Jayme nodded slowly. He would’ve preferred if the other had experience, if he was being honest, but perhaps he could test Bathory’s words. Kill two birds with one stone. Later though, perhaps. Charlie gave him a few more suggestions of things he should say.
“Alright. Well then, if you haven’t ever worked in this position before, what made you interested in taking it?”
The tugging at his sleeve became more aggressive as the minutes passed. If his mother were here, she would probably scold him for it. With that in mind, he tried to calm his hand, though every time he did the itch to draw would return. Then he caught Bathory’s eyes on his fidgeting, and embarrassment squeezed his stomach. He looked away and settled for running his fingers through his hair.
Is he doing well so far? The question loomed in his mind. His previous answer probably did not help at all. Neci even wondered if Mister Ashton was already taking the fact he is an immigrant into the account of this. The level of worry was steadily rising, but it fluctuated every time he would glimpse over at Ashton. Thankfully the man's next question brought him back to his senses. Resting his index finger on his bottom lip, he looked off to the side as he thought of an answer. A smile arose as he knew what to say.
"The headline in the ad stood out to me. I'd never seen such a job for hire; it piqued my interest," He explained. "As I said before, I never had such an experience, but something told me that I should try and to call the number that was there. The idea of assisting something who is gifted in art by making a piece in their mind a true reality, to me, is very inspiring. Being their reference, support, and help, I like that. I believe I could do an amazing job by being your model."
Realizing what he had done, he glimpsed away for a second. To be honest, he did not really think much about how he was watching Mister Ashton's movements. It was just a strange little habit he's always had; he always used it, believing it would help him connect to others and remember them more. Neci gave a small nod in apology. "I am sorry for embarrassing you, Sir," He said. "My eyes like to watch people and their movements. Yours remind me of someone I used to know." Chuckling, he gave a reassuring smile.
Jayme let his hand drop to his lap, but strands of hair still fell into his eyes. He jerked his head to get the hair out of the way before focusing on Mr. Bathory again. He made a little ‘hmm’ noise in response, his shoulders bouncing up. Pretty words, though he couldn’t deny that they had an affect on him.
“Well, my specialty is making advertisements,” he chuckled. “But I see what you mean.”
He chuckled again, though this time more nervously, and waved the other man off. “Oh, it’s fine, it’s fine.” Good Lord, how could he tell I was embarrassed? “Do they now? That’s… that’s interesting.”
Clearing his throat, he then paused. Those smiles… if only he could capture them as soon as they came. They made Bathory’s sharp face look so soft. Too bad a camera would be far too expensive. If he had a camera, he may not even be in this situation.
“Ah, let’s see… What kind of environment are you used to working in?”
Neci let his eyes linger down to his own hands for a moment. Eye contact is important to him, but he began to wonder if his was making Mister Ashton uncomfortable. His shoulders tensed up despite his hands laying perfectly on top of one another. The worried feeling lingered within, and yet he managed to keep on a smile.
Mister Ashton's laugh is so uplifting. Is it strange to think of such a thing? It felt so natural to laugh along and grin. The relief on his face stayed for a few seconds until the man's question. His grin faded as he shook his head. "I believe they do not anymore."
Staring off to the side again, he pushed away his other train of thinking, thinking back to his prior work experiences. He wasn't even sure how to describe it. Always running around or coming home restless. Even getting into altercations with others. Neci isn't sure how to start. It was always busy, but never felt like he was doing anything.
"I worked in an environment where one is always on their toes. The job only respects the outcome and not the people who put their everything into producing it. I never really was able to connect with others most of the time. It was always go go go! Now, I do understand there are many places that need it, but I didn't feel needed or wanted in those kinds of places. It simply wasn't a good match for me."
For a moment he was confused by Mr. Bathory’s words until he realized he had answered his rhetorical question. Amusement pulled his lips into a smile, but he didn’t say anything, trying to focus on the answer to the other question. The smile faded, and his brow knotted up in thought.
“Well, this environment is quite different from that, I assure you. The only one who needs to ‘go, go, go’ as you say, is me, as I am the one who needs to work within deadlines. All you would be doing is helping me along. I think…” Jayme shifted in his seat, “Hm. How do you think you would be able to adjust to a change in work environment like this?”
This question was borne from curiosity rather than the script his brother suggested. Considering everything Mr. Bathory has said so far, it felt important to know.
