Forging Splendor

by S R Nulton

  “Fantastic, especially with this on our docket. The people lined up on the guest list should keep us in the black for the next two years just based off of the price of their shoes. We’re hoping to poach a few new clients from among the guests and when they try my cranberry tart, I know they will.”

  My mouth watered as I thought about her famous tart. It was like the cranberry version of a lemon meringue pie, but without the meringue and with cranberries instead. She topped it with artfully cut persimmon slices and a bit of tea infused whipped cream. The things were completely addicting!

  “You made extra?” I asked with my best puppy dog eyes.

  “Of course I did! You would have murdered me in my sleep if I hadn’t!”

  I thought about that for a minute before admitting, “Yes. I would. I love you, but don’t get between me and your desserts.”

  We joked around for a while but still worked pretty steadily, talking as we cooked. My purpose was really two-fold. First, I wanted to bring the tension down to a manageable level in the kitchen. It was too early in the event for Joy to be that intense already. I had a feeling that something else was going on, but didn’t want to ask. The last time she’d been that on edge it had been because of a guy and I didn’t want to get into that territory with her. She was really weird when it came to boyfriends. My second reason was because I really wanted to catch up with my sister. I’d missed her.

  “So I open the file cabinet, looking for files and find a bronze statue of a sandwich. I asked Ethan about it later and he said he made it as a joke and was using it as a paperweight. Unfortunately, he neglected to mention was why it was in a drawer next to a pair of chopsticks, half a set of the Encyclopedia Britannica and a small pink sock. I was seriously worried!”

  Joy was laughing so hard she was crying. “Oh my goodness! Was there any actual paperwork in there?”

  I snorted lightly before passing a plate of hors d’oeuvre to her. “Don’t be ridiculous. The files were all out on the floor or in stacks on the desk. Or under the desk. Basically anywhere and everywhere they didn’t belong.”

  The door burst open and Bloom walked in, her hair dyed a lovely strawberry blond and still in her work clothes. “What is the ETA for the food? Aggy!” She gasped and leapt at me, pulling me into a very intense hug. “You need to call me silly! I’ve been looking all over for you and you won’t pick up your phone!”

  “Have you considered that may be the reason she didn’t?” Joy asked as she plated another dish. “Gerald! Set 2 is ready.”

  Joy hated naming her food, which was all her own recipes, so she called out which set it was for her servers. She claimed it was easier than calling out “braised lamb in burgundy pomegranate reduction with crumbled duck and walnuts on top.” In a kitchen like hers, you needed to be short and concise. With everything. If you weren’t you’d be late. No one had the time to list every ingredient.

  Bloom drew my attention away by saying I needed to get ready with her , then she drew me away, dragging me into a closet/ change room that she set up earlier.

  “I brought you a dress, because I know you never remember those things.” Seeing my abashed look, she chuckled. “And it is in the white bag.”

  I nodded and opened the zipper on the garment bag, then froze. The dress she had brought for me to wear was fantastic! It was a little black cocktail dress, but it was done up with old gold accents. It clung to my bust and waist before flaring out in a full skirt complete with a mini-bustle at the back. Honestly, if I added some gears, a top hat, and a leather vest I could pass as steampunk. Especially with the low heeled booties that she’d added.

  Once it was on, I turned and hugged her for all she was worth. “Thank you! Where did you find this?”

  “One of my clients remembered you and had it sent over. The designer. She was at another show, stole and updated the idea, then sent it to me for you to wear. I gave her an invitation for tonight so she could see it on you. Was that okay?”

  I nodded, still entranced by the subtle sparkles in the black material. I was a sucker for sparkles and it made me happy to wear it. Then I grabbed the necklace off the hanger and smiled. It was one of Ethan’s pieces that I’d been given as a present for Christmas one year. It was the only thing JJ had given me that I actually liked. Well, technically it was the only thing that JJ had given me at all.

