The Art of Zen, page 3
“You, me, and The Chadwick,” Vivian stated.
“Is this your new name for him?”
“I kind of like it.”
“You make him sound like a powerful force to be reckoned with.”
“I bet he is in bed.”
“I’m hanging up now.”
Tia cut the connection and set the phone down with a shake of her head and a snort of laughter. Vivian took every opportunity to bring up her sex life. Or lack thereof. She couldn’t get Vivian’s comments out of her head. Not the ones about The Chadwick, as she was referring to Spencer now, but the ones about her last relationship. Two years of her life were spent trying to please a man with his own sexual hang-ups and in return, he created some of her own.
“Blech,” she scoffed. Her eyes snapped shut as she indulged in a creepy shiver. She opened the takeout box and sighed when the aroma of bacon and potatoes hit her senses. Her sigh deepened when she tasted the bacon crisped to perfection, just the way she liked it. Vivian struck a chord with her by bringing up Robert. A man she was happy to forget. That door was closed. She liked to think she learned from the relationship, but she knew she hadn’t fully healed from the experience. The only way to do that would be to do exactly what Vivian kept encouraging her to do. Jump in bed with a man at the next opportunity. Or a woman, Vivian advised more than once.
“No, thank you, Vivian. Women may be your cup of tea, but I’ll take a hard penis any day over that.”
She picked up her takeout box and took it back to the living room with her. Settling on the couch, she enjoyed the silence of her loft and stared out the windows at the only city she had ever loved. Scrambled eggs, bacon, country potatoes, and cabernet were a perfect combination for her Sunday brunch for one. She shook off thoughts of the man who had caused her so much heartache. Yes, that door was now closed. When thoughts of meeting with Spencer Chadwick on Tuesday became prominent in her mind, she wondered if she’d be opening a door to a whole new slew of problems.
Chapter 3
As the taxi neared their destination, Vivian made another perusal of Tia’s attire. She loved Tia’s style and had always admired her chameleon ways. Tia followed her passion in all areas of her life, including fashion. Vivian had seen sophistication, formal, sexy, bohemian. She guessed today’s passion was for the homeless. Tia sat next to her wearing faded loose jeans with frayed cuffs and holes at the knees. She wore a white ribbed tank top which she had knotted at her waist to reveal her midriff. Under the threadbare fabric of the tank, she wore a black bra. Her hair was piled up into a careless bun, loose tendrils brushed her shoulders. The only thing that saved her from looking completely unruly was her jewelry and her shoes. Delicate gold chains hung around her neck. Matching bracelets adorned her wrists. On her earlobes were dainty gold hoops studded with rubies. Her stilettos would add a good four inches to her height, and their value could feed the homeless for days. Tia always kept her on her toes with her fashion choices. Vivian never knew who she was going to get.
“You know I love you,” Vivian began.
“Here comes a lecture,” Tia sighed.
“Not a lecture. I just wish you hadn’t chosen to go so casual today.”
“Sorry. I couldn’t find my lesbian power suit.” She winked playfully as she looked Vivian up and down. “I do like the skirt with that blazer instead of the pants, and great shoes. They’re a sexy, feminine touch.”
“Thanks,” Vivian drawled with sarcasm. “I try to keep my butch level to a minimum.” She shifted on her seat to face Tia. “Honey, I get it, you’re a free agent, but a semblance of professionalism would have been more appropriate.”
“There’s nothing wrong with what I’m wearing.”
“Maybe next time you choose this outfit, you could throw a jacket on to pull it together,” Vivian suggested.
Tia gave her a sidelong glance as the taxi stopped in front of a building. “He’s the one who wants me. I can dress however I want.”
“I guess,” Vivian mumbled. She paid the driver and slid out of the car to stand next to Tia.
Hands on their hips, they studied the brick structure with tall front windows that were trimmed in thick black iron.
“Good.” Tia nodded. “Maybe the wall he wants to be painted is brick and I won’t be able to do it.”
“Don’t be so negative. This could be perfect for you.”
“How so?”
