A World Between Us

Elara Montrose, a woman in her late twenties, shifted uncomfortably under the gallery's dim lights, her slender frame tense as her gaze darted over the guests.

Her dark hair framed her face in soft waves, giving her an ethereal look that seemed at odds with the intense eyes of an artist who had seen struggle.

A simple dress hung elegantly on her body with her curves hugged just enough to hint at a quiet confidence beneath the nerves.

Her latest piece was on display in the quiet corner of the gallery, but it was the man with the piercing gaze across the room who captivated her attention far more than the art she'd labored over.

Elara felt his presence before she saw him. From across the room, there stood Leo effortlessly-broad-shouldered in a tailored suit that brought out his chiseled frame.

His gaze was intense, looking through the room with command, but when his eyes rested on her, a spark of intrigue calmed his expression.

Right there, there was something attractive about him, as though he had been molded to fit distinctly in the world she found herself on the edge of.

Leo Hensley was the managing director and CEO of Hensley Group-a multi-billion organization in the heart of New York.

Leo had always loved the art of painting and even though he could not paint, he always appreciated every piece and bought them.

Leo had continued admiring one particular painting in the room, which he loved when Elara walked up to him.

"You seem rather fixated on this painting. Do you find it awful?" said Elara with a wry smile.

"Oh! No. I just admire it so much. I think I might take it home," said Leo in defense.

"That must mean the heavens are smiling down on me tonight", she said jokingly.

"You own this?" Asked Leo

"That's right. It's mine" Elara replied.

"This piece... it's magnetic, just like its artist", Leo complimented.

"Thank you", she replied with a soft smile.

He moved closer to the painting, tilting his head as he examined the brushwork.

"I see a bit of Cezanne's influence in your strokes", he murmured, glancing at her with genuine interest. "But your colors - they are completely your own."

With a mixture of both shock and amusement on Elara's face, she responded:

"You sure know your painting"

"I read up on painting a lot," Leo affirms.

When Elara saw that he loved what she did, her heart fluttered. She had found a person of common interest. While Leo still had his eyes on the painting, she went ahead to introduce herself.

"My name is Elara Montrose. You are...?" She said

Shifting his concentration to Elara, he responded:

"I'm Leo Hensley".

Elara wasn't the type that followed the news to know the Hensley Group. They exchanged pleasantries properly and got deep into talking about paintings.

Now, it was getting late and guests were leaving already. Leo also decided to leave, but he still wanted to meet Elara again. He gave her his business card and asked her to call him if she'd love to go out with him after which he left.

Throughout that night, only the thought of Leo filled Elara's mind. That night seemed like her best. Leo was handsome. The smell of him could freshen a room. He had this aura that, somehow, made Elara single him out of the crowd of people in the gallery.

She couldn't stop thinking about Leo. Elara has now started falling in love with a stranger she had just met that night. While she thought of Leo, her eyes were soon shut to a sound sleep.

It was the next day Elara had just gotten out of bed. Her phone beeps, and she opens it to check, only to find out it's time to pay her bills. She was worried. She had slept with a smile only to wake up to sorrow.

At the gallery the day before, she had only sold a few paintings plus the one Leo Hensley bought, so she was worried because it couldn't clear the bills.

After much deliberation on how to get money to pay her bills, she decided to go to the studio to do more painting work as that is her only stream of income.

While painting in the studio, her head was full so she couldn't get ideas. So she decided to read one of her books to get ideas and she picked a book by Cezanne.

Truly, Cezanne was a big influence on her as Leo Hensley had suspected.

As she grabbed the book, she read the front page where the name of the author was written.

As soon as she read it, she remembered Leo Hensley. Her troubled mind had not made her think of Leo since the day began.

The thought of Leo brought a smile to her face once again. She quickly reached for the business card he had given to her in her bag.

For a moment, she forgot about her plight. She dialed the number, and a lady picked up the call.

"Hello! I'd like to speak with Leo Hensley", Elara said

"What's your name, please?" The lady asked

"Elara Montrose", she responded.

"Okay. Hold on a second", she reverted

As she waited on the line, a baritone voice came through her phone. It was Leo.

"Hi, Elara", he said

"Hello, Leo", she responded

"How are you?" He continued

"I'm good. I wanted to let you know that I'd love to go out with you anytime you're free", she responded.

"Tonight is fine. I'll pick you up at the gallery by Eight O'clock", he said.

"Alright. See you then", she happily reverted.

Later that evening, Leo and Elara met at the gallery and went to one of the most expensive restaurants in Manhattan. As they both ate, Leo began:

"How's your painting business going?"

"Well, I guess", she said reluctantly.

"I've been wanting to ask. What do you do? You seem like one of the big boys in New York", Elara continued.

"Oh, I'm the CEO of Hensley Group", Leo responded.

"I knew it!" Elara said almost immediately as she grabbed her phone to check out the organization.

As soon as she saw news and documentaries on Hensley Group and Leo Hensley, her eyes widened with surprise.

All along, she had been talking to one of the billionaires in New York. They continued eating, and Leo told her how beautiful she was and how she had a good body shape, to which she shyly said, "Thank you".

They left the table and walked in silence back to the parking lot, the tranquil of the city night amplifying the charged energy between them.

Leo opened the car door for her, his hand lingering on her lower back as she slipped inside. She felt a thrill at his touch, a spark she couldn't deny.

"I know it's late," he said, his voice soft, "but would you like to come up to my place? Just to... see some more of my collection."

Elara knew she should hesitate, but as she met his gaze, filled with the same intrigue she felt, she found herself nodding, unable to resist what the night might hold."