  Putting it on, I touched it and smiled. It was perfect, made of a double strand of black freshwater pearls and I rarely got to wear it. That was why I’d let Bloom keep it. She wore the thing more frequently than I did. Oh well. I’d get to enjoy it myself for once!

  Bloom came to stand behind me and smiled at our reflection in the mirror. “I had a feeling that it would work well with that dress. I’m glad I grabbed it. Want me to do your hair and makeup?” I nodded gently and watched as she loosened the braid I had put my hair in that morning and brushed it out.

  “We miss you a lot, you know,” she said. “We’ve been living together for so many years that I’m not sure we really understood what it was going to be like to be separated. And, much as I’ve liked Ethan the few times I’ve been around him, I’m still a bit upset that he got you and we didn’t. I miss Joy and I having sole custody.”

  I laughed. “I’m not your pet or your kid. Plus, we needed to move on at some point. You and Joy are going to be fine. And I have time and space to paint and draw. It’s wonderful!”

  She smiled at me. “I know. I think you’ve yelled at me more times recently than any other point in our lives because I keep calling when you are working on a picture.”

  “A portrait actually. Of us.” I locked eyes with her. “I’ve missed you guys too. It is a wonderful place to live and work, and I enjoy helping Ethan get his life back under control, but I… it’s quiet. I have so much space and quiet that I’m not sure what to do with it. Heck, I’ve got no idea how Ethan has put up with it all this time. The isolation is pretty intense.”

  “I bet! It probably makes coming back into the company of others even more overwhelming though.”

  I nodded. “It does. I was getting pretty antsy while we drove into the city. Being so surrounded by people and cars and buildings after living in so much empty space and seeing nothing but nature around you? It was almost painful. And I don’t have issues being around others the way he seems to. I left him in a hotel room and came here to oversee things. I figured that he would come when it was time and I could make it easier on him by taking over most of the responsibilities.”

  Bloom hummed and finished twisting my hair up into a loose structure that framed my face well while showing off my neck and jewelry. Then she turned me around and started pulling out eye shadow, brushes, and foundations. It was relaxing, letting her take care of me. For years, she had been the one who did our hair and make-up for every special event Joy or I attended. Heck, she did them for our mother as well. Mom was always busy being the best lawyer in town and then the mayor. She would take every other term off so that new blood was given a chance and then go back when everyone begged her to fix things. It meant long hours and lots of mothering from my older sisters instead of from my actual Mother. I didn’t’ resent it though. She was amazing, taking care of us while being a widow with very little money.

  Anyway, when Bloom turned me around to look again, I was wearing gold eye shadow, my eyes outlined with thin lines of black and my lips were a shimmery nude tone. It was natural and polished looking but still appropriate for the event.

  “Thanks sis.” I said as I hugged her tightly.

  “No problem. Tonight is just as much about you as about him. You will be under some intense scrutiny and you need to give the right impression.”

  “And what impression is that?”

  “That you are self-possessed and nothing like his ex. No one wants to see him with another JJ. You are dressed appropriately, but not done up and overblown. It is a subtle line, but I know you can walk it!”

  I snorted. “Not in these heels I can’t. A
t this point I’ll be lucky if I can limp by the end of the night.”

  ~

  I couldn’t believe the crowd that was in attendance. Not that I doubted the draw Ethan’s art had. It was so full of emotion and so thought provoking that it transcended style preferences and appealed to a huge variety of people, including almost every modern art critic out there. Still, I’d been to several art shows when I was still working for JJ and they had never been as full of people!

  Then I realized that in addition to showing the art, there were also several pieces that were up for auction to raise funds for charity. Ethan was always working to help out children’s hospitals and this was no exception. I couldn’t wait to see how his did. I’m not usually competitive, but in this case I wanted to see my boss beat everyone else. Petty? Probably, but I figured that he needed whatever encouragement he could get.

