desires without even acknowledging that he needed to get help like she asked him to. But her first internal response to his words was a smoldering fire in her chest. Her feelings and hormones teamed up to agitate her body into a feverish state.
The memory of that kiss haunted her. The taste of Byron’s lips mingled with the forest and waterfall scents, the solid pressure of his body from thigh to chest... the way he kissed her... and the way his face looked close up, so perfect and sensual...
How could she get her supplies ready for class with thoughts like these running through her mind?
Emily threw all the paint and brushes she could find into her case and headed for the studio.
Her new student, Katie, showed up right on time. She was a thin, tall girl of about sixteen dressed in a neon green top and leather mini skirt.
“Oh my God, you look just like your photo!” the girl said as she entered, “You’re my idol.”
“What?” Emily asked, then she realized where the girl might have seen her photo. “From the newspaper article?”
“Yeah, that’s how I found out you did classes. You’ve got to tell me everything. What to wear, how to act, all the do’s and don’ts of getting a mega rich boyfriend.”
Emily was dumbfounded for a moment.
“Um... I teach art lessons,” she said, gesturing around at the studio.
“I know,” said Katie, posing like a model with one hand behind her head, “the art of attracting the billionaire.”
Bewildered but trying not to laugh out loud at the same time, Emily said, “I didn’t attract him on purpose. We met by chance!”
Suddenly, the thought struck her that it wasn’t chance... what if it was fate? It seemed like such a precise thought to come into her mind at that moment like a voice from some universal consciousness. Either that or she was losing her mind.
“It’s an important time for you to focus on learning, Katie. I know you have a lot of hormones rushing through your body...” Emily caught herself sounding like a lecturing parent and feeling like a hypocrite because she was the one with the raging hormones. “I mean, no one actually wants to focus on learning when they’re your age, but you should enjoy your life, try to find your passions.”
“What’s the point?” said Katie, making a distasteful but resigned grimace, “Everything I learn in school is so boring. All it does is prepare you for the workplace, which is going to be even more boring.”
Emily smiled; Katie’s cynicism was kind of cute. “It’s not so much about ‘the workplace’ but finding something you’re passionate about. When you find your passion, it doesn’t feel like work. You’ll have that fierce, fiery energy about you. And when that happens, lots of men will be attracted to you, even rich men, if that’s your thing.”
“Wow.” Katie took a moment to ponder this. “It sounds like the same thing my boring councilor at school says, but when you say it, it sounds better.”
“Um, thanks,” Emily said, “So, would you like to try painting?”
The girl shrugged her thin shoulders. “I guess... Can you at least give me fashion tips?”
“I’d love to,” Emily said.
Katie didn’t have much natural talent for painting, but she got into it, and they had a good time talking about clothes and fashion while they played with the color palettes.
“Wow, your limo’s waiting,” Katie said, glancing out the window as they wrapped up the lesson, “So cool!”
Emily didn’t expect a limo and thought it must have been waiting for someone else; there were lots of actors and other celebrities living in Vancouver. But as soon as she came outside, Byron’s usual driver, Alistair, stepped out of the car and came towards her. His broad face was usually calm and inexpressive, but this time it was distorted with some turbulent emotion.
“Miss Danzi, I hope you don’t mind me tracking you down,” he began, “I went to your residence, but your brother said you’d gone to the studio.”
Emily was worried by his serious tone. “Is everything okay?”
“Byron hasn’t been the same the last few days since you haven’t been around. And then with his company being in trouble... To be honest, he’s a mess.”
“The company?” she asked.
“Oh, you haven’t heard? He’s accused of a major online scam. There was a big media circus yesterday. Now he won’t eat. He didn’t go to work. He barely even talks to anyone.”
Emily felt terrible since she had not bothered to look at the news lately or to contact Byron.
“I thought you could talk to him...” Alistair said timidly.