“Steady work and guaranteed income.”
“I don’t like to commission work, and I don’t know if I like-”
“The Chadwick?” Vivian interrupted. “Get over it. You’re not applying for a job. This isn’t an interview. You’re an independent artist who can pick the jobs she wants. Plus, this is the restaurant, not his office. I’m sure he’s in a swanky high-rise in Manhattan. You’ll probably never see him. The money is going to be right on this, trust me.”
“You worked up the pricing?”
Vivian patted her black leather tote. “It’s all right here.”
“Ok,” Tia sighed. “Let’s get this over with.”
Vivian opened the door and let Tia walk in ahead of her. Their heels clicked on the hardwood floor as they entered. The space was under construction, but Tia could see the beauty of it. On a far wall was a bar. A swinging door next to it displayed a sign for the kitchen. The empty space where they stood would serve as the dining room. Tia turned in a slow circle, taking it all in. She faced a large, smooth blank wall, and knew it was the canvas for the mural. She couldn’t explain it, but her fingers itched to put her creation on it. It felt right, but she wasn’t about to admit that. She glanced to her right when she heard footsteps.
Dressed in a black suit paired with a grey silk tie, Spencer walked into the room followed by a tall, muscular man with smooth olive skin and a buzz cut.
Vivian gave Tia a grin and a gentle nudge. “My God, they’re both gorgeous,” she whispered.
Before Tia could respond, the man behind Spencer gave Vivian a cocky grin, then said something in Spanish. Tia’s eyes popped open wide and her jaw dropped. She let out a laugh when the man saw that she understood what he said and blushed a deep shade of red. “Sorry,” Tia chuckled. “She’s into chicks.”
“What?” Vivian looked between Tia and the handsome stranger. “What did he say?”
“He thinks you’ve got great tits,” Tia answered. She stepped forward and extended her hand. “Tia,” she introduced herself.
“Carlos.” He cleared his throat and lowered his eyes when Spencer glared at him. “My apologies.”
“None needed.” Vivian shook his hand with confidence. “I’ll accept the compliment. Good morning, Spencer.”
“Good morning,” he greeted as he shook both their hands. “Carlos is overseeing the design of the restaurant and creating the menu. He also has no manners.” Spencer raised his brows at Tia. “You speak Spanish?”
“I don’t speak it but I do understand it.”
He nodded. “Good to know. That could come in handy if we end up working together.” He pointed behind Tia. “This is the wall. It’s nothing fancy.” He grinned at Tia. “Yet.”
“When is the restaurant opening?”
“Projected to open in five months. Is that enough time to get the mural done?”
“If I decide this is a good fit, I could get it done in half that time. Does this place have a name?”
“Not yet,” Spencer admitted. “Ainsley is giving me some ideas. Right now her front running suggestion is ‘Ainsley’s’. I said no, so we’re at a standstill.”
“Is there a theme to the restaurant?” Tia asked, trying to get a vision for the mural.
“No specific theme. It’s a cocktail bar with unique appetizers and dishes Carlos is creating. It will have low lighting, a high-end, yet casual feel about it.”
“A place for after dinner drinks, or date nights on weekends?” Tia inquired.
“Exactly,” Spencer answered. “Let’s go back to my office and talk.”
“Your office?” Vivian asked when Tia wrinkled up her nose. “Do you have a room set aside for when you check up on a project?”
“No.” Spencer nodded to Carlos when he excused himself for the kitchen and gestured for Tia and Vivian to follow him. “I office onsite when a restaurant is under construction.” He walked down a long hallway off the common area and held a door open for them to walk through. “When this is done, I’ll set up shop at the next one.”
“And between projects?” Vivian asked.
“I office at home. No sense having the cost of a lease at one particular place when I’m on the go so much. Please, have a seat.” Tia and Vivian sat down in matching chairs as Spencer settled at his desk. A firm believer in not wasting time, he cut to the chase. “I presume you’ve worked up the numbers?”
