agreement and just then the waitress returned with our drinks. She took our order, I decided on the chicken linguine and Mr. Patterson ordered the spinach ravioli.
“ I know I paid over what was asked,” I looked away nervously. “Willow, I paid what you are worth.”
I reluctantly looked back to him. His green eyes seemed to be piercing into my soul rather than simply looking at my plain face. I realized I couldn't speak. My thoughts had somehow lost connection with my voice.
“ Willow, you must know you have an amazing talent. Your work exceeds anything I've seen in several years.”
I could feel my cheeks getting red. I couldn't look anywhere but my hands which were at this moment tracing the edge of my water glass mindlessly. I took a deep breath in knowing this conversation was going to continue to make me extremely uncomfortable. I looked at him again putting myself back into the conversation.
“ Thank you, Mr. Patterson. I appreciate the vote of confidence but the money is completely unnecessary. The fact that someone like you, with so much knowledge in the art community, would so much as look at my work is an amazing compliment.”
“ Willow, please call me Jace. I'd really like to be on a first name basis with you if you don't mind. Let's ignore the money involved for just a moment. I have a proposition for you.” He took a drink of his red wine. The discussion was interrupted when the waitress returned with our food. I could tell he was deep in thought about how to proceed. It gave me time to form the one question I had for him.
“ Jace.” I hesitated as I let his name melt from my mouth. “Why me? I mean you say I have all this talent, but what brought you here to New Jollie? Miss Morgan said you specifically came here in search of my paintings. Why?”
“ You are more curious about that than my proposition?” he asked honestly surprised. “That's kind of shocking considering you know how influential I can be in the art world.” Somehow his smug response didn't sound conceited, just honest.
“ I know. I guess I would just like to know where your intent originated, before I hear your proposal. As long as you don't mind.”
“ okay. Well, uh, it was about two months ago. I went to a friend's house for dinner. I noticed a painting in his study where we had our pre-dinner drinks. I asked him where he acquired it. He mentioned your name and New Jollie and I made a mental note to visit New Jollie's gallery during the next break in my schedule.”
“ What was the name of it?” I asked trying to remember each piece of art I had done over the last few months.
“ Oh, uh,” My question caught him off guard. “I don't remember exactly. I think it was Morning something...or something Morning.”
“ Morning Serenity,” I said longingly, remembering the painting clearly now. It was a view of a sunrise from an alleyway. Inspired by the mornings I woke up wanting so much for my Serenity to be real. One of my more personal pieces.
“ It really brought on a lot of emotions in me and I wasn't sure why. I decided that I had to go to New Jollie to see if that painting was the only one so magnificent.” He looked deep into my eyes. “Art has one hit wonders all the time, Willow. Imagine my surprise when I came here and saw for myself that this was not the case for you. Each one in the gallery brought a different emotion to me but each with the same intensity.”
“ Thank you. I mean, I've always wondered if I properly conveyed my feelings in my work, or if I had missed the mark in that aspect.”
“ Now, my proposal,” his voice was more business like now. “As you know, I've already spoken to Miss Morgan. She's agreed to my request so long as it's something you want. It was interesting talking to her. It was almost like she was expecting a visit like mine.”
I couldn't help but to let out a small laugh. “Miss Morgan has always been my number one supporter,” I said further explaining my
“ I know I paid over what was asked,” I looked away nervously. “Willow, I paid what you are worth.”
I reluctantly looked back to him. His green eyes seemed to be piercing into my soul rather than simply looking at my plain face. I realized I couldn't speak. My thoughts had somehow lost connection with my voice.
“ Willow, you must know you have an amazing talent. Your work exceeds anything I've seen in several years.”
I could feel my cheeks getting red. I couldn't look anywhere but my hands which were at this moment tracing the edge of my water glass mindlessly. I took a deep breath in knowing this conversation was going to continue to make me extremely uncomfortable. I looked at him again putting myself back into the conversation.
“ Thank you, Mr. Patterson. I appreciate the vote of confidence but the money is completely unnecessary. The fact that someone like you, with so much knowledge in the art community, would so much as look at my work is an amazing compliment.”
“ Willow, please call me Jace. I'd really like to be on a first name basis with you if you don't mind. Let's ignore the money involved for just a moment. I have a proposition for you.” He took a drink of his red wine. The discussion was interrupted when the waitress returned with our food. I could tell he was deep in thought about how to proceed. It gave me time to form the one question I had for him.
“ Jace.” I hesitated as I let his name melt from my mouth. “Why me? I mean you say I have all this talent, but what brought you here to New Jollie? Miss Morgan said you specifically came here in search of my paintings. Why?”
“ You are more curious about that than my proposition?” he asked honestly surprised. “That's kind of shocking considering you know how influential I can be in the art world.” Somehow his smug response didn't sound conceited, just honest.
“ I know. I guess I would just like to know where your intent originated, before I hear your proposal. As long as you don't mind.”
“ okay. Well, uh, it was about two months ago. I went to a friend's house for dinner. I noticed a painting in his study where we had our pre-dinner drinks. I asked him where he acquired it. He mentioned your name and New Jollie and I made a mental note to visit New Jollie's gallery during the next break in my schedule.”
“ What was the name of it?” I asked trying to remember each piece of art I had done over the last few months.
“ Oh, uh,” My question caught him off guard. “I don't remember exactly. I think it was Morning something...or something Morning.”
“ Morning Serenity,” I said longingly, remembering the painting clearly now. It was a view of a sunrise from an alleyway. Inspired by the mornings I woke up wanting so much for my Serenity to be real. One of my more personal pieces.
“ It really brought on a lot of emotions in me and I wasn't sure why. I decided that I had to go to New Jollie to see if that painting was the only one so magnificent.” He looked deep into my eyes. “Art has one hit wonders all the time, Willow. Imagine my surprise when I came here and saw for myself that this was not the case for you. Each one in the gallery brought a different emotion to me but each with the same intensity.”
“ Thank you. I mean, I've always wondered if I properly conveyed my feelings in my work, or if I had missed the mark in that aspect.”
“ Now, my proposal,” his voice was more business like now. “As you know, I've already spoken to Miss Morgan. She's agreed to my request so long as it's something you want. It was interesting talking to her. It was almost like she was expecting a visit like mine.”
I couldn't help but to let out a small laugh. “Miss Morgan has always been my number one supporter,” I said further explaining my
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