Page 104 of Blue Gold

I nodded, knowing there was nothing else I could say to make me sound less of a failure.

“I will be frank with you.” He scratched his jaw. “I saw some of your covers before, and I wasn’t at all interested. Don’t get me wrong. You’re beautiful, perhaps as beautiful as one can be, but what’s the point of perfection in an industry that is all about reinvention? Art is not about perfection, tesoro, but the beauty in its absence.”

The more Vito talked, the smaller I felt, and if only I could have run back to Daniel’s arms and forgotten all about this failure⁠—

“But then someone told me, or more likely urged me, to meet this young French model with sapphire eyes in person.”

My breath caught in my throat.

Sapphire eyes. My heart paused because there was only one man who… Could it be?

“That person turned out to be right because clearly—” Vito leaned forward. “—there’s more to you than the eye could see, and I’m intrigued to explore it through my art.”

Before his words could fully settle in, Vito got up and reached his hand forward.

“I’d like you to become my muse, Elliot Dufort.”

“Y-you would?” I frowned at him, still seated.

Vito’s lips stretched into a grin before he laughed and muttered something in Italian. “You are truly a unique soul, you know that, right?”

I clutched the chair’s arms, unsure if this was a dream or not, and slowly got up.

“You sure you want me?” I asked, looking at his offered hand.

His smile, thus far cocky, turned soft.

“With time, you’ll learn I never go back on my words.”

Chewing on my bottom lip, I nodded before hurrying to take his hand.

“I-I won’t fail you.”

“You better not.” He released his grip and clapped his hands. “Now, then, let’s go eat lunch. I’m starving.”

He’d already moved to walk away when I spoke. “Shouldn’t we sign a contract or something?”

“Ah… Contracts, how boring.” He snapped his fingers, and then a moment later, the handsome man from earlier popped into the office. “Caleb, make sure our legal team contacts Mr. Dufort as soon as possible.” Vito turned to me. “Do you have a lawyer, tesoro?”

Stunned by how fast things were moving, I blurted, “M-my agent⁠—”

“Nah-ah.” He tsked. “What did I say about agents? I hate them. Fire him.”

Fire Robert?

“Can I do that?”

Vito’s brows rose before he moved closer to me. And despite him reaching my chest, he patted my cheek like I was a little kid. “You’re a Renieri now, bello; you can do whatever you want.”

Could I? Could I really?

Not wanting to ruin this moment of joy with my worries, I said, “There’s a new restaurant that serves oysters not far from here. They say it’s good, almost like in Paris.”

Vito’s lips curved into a wide smile before he patted my back. “You and I are going to get along just fine.”

34

DANIEL