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Rocket waved a hand.  Pfft, no way. Even if I didn t know the two of you as well as I do,
anyone can see it in your art.
She couldn t believe what she was hearing  Our art?
 Twist is all dark and Goth and you re all sweetness and light. You balance each other out
more than any two people I know. You always have. Can t believe it s taken you this long to figure it
out.
While Angel chewed on that mind-blowing concept, Payne rounded the reception desk,
attention locked on her and looking unsurprised at finding her in Twist s arms.
 Angel, I want to see you in my office.
Considering she d quit and there was nothing Payne could do to make her life miserable, she
nevertheless suffered a twang of anxiety. Then she got a quick kiss and encouraging squeeze from
Twist before she followed Payne up the stairs, her mouth unaccountably dry. She d never made
enough trouble at school to earn herself a trip to the headmaster s, but she had a feeling it would ve
felt a lot like being called into Payne s office.
 I m not going to waste your time by beating around the bush, Payne announced as they
entered his spacious office with its floor-to-ceiling windows, massive glass and steel executive desk,
conference table and black leather furniture. His art, recognizable by anyone in the business, hung
framed over a low-slung sofa in a casual conversation area off to the far side of the room. It was as
familiar as her own home, but for the first time she was now merely a visitor there.  I need to know
what it ll take to keep you on at House Of Payne, so go ahead and take a load off. I think we re going
to be here a while.
She blinked before obediently planting herself on the sofa he d indicated, while he took the
overstuffed chair next to her.
 I kind of thought my leaving was already decided, Payne.
 By you and by Scout, but I haven t had a chance to weigh in yet. And before you give me any
grief about not taking you or your resignation seriously, don t, he added when she opened her mouth
to do just that.  You re probably right in saying that no one else on the fucking planet has this much
trouble quitting, but that s only because no one else on the planet is as genuinely irreplaceable as you.
So suck it up. Being hassled about quitting is what you gotta deal with when you re a for-real, I-can t-
afford-to-lose-you special snowflake.
A wealth of gratitude bloomed inside her.  Thanks, Payne.
 Thanks? For a long moment he looked at her with those shrewd hazel eyes of his before he
shook his head and loosed what sounded like a sad sigh.  Geez, look at you. You re actually
surprised I said that.
She really needed to work on her poker face.  Well& kinda.
 You shouldn t be. Your Biker Fairy Tale Princess line was the first internationally famous
tattoo line that came out of the House. You helped build this place up to be what it is, so I ll be
damned if I m going to let you go like the mere thought of it doesn t gut me. Because it does, Angel.
I m sitting here right now, fucking gutted, because your desperation to get out tells me that I didn t
keep this place good and solid and safe for you.
She wouldn t cry. She wouldn t cry&  You were kind of busy making House Of Payne into
what it is.
 Too busy to notice one of the artists that put the House on the map was getting more
miserable by the day? That s no way to run a successful business. The House is only as good as the
people who make it what it is, and you re the best at what you do, Angel. The best. He leaned
forward, elbows on knees and hands laced loosely between them.  I need to know if any of this shit is
fixable.
 Um. Her throat was so tight from holding back tears that it was a struggle to get any words
out.  As lame as it sounds, knowing that I m appreciated for what I do is actually going a long way.
 You are, believe me, came the fervent reply.  What else?
 You know I was having a hard time with Twist, right? At his nod, she lifted a shoulder.
 Away from here, we seem to be figuring ourselves out, which is great. But I ll be honest I have no
idea how we would be if I did decide to come back to work. The way he treated me was the main
reason I wanted to get out of here.
Payne gave her a long, measured look.  Do you know now why he treated you like an
overprotective crazy dude?
 He s explained a lot. She tried to look calm when she could feel her face was about to
explode with heat, and for the millionth time in her life she cursed her fair skin.  Fresh out of prison,
Twist didn t want to rock his place here by getting involved with me even though he wanted to. So he
antagonized me to keep me at arm s length, while still trying to look out for me.
 While still making sure he had your full attention, you mean, he corrected with a sudden
grin.  Sort of like the adult version of the socially awkward little boy pulling on the pigtails of his
crush, the cutest girl in class.
Her brows went up.  You knew?
 Yeah, of course I knew. Guys are simple, Angel. There s not a lot of complexity behind our
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