Something felt off to him by the way Mister Ashton looked for a second. He could tell by the familiar facial expression. The urge to apologize filled him, but he stayed silent. Questions where they do not ask for an actual answer; the idea of it is kind of strange to him. It's funny how he still hasn't learned to detect one yet. Instead, the corners of his lips turned into a faint smile.
"Ah…I see," He nodded. In a way, it was a bit relieving to hear. Surely is different from his past jobs. On the other hand, more of the stress seemed to be on Mister Ashton. If Neci does get the job, he wondered how it all would play out. He wondered how Ashton would be when a deadline is near. His focus changed just as he heard the next inquiry.
"Usually, I adjust by doing. In the past, I did not have time to adjust on my own time and at my own pace so I just went on with it. Eventually I would well adjust to it or I would not and try my best, either way I did not immediately quit." He paused for a second. Leaning forward, he clasped his hands together and looked down at the floor. "When I enlisted, it was like I was in a different world. We trained day and night for six weeks. Then when they realized I speak the languages of the enemy, sent me to become interrogator with no training. I had no choice to adjust as I went. Now I think I did good at it because we won and I am here being interviewed by you, but that is up to your own interpretation I suppose."
Jayme put a hand to his chin as he listened, nodding here and there. After all this, he could see why Mr. Bathory was interested in a job like this one, aside from what he said about the headline in the ad. It must be a change of pace for him. A break from the fast pace of factory and military positions. He sympathized, and though Charlie made it sound like his interviewers didn’t give too many personal opinions, Jayme felt the need to be sincere with Bathory.
“I think you did good as well,” he nodded. “To be honest, that is something I admire very much, as I don’t think I would be able to do the same thing.”
He thought of his own time during the war and shook his head. A lot of it was spent making propaganda pieces and posters calling for men to joining the army or buy bonds, as a lot of the companies and magazines that commissioned him had asked for art like that.
“So… was there a time where you made a mistake or error? How did you deal with it?”
Still observing Mister Ashton, he almost got distracted by how the man was positioned. The chin resting on his hand and the nodding. He was listening to him. The fact that Mister Ashton was putting his attention into him was fascinating. It made his eyes faintly light up while he kept smiling. Neci had never expected an interviewer, who may be his boss, to put so much care into their attention as he spoke.
"A mistake….." He muttered to himself. An error that he had made in the past. His eyes looked up to the ceiling as his lips mouthed the word "mistake" over and over till he stopped. There were plenty that he had made this past week, and countless amounts during the war and when he stepped on American soil. But which one would show him resolving something well? A lot of them are cause of mistranslations anyhow, and yet maybe an example of one could work.
"When I worked as a waiter for one of the fancy restaurants downtown, there was this important costumer I was serving. I had a difficult time understanding him, so I ended up giving him the wrong dish. I thought I was right, but I had realized otherwise the moment I set the plate down in front of him," He explained. Shaking his head, he gave a chuckle. "Right away, I apologized and asked one of my colleagues to help me understand the costumer. I took the plate back and then gave the correct one to him. Thankfully he liked it and forgave me, but I still do feel bad about it. I did entertain him with some stories and a conversation to establish a better relationship. It all worked out, he did come back a few times before I left."
Jayme waited patiently as the other man paused to think. He couldn’t blame Bathory for not having a quick, prepared response; after all, this moment allowed him to get a good view of his movement and how he posed. The urge to draw filled him again, but Bathory had his full attention, his gaze fixed on his upturned eyes and the movement of his lips. Jayme’s fingers tingled, but he also had to resist the idea of lifting his fingers from his chin and biting on them.
Once Mr. Bathory had finished, Jayme nodded. “I see, I see.” He smiled a little, pleased. Although it was only one story and fairly simple, it was a good one. As if their telephone call wasn’t already an example, translation errors seemed to be a common occurrence. However, it was because they happened so often that made Mr. Bathory good at resolving them, which, oddly enough, made him a good communicator. All it was is the language barrier, which Jayme felt he could easily deal with. Besides, it was better than his bickering brother.
“Alright,” he said, clapping his hands together. “Now, do you have any questions for me?”
Patient and attentive, he wasn't even sure if he ever came across a boss who had those characteristics. Maybe the Austrian businessman, but still, having an employer who would look right at him as they talk is new.
Oddly enough, Neci still could not believe how he has made it this far despite making so many linguistic mistakes. And for being a translator during the war, yet he really did not want to talk about his mistakes during that time. By looks of Ashton, he was satisfied with the example he used.
