"Okay, what you do is put a small dab here of the blue and a dab over here of the white. Take the smallest bit from each and blend," Kiara instructed. "See the results?"
The young girl nodded her understanding and proceeded to copy Kiara's actions to the letter. She was a natural, Kiara thought, and hoped for the umpteenth time that some miracle would allow the girl to one day go to art school.
"Kiara Jackson?" a voice ahead of her asked. "Is that you?"
She looked up to find an Asian man standing before her, muscled physique beneath an obviously expensive suit, strong jaw, bald head and eyes hidden behind mirrored glasses. Next to him, he held the hand of a young girl no more than eight or nine. The man pushed his glasses down his nose to peer at her over the top. Cold, dangerous eyes, so dark she couldn't be sure they weren't black. Somehow, although he had asked if she was Kiara Jackson, she was pretty sure he knew she was.
A familiar tremor went through her. She hadn't run away lately, and a man as impeccably dressed as this one, wouldn't be there on Odell's behalf. She tried to relax, but tension locked her shoulder muscles in place. "Yes, I'm Kiara Jackson.
"I am Jiro Fuschida and this is my little sister, Ayumi."
"Hajimemashite," the girl said softly. Her brother made a soft noise and frowned. She spoke louder in English. "How do you do?"
Ayumi. That was the name of a character from her favorite cartoon. So they were Japanese. She nodded. "Pleased to meet you. What can I do for you, Mr. Fuschida?"
He smiled, and her heart fluttered. "Please, call me Jiro. I understand you teach children to draw and paint?"
She glanced past him to the glass doors leading out of the community center. While she had not liked the fact that she had been given a space no bigger than ten by ten feet in the lobby, which made her have to trek back and forth to the bathroom to get fresh water for her paints, she hadn't complained. The position afforded her a view of who came and went, although it could sometimes be distracting for the children. Now, she noticed the limo parked at the front of the building, and from the looks cast his way, she didn't doubt it belonged to him.
"I ... Yes, I do, but you should know there is a school here in the city that trains children in all kinds of art. What I do here is more of a hobby for the children I teach. The school is exclusive, but I highly recommend it." She knew from personal experience that Morningside School of Art was top notch. Up until two years ago, she had worked there.
Jiro removed his glasses completely and stared into her eyes, making her feel mesmerized by his looks and his power. She swallowed hard, but a lump remained in her throat.
"I'm not looking for an exclusive school; I'm looking for someone who is not only good at what they do, but personable. Ayumi deserves no less. Now, name your price."
Kiara frowned. Sure she needed the money, but his arrogant attitude grated on her nerves. She would have loved to turn him down. Unfortunately, every little bit helped. Again, she glanced toward his fancy ride and doubled her fee. She appeased her conscious telling herself she would give Ayumi her all and see that the girl learned to be the best her ability could produce. Lately, that hadn't been much with her students. The ones with the talent soon moved on to better opportunities, or their parents could no longer afford the fees. And Kiara couldn't afford to give away the time.
Jiro slid his glasses in place. "Agreed. Tuesday and Thursday afternoons good for you?"
When she nodded, he pivoted on his heel and guided his sister out the door. She returned to her lesson, but only for a second before she jumped from her stool to run after him. A moment later, she burst through the door out into the sunlight. Shielding her eyes, she stumbled toward the curb. A hand at her elbow stopped her from stepping into the street.
"Careful," he snapped, not too unkind. She trembled in fear anyway.
She glanced up in his eyes, wondering if he removed his glasses only so she could get lost in his gaze. "I-I..."
"Yes?"
"I told you too much. I'm sorry."
He smiled, and her heart skittered. "Having an attack of conscious, Ms. Jackson?"
What could she say? That she had purposely cheated him because he could afford it? Should she lie so he wouldn't take his sister to someone else, someone more honest? Too late, she realized either course would make her look bad in his eyes. Her admission to charging too much had ruined her in his eyes.
"I just overcharged, that's all. You can take Ayumi to someone else, if you like. If you don't want to enroll her in the school just yet, then I can recommend a friend. She's very skilled and patient with children, although she usually works with teens and adults."
He had been handing his sister into the car. When she finished speaking, he shut the door and walked over to her, coming so close she considered taking a step backward. He towered over her, a waft of his cologne tempting her latent desire. "Let's get something straight, shall we?" he began. "I want you. Only you. And I am very used to getting exactly what I want."
Kiara stood there with her mouth opening and closing, unable to put together two words to say in response to his double meaning.
"Now, you will find that I am a man who sticks firmly to my agreements. Therefore, the original fee I settled on stands. Have a good day, Kiara." He bowed, just his head, as those of his culture often did, twisted and stepped into the limo. Only after the vehicle turned the corner did she allow herself to breathe, and wonder what changes the future held.
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