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"Speaking of s…Ivan, you’ve just re Aren’t you on the executive board at the National Gallery?"

Ivan snorted "Yeah, you could say that Why? And I’ll pretend you didn’t just insult ht, cousin" I rolled irlfriend studies art conservation at University of London She’s American and needs a work visa to stay here indefinitely"

"Wait Back your arse up Did you just say your ‘girlfriend’? The elusive Blackstone is off the market? How is this possible, et harassed the hed a little aardly "I hardly know, but yeah, she’s brilliant at restoring paintings and she really loves what she does And I really don’t want her visa expiring…"

"I hear you, E I’ll ask There’s this event co up at the National actually The Mallerton Society--"

"Oh yeah, she toldon one of Mallerton’s paintings actually I know Brynne can explain it much better than me I’ll introduce her and you’ll see what Ithe Aht-stand circuit"

"Please don’t tell her that when you meet her or I’ll have to look the other way at all those charularly frohed at me "You know, E, if you want her here indefinitely all you have to do is marry her and she won’t need a work visa"

My mind went on over-capacity the second he said the words "ie from the desk drawer

"You did not just say that to noraI’ve heard all year co from your hed soe was an immense cock-up doesn’t mean yours will be, E"

We’ve definitely reached the end of this conversation, Ivan I’ when I pulled the receiver away fro I looked forward to and today was no exception Everything was good until that text cah on her et her in hts

I pulled into the Rothvale lot, parked and watched the doors where she would exit the building;at ination with all kinds of e…seriously?! How about an exclusive, co anyone had never been on my life list I just didn’t see such a future in my cards and never had The institution itself held my utmost respect, but in all likelihood a person with e would be, most certainly an epic fail as a husband There was soso far back, I could hardly separate to a tiht have turned out normal

My sister was married, and very happily too, with three beautiful children Hannah and Freddy were a standard to aspire to I suppose, I’d just never thought to My sister had done the dorandchildren, and basically gottento compete I mean, Hannah did it so well there was no need for me to feel the pressure

I decided to call her while I waited for Brynne to co