Right away, he nodded. Neci already had questions prepared ever since he put the phone down the day before. Well, he already had some from past experiences, but it was also his curiosity that helped him. Although, he probably shouldn't really ask every single question that he has. Bombarding Mister Ashton with his curiosity is something he wishes to refrain from doing.
"I do have a few, but I hope that it's alright with you," He said. "What does a typical work day look like for you? Do you have a set amount of hours or does it vary? Are there any other kind of responsibilities that I would have in my position?"
“Ah, well…” Jayme hesitated. Explaining his typical work day is honestly a little difficult. “I’ll answer that last question first. Often my commissions involve both a subject and prop, so you’d have to hold or touch objects without dropping or breaking them. That’s, uh, that’s actually why there’s so many things in here.” He gestured vaguely around the room. “The living room also acts as a prop room of sorts. Also, I may ask for your critiques on thumbnails, sketches, things I’m deciding on, things like that. Just so that I have an outside opinion, you see.”
After a few moments of thinking, he continued, “I suppose my work day is… deceptively simple. You’d think I just draw and paint all day. But sometimes I have to spend time just planning and thumb-nailing. Seeing what works, what looks good, and what doesn’t. I have to send those sketches to the art departments of the magazines and newspapers that commission me, and see what they think and if it works within their budget and creative vision. Sometimes someone will come over to check on the progress and give feedback. Then when I’m finished, I have to send the piece back to the art department so they they can send it to the printing and publishing department. I… I would say about half of it is the typical drawing and painting, and the other half is answering phone calls, meetings, and sending things to places.”
Then he laughed a little. “Hours vary, if I’m being honest. I get tunnel vision whenever I’m working on something, so I forget…” he trailed off. Maybe this wasn’t the best time to mention that he’d been forgetting to eat and sleep because he was so focused on work. “I forget when to stop,” he amended, dropping his hand from his chin and letting his arm rest on his leg. He lowered his voice. “So I have to be reminded.”
Neci's eyes took a glimpse around the room as Mister Ashton talked about the usage of props. Oddly enough, he didn't really take much of a look around until now. His wandering gaze would not last for long though since he turned his head to look back at the man speaking.
On his right knee, he used his index finger, writing down things he wanted to remember. Props, critiques, and outside opinions. While he was unsure of his capabilities, he wanted to remember everything that he could.
The change in volume of Mister Ashton's voice set of an alarm in his mind. He could sense a bit of fear or possibly embarrassment hanging in the air. Though he was able to sense something, it took him a moment to respond. Moving towards the edge of his seat, he looked at Ashton, giving him a nod as his eyes lit up.
"No worries, sir, it is alright. Work is thrilling and does need to be done, but taking breaks is very necessary for that to happen," He assured, giving a wide grin. "If I am hired then I will do my best to remind you. I can also cook too if you would like to eat something and it's very late in the day. I can stay up for hours on end, but rest is still very important, so I will make sure to remind you when the time is right."
He paused for a second to take a deep breath. The nerves of worry still lingered within, but he kept on smiling. After licking his lips, he chuckled softly. "I used to do the same, but of course I never picked up a brush and all of that, but I understand," He said. "Ah….I do not believe I have any other questions, though I do appreciate you answering mine."
Now it was his heart being squeezed, instead of his stomach. Bathory’s movement caused him to blink in surprise, and that smile, the way his eyes lit up like a hopeful candle. Would it be dramatic to say that it was almost to much for Jayme?
“O— oh no, no, I can’t… I can’t ask you to do that,” he stuttered. What about you? “That’s— that’s very kind and thoughtful of you, but… but, ah. I should be able to remind myself, right?”
The other man was still smiling. He was beautiful, so beautiful. Jayme realized that he had said something to him. “Ah… I see… O— of course.”
For another moment he stared at Mr. Bathory, quite taken with that smile of his. His fingers tingled again. With a huff of nervous, flustered laughter, he took his sketchbook and pencil from the table. “A— actually,” he said, opening up to a blank page, “if you don’t mind, I would to do a little sketch of you before we end this. You’re— in all honesty, you’re very handsome and I want to capture it.”
Then he stopped, realized what he said. “I mean—“ he said quickly, “um, I— nevermind that, just— can I draw you?”
