But less glory, as well. And she did want to stretch, to do more video, to see her ideas in motion.
Edmondsson was winding down, like a toy with a key to tighten the spring that quickly spins loose.
“Here’s an idea,” May said.
“I don’t need ideas.”
“Kurck won’t stay on the project without a full social-media team. Video, audio, animation.”
He scoffed. “No artist would survive Antarctica.”
May rocked back on her hips, but gathered strength from somewhere and leaned forward again. “You’ve never watched the Nat Geo channel? Never watched the news? Photo people can be just as tough as dog-sled drivers.”
Edmondsson flicked a well-manicured hand. “Tell him I’ll consider it.”
“But you won’t really do it?” May liked seeing her boss flinch. He wasn’t such a toughie.
“I said I’d consider it. Especially if that’s all he wants.” His perfect posture sank from his hips. “We need his money. Fund-raising is a bear these days.” Then he straightened.
“Tell him whatever he wants to hear. But tell him the price is that he’s outed.”
Sadie choked beside her. “Outed?”
“As the benefactor. He’ll get his blasted artists, but he’ll pay for them. And we get to use him to raise the rest of the money.”
Sadie waved her hands, crossing and uncrossing, in front of her. “He won’t go for it. That was the sticking point before.”
“Then we won’t tell him.” Edmondsson looked at May, his face drawn into that fierce pose familiar from the posters downstairs.
“Get him to the party, come hell or high water. We’ll announce it then.”
****
When May returned to the penthouse, Beau was slouched in the dining-room table seat, gazing deep into his array of screens. He perked up, though, when the aroma of the food she’d picked up from Shophouse drifted over.
“Sichuan?”
“They didn’t have the noodles, so I got you brown rice.”
He dug into it with gusto. “Forgot to eat again. This time-shift is for the birds. Sorry, bad joke. I’ve had penguins on the brain all day.”
May slipped into the chair beside him. “New images?”
“They sliced the asses off, like you suggested. But something still is wrong.” He waved at the screens, full of tiny, skinny-butt penguin drawings.
“I went to the zoo this afternoon, and did some photos and sketches.” She handed him a thumb drive.
“You escaped your own zoo?” But he smiled and did the upload as May pulled her sketchbook out of her bag.
“Very funny. Look, the problem is the shoulders. They should be more square?”
“Is that a question or an observation?”
She sat back, pulling the book out of his hands. “You know, I’ve heard just about enough paternalism for one day.”
He leaned back, matching her posture. “So, a rain check, then?”
“As if. I just realized today that you’re gone in two days. So, any more of that ‘I know what’s good for you,’ and you’ll be watching another set of condoms close in on their expiration date.”
“The clerk said she didn’t think they did expire. The package just has to say that.”
May snorted. “Was she pregnant?”
“Yes.”
“Well, then.”
“Now who’s being all judgy?”
“Judgy? Is that English?”
“English is all about coining new words and borrowing from other languages. That’s why everyone likes it.”
“Really?”
“No.” He smirked and snatched the sketches out of her hand. “It’s because you’re a bunch of rape-and-pillagers.”
“And you’re not? Nazi sympathizers.”
“A low blow, Miss Reed. We had to fight the Russians, and you can’t always pick your allies.”
That sobered her up. Were her allies any better? “Listen, Beau. I’m supposed to lie to you.”
He set the book down and took her hands. Pulling her to sidesaddle on his lap, he wrapped his arms around her. “I’m not surprised.”
She rested her head on his shoulder. His shoulder, which with the rest of him, would be gone in two days. “Can you stay longer?”
“Maybe. Why?”
“So we can use up those condoms.”
He kissed her ear, a warm breath tickling her there. “I’ll ask Meri. Now, the lie?”
“It’ll hold. How about we finish dinner first?”
“How about we make ourselves a little hungrier before dinner, you mean. No. You started it, now finish.” He set her back into her seat, handed her the bowl of vegetable curry, and took up his own. “I need to fortify to keep up with you.”