Today's Reading
"Oh, yeah," Emily said. "I've dealt with it lots of times."
Okay, maybe not lots of times, but she'd worked on a limestone Syrian effigy and an adorable statuette of a chubby sleeping Cupid in creamy marble. The Getty Villa, a palatial estate on the Malibu coast, had been her dream job&and she'd left it so that Tom could pursue his dream.
For a long time, Emily had believed that she'd ruined her own life, and being only a temporary employee at this museum was unsettling. But if she could prove herself and get a permanent job here, close to her parents, she'd have fewer regrets. At the very least, she was grateful for the fresh start.
Laura said, "I'm just asking because you had to ask Terrence for help on that terra-cotta."
"I knew what to do." She didn't quite manage to keep the irritation out of her voice that time. "I just couldn't remember where the adhesive was."
Emily looked back at the sculpture as if silently asking him, Can you believe what I have to deal with? Maybe she was hoping he'd stick up for her, since neither Terrence nor Jason ever did.
Jason said, "Start with the photos, the condition assessment report, and the treatment proposal, and tell me how much you can get done in time for the show."
They were already in the middle of setting up an exhibition of late medieval weapons, armor, and war-related art from every continent—a process that took months. These would be among the last pieces to be installed.
"It's going to be great next to the armor," Terrence said.
The museum had purchased a suit of armor from the same region—Essex, England—and the same era. Laurie had unwrapped it a few days ago. It was almost completely intact, only missing one of the circular plates at the shoulder, which was why it had commanded such a jaw-dropping price.
Emily had dutifully oohed and aahed over the armor, but she'd secretly found it ominous. Some kind of symbol was etched on the side of the helmet, obscured with a layer of grit and grime, and the eye slits suggested a malevolent glare. It was the opposite of her new limestone friend: an anonymous sculptor's dream of a chivalrous knight, radiating nobility and humanity.
"I don't have time to do much to the armor," Laurie said. "I just finished the shotel." Emily had to admit to herself that Laurie had done a fantastic job on the slim sword from Ethiopia, with its elegant, cruel curve designed to reach around a shield and stab an enemy in the lungs or the heart. They'd opted to sharpen the blade for visual effect.
"Just get the helmet as cleaned up as you can while preserving the patina," Jason said. "They want to install it soon with a sword from the collection in its hand. If you don't have time for any work on it before the ball, that's fine."
The museum was holding its annual Masterpiece Ball gala, a black-tie event in the Modern Wing's Griffin Court that would raise millions of dollars. The entertainment would include a sneak peek tour of the new medieval exhibition, led by Jason himself, before the show was open to the public.
"Hey, Jason, any way you could get your favorite employees some tickets to that ball?" Terrence asked, teasing.
Jason smiled. "Sorry, guys. I'm lucky I'm getting to go."
He said he'd leave Emily to it. Terrence and Laurie followed him out the door, but at the threshold, Laurie turned back.
"Hey, Em, thanks for doing the coffee run. Next time don't get me French roast, though."
"Oh." Emily blinked. "You said black coffee."
"Right. But for French roast, they basically burn the coffee beans." She laughed. "No offense, but it's really bitter."
Emily joked, "You say that like it's a bad thing." Laurie didn't smile, because of course she didn't. Emily added, "I'll get you the breakfast blend."
"Yeah, instead of the Starbucks, try Café Libre. That's where Terrence and I both go when we do the coffee run."
"Great. I'll check it out." Where the hell was Café Libre?
After Laurie left, Emily allowed her frozen smile to melt. Every new job, she knew, had a way of making even the most competent person feel like a dumbass, but Laurie seemed to be on a mission to reinforce that feeling, reaching around Emily's defenses to jab her whenever she could.
Oh well. At least Emily had an exciting project ahead of her.
She walked back toward him—
...