Resting his finger on his lip, he looked up at the ceiling while thinking. After a couple seconds passed by, he gave a shrug then looked back at Mister Ashton with the same assuring grin. "I suppose so, but sometimes people need the help of others to remind them," He added. "You would not be a burden to me on that part so there is no need to worry. The only thing that we need to worry about is ourselves and our wellbeing."
You're very handsome…. Neci was not sure how to respond to that statement. Sure, he has heard people call him handsome before, but this time felt different. His heart skipped a beat. Whether or not it was those words or the way Mister Ashton was looking at him and his little timid laugh, he felt his breath hitched.
It took him a couple of seconds to gather himself back together. He was not sure what it was that he was feeling. Maybe it was just nerves, but he was starting to feel bashful at the same time. Words struggled to form on his tongue. Relaxing back into the sofa, he inhaled deeply then slowly exhaled. Sooner or later, he nodded while beaming. "Of course! I do not see why not, it is your job after all," He chuckled. His eyes were wide, but they hesitated for a second before flickering over to the sketchbook. "How would you like me to pose, Mister Ashton?"
He ran his fingers through his hair again; they were itching more than ever. “You… you make an excellent point, Mr. Bathory. Ah, but I worry anyway.”
The moments of silence, few though they were, were agonizing to endure. Did Jayme make the other man uncomfortable? Did he say something wrong? Perhaps he just didn’t seem very professional. Maybe he just didn’t want to be drawn today. Jayme opened his mouth to apologize.
And then, another beaming grin. Be still, my heart. His mouth slowly closed, a strange feeling burning inside him. He forced a chuckle.
“It’s… not really my job if I’m not getting paid, is it?” He lowered his eyes to his sketchbook, then back at Bathory. “You’re fine where you are, sir.”
He touched the end of the pencil to his lip, trying to shake off the strange mix of feelings in his stomach. He took a deep breath, then studied the other man across from him, but trying not to get distracted. His eyes were so bright, his smile so soft and relaxed. But then Jayme chastised himself, remembering he should start with the entire body first, not the tiny details. He took in Bathory as a whole, noting his now relaxed posture. He looked down and began to lay down the rough strokes, looking up every once in a while to study him again. Soon his anxiety and pumping heart were somewhat forgotten.
Neci could not help but laugh a little at Mister Ashton's question. Giving a shrug, he took a deep breath. He supposed that it is not a job if he isn't being paid, but it has to be something that Ashton enjoys a lot. Otherwise, he would not be spending hours upon hours sketching and painting. His lips parted a little, waiting for him to say something, but any words that were building up suddenly dissolved as he looked across at the other man.
As Ashton began to sketch him, he decided to take advantage of this time to observe him more intently. Throughout the interview, his eyes kept wandering but he knew that he couldn't do it. He needed all his attention in order to do well. At least now, he has the given opportunity to do so.
How breathtaking. It was interesting to see how the worry in Ashton gradually melted away as he became more focused on the sketch. The focus in the other man's eyes was burning. So many small things came to light as he stared at him. Even though Ashton was busy on the drawing and everything was silent, Neci still felt a warm lively aura in the room. It might have been so because his chest felt like it was on fire, but that is besides the point. Sitting still, he did his best to take a deep breath while in pose.
Jayme allowed a smile to grace his lips at Bathory’s laugh. It was contagious, even when it was small and brief.
Once he got the man’s basic figure down, he looked up again and studied him for a moment. His eyes roved over his pleasing figure, then looked down so he could add his curves, musculature, and define his jawline and facial features. He began to mutter to himself as he did so, thinking aloud. “Sharp jaw… and then the sharp nose too… ah, let’s adjust the… the leg…” He flipped his pencil over and erased a little, then went back to drawing. “Then those gorgeous eyes… mn…” More erasing. He wanted to get it right.
There was only the sound of breathing and pencil scratches, and occasionally Jayme’s soft voice. He outlined Mr. Bathory’s hairline and hairstyle and quickly added a bit of detail, then moved onto the clothes. His eyes flicked up every so often, and now they traveled up and down his chest, his arms, his legs. The way his vest hugged his torso, how his slacks formed wrinkles on the underside of his knees and around his crotch. He looked back down, his pencil dancing across the page. “Dress shirt is close fitting, so…. Mn, can’t forget the seams.”
At this point he was adding detail and shading, occasionally looking up to gauge how the lighting from outside interacted with Bathory’s form. He lapsed into silence again. He scribbled in some darkness to his hair and clothes, leaving room for where the light was hitting them.
