Ms. Calder, We Want to Paint!

Chapter 2: The Offer

I locked the studio door and followed Avery toward the waterfront. She walked fast enough to make conversation difficult, but I knew the route. Saltmere's old cannery district sat between the harbor and a stretch of new shops that had been built before the apartments were even approved.

"You could have told me they approached you," I said.

"They approached me after you submitted the proposal."

"That doesn't answer the question."

"I had bills."

"So did I."

Avery looked back. "Your bills don't depend on your next paycheck. The studio has a lease and clients."

"My lease is six months behind schedule. I don't have the commission yet."

"That's what I mean. You have a chance. I have a chance. You want me to turn down three thousand dollars because you drew the first version?"

I stopped. "They offered you three thousand dollars to paint my design?"

"They offered me a paid role on the project."

"What role?"

"Lead artist."

I stared at her.

She shrugged, but her cheeks had gone pink. "They said I could take the concept in a more commercial direction. They wanted a clean, bright image for the opening."

"You knew I had submitted it."

"I knew you had submitted a proposal. I didn't know they'd pick it."

"They haven't picked it. They've posted it as theirs."

"Then don't let them use it."

"I'm trying to find out who gave it to them."

Avery looked ahead. The pier rose in the distance, crowded with folding chairs and banners. "Maybe you should ask yourself why I'd want to take your work."

"Because they offered you money."

"Because you make us ask permission for every brushstroke. We're not children."

"I don't make you ask permission to paint. I make you ask permission to use a client's confidential material."

"Right. You call it confidential when it's useful to you."

Nell had been walking several steps behind us. She caught up at the corner. "Avery, you said they were offering a separate sketch."

"They did."

"Then why is it the same design?"

"I changed it."

"You changed the colors," I said.

Avery's jaw set. "You two can decide I'm a thief, but I'm not going to apologize for wanting to get paid."

"I haven't called you a thief."

"You don't have to."

We reached the pier entrance. Northline had put up a temporary stage facing the construction site. The company's navy banner flapped above a display board showing the proposed hotel, the future promenade, and a rendering of the mural. The rendering was larger than it had appeared on the website. The blank-faced women glowed against the glass buildings behind them.

A volunteer handed us programs. I looked for the artist credits. Avery's name appeared in bold beneath the rendering. Mine did not.

Northline's project director, Martin Shaw, stood near the stage. He wore a charcoal jacket and carried a tablet. When he saw me, he walked over with both hands open.

"Ms. Calder. I was hoping you'd attend."

"I'm here to ask why you published my proposal."

His smile thinned. "We didn't publish your proposal. This is an independent concept developed by Ms. Quinn."

"Then why does the image match my submitted drawing?"

"I can't comment on your interpretation of the work."

"I can show you the original file with the date and metadata."

"I'm sure you can."

Nell spoke up. "I exported a preview for the team folder. Avery asked me for the layer image."

Both of them turned to her.

"What team folder?" I asked.

Nell's face paled. "The studio shared folder. I thought she needed it for a color study."

Avery's expression hardened. "That's not what happened."

"Did you ask Nell for the file?" I said.

"I asked for a reference image. I didn't steal anything."

"Did you send it to Northline?"

Avery didn't answer.

Martin adjusted his cuffs. "This is becoming uncomfortable. We have an event schedule to keep."

"Then take the image down before the presentation."

"Ms. Calder, you submitted an idea for consideration. We are free to pursue other concepts."

"You're not free to reproduce my drawing."

He leaned closer, lowering his voice. "The development agreement gives us broad discretion to commission artwork for the site. If you make a public accusation tonight, we'll defend ourselves."

"I haven't made a public accusation."

"You've made one here."

Nell stared at the concrete.

The stage host announced the event would begin in five minutes. Martin stepped away without waiting for my answer.

Avery lingered. "You wanted us to learn how the business works. This is how it works."

"No," I said. "This is how you work."

She flinched, then walked toward the stage.

Nell remained beside me. "I didn't know they were using it this way."

"You gave her the file."

"I thought it was a study."

"You didn't ask me."

"No."

The apology came quietly, but it didn't make the act smaller.

Onstage, a microphone squealed. I looked at the banner bearing Avery's name and felt the proposal become something I could no longer safely keep to myself.