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Adam's POVSometime later...It turns out that Alex had a brilliant idea about tracking Autumn's bank account after I managed to pull it out of the medical records it took me some time to get a warrant in order to track it. But today I have it. And I have a new address. It seems that Autumn opened up her own cafe and I was just on my way there. I had a hard time deciding if I should call Uncle Richard right away but after the disappointment he lived the last time I won't tell him anything until I have his daughter in front of me. I wonder what she is like, and how she will react to the news I have to bring. Most of all I hope that she is a good person, the last thing I want is for someone to hurt the people I consider to be like my second family.As I pull up to the address where the cafe is supposed to be I notice something that immediately feels weird. The cafe was trashed, the windows were broken, the walls spray painted and the entry was practically destroyed. I get out of the c
I try to shake off the hot coffee from my sleeve when I notice the woman who bumped into me dropped to the floor and was now crying. "Miss, are you alright?" It was a dumb question, it was obvious from her state that she was the further thing from being alright. I kneel and offer her my hand as she lifts her head and I meet a pair of eyes that seem all too familiar. "Miss, let me help you," I say as I help her to her feet and she looks down at the spilled coffee cups and my white shirt beneath my coat completely soaked."I'm so sorry, I didn't see you." She takes a cloth tissue out of her bag and tries to tap at my shirt to get some of the moisture out but to no use. "Dont worry about it, at least it wasn't hot." I lie as I offer her a smile but when I see her long face I realise it's probably not the right time for that. "Besides it seems like you have bigger worries." She nods her head and leaves the cloth tissue in my hand. "Again, I'm sorry. Please excuse me." She tries to lea
Alex's POVShould I call him? It's not weird if I call him, we are friends and friends call each other. But what would I ask him? Hey, how is the investigation going on? Do you have any leads? Are you planning on coming back? ... Do you miss me like I miss you? Or maybe not.This shouldn't be so hard. I knew him for years, talking to him should be easy at this point. God, maybe the lack of sun is finally getting to me, it turns out closing yourself in a bedroom and pretending to paint to avoid questions from the family isn't that great of a plan. Luckily artists have the fame to be creative loners so no one questions when I lock myself up from time to time."Alex!" I suddenly hear a voice and I turn away from the canvas to look at Mrs.Hendrics standing by the door. "Are you alright, dear?" "Yes, sorry. I spaced out." I say as I get up and cover up my canvas. "You needed me?" "Your mother asked me to call you, we have guests." Great, now I have to sit around another boring tea sessio
I try to breathe, to pull myself together... I can't go downstairs looking like a mess with red eyes, but the cold water does nothing but wash my mascara off. If only it had the same effect on the void growing inside my heart if only cold water could wash my sorrows away. One might say, "Be happy for him." but I am not that selfless, I take on the right to even hate him a little... hoping it would help take my feelings away. If only he wasn't such a good person."Alex, you have been in here for ages, just pick one painting already," Mom says as she barges into my room and I quickly close the bathroom door. "I'm in the bathroom. I'll be downstair in a second, I promise." I say as I press my body against the door frame. "Dont make me look bad in front of our guests." Yeah, I couldn't possibly want that. "Please hurry." She says and I wait until I hear the door close to let out a loud, exhausted breath of air that seemed to suffocate me. I look back at my reflection in the mirror and c
"So now that my overbearing mother left how do you really feel about my paintings?" I asked even tho I didn't care but it was better than to sit in an uncomfortable silence. "As I said, I'm impressed by your exquisite eye. You certainly know how to capture the essence of your subjects." Did I truly possess that kind of a gift, I always thought I was simply transferring my surroundings on a piece of blank canvas."Thank you, I never quite saw it that way," I say as I take the paintings from his hands and set them aside. "Painting has always been a hobby of mine. Dad used to say I was holding a brush before I could even walk." Why am I sharing this information with a person I just met, I have no idea. But I just want to talk about something, anything, to keep my mind occupied."People always assume artists use art as a way to escape reality. But it's not about the escape, it's about capturing a moment. Living, and leaving a trace." Lorenzo says as he leans back in the chair and looks ou
I didn't take long to figure out what I wanted to wear for tonight, there was no one I wanted nor needed to impress so it took all of the pressure off, at least for me. I liked this yellow dress and the design screen of Marilyn Monroe's flowy dress with a modern touch. "Are you sure you dont want change?" Mom asked while I was trying to put on my earrings. "How about that purple dress we got on our last shopping trip, it would look so lovely on you." "Mom, for the last time I'm not changing. Besides, that purple dress is not suitable for an event like the art exhibition." Now that dress being bodycon and fitted in just the right spots was screaming hot date, something this was not. I make sure that the hair clip stays secure on my head and grab my clutch bag. "Fine, but at least tell me... do you find him attractive?" My God, please no. But I know better than to think a prayer would work that fast. "Mom, please dont make this into something that it's not. This is not a date, nor do
"Are you having a good time?" Enzo asks as he rejoins me with two glasses of champagne. "Yes, everything is amazing. The paintings are wonderful, the stories transport you to a different place and yet they ground you at the same time. Nothing I can create could ever compete with this." "Dont says that, dont compare. Especially not when you haven't even tried, you have the potential to become something big. Trust me." Is funny that a complete stranger can have so much faith in me when all he saw was two pictures I didn't even select with care. "I'm not sure, mostly because I already made peace with having my art stored in the back of my closet and never seeing the light of the day." Except for the few that hang in Mrs. Hendrics room."Why dont you let me have some of your paintings, we dont have to put your name on them right away if you dont want to. That way you can see how the public reacts without having to expose yourself." "I dont know, Enzo." I look around the boat at the peo
Adam's POVSasha may be my best friend in the world, we know each other front and back and there are secrets between us that no one else knows, but when it comes to love there is where he draws the line. He closed that door years ago and even trying to talk about it with him is impossible without him making it into a joke. That's why when I mention Autumn to him and the impression she left on me he was everything but understanding.But there is another person who is always there when I need someone to listen to me. Alex. She has a way of putting my mind at ease, with her everything is easier. That's why I dont doubt even for a second to call her as soon as I get home and sit down. It is late, but there have been times when I would ring her after midnight and she would still answer with her voice half asleep.Yet this time the phone rings and no one picks up. This could be the first time in our history that we know each other that she hasn't picked up a call. I stared at the screen to s