He looked up one last time. “Ah, the little nick,” he said to himself, and added the scar underneath Bathory’s eye. “Done.” Jayme passed the sketchbook to the other man so he could have a look. “I hope you like it.”
Holding a position was not as hard as he thought it would be or at least, a sitting one. In order to stay, he simply did his best to stay relaxed. Then there was also listening to what Mister Ashton was whispering to himself while going between looking at him then back at the sketchbook. Neci was a bit amused by it, yet he was more amazed at Ashton and how he worked. It was very fascinating to him. And the sounds of his whispers and the pencil against the paper filled the room combating the silence that was hanging in the air.
His eyes stared forward at the wall across from him. Maintaining some focus, he let the rest of his mind wander off. The sound of his heart beating filled his ears, but he attempted to ignore it by listening to the pencil lightly scratching the paper. Blinking, he breathed then watched as Ashton drew the scar under his eye. A soft chuckle managed to escape from his throat.
Cautiously, he took ahold of the sketchbook. He kept his fingertips at the sides of the book, hoping he will not drop it or anything. After glancing over at Mister Ashton, he looked down at the drawing. His eyes widened as his jaw dropped a bit. It was not simply just a drawing. Neci felt like he was staring at his own reflection. The detailing in it was something he had never seen on such a piece of paper. Really the only time he has ever seen anything with such detail was a painting in a museum.
A beam swept across his face the moment he looked back at Ashton. "Like it? I love it!" He burst, laughing a little afterwards. Standing up, he took a step or two towards Ashton before handing him the sketchbook. "It is wonderful. I felt like I was looking into the mirror or at one of those photos. You are amazing, Mister Ashton. Really, you are." As he went to sit back down, he took a slow exhale.
Jayme has heard many compliments to his work before, but hearing it from Bathory somehow made his heart pump and a small grin to spread on his face. Just the way his expression lit up like that when he first saw it made Jayme excited.
He stood and took back the sketchbook, but stayed standing, unlike Mr. Bathory. “Thank you very much sir,” he said. “You were an amazing model.” Here he gave a subtle wink, then realized what he did and quickly looked away. “U— um, I think I will let that conclude our time today. I’ll walk you out.”
What was he doing? Why was this man affecting him so? He needed to get himself together. He drew him, and he’s still as beautiful as ever. Who cares?
Neci froze as he saw Mister Ashton wink at him. His eyes widened a little as he kept his head at a tilt. They lit up with a mixture of what he could only guess as confusion and whatever else he is feeling. The red blush on his face deepened, so he tried to pretend like nothing was going on.
What does it mean? It sent his nerves into some sort of panic. Does it pertain to him possibly getting the job or for another reason? What even would the other reason be? He was not able to think of any other possibilities. Of course his mind was running around making it difficult for him to think.
It took him a couple of moments till he finally stood up. Walking over to Mister Ashton, he ran his fingers through his hair. "Thank for having me, Mister Ashton. I appreciate it," He beamed.
Jayme now avoided all eye contact, all looking upon the man. His body stiffened as utter shame and horror began to slowly fill him now. God, he was so unprofessional. Not only that, he was being extremely inappropriate! The way he said that Bathory was handsome, the way he winked at him, oh how deeply he regretted his actions. If looking upon his beauty made Jayme act this way, then he should never look at him ever again.
He stared just to his left, near to where the door was. “Of… of course, Mr. Bathory. It was my pleasure to meet and speak with you today.” His voice shook a little. “Um, I will call you tomorrow.”
Bending down to set the sketchbook book on the table, he then moved toward the door. As he reached for the doorknob, he felt something soft skirt around his ankles. He looked down, only to find Artemisia mewing at him. He had never been so glad that she had interrupted him before.
“Oh, hello Arty. Say goodbye to the stranger before he leaves,” he said. He watched as the cat twitched her ear at him, looked in Bathory’s direction, and uttered a single, ”Mrow.” Jayme chuckled, then opened the door for the other man.
The sudden change in Mister Ashton confused him. Neci knew he really wanted to say something about it, but he knew that it definitely was not his place. Is it funny to think that he does not mind Ashton's actions at all? Now he is not used to these kind of interactions, and yet, he does not care at the same time. They make him feel something, just the same as Ashton is making him feel. Oh but how it is funny though; he does not know what is going on. His curiosity flourished.
