watched her drive away, with her

u

kiss we shared, soft and hungry.

ing more than

s meeting with mine before sh

eyes and the way her lips trem

shaken young teenage girl, alm

r the first tim

as what happened between us e

ed from my touch; she didn't res

burning, selfish hunger. It felt l

et mine, tongues intertwining in

ng through o

silence, confusion edged with

s, she let it all away and le

ghbor's dog pulled m

king shut behind me. The house w

sitting room. I reached out for

ff

into a chipped mug and took a si

good way to

my throat as I set the mug down o

My fingers linger on the ceramic,

I headed to the ba

ened, steam from the previous la

reaches for the faucet before I

tested it and waited for that perf

was my small ritual, coffee first

ush, just warmth, w

s to impress anyone; I dress to fe

nd in my style. First, the button-

bric. Crisp, but not stiff. It ma

g too

nough to hide my hips without me

e clothes make me feel grounded,

essy hair doing its own thing, but

n and loosen

brings out, just enough

th a subtle curve at the waist gi

ctured, semi-masculine feel I lik

lement the look, I smir

e on the door, i

in," I

n with her usual brisk efficienc

scanning the day's madness. "Your

by 11, meet with my potential b

ve also got a press intervie

as fully listening. My m

, "I need an information on so

ebrow curious bu

am

have now. I want to get t

there was flicker of intrigu

g against the glass floor. Outsid

lready out w

of the car, I got in and exhale

low hum of the city buzzed arou

studio, the tinted windows keep

irst auction. It wouldn't be my la

aintings were a

k, modern, with too much glass

d up to the entrance. The black c

dow. I saw my own eye

pped out into the chaos. Flash

ended like weapons, their voic

an

drigo ov

e backing out of

ning an arms operation behind

ud

s as I pushed my way through the

here has been false rumors of

, tablet in hand, heels clicking

he hired bodyguards moved quickl

h a grunt and a warning look th

h the quiet aura that made men

e entrance, art lovers, collector

. I smiled at them, small and pr

ped through the do

ft lighting warmed space, castin

, stood mounted and waiting. Em

l, some haunting, some soft lik

aiters floated by with glasses of

liar faces, fake smile. Then I sa

wante

ulated ease, lifting a glass of r

th, a perfect lie. I approached

ensive taste. I knew the hard w

nd am not letting this

n." I said with a voice silk w

waiting server, never breaking e

the day." I sa

o, piece by piece, each one a p

kes, inspiration, mood with my fi

r's

ey nodded. Some w

the subtle cue that it was time

troduced and call

the spotlight

nod. I handed over my blaz

" I began. "I paint to survive a

then a few murmurs.

tinue when I saw h

ay, half in shadow, a woman, in a

a ponytail, her red dress broug

almost luminous,

this

or a second, then caught myself,

off the walls for absurd amounts

My gaze never left t

pping towar

ore I could

ing, but swift. She was at the do

ngers closing gent

tu

linked, caught between disap

quickly. "I thought y

small, confused s

chest was tight but I kept my fac

er gh

swung closed behind th

fat

crowd. Dressed in black, l

nt and guilt

led fa

itely going to