“Yes.” Vivian reached into her soft leather bag and produced a manila folder with the paperwork. She passed it to him and jumped into business talk. One professional recognized another, and she was anxious to get this deal going for her client.
Spencer perused the costs Vivian had drafted. “This is all very standard and right along what I was thinking it would cost.” He glanced up and looked at Tia. “I’ve done my research.”
“Are you considering any other artists?” Tia wondered.
“Ainsley won’t hear of it. You have quite the fan in her, and with her circle of friends, I’m confident her word will increase your income. If you feel like you’re in demand now, just wait until after her dinner on Saturday. She’s thrilled you’re attending.”
Tia bit her tongue on that subject. She wasn’t that thrilled, but a night out with Vivian was always fun. She felt the air of professionalism and while she understood it, she wasn’t quite comfortable with it. Creation was her strong suit. Her thoughts were all over the place, sparking random emotions. One minute, she was itching to get her hands dirty and get an image onto that blank wall. Any image. The next minute, she was annoyed just by Spencer’s presence. What was it about this man that made her uneasy? Yes, he was handsome and successful, but he was too close to perfect. Tia didn’t like perfect. He was charming and smooth in how he talked numbers and liabilities with Vivian. Tia didn’t like smooth. Spencer Chadwick wasn’t her type by any means, even though Vivian insisted that a personality like his belonged with a personality like hers. That made no sense to Tia, at all. Spencer was probably the kind of man who hated messes and would go to extremes to keep things in order. A sudden image of him cleaning up crumbs behind her while she ate popped into her head. With a snort of laughter, Tia shook her head and pulled a sketchpad out of her bag.
“Something amuses you?” Spencer asked, all business.
“No,” Tia responded as she began to draw. “You two continue.”
“Wouldn’t you like to be a part of this?”
“I am a part of this, and I trust Vivian.”
Spencer did his best to keep the annoyance out of his features. The muscle in his jaw ticked as he clenched his teeth and turned back to Vivian. He opened his mouth to speak, only to snap it shut when Tia spoke up.
“I’ll need supplies,” she said with her focus on her drawing.
“Yes, of course,” Spencer agreed. “Vivian has them factored into the proposal-”
“A ladder, a projector, scaffolding,” Tia interrupted.
His brow furrowed as she listed her items. “Scaffolding?”
“How tall are the ceilings?”
“Twenty feet,” he answered.
“How do you expect me to reach the top?”
“Is that safe? That’s awfully high.”
“And I can’t handle it, why?” Tia looked up from her drawing with a scowl. “Because I’m too short, or because I’m a woman?”
“Because of liability,” Spencer answered. “I was prepared to bring someone in to paint the top. With your instruction, of course.”
“No one touches my work but me. You want a Tia Zen original, that’s what you’ll get. I work alone,” she stated firmly and directed her attention back to her drawing.
Vivian smiled at Spencer then leaned over to Tia, speaking for her ears only. “When did you become such a feminist?”
Tia spared Vivian a glance and set her sketchpad face down on her lap. “What are you thinking for the mural?”
“Ainsley wants a skyline of the city.”
“Are you two married?” Tia asked, then added quickly, “Not that it’s my business.”
“It’s not,” Spencer answered tightly. “But no, we’re not.”
“Huh,” Tia mused. “Yet she’s naming the place and picking the mural theme. May as well be married.”
“I happen to agree with her on the mural.”
“A skyline of New York City in a restaurant in New York City. How original,” Tia muttered.
“You’ll have to forgive my client,” Vivian chimed in. “She seems to have gotten up on the wrong side of the bed today.”
“I’m sorry,” Tia offered... even though she wasn’t. “A skyline is so simple.” She flipped a page in her sketchbook and moved her pencil quickly over the sheet, then turned it to face both Spencer and Vivian. On the paper was an outline of the New York City skyline. “I don’t do simple.” She flipped to another page and began another sketch.
“Then what do you suggest?” Spencer asked. He looked at Vivian and raised his brows in question when Tia didn’t answer him.