Call tomorrow… He wondered what that means. Maybe Ashton had interviews with other applicants and will make a decision. Whatever it means, he knows that he probably will be up all night thanks to anticipation. The thought of not getting the job too worries him. Suppose he will not be able to sleep because of that as well. There must several things that are on his mind now that will also be in the evening.
"Sounds very good. I'll look forward to it," He said. When he looked over at Ashton, he noticed that the cat had returned. Hearing the cat meow left him in laughter for a couple of seconds. "Thank you, Artemisia. It was a pleasure meeting you," He laughed. Neci had to take a deep breath as he stepped outside. After putting on his hat, he turned around, "And goodbye to you, Mister Ashton. I hope to see you again soon."
He had decided to call tomorrow for a few reasons. Firstly, so he would have time to finish painting Willerman & Co. ad and be free to then send it over to their advertising department. Secondly, to wait and see if anyone else would respond to his own ad calling for a model. Although Bathory had certainly set a very high bar, having more than one model would be beneficial. In particular, a female model. His mother didn’t bicker like his brother did, but she had trouble staying still, and besides, she was getting on in years. Jayme couldn’t really use her any longer when depicting female subjects. Thirdly… Jayme was starting to feel drained from the interview. Funny, it was like he was the one who had been interviewed, not Bathory. All the planning and talking and trying to seem professional had taken a toll on him, and it would take some time before he felt ready to have another social situation like that again.
He had to pick up the cat so she wouldn’t follow Bathory out of the door. His laughter was nice to listen to. At least he didn’t sound uncomfortable from what happened a few moments prior. At least, he hoped…
He finally looked at him again as he turned around. Those bright eyes immediately stood out to him, and he couldn’t pull his gaze away. Still so beautiful. Jayme sighed to himself.
“Goodbye, Mr. Bathory. Thank you again, and I hope to see you again too.” He gave the man a small grin, then shut the door.
With a tip of his hat, he took one more glance at Mister Ashton before the door closed. His breath hitched till he was able to take a deep sigh. Neci went down the stairs and around the corner. A weight was lifted off his chest. Despite his heart still beating at a fast pace, he felt less anxious. Come to think of it, he did not really feel as anxious as he thought he would be the whole time. Sure there was that feeling whenever he looked at Ashton, but it was not jitters or anything.
He decided to not take a taxi back to his apartment. After the interview, he needed some time to reconvene. The walk back to his place was only twenty minutes or so. It is not that bad compared to the walks he had to take when he was a child from downtown Budapest to his old home was much longer. The sun was still high in the sky. People were still bustling around, trying to get from place to place. It is like a moving painting that he could experience in front of his eyes. If there was one thing that the war had taught him, it would be to appreciate the settings around him.
On the way home, he kept thinking back to the interview. His mind fixated on all the moments where Mister Ashton complimented his looks, gazed at him for too long, and even when the man winked at him. Then there was also the moments where he let his eyes linger for more than a moment. A shiver ran down his spine as his heart almost leaped out of his chest. All this reminiscing caused him to miss a turn.
Even when he got home, his cheeks were still relatively warm. Once he took of his shoes, coat, and hat, he went over to the bedroom and collapsed onto the bed. Although Neci did not want to think about anything, his mind was still going on about the interview and getting a call from Mister Ashton tomorrow. Well, he will definitely be at Zente and Estelle's again. On another note, he would have to tell Ashton about his own telephone if he were to get the job. Will he get it? Maybe…Maybe not… Looks like he will have to wait and see.
He set Artemisia down, then let out a deep exhale. Perhaps he should lie down, but he didn’t want to when there was work to be done. He moved in the direction of the studio room when he caught his mother descending the stairs.
“Is he gone?” She asked, leaning her head to peer into the living room. “God certainly blessed him with his looks, eh?”
“Yes,” Jayme vaguely agreed.
She turned back to look at him. “Is there something wrong? Was he not what you were hoping for?”
This snapped him back into focus. “What? No, no, he was wonderful.” He remembered the actions he regretted and decided not to mention that. “Um, the only thing was that he didn’t have previous experience.”
Her eyebrows disappeared into her frizzy red hair. “Really? You’d think he would have.”
Chuckling, he shook his head. “Especially since he did so well while I sketched him.”
Nathalie smiled. “So will you hire him?”
Ah, the inevitable question. Jayme smiled back. “It would be a waste of an opportunity if I didn’t, right?”
