I wake up confused and sweaty. I dreamt of the same thing again, a strangely beautiful woman locked inside a painting.
All of this stress is really getting into me…
"Xavi you look terrible" I turned around to see smug face Niki staring at me like a lost puppy, "How did you get in my room?" He turns around to face me, "Oh I just climbed up your window" I roll my eyes at this, "haha not funny" he then jumps on my bed and precedes to jump up and down like a kid. "The door was open, you should really find a better place to sleep Xavian" his serious tone irks me, considering his financial comfort.
"I am well aware of how bad my living situation is, Nikolas" I get up and look around for a shirt to wear, while I am getting ready for the day I let Niki rest in my bed.
"I may have found a solution to your problem, Xavi" I look at him trying to decipher if this time he is actually being serious. "Oh? Indulge me then Niki". I challenge him.
"There is this rich American family that my dad recently introduced me to". He starts and I patiently let him continue, although I am struggling to understand what exactly he is trying to get at. "It appears they need a painter to paint one of a kind painting that they can flaunt to the other aristocrats" I interrupt him, "and you are thinking I am the man for this?" He looks at me sheepishly, "well let's just say that I got you the job". Normally I would question what and how but since I am in economically in shambles, I shall let aside my suspicions.
"Say no more Niki, I am your man!" I say clapping my hands. "You'll meet the family tomorrow morning and by then you should get settled in with them". I stop in my tracks and throw him a confusing glare, "get settled in with them?" Do not tell me he made some kind of agreement with this family…
"You'll be living with them" he nonchalantly says as if that is something that's normal.
"I don't even know who these people are, Niki" I clap back. "You'll get to know them in due, just focus on getting the job done" he pats me on the shoulder. "I'll arrange a meeting with them, so get ready mk? He says, eye me up and down.
I look like shit. I am gonna look around for something nice to wear and hopefully that should be enough.
I still don't understand why I have to stay with this family, I can paint just fine in my easily broken into apartment.
I make my way to the restaurant, this suit is too tight I can barely walk. I see Niki waving at me right around the corner and hurry to get to him. "You kept us waiting Xavi" he coos and I roll my eyes at him, how am I supposed to travel from here and there if I don't have the means to? "Oh shut it Niki" I retort back and enter the restaurant. I immediately notice that there's no one but us and this gothic looking group of people. I can feel them eyeing me down and I turn to Niki to whisper; "Is this our rich friends?" He nods, leading the way to their table.
Niki awkwardly pushes me forward, great now I have to introduce myself. This feels like a job interview. "Good afternoon, Mr and Mrs Richie, my name is Xavian." I smile at them, I wonder if they think I'm charming and handsome.
Me and Niki sit in our assigned seats and I look around the table introducing myself to each individual, 4 people in total. I then turn around the corner and it's like I was looking at a ghost. That woman from the cafe… what is she doing here?! Don't tell me- "Xavi, I believe you haven't been introduced to Alexandra" Niki yells out and everyone is now looking at us. What do I do?!
"Uh hi" can this get any more awkward.
"Pleasure to meet you, Xavian" she exclaims softly. She's pretending like she does not know me and I can't thank her enough for that.
After the dinner, I finally get the opportunity to talk to Niki. "Are we not gonna discuss how this business deal is supposed to go?" I ask him confused, "me and mr Richie have already talked about everything, all you need to do is move in with them and paint" he tells me.
We see off them the Richie's and I glance over at Alexandra shooting her an apologetic look and we say our goodbyes
It's been arranged that in a week I'll be moving in with them and painting of the most exquisitely beautiful painting ever made.
According to Niki, this weird family has a need for control hence why I shall be staying with them so that they can control when and how I shall be painting.
Honestly I'm only doing this for my pocket's sake so I'll bear through this just this time.
"I'll meet you tomorrow morning and help around with what you need" Niki reassures me and we say our goodbyes for the night