Total pages in book: 48
Estimated words: 46619 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 233(@200wpm)___ 186(@250wpm)___ 155(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 46619 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 233(@200wpm)___ 186(@250wpm)___ 155(@300wpm)
These artists must have put their body, mind, and soul into their works for them to emanate such an enigmatic aura that pulls the audience in. It makes me appreciate artists more, and I find myself wanting to take home some of their artworks.
Except, my bank account doesn’t support my newfound love of art.
I turn to Brenda, standing quietly beside me, engrossed in an abstract painting that looks more like a clash of colors.
“Do you like that?” I ask.
Brenda tilts her head, her brows pulled together in a deep, thoughtful frown as she seems to consider my question.
Finally, she sighs. “I’m still trying to determine if this headiness I feel while looking at this painting is owed to the fact that it has some deeper meaning that I’m yet to figure out or how it could cost such a large amount of money when it makes no sense.”
I laugh quietly.
“Maybe it's both?”
Brenda shakes her head slowly, unconvinced.
“I can’t seem to wrap my head around it.”
I chuckle softly in response.
“Hey, can you hold on to this for me?” I ask, extending my champagne flute to her. “I need to use the restroom.”
“No problem,” Brenda says, taking the glass from me. “Do you know where to find the restroom, though?’
“I’ll find my way,” I say, flashing her a quick smile.
I catch sight of a door in the far left corner of the room and walk toward it. The door opens to a long corridor with three other doors and a bend at the end of the hall.
One of them had to be a restroom. Right?
I guess I should have asked one of the waitresses to direct me to the restroom because the first two doors are just storage. Just as I’m about to turn around, I hear a familiar voice.
I pause to listen, my brows pulling up in a slight frown.
“What are you talking about?” The voice comes again, low and deep.
Abram.
I walk in the direction of the voice and stop at the last door in the corridor.
The door is slightly ajar, and my curiosity gets the better of me. I peep into the room, careful not to make any noise that will attract its occupants.
It looks like an office space, but I can’t get a full view.
Abram is standing at the window, arms folded across his chest. The pretty brunette he introduced earlier as his secretary is standing by the desk, hands on her hips.
Was her name Janet? No... June. Yes, that’s it.
The atmosphere between them seems tense, and I can’t help but wonder what is going on. They seemed pretty close from what I deduced from the short time I saw them interact after we got back from Hudson.
“You know exactly what I’m talking about, Abe?” June says. She sounds frustrated and more than a bit angry. “You don’t get to play dumb.”
Their relationship seems a little bit too chummy for a boss and secretary relationship, but maybe it’s the natural tendency of a girlfriend to be possessive of her man.
“What will you have me say, Jay?” Abram asks with a soft sigh. “I told you. She’s the woman I love.
Are they talking about... me?
I lean in closer, pressing my ear harder to the wall.
“I must say I’m disappointed,” June says, running a hand through her hair. “Is that the best you can do? You have beautiful and high-profile women vying for your attention. Why would you go for someone like her? Plus, she’s only about half your age. There’s an array of experienced women that you can pick from.”
“I don’t want any of those women,” Abram replies with a small shrug. “I want Melody. Why the hell are we still on this issue?”
June pushes away from the desk and goes to stand in front of Abram.
“What about me?” she asks.
“What about you?” Abram asks.
What about her? What’s she talking about?
I hold my breath, listening for her next words.
June scoffs. “Do you think I’ve been playing your fool for years just to lose to that fatty? I love you, dammit!”
“Jay…,” Abram calls, shaking his head at her. “Don’t do this.”
“What is it?” she asks, throwing her hands up wildly. “Can’t I love you? Why do you think I’ve stayed with you for so long, even when you treated me like trash when I first started out? Nobody knows you like I do.”
She’s starting to sound hysterical now, and now Abram is looking at her like she’s a whole new person standing in front of him.
“What about her has got you like this?” June asks, striving for a softer tone. “Why the hell did you bring her here, dammit! She...she doesn’t measure up. She doesn’t deserve you.”
“Enough of this, June,” Abram says in a soft command. “I won’t have you....”
She suddenly stands on her toes and presses her lips against his.
I jerk away from the door, my heart pumping hard against my ribcage. My hands are trembling, and it feels like my legs will give away from under me at any second.