Masterpiece [h.s]

twelve

"So, you like him, but you want to focus on your career and avoid getting your heart broken again?"

Carter harshly bites the inside of her cheek. She doesn't want to be having this conversation, but if she doesn't, Pandora will bring it up at some other time.

"I don't know what I want, okay? Can we please just stop talking about it?"

Pandora nods and offers her a soft smile. "Sure. Just remember that you know where to find me if you need me for anything."

Carter shakes her head and returns her smile. "I know. Now, get back to work before I have to fire you for harassing me."

Pandora laughs loudly as she leaves the room. Carter's really something else and she hopes that, maybe, with her spot on the show she'll open up a little more and start to see things differently.

Carter sits in the back until her first client comes in. Even so, her mind is still glued to that stupid, stupid man that she's gotten herself involved with.

She definitely wants him for sex, but can she open up and actually give him a chance? He certainly isn't bad or anything, but she just doesn't want to and she doesn't think that she's ready for that yet.

Internally, she curses Pandora for planting those thoughts in her mind, making her think of the entire subject of relationships in the first place.

She needs to clear her mind or she's going to lose it.

"I'm going out for a smoke. Pandora, keep an eye on things, please."

Carter stands slowly and reaches under the counter, digging through her purse for her cigarettes and her lighter. Pandora briefly looks up from her machine. Something's off about her, but she's not sure what and she doesn't want to put her in a mood again so she isn't going to mention it.

"Sure thing."

The cold air is far more than refreshing as she steps outside and into the city. Winter is her absolute favorite time of the year and she's so glad that it's arrived already.

She sighs contentedly as she blows out a cloud of smoke, the chill seeping through her clothes and into her pores. Carter revels in the blue tint that hangs over everything and the way that the sun's reflection bounces around from window to window in a calming manner.

In the time that she's been standing here, smoking and clearing her thoughts, she's gone through three cigarettes. She's just finished the third when she spots a familiar figure walking her way.

However, it's not Harry: it's Sam. She can tell by how sparse his arms are compared to his brother's and the arrogant way that he walks.

Carter sighs in irritation as she exhales her last cloud of smoke. "If you're here to get back at your brother for whatever it is that you think he's done, don't bother."

Sam returns her statement with a laugh. "I'm not here for you, I'm here for your art."

Carter stares at him for a good minute, checking to see if he's serious or not. "Fair enough. Come inside and then we'll talk."

She disposes of her cigarette and leads him inside without another word. He's an even bigger asshole than she is and she was hoping that she'd never have to deal with him again because he just complicates things and because he isn't a likeable guy in general.

"What do you want to get and where?"

Sam smirks, a devious glint in his eyes. "You and anywhere you'd like."

Carter scoffs and almost slams the notebook on the table. "Absolutely not. If that's all, you can leave now. The door is right there."

His smirk remains intact as he leans over the counter with his head on his hands. "You like him, don't you?"