Chapter 46-Richard and Lena are dating
Audrey's POV...
I shut the door to my room and walked down the stairs, my heels clicking against the marble floor. My black dress hugged my body tightly. It was a knee-length dress. I wore matching black heels. Black was the best colour for a visit to an art museum.
"You're getting flicked,"
I raised my gaze immediately and saw Jonathan. He was standing at the foot of the stairs. My breath caught as I took in his appearance. His hands were shoved into his pockets. His tuxedo hugged his body perfectly.
My eyes drifted to his hair. Most of it was brushed backward, neatly brushed, like he had spent hours on it. But the front was different. A fuller section had been left out, styled carefully and held in place with what looked like gel.
I raised my gaze and caught a smile on his lips. Actually, he was smirking.
"You're still getting flicked even if you're drooling over me," he added.
"What?" I blinked. "Oh right,"
I descended the stairs till I was standing in front of him.
I closed my eyes and pushed my head forward. "Just get it over with,"
I felt his fingers brush my head and my eyes snapped open. "Wait... you're serious," I asked, wide eyed.
"It was a challenge you proposed," he said immediately, emphasizing on the fact that I brought the idea.
I sulked. "It's my fault then. Just do it," I closed my eyes again. "But don't break my forehead,"
I waited for seconds, but I didn't feel his fingers on my head or my forehead snapping.
Just then, I felt something soft press against my forehead. It wasn't a finger... it was his lips.
I slowly opened my eyes and stared at his chest that was up close to my face. I inhaled deeply, his masculine scent and cologne filling my nostrils.
He lowered his lips to my ear. "You look breathtaking... I can't imagine ruining your perfect face," he said and turned around, walking away.
I lowered my head immediately. Thank God he didn't wait to see my reaction. I was blushing hard as heat rushed to my cheeks. I bit my lips as I smiled to myself.
I raised my head and watched his back as he walked away. "You didn't flick me"
He stopped in his tracks and turned abruptly. "Do you want me to flick you?"
I quickly shook my head.
"Then... let's go," he said and brought his hand forward. I approached him and took his arms and we left the house.
"Welcome ma'am. Welcome sir," the attendant at the entrance welcomed us, handing us a sleek black brochure with gold lettering.
We just nodded and smiled as Jonathan took the brochure from her. I noticed the way she smiled shyly when Jonathan's hands brushed hers.
I eyed her and I felt a sting of jealousy instantly. I dragged Jonathan along gently, pulling him inside the hall.
It was a massive space with stairs that formed a circle, leading up. It was like a spiral. Soft violin music played in the background.
The building was painted yellow, and the chandelier flashed dark colours across the room, making it more cinematic and lovely.
There were men and women around. Everyone was looking radiant.
"Hmm. The artist had been painting since age seven" Jonathan said, looking through the brochure.
"That's impressive," I concurred. "At that age, I was still learning to write,"
His eyes widened. "Really?"
I nodded. "Yeah. Then, I was finding it difficult to focus on education, especially when mom told about my father,"
"Oh. I'm sorry..."
"No. No. No. It's fine. Let's not ruin the moment," I objected.
He smiled and raised my hands up to his lips and kissed my knuckles. "Sure, my lady,"
I was surprised by his actions.
"Okay then. Lead the way my lord," I played along and we laughed. I took his arm and we headed further into the gallery.
We reached the stairs and stepped into the first room, where the paintings hung neatly on the walls.
The colors were soft, the air felt calm, and reflective.
But as we moved into the next room, everything shifted.
The strokes were bolder, darker. The energy was heavier, and the room felt different from the first.
It wasn't just a different collection of art. It was a different emotion entirely.
"Did you feel something change?" I asked Jonathan.
He nodded. "The artworks seem to display a different emotion from the first"
"Excuse me," I called to a young man dressed in a uniform.
"We would like clarification on the impact of each artwork,"
He reached towards a desk and handed a sheet over to us.
"It's a guide sheet to direct you to the different artworks in different rooms," he said, pointing at the colours on the sheet. "If you notice, there are colours on the wall above as you enter. These colours matches the colours on the paper,"
I looked up at the wall. There was a square shaped brown colour. I checked the sheet, and saw a square shaped brown colour.
"Each colour depicts what emotion each room has. It's just for you to choose what emotion you want,"
"Wow," I muttered.
He bowed slightly. "Enjoy your evening," he said and left.
"Thank you," I said.
"How did you know paintings have different emotional impacts?" Jonathan asked as soon as he left. We were heading to another room.
"I know a lot about art, and the emotions each give off,"
We entered the next room.
I walked closer to an art work hung on the wall. "It just feels like... they speak to me," I placed my hand gently on my chest and closed my eyes.
"It sounds weird, I know," I said once I opened my eyes.
"No it doesn't," Jonathan shook his head. "I feel the same way whenever I'm at the Riverside. Totally..."
"At peace," we said at the same time.
"I think I know the next date we'll go on," I said. "A hiking date. We'll hike the mountain," I added.
"That'd be incredible,"
"This time, I'd be the one planning the date. But we won't go deep into the mountains. I don't want to see any coyote or bear and most especially, I hate mosquitoes," I said and turned around, admiring the painting.
"I'll be expecting that day," he said and stood beside me.
I moved closer towards the painting.
"No. No. You're doing it all wrong," he said as he held my shoulders and dragged me back gently.
"Art is best observed from a distance,"he said.
I looked at him wondering where he heard that from. It sounded wise.
He put his arm around my waist and I rested my head on his chest as we watched the painting.
We stayed there, enjoying the quietness and peace of the evening. People's conversation and silent murmurings were everywhere, but we stayed in each other's embrace, letting the peace fill our hearts.
"Care for wine?" Another young man holding a tray with glasses of drinks on it asked.
Jonathan picked the first glass of wine, and handed it over to me. He picked another glass for himself.
"Cheers," he raised his glass to me.
"Cheers," I said and we clinked glasses.
I took the glass closer to my lips and then I heard it. I heard a familiar laughter.
I looked around immediately, trying to identify where it came from.
"Did you hear that?" I whispered to Jonathan.
"Why are you whispering?" He whispered back. "And what did you hear?"
"I heard someone laugh,"
"Well, you're bound to hear someone laugh. We're in a gallery filled with people,"
"No. I know this laughter," I countered.
Then I heard it again, louder this time. "I know what I heard," I said and started moving towards the direction I heard the laughter.
"Where are you going?" Jonathan asked from behind.
I didn't respond. I just kept walking. I left the room and came to the foot of the stairs.
I looked up, scanning each person's face. A lady was leaning on the railings but I couldn't see her face, only her back.
"That back looks like that of someone I know," I tapped Jonathan and rushed up the stairs.
As soon as I got up, I gasped at what I saw.
Lena was the lady and Richard was standing in front of her, their hands intertwined as Lena smiled at what Richard was saying.
My eyes were as wide as saucers and my mouth hung open.
"Lena," I screamed.
She turned abruptly and the glass of wine she was holding fell and shattered on the floor when she saw me.
She retracted her fingers from Richards and bit her fingers as she looked away.
I was too surprised to speak or ask any questions.
"What are you doing here Richard? You're supposed to be in Monaco," Jonathan's voice rang through from behind me.
Wait... I hope it's not what I'm thinking.
Wait... Really ????