After trying out a few clothes he finally settled on one outfit. "Thank you girls, sorry for calling you out this late"
"Not a problem sir, good night" the two ladies left me and this mysterious gentleman alone.
He poured two glasses of wine for us and gestured for me to join him.
"Okay who are you?" the question that has been waiting on the tip of my tongue spilled out.
He chuckled before taking a sip. He took his time savoring the taste of the liquid before answering my question.
"Duke Dixon at your service" he kissed the back of my hand while I tried to remember something.
That last name I've heard it before.
Flash back>>>>>
I hummed to a tune while putting the finishing touches on my painting when the sound of the front door slamming the frame made my hand slip.
"Shit" I tried my best to fix the mistake while Josh threw his things on the ground and kicked the couch.
"Fucking Dixon!" he yelled and walked off to pour himself a drink.
I quietly neared him not sure what to say to ease him. "Hey… did something happen at work?" I asked keeping a decent amount of space between us just in case.
He groaned before pouring another.
"It's my bastard of an uncle, he bought sixty percent of the company's shares.
"Isn't that a good thing? I thought you were open to new buyers"
"Not him! Anybody but him!" his voice rose and startled me. "I told them not to sell all the shares at once" he slammed the glass cup on the table and it shattered. "He will not have his way, not in my company" he walked out with a bleeding palm and left me to clean the mess.
Flash back Ends>>>>>
I cringed at the memory, I was so worried for him then. Thinking about it he didn't come home that day, I can take a wild guess where he went to next.
"Dixon… Are you Josh's uncle?" he smiled when I said that.
"He talks about me? Nothing good I trust" he sipped his drink with said smile still plastered on his face.
A frowned settled on mine. "Did he send you? Is this some attempt at an apology?" I hoped down from the bar stool and walked towards the exit door.
The grip of his hand on mine prevented me from making it far. "Now why would he do that? He hates me"
That is true any word about his uncle has been nothing good which makes me wonder if he is a good person at all.
"Then what is this about?" he finally let go and I folded my arms.
"I said I'd bring you dry clothes didn't I?"
"What were you doing at the gallery? The show already ended"
"I couldn't take my eyes off your painting, even if your muse isn't exactly my favorite person" he said with a tiny smirk growing.
I cringed at the word muse, "Yeah right" I rolled my eyes. "Did you pay Milo?"
He laughed again for like the third time today, he must find all this very amusing.
"Why would I need to pay someone to enter my own building?" my expression changed. "The gallery is mine but I let Chen run things because I trust her and every once in a while I come over and buy the paintings I find interesting"
"So this store you own this too?" I gestured all around us.
"This and many others" he confessed casually.
A lot of questions ran through my head, like what does he plan to do with me if this isn't Josh's doing.
"You know me but I've never met you before now"
"I know a lot of things about you Lillian" he smiled but I still felt uneasy.
"You're not some weirdo right?" I asked eyeing skeptically.
A deep chuckle left his lips. "Do I give off that vibe?" he pushed off the counter he was leaning on and stalked towards me.
Fear crept into me and I found myself backing away. "What do you want with me?" I asked my voice shaking a bit over his intimidation.
"I want you to be my personal artist" he stopped in front of me.
"You want me to paint for you?"
"Paint, draw whatever you desire, I'll take responsibility for them"
His height was intimidating I had to look up to meet his eyes. "That can't be all to it there must be something else"
He smiled amusingly, "You are right there is a catch… you have to live with me"
* * * * *
My hand twisted the handle of the door, the house was quiet when I walked in. I didn't see any sign of Josh's presence.
I picked up a suitcase and started filling it with my clothes and shoes and anything that is mine.
I dragged the bulging case out of the house only to meet Josh at the front door.
"Lily, I've been trying to get in touch with you…" he noticed the luggage behind me. "Where are you going?"
"You know I can't stay" I pushed past him trying to hail a cab.
"Where are you gonna go? You can't go back to your parents you know that. Look we can talk about this, If you just let me explain everything can go back to normal"
A car stopped for me and popped open its trunk, I carried the case, threw it in the trunk and slammed the door.
"It can never go back to normal Josh, you hurt me in the worst way possible… there's no coming back from that" I got into the back seat and told the driver my location.
"You'll come back, there's no one for you except me!" his voice faded the farther we got.
I was dropped in front of a large gate and pressed the doorbell. Few seconds later the familiar voice of Duke spoke from the intercom.
"Lillian Quinn… please come in"
A buzzer sound blared and the gates to the mansion opened.
"Please God don't let me regret this" I whispered before entering.