  I was circulating through the room, listening to people’s assessments of the various pieces of artwork when I heard something I wasn’t expecting.

  “I will never understand why people enjoy looking at Ethan’s pieces. They are so unpolished! I mean, where is the delicacy? The refinement? It is all brute strength and brashness!”

  Apparently someone had invited JJ and forgotten to inform her ex. Most likely it was the same woman who stole all the information after being fired. I was beginning to wonder what exactly she had done to get fired. I was starting to think she was a thief or had slept with the wrong person or something.

  While I was wondering about the former employee, JJ had kept going. “He should have stuck to jewelry. His jewelry is divine. I don’t think anyone else really knows how to handle pearls, not like he does.” She sighed and played with her necklace, something I knew for a fact that Ethan had not made. I was there when she purchased it while he was building a guesthouse for someone who had just lost theirs.

  “Excuse me,” said the woman JJ had been speaking to. Apparently she was done with the spoiled model. Ex-model, really. I’d heard she wasn’t getting any more modeling gigs because her attitude was so poor. She’d had to resort to finding a job that wasn’t based off of looks. And that wasn’t an insult to models. There are many that are highly intelligent as well as beautiful and kind. The modeling industry was never the problem. JJ’s idea of what modeling meant was. She thought that as long as she was beautiful and people wanted her, she was a success.

  If only someone had warned her that attitude will alter how people perceive you.

  The woman had walked in my direction, bringing JJ’s attention squarely on me. Or rather, my dress.

  “Is that a Francesca Mizetti? I love her designs. They are always so flattering, even on… other body types.” The implication was all in her tone, that I was too fat to really look good in the dress. Then she looked up and saw who I was. “Agatha? What are you doing here?”

  I blinked. “I work for Mr. Black. I’m his personal assistant. It was thought that my familiarity would help things move along without the typical slow period that a new employee incurs while they train.” The distant tone was second nature when I spoke to her. JJ was a predator that liked to use any weakness to take advantage. Emotions were best left to the side.

  She started laughing. Not quiet, gentle laughs, but giant guffaws that drew most of the room’s attention our way. At that point I realized that she’d had a little to drink and was buzzed. She, unfortunately, had a low alcohol tolerance and was a mean drunk and a vicious person even when she was only buzzed.

  “You? How did you trick him into that? Everyone knows how awful you were at your job. I only kept you around because of the benefits of your sisters’ company. They were rising up and made my parties complete successes. Not that they are worth much anymore. You were just there to help serve the appetizers. And Ethan? What does he need an assistant for? Are you there to warm his bed?” She eyed me with disgust. “He must be desperate if he has to bed a cow like you. But then again, I suppose I ruined him for everyone else.”

  “I don’t think this is an appropriate place to discuss it.”

  “Well tough. I have had enough of your snark and looking down on me. I know you think I’m stupid, but I’m not. I noticed you eyeing everything I had and wanting it. My clothes, my shoes, my jewelry, my husband. You want to be me but honey, you can’t there is only one Jacintha Jonquil Dove and she will never be dethroned. Remember that next time you try and get above your station.”

  I frowned. “My station? What station? This isn’t the 1700s. I’m not a slave or a servant. I mean, I work for your ex-husband, but that doesn’t make me a lower life form or something. And Miss Dove? You might want to consider laying off the alcohol if you don’t want to become known for making scenes in public places.”

  It was quiet all around us, and she seemed to realize what was going on. JJ shrunk a bit before deciding to go all in.

  She straightened her back, nearly flashing the place with her barely-there cocktail dress and glared at me. “I resent that implication. And I will make a scene if that’s what it takes to make you realize that you aren’t worth the air you breathe.”

  “Enough,” declared a low voice from behind JJ. Ethan stepped forward and stalked toward her. “This is an art show, not the place or time to bring up petty arguments. JJ, you are out of line verbally assaulting my employee. Any employee. You need to back off or I will have you thrown out of this event. We both know that you aren’t really upset with her. It’s me you’re angry with and that is something that should be hashed out in private.”