“If you wait her out, we’ll be here forever,” Vivian chuckled. “I don’t like it when she’s temperamental, but there’s something you need to know about our artist. She thinks in images. She’s explained that when they come to her, she needs to get them out. It’s what makes her such a good artist.”
“I asked her a question, I’m waiting for an answer.”
“Don’t talk about me like I’m not here,” Tia said.
“Don’t escape into your little world like I’m not here,” he countered.
“I’m not escaping. What Vivian said was accurate. Even though I don’t appreciate it when she calls me temperamental, I do think in images. I’m guessing you think in numbers.”
“That’s correct,” Spencer answered.
Tia shuddered. “How boring for you.”
“How messy for you,” Spencer stated.
“Oh, my.” Vivian sat back with a grin. “This is going to be fun.”
After another five minutes of grueling silence, Tia finally looked up from her sketch and placed the pad on Spencer’s desk. “As cliché as I think it is, here’s a very rough idea of what I see. The skyline serves as the main focus of the mural, but if you want to do something “New York”, do it right. I think it should include Central Park, Times Square, the theater district, ice skaters at Rockefeller Center, shopping, hot dog vendors, taxis, the Brooklyn Bridge, and so on.”
If the drawing Spencer was looking at was rough, he couldn’t wait to see the final product. In the short amount of time she had been drawing, as annoying as it was, Tia had captured exactly what he wanted for the mural. Though he was eager to get her started, he was a smart businessman and knew not to let that excitement show. He gave Tia a curt nod and reached for the sketchpad when she pulled it out of his reach.
“What are you doing?” She placed the pad in her lap and held it in place with a protective hand.
“I need to show that to Ainsley for final approval.”
“Tia.” Vivian placed her hand on her arm. “It’s in the paperwork. You have to give him the sketch so it can be studied for final approval. I know you hate parting with your work,” she said quickly when Tia began to protest. “It’s just one sheet of paper.”
“It ruins the entire notebook,” she grumbled. It was hard enough to part with the quick drawing of Earl on Sunday, now she had to give one to Spencer. With a roll of her eyes and an overdramatic sigh, she carefully removed the page from the pad and placed it on Spencer’s desk with a huff. “Fine. Show that to the missus.”
“We’re not married,” Spencer reminded her. “But yes, I will show it to her tonight. She’s very excited about this. That being said...” He shuffled the papers on his desk and held out a pen for Vivian. “Do we have a deal?”
“Tia?” Vivian questioned.
Tia looked between Vivian and Spencer. They both waited patiently for her to answer. The child in her wanted to pout and say no, simply to make Spencer squirm a bit. Polished, tidy people needed a little chaos in their lives, in her opinion. As much as she wanted to play the temperamental artist, she didn’t have the energy to be so irascible. Now that she had done a rough sketch, she could see the final work in her mind and was anxious to put her mark on that wall. She knew what the contract entailed. Vivian had gone over it in detail. Her supplies were included in the cost and the price was well worth her time and talent. She gave them both a subtle nod, accepted the pen from Vivian, and signed the contract.
“Perfect,” Spencer said as she passed the pen to him and he signed the document next to her name. “I’ll be in touch in a few days, and I’ll see you both on Saturday.”
Vivian and Tia stood up at the same time. Handshakes and surface pleasantries were extended to say goodbye. “We’ll see ourselves out,” Vivian stated.
They walked out of his office and into the restaurant. Tia stopped to stare at the blank wall for a few minutes. She could see her work there and was already proud of what she knew would be an impressive creation. They turned when the kitchen door opened and Carlos appeared, drying his hands on a white hand towel.
“Ladies,” he greeted with a smile. “Are we in business?”
“We are,” Vivian answered proudly. She slipped her arm around Tia’s shoulders and gave her a squeeze. “You’ll be seeing a lot more of her soon.”
“What about you?” he asked Vivian and wiggled his eyebrows with a grin.
Vivian gave him a playful wink. “I’ll be sure to come around often and give you a peek.”
“You sure I can’t change your mind on liking chicks? One hour with me, you’ll forget all about the ladies.”
