I decided I would go to the meeting, for one simple reason. To give Mr. Patterson his money back. I didn't care how important he was, Mr. Patterson was still insane. I counted the money, taking out $1000 for the actual cost of the paintings and left the rest of the money in the envelope to return to him.
I walked to the restaurant thinking of what Mr. Patterson could possibly want. It was obviously something good, but I didn't want to think too much about it. I honestly intended on making a quick exit. When I arrived at The Italian Bistro, I glanced around the room to see if I could find Mr. Patterson. Of course, I had no idea what he looked like, so I was just searching for someone who didn't look like he quite belonged here.
“ May I help you?” the young hostess asked me cheerfully.
“ Yes, um, I'm supposed to be meting someone here. A Mr. Patterson. Do you happen to know if he's here yet?”
“ Oh yes, you must be Miss Russo.”
I nodded and she started to lead me to the table where Mr. Patterson sat. I could see where she was headed. He was younger than I imagined, probably in his early thirties. He had dark brown hair and strong features and he was dressed pretty casual but the quality let you know that it was designer clothing. When we reached the table, Mr. Patterson stood up and reached out to shake my hand.
“ You must be Miss Russo,” he said smiling as he shook my hand. He was quite handsome, but not in an obvious movie star kind of way. I couldn't help but notice what beautiful green eyes he had.
“ Willow,” I corrected, “Very nice to meet you Mr. Patterson.”
“ Please, call me Jace. Have a seat,” he said gesturing to the chair across from him.
I sat down and eyed him curiously. I was trying to gauge his mood, figure out what his intentions were for meeting me here. He seemed calm and his expression didn't expose anything I could clearly read.
“ Can I get you something to drink?” I hadn't realized the hostess was still standing next to the table.
“ Uh, just water for me thanks,” I said. I wasn't going to be here long and didn't want even a drink of mine to be added to the bill for the insane man sitting across from me. It was a little difficult to think so negatively about him now that I was sitting across from him. I was stubborn though, so I wasn't ready to give up my plan on a quick exit.
Jace ordered his drink and then returned his attention to me. “I'm so glad you decided to meet me. I wasn't so sure you would.”
“ I only came to return this to you,” I said handing him the envelope. He took it but just set it on the table between us.
“ I've paid for your paintings Willow,” he said disappointed. I guessed that he knew where my end of the conversation was headed and he was reevaluating his strategy.
“ You paid way too much. Way beyond the asking price,” I stood up and reached my hand out to say goodbye. He took my hand but not in a manner to shake it goodbye.
“ Please stay,” he said weakly. It almost sounded like a beg and it took me by surprise. “Please.”
I sat down again, at this point I was curious what made him so desperate to speak with me. Maybe it wouldn't be a bad thing to sit and listen to what he had to say. Also the thought of sharing a meal with him greatly appealed to me now. Not to mention, I felt like I could look at his eyes for eternity. The color was something I had never seen before a darker green that had some lighter green flecks. Beautiful, but even more so, mysterious. I was startled when he spoke again but maintained composure.
“ I'll make you a deal,” he said, obviously pleased that I had rooted myself in the seat again. “Have dinner with me. Listen to what I have to say. If you don't like the proposal I have for you, we shall part ways with no hurt feelings. All you'll have lost is an hour of your time but at least you'll leave with a full stomach,” he said smiling while waiting for my answer.
I nodded in
I walked to the restaurant thinking of what Mr. Patterson could possibly want. It was obviously something good, but I didn't want to think too much about it. I honestly intended on making a quick exit. When I arrived at The Italian Bistro, I glanced around the room to see if I could find Mr. Patterson. Of course, I had no idea what he looked like, so I was just searching for someone who didn't look like he quite belonged here.
“ May I help you?” the young hostess asked me cheerfully.
“ Yes, um, I'm supposed to be meting someone here. A Mr. Patterson. Do you happen to know if he's here yet?”
“ Oh yes, you must be Miss Russo.”
I nodded and she started to lead me to the table where Mr. Patterson sat. I could see where she was headed. He was younger than I imagined, probably in his early thirties. He had dark brown hair and strong features and he was dressed pretty casual but the quality let you know that it was designer clothing. When we reached the table, Mr. Patterson stood up and reached out to shake my hand.
“ You must be Miss Russo,” he said smiling as he shook my hand. He was quite handsome, but not in an obvious movie star kind of way. I couldn't help but notice what beautiful green eyes he had.
“ Willow,” I corrected, “Very nice to meet you Mr. Patterson.”
“ Please, call me Jace. Have a seat,” he said gesturing to the chair across from him.
I sat down and eyed him curiously. I was trying to gauge his mood, figure out what his intentions were for meeting me here. He seemed calm and his expression didn't expose anything I could clearly read.
“ Can I get you something to drink?” I hadn't realized the hostess was still standing next to the table.
“ Uh, just water for me thanks,” I said. I wasn't going to be here long and didn't want even a drink of mine to be added to the bill for the insane man sitting across from me. It was a little difficult to think so negatively about him now that I was sitting across from him. I was stubborn though, so I wasn't ready to give up my plan on a quick exit.
Jace ordered his drink and then returned his attention to me. “I'm so glad you decided to meet me. I wasn't so sure you would.”
“ I only came to return this to you,” I said handing him the envelope. He took it but just set it on the table between us.
“ I've paid for your paintings Willow,” he said disappointed. I guessed that he knew where my end of the conversation was headed and he was reevaluating his strategy.
“ You paid way too much. Way beyond the asking price,” I stood up and reached my hand out to say goodbye. He took my hand but not in a manner to shake it goodbye.
“ Please stay,” he said weakly. It almost sounded like a beg and it took me by surprise. “Please.”
I sat down again, at this point I was curious what made him so desperate to speak with me. Maybe it wouldn't be a bad thing to sit and listen to what he had to say. Also the thought of sharing a meal with him greatly appealed to me now. Not to mention, I felt like I could look at his eyes for eternity. The color was something I had never seen before a darker green that had some lighter green flecks. Beautiful, but even more so, mysterious. I was startled when he spoke again but maintained composure.
“ I'll make you a deal,” he said, obviously pleased that I had rooted myself in the seat again. “Have dinner with me. Listen to what I have to say. If you don't like the proposal I have for you, we shall part ways with no hurt feelings. All you'll have lost is an hour of your time but at least you'll leave with a full stomach,” he said smiling while waiting for my answer.
I nodded in
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