  JJ puffed herself up, reminding me of a broody hen. “You don’t get to tell me what to do anymore, Ethan. You never did. I am independent and don’t need a nursemaid to tell me where to go and how to live my life. You were a mistake and I don’t plan on making it again, so you can stop seeking me out!”

  He laughed, but it was cold sounding, making me realize that JJ was the one being seen as prey. “You are at my show looking at my exhibit. I didn’t invite you. My name was on all the promotional materials, so it’s not like you were oblivious to it. Even if you were, you could have avoided my industry and stayed away, but you didn’t. You entered my domain to mock me in front of my clients and customers and then insulted my employee–“

  “She was my employee first!”

  “Insulted my employee and now you want to pretend that I’m the one looking for ways to get back into your bed. A bed, I might add, that I was never in in the first place!” A gasp rose from the captive audience and JJ paled, realizing just how much her plan had backfired. Everyone knew about her affair. She’d made certain of that. Not everyone realized that the divorce had actually been an annulment, but they were starting to get the picture. Before she could say anything, though, Ethan continued. “Now, do you still want to talk about our private lives in public, or do you want to back away peacefully and let this go? Because I have no reputation to ruin. You saw to that. You on the other hand still live and work in this town. You might want to be more cautions before creating a scene.”

  Then, he walked away passing by me and grabbing my arm as he went . I followed docily, trying not to attract further notice, but fully aware of the eyes that were on us. Ethan pulled us out the back door and into the cool night air before letting go.

  “Thank you.” He said gruffly as he leaned against the wall. “You stood up for both of us and sought to defuse the situation, but you didn’t back down when she went on attack. That takes guts and shows your loyalty quite nicely at the same time.”

  I laughed. “Believe me, there are a lot of things I want to say to her, but that wasn’t the place to do it. Too many ears that would twist it to suit her own purposes. I don’t want to live my life in the tabloids or the gossip columns. Unfortunately, she does. Any press is good press in her mind.”

  He groaned. “Basically. That woman is a menace. I need to go apologize to the gallery owner. I hope it won’t affect the auction. Those kids need all the money we can raise.”

  “I doubt it
will. Everyone knows who was at fault. No one likes her, they just tolerate her and even that is quickly fading.” I stretched my arms over my head and then shrugged my shoulders, trying to get rid of the tension.

  “I like the necklace,” Ethan said softly.

  I looked down at it and blushed. “Thanks. You do good work.”

  He nodded and then paused, thinking something over. Finally, he looked me in the eyes and said, “It looks much better on you than it did on JJ.”

  I frowned. “What do you mean? She gave me this as a Christmas bonus.”

  Ethan snorted. “No, she gave it to you to annoy me. That was an early Christmas present I made her, but she got into an argument with me over something stupid and decided to give it away to show me how much she didn’t need my generosity. And she gave it to you.”

  I touched the pearls and thought over that time, realizing that I’d missed the undertones because I was so excited about the gift. “I’m sorry. I didn’t know.” I moved to take it off, but Ethan stopped me.

  “No, leave it on. It looks good on you Agatha.”

  “Aggy.” I cleared my throat and continued. “You can call me Aggy.”

  He responded with a sharp nod and took my arm to escort me back into the building.

  After all, we still had the auction to attend.

  ~

  Things were very strange when we split up to start circulating again. For one thing, I had to put down about ten outrageous rumors about Ethan and his artwork.

  “I heard he goes into a fugue state and doesn’t notice when someone else is there. That he almost killed someone because of it,” one guest said, looking for verification.

  “No, not at all. He’s actually hyperaware of what’s going on around him. He works with fire and metal most of the time, so it gets loud and very dangerous. He is always very careful to make sure people understand that and installed several methods for us to make our presence known without actually going into his workshop.”