Christopher came to the gallery late. It wasn't fully intended. His schedule was absolutely packed during the day, and the first meeting over running created a cascade of all other meetings over running too. He didn't even realise it but as soon as he stepped inside the busy gallery, his eyes started searching for Emilia.
He hasn't seen her in two weeks now. And over the past two weeks there wasn't a day that he didn't think back to her smile that he so adored.
He started walking through the crowd, trying to spot the light hair and a gorgeous face. But he couldn't.
He didn't really looked at who he was passing by and he cut any welcome short, until he bumped into a young woman as she stepped back unexpectedly.
"Oh, I'm sorry, Mr Hayden." She said quickly whilst blushing.
"It's alright." Christopher mumbled. She noticed his wandering eyes and looked at him curiously.
"Are you looking for someone, Mr Hayden?"
"Yes." Christopher tried to cut the conversation short again.
"Who are you looking for, sir?"
He finally looked at the young woman certain that he recognised her from somewhere.
"I'm looking for Emilia…"
"Emilia Vincent?" Grace asked with surprise.
"Yes, indeed."
"She was in the East Wing when I last saw her."
"Thank you." Christopher uttered and hurriedly walked in that direction as Grace looked behind him with suspicion.
Christopher's thoughts hung onto Grace's words - Emilia Vincent. He remembered now where he saw the young woman. She was the person that Emilia spoke to so enthusiastically during the gala dinner. It meant that Emilia introduced herself with her maiden name instead of her married name. It meant that Emilia chose to withhold and conceal her relationship with Christopher. Or simply, she didn't want to announce it to everyone. He didn't like that thought. She was his wife after all and he didn't like that she didn't make it clear. But then, why would she? He was a stranger to her. Almost a month of marriage and they spoke twice so far, once during her selection process and signing of the contract, and once during the gala dinner, and even then these could hardly be considered a conversation.
"Well, art is estimated at 1.7 trillion dollars of global value." Emilia spoke to an older man. "60 billion dollars of annual transactions. If you find the right person, it is certainly worth an investment. Collectibles especially."
"This is proper business talk." The man laughed in response.
"Of course there's more to this work than it's price tag. From appreciation of beauty, to even influencing the society. For example, Cole is known for using literal trash and transforming it into sculptures which are a strong ecological statements."
"What do you think of this exhibition?"
"Absolutely stunning. I find the work truly captivating."
"Oh, Mr Hayden." The man noticed him as he was barely a few steps away. Emilia's hazel brown eyes shifted to him and she smiled honestly. "Good to see you here." He shook Christopher's hand. They knew each other well as they had a few partnerships in the past.
"Good evening, Emilia, Mr Gray." Christopher replied making sure that Emilia was welcomed first.
"Good evening, Mr Hayden."
"We were just speaking of the profitability of investing into art. If you wish to invest, Miss Vincent is very persuasive."
"Mr Hayden does already invest into art." Emilia said quickly. "Did you know, Mr Gray, that Mr Hayden has sponsored multiple gallery exhibitions and his company supports the restoration charity."
"I did not! Mr Hayden, I have worked with you for five years, at the very least, and this is how I find out?" Mr Gray shook his head.
"I hope you do not mind if I'll excuse myself." Emilia smiled at them both before walking off. Mr Gray looked behind her with a happy grin.
"I have never met such a remarkable young woman." Mr Gray commented. "How did you meet?"
"One could say that it was through an acquaintance."
"Which one?"
"My assistant, Mr Cosby, knew Emilia and he introduced us."
"That's incredibly lucky."
"I suppose." Christopher shrugged as he glanced over to where Emilia disappeared.
He was stuck with Mr Gray for a good couple of minutes before he could start his search again.
Christopher was certain that he went through every room possible and he couldn't find her. In despair, he walked out to the gallery's staff corridor when he spotted Emilia at the far end.
She was leaning against the wall with her shoes in her hands, her eyes closed, and taking deep breaths. Something wasn't quite right.
"Is everything okay?" Christopher asked Emilia making her jump up. Her face was that of a startled fawn for a few seconds before she smiled again. It was a different smile than before. It didn't have the same radiance to it.
"Oh, Mr Hayden! I'm sorry, I didn't notice you. And yes, everything is quite alright. I do apologise. I'm going right back." Emilia put the shoes back on with a quiet wince.
"There's no rush, Emilia. Are your shoes uncomfortable?"
Emilia moved the strand of hair from her face, blushing in embarrassment. She didn't want to be caught at such a vulnerable moment.
"It's quite alright, Mr Hayden." She mumbled as she started walking back into the main room with a slight limp. Her heel was bleeding and she felt that blood filling the very stiff shoes. She looked back at Christopher as she realised that he stayed behind. She didn't even know what effect this had on him. "Are you alright, Mr Hayden?" She asked with worry.
"I needed a five minute of respite myself." He smiled for the first time to her, showing off his perfectly white teeth.
"I see." Emilia nodded knowingly.
"What do you think of the exhibition tonight?" Christopher tried to start the conversation.
"Oh, it's stunning. I absolutely adored the painting on the main display in the East Wing. But the sculpture?! It looks so effortless and lightweight. I am in awe." Emilia spoke excitedly.
"You mean the one with the woman blowing the dandelion?"
"Yes!"
"Yes, it is quite eye-catching."
"Certainly. For me it is the fact that such a heavy medium, metal, was used to create something so seemingly weightless." Emilia's eyes glimmered in excitement as she spoke of it. " ButI'll leave you to have your moment of peace, Mr Hayden. Have a good evening."
"You too, Emilia."
Christopher smiled as she disappeared in the main room. He barely found her and she walked away from him. He was increasing my hurt by her attitude towards him.