All Novel Full Chapter 816 Art Gallery Date
Chapter 816 Art Gallery Date
Alone in her house, since Candace had dropped her off before going to visit Matt, Andy sat at the balcony, staring at the bottle of wine she had picked from the wine cellar and wondering if Cassidy had deliberately placed it there.
She remembered the brand all so well. That had been the wine Cassidy had been drinking when she was led to him the very first night of their encounter.
She still remembered how Jero had walked into the living room while she was seeing a soap opera with Candace and had thrown a skimpy dress at her, asking her to change into it and follow him.
“Why? Where are you taking her?” Candace had asked with a frown as she picked up the dress.
“Stay out of it, pea,” Jero had said before turning to Andy.
“Hurry up. I don’t have all evening,” he ordered.
“No, Jero. She is not going anywhere with you if you don’t tell me where you’re taking her, and why she has to wear such a dress,” Candace insisted stubbornly.
“Fine. If you must know, I want to introduce her to someone. He’s going to give her a job in his company. He likes ladies to dress up nice, that’s why I want her to wear that,” Jero said to Candace before turning to glare at Andy who was still standing there.
“A job? What kind of job? What’s the name of the company?” Candace asked as Andy reluctantly went in to change.
“You ask too many questions, and you know I don’t like it,” Jero snapped irritably, startling two years old Jamal who was asleep on the couch beside Candace.
Candace quickly picked up Jamal who was crying to pacify him, while Jero walked over to the refrigerator to take a can of beer.
The moment Andy stepped out dressed in the mini dress and a heeled sandals, Jero nodded in approval as he looked her over, “Let’s go.”
“Take care of yourself, Andy,” Candace called to Andy as she walked out with Jero.
“The man you are going to be working for, his name is Cassidy Bank. Make sure you’re on your best behavior and you do whatever he asks you to do, okay? Do not do anything to embarrass me, else there will be hell to pay. You can’t keep leeching off me. You should at least bring something to the table,” Jero said as he parked the car in front of a club.
“Are we meeting him here? In a club?” Andy asked with a frown.
“Do you have a problem with it?” Jero asked harshly, making her press her lips together as she followed him.
Jero led her around the club to the private and secluded rooms reserved for the VIP guests.
Jero rang the doorbell on one of the rooms and the door was opened by a huge man dressed in black suit.
The moment the man saw Jero, and saw Andy beside him, he shut the door and returned inside. He came back a short while later.
“The boss said you can leave, and only her can come inside,” he informed Jero, and with a nod Jero stepped back.
“I’m sure you can find your way back after your meeting. Be on your best behavior,” Jero warned and walked away before Andy could say anything.
“Come with me,” the huge man in black suit said as he held the door wider for her to go in.
Twenty-two years old Andy walked into the room, and there he was, dressed in a white button down shirt and white trousers. His shirt was halfway undone and the belt of his trousers was loose.
Cassidy was seated on the bed with a bottle of wine in his left hand and a cigar in his right hand.
“Leave us alone,” Cassidy said, dismissing the man.
“Hi-—”
“Strip,” Cassidy ordered, cutting off whatever Andy had to say.
“What?” Andy asked, taken aback by his order.
Cassidy looked at her, his expression bored and annoyed, “You heard me the first time. Take off your dress,” he growled and she frowned, wondering what sort of job required her to strip.
“Shouldn’t I introduce myself….” Andy gasped and jumped back in shock when Cassidy threw the bottle of wine and smashed it against the wall behind her.
“I don’t care who or what you are. Take off your damned clothes!” Cassidy yelled.
Andy shook her head to shake off the memory. She didn’t want to think about it, she decided with a sigh as she rose from her seat.
She doubted that Cassidy would have added that wine to the cellar deliberately when he knew the kind of memory the wine would bring back.
She picked up the bottle of wine and took it back to the cellar. Maybe he liked the brand and had kept it there for himself not her sake, she decided.
As much as she didn’t like to remember that experience, lately she had been thinking about it a lot.
He nodded, a hint of amusement in his eyes. “Of course I did. Why would I forget a dress of such importance?” He asked and then leaned closer to her.
