Private Acts Read Online Free PDF Page B

nodded his agreement.
    “I met him last night at the bar where I go to sing karaoke, but I didn’t know he was the artist you referred to as Delgado.” Samirah’s contract required her to be available to the Hills at night should they need her, but they did allow her the indulgence of going to karaoke once per week for a couple of hours.
    She went to the kitchen to finish the dinner preparation.
    “At karaoke?” Geneva asked in an incredulous voice.
    Samirah smiled at the woman’s tone. “He said he and Seth are friends.”
    “Oh, that makes more sense. I couldn’t imagine him participating in Karaoke Night.”
    Thomas chuckled. “Certainly not. He doesn’t strike me as the type.”
    “True. He tends to keep to himself—a very low key young fellow. His sculptures are wonderful, though. The large ones are my favorites, Samirah. They’re huge and depict the life of the indigenous people of Ecuador . Beautiful. Absolutely beautiful.”
    Samirah retrieved dinner rolls from the oven and set them on a cooling rack on the counter. “How much do his pieces sell for?” she asked, as she brushed melted butter and honey across the tops of the hot bread.
    “It’s obscene. Absolutely obscene,” Geneva said, though Samirah could hear the adoration in her voice. “I heard he sold one of his pieces to a private European collector last year for almost a hundred thousand dollars.”
    Samirah’s movements stilled. “No way.”
    “It’s true,” Thomas confirmed. “The deal was struck in Miami , and apparently a bidding war broke out between the two collectors, which inflated the price. The European collector won, and he had his personal curator fly into Miami to complete the purchase and accompany the sculpture back to… Spain , I think.”
    “I’m in the wrong business. I shouldn’t be cooking, I should be sculpting!”
    “You and me both!”
    The three of them laughed.
    From the corner of her eye, Samirah saw Geneva nudge Thomas.
    After clearing his throat, Thomas said, “Samirah, my dear, I have an awfully big favor to ask of you.”
    “Thomas, if you begin like that, she’s bound to say no.”
    He sighed. “We told you about the fundraiser at the University of Cuenca to benefit the arts. Well, we had purchased two tickets before Geneva ’s accident. It’s little more than a week away, and she won’t be up to attending, of course.” Regret filled his voice.
    “But he can go,” his wife added.
    “I’d rather not go without you and leave you here alone.” Samirah smiled at the sweetness behind Thomas’s words.
    “I’ll be fine.” Geneva took over the conversation. “Samirah, my dear, we thought you might like to go to the event with Thomas—keep him company, and then we won’t waste the other ticket. You can keep an eye on him for me to keep the floozies away.”
    Samirah choked back a giggle. She couldn’t recall the last time she’d heard the word floozy—if ever. “I would love to go.” She halted her preparations. “I’m guessing it’s a formal event?”
    “Black tie is required, so you’ll need a nice cocktail dress or a gown.”
    “Shouldn’t be a problem. I could go to the mall and shop for an outfit.”
    She was almost four hundred dollars richer after her karaoke win, which meant she could afford to splurge on herself. The last time she’d been to an event that required she get dressed up was when her sister and husband renewed their vows four years ago. It might be fun to get dressed up and mingle with a different crowd.
    “Splendid!” Geneva said. “But since we’re asking such a big favor of you, take time off tomorrow to go shopping.” She beamed happily. “You’ll have such a lovely time, Samirah. We’ve gone the past few years, and I must say I’m always impressed by all the lovely art the students produce. They donate original pieces, and at the end, they’re auctioned to raise money. The auction has grown quite a bit, and this is the first time it’s