The next day, Justin had come to check everyone's art pieces, and he had heavily criticized Aria and Piper's paintings. He mentioned that the paintings lacked the subject, and the strokes were uneven, making it unpleasant to the eye.
Aria agreed that her painting was not good enough to display in the exhibition, but they were not as bad as Justin said. He was making a very big deal about it and scolded her and Piper more than the rest of the batch. She thought he was punishing them for yesterday's behavior.
Aria stayed back after everyone went home and locked herself in one of the classrooms to practice her art. It was totally silent, and without anyone's disturbance, she envisioned the best view from her trips and tried to paint the exact scene.
After a long time, someone knocked at the door, and Aria got up to see who had arrived.
"Mr. Brown, you're still here," Aria frowned.
She sometimes thought he lived in his office, but today was Friday, and everyone went home early. To either spend time with their family or partner.
Piper's boyfriend had come to pick her up, and they were going to an expensive candlelight dinner. Since Aria was alone in the city, and her only friend was occupied, she decided to stay back.
"When I saw the lights, I thought the staff forgot to switch them off," Justin stated.
"Oh, I talked with the guard, and he said the office will close at 10:30. Don't worry, I will make sure all the lights and fans are off before I leave," Aria explained.
Aria saw Justin looking at her silently. There was nothing else to say, and she wished he would leave soon so that she could go back and continue her work.
"What are you doing?" Justin asked after a minute.
"I was painting a few more pieces," Aria said.
"You chill out when you should be learning, and when your friends are partying, you are working," Justin scoffed and invited himself into the room.
Aria gritted her teeth and murmured, "Aren't you supposed to be leaving?" He was an uninvited guest who was invading her space and then taunting her.
Justin heard her and turned around, raising his brow.
"Shouldn't you be with your family and girlfriend?" Aria scowled.
"They will be fine without me for one weekend," Justin said.
"But last week, you were also working," Aria said quickly.
"I didn't know someone was keeping tabs on me," Justin smirked.
"I did not, it's just...," Aria trailed off.
They were neighbors, and sometimes the dog, Bruno barked so loud that she knew what time he left and came back. Actually, the dog belonged to Justin's friends, but five out of seven days, he was in Justin's house.
"I thought maybe I should accompany you and see the masterpiece you are creating," Justin said in fake seriousness.
Aria followed him as he walked towards her painting.
"Did you do all of this now?" Justin asked as he focused his full attention on her painting.
"Hmm," Aria nodded her head.
"You should have let the second coat dry a little more, now instead of orange, you will get brown," Justin commented.
Aria realized he was right, and Justin started to give her a few more suggestions, which Aria noted down carefully.
"Are you interested in art?" Aria asked, seeing he has a very good eye and was more knowledgeable than many talented mentors who taught her daily.
"I am interested in anything that brings me money," Justin said with a playful grin.
Aria could not tell whether what he was saying was the truth or not. He switched personalities in the blink of an eye. Sometimes she felt like Justin was an entirely different person, and what he is projecting is just a fake to fool people.
"You have paint on your chin," Justin said.
"Oh …," Aria looked around to find a tissue but was unsuccessful.
"Here take this," Justin handed his handkerchief. Aria took it hesitantly and wiped her chin.
"What?" Aria asked when he was looking at her face with a heavy gaze.
"There is some more left on your lips," Justin pointed out. Aria wiped her lips, and this time when she looked at his face, he was staring intensely at her lips.
She was embarrassed and tried to break the silence, "Thanks for the handkerchief, I will wash it and return it to you later. "
"You can keep it or…. maybe throw it," Justin looked away.
Aria was not in the mood to paint anymore, or maybe she was not willing to spend any more time with him.
"It's already late, I think we should leave," Justin said the same thing she wanted to say.
"Ya, give me a few minutes. I will pack everything up," Aria was ready to go after fifteen minutes. They reached the parking lot, and Aria unlocked the car door when Justin called her name.
"You have potential. You just need to brush up your skills," Justin said with a softened tone.
Before she could react, he had already got in his car and driven off.
Did he really compliment her, or was she hearing things? This guy was so wild and unpredictable. The whole day he kept finding faults in her work, and at the end, he randomly threw her praise and disappeared just like that.
Justin should stop messing with her head. Aria groaned and started the car, thinking a good night's sleep is all she needed at this moment.
One week passed, she was creating better art and even went out shopping with Piper. Luckily, she did not see Justin this week, not even once in the office, nor at home. There was a high-profile office party tonight, and Piper dragged her to the salon.
"Aria, one of my boyfriend's friends, is quite smitten with you. He told me he was mesmerized by you that night and is pestering me that I set him up with you. What do you say?" Piper asked as both were getting their pedicure.
"Oh, no thanks. I am quite alright being single," Aria had never been in a relationship before. If she wanted to get into one, she would do it only if she had feelings for that person and not just for the sake of not being alone.
She did not know that the time had come for her to meet her charming prince.