“The good thing about wearing it now is that you won’t have to wonder whether or not I will make love to you tonight,” he said with a teasing smile, making Lucy giggle.
“Well, I wore the same set of undies I wore that night. This is your second chance,” she said and Tom grinned.
“By the way, I’m sorry I kept you waiting,” Lucy said, changing the subject.
“I don’t mind waiting, as long as it’s for you,” he said, and then gestured towards the painting. “I got lost in the lilies. Monet always had a way of transporting me…” He trailed off, his gaze lingering on her.
“Who needs to get lost in artworks, when there is you? You’re so beautiful, Jewel. I need to have a painting of you. One in my office, and another in the bedroom at home,” he said softly and Lucy grinned.
“Go easy with the flattery, love. You’re going to get some tonight whether or not you flatter me,” she said and he chuckled.
“I’m being serious. What was I thinking not making love to you that night?” He asked and she grinned.
“You were thinking about tricking me into becoming your fake girlfriend. Let’s take a look around. Impress me with your knowledge of art,” Lucy suggested, and Tom extended an arm to her and she hooked her arm with his.
As they navigated the gallery, Tom surprised Lucy by effortlessly weaving tales about the art. He pointed out details in a Monet, the way the light danced on the water lilies, the hidden symbolism in a Chagall, and explained the symbolism hidden within a Bruegel landscape.
Lucy equally surprised and delighted him with her insightful observations and genuine enthusiasm.
“This place is captivating,” she whispered, turning to Tom.
He smiled, his eyes crinkling at the corners. “It suits you, doesn’t it? Full of hidden depths and unexpected beauty,” he said and she raised a brow.
“Unexpected beauty? Why is my beauty unexpected?” She asked and he chuckled.
“I thought we were talking about the gallery and the paintings?”
“We were, until you said that making it sound like you were referring to me,” Lucy said with a pout and Tom laughed softly.
“Your beauty is actually beyond expectation,” he assured her as he urged her along with his hand on her lower back.
“And what I meant to say was that this place reminds me of you. Beautiful, full of hidden depths, and always leaving me wanting more,” Tom said and Lucy grinned as she stopped to look at him.
“I leave you wanting more, huh? More of what?”
“More of everything. I don’t think I could ever get enough of you,” he said and she smiled.
“My jaw is going to hurt so much from smiling because of all these sweet compliments from you,” Lucy said as they continued moving.
They paused before a vibrant Picasso. Lucy traced the bold lines with her finger, a thoughtful look creasing her brow.
“It’s chaotic,” she said, “but somehow, it works.”
“Perhaps that’s the beauty of it,” Tom replied, his voice softer than usual.
“Life is chaotic, Lucy, full of unexpected strokes and surprising twists. But sometimes, the chaos creates something beautiful, something unique,” Tom said and Lucy mulled on it for a moment.
“I guess you are right in a way,” Lucy said and then looked at him seriously.
“How come I never knew you were such an art aficionado?” She asked and Tom shrugged.
“I guess there is a lot we still don’t know about each other, seeing as I didn’t know you knew so much about art either,” Tom said and Lucy smiled.
“Isn’t that the beauty of all this? We can slowly discover it all. I’m not in haste to know everything about you. Are you?” She asked, and Tom shook his head.
“Not at all. Hopefully, we have forever to do that. By the way, I got you a little present,” Tom said as he pulled out a small velvet box and presented her with a delicate silver pendant, shaped like a blooming sunflower, the flower’s center adorned with a single sparkling diamond.
“This reminded me of you,” he said, his voice soft. “Bright, vibrant, and full of warmth.”
Tears welled up in Lucy’s eyes as she touched the pendant, the cool metal a stark contrast to the heat rising in her cheeks.
“You know I’m all of that because you showed up in my life, right? You are the diamond at the center of my life,” Lucy said and Tom leaned in and kissed her.
“I was actually going to say that to you,” Tom said as he tried to pull away but Lucy’s arm went around his neck to keep him in place.
“Hello, everyone! This absolutely gorgeous man here is the love of my life,” Lucy announced loudly, surprising Tom, and the patrons around clapped for them while Lucy grinned up at a flustered Tom.
“Did you think I could only do that when I’m drunk?” She asked and he grinned.