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“Yeah, okay, but see”—I placed randmother is in the ICU, and I aet ahold of , so , and I am panicked and scared and—”

Tears streamed down my cheeks as the receptionist reached across to me and placed her hand on top of mine Her eyes were filled with care “What’s his name, sweetheart?”

“Da at my eyes “Damian Blackstone”

She began typing on her computer and frowned “He’s not here”

Then where are you, Damian?

“Thank you”

I went back to the waiting roos and swollen ankles

Hours passed, and Gra because she wasn’t randh to pass The next day during a break fro at the hospital, I headed to Damian’s work office to see if he was in I’d never been there and didn’t know the receptionist, but when I walked in, he sely

“Hi there You’re Stella, right?” he asked, looking up toward me

“Yes I’m sorry How did you know…?”

“Oh, sorry I’m Peter We haven’t met, but Da”

“My artwork? You’ve seen it?”

“Yeah, every day It’s all over Damian’s office”

“What? Can I see it?”

“Of course I doubt he’d mind Follow me” Peter stood from his desk and ledfive pieces of ht months before On his desk sat business cards for ive out to clients who came into his office

I was starting to think I knew exactly where all of my commission projects came from

“You’re outstanding You’re working on a piece forback and forth for a while,” he said “That was Daift to all of his employees—custom pieces from you”

“How many people work for Damian?”

“Just five of us”

Five As in the five coo

Damian, where are you?

“Oh, s have become a bit tricky in my life”

“It’s okay I’ht?”