Chapter One

“Bella, what is taking you so long? You were meant to be here thirty minutes ago.” Sarah said practically screaming over the phone.

“I know, I know I’m already on my way, just give me another thirty minutes. I promise I will be there”. I said, but actually I had just worn my underwear, and I was shuffling around my flat trying to get my things in order.

“You had better get here by the that time, or you won’t get the chance to sell your paintings”

“Alright, I’m coming and thank you, I love you”. At this point, I had worn my clothes and was at the dressing table doing a little makeup to not look like I had just woken up 

“OK but be quick, bye” she responded and hung up the call 

“I don’t know how I was going to get to the art gallery in time to meet the art curator that wanted to enhance my career.

Being an artist is not the easiest profession, people may think it’s just about putting some colours on a canvas and following your inspiration. What if you don’t have inspiration at that time? The worst part of it, my parents always wanted me to take a more professional course, but it just wasn’t in my heart.

I have loved art and painting ever since I was a kid, so when my parents saw that I wasn’t going to listen to them, they threatened to not pay my college tuition fees, but I didn’t let that get to me, I struggled with two part-time jobs and selling some of my work and that’s how I go into college.

I had a boyfriend that I moved in with in my second year of college, but things didn’t work out between us, and we broke up after a year of dating, and I had to move out into my own flat.

It wasn’t easy, but I made it work and well, let’s just say I’m glad I didn’t listen to my parents, I may not be rich, but at least people buy my paintings, I am supposed to meet my art curator who would introduce me to influential people and hopefully my career would kick off from there. I just pray I’m not late. I know I should have set my alarm and ended up over sleeping.

As I did my makeup watching the news, the broadcaster seemed really excited, so I turned up the volume to hear what she was saying

“And news of the release of billionaire Noah knight from prison has been the latest gist going around the whole of California, the lady stated

“it has been a week since he was released after being sentenced to two years in prison for drunk driving and almost killed a sixteen-year-old girl who is currently still in a coma”

“It was said that he was released one year earlier than he was supposed to be based on good behaviour. Some say he bribed his way out”.

I’m pretty sure he bribed his way out, I’m surprised he stayed that long with all the money he has, well it’s none of my business, switched off the TV and dashed to the door not bothering about breakfast knowing I’m going to regret it later but whatever, got into my Uber and headed off to the art gallery 

Seems luck was not on my side as we got stuck in traffic and ended up getting to the art gallery later than expected and dashed inside as fast as I could, hoping for a chance to still catch up with the curator.

Looking around not being able to find him or Sarah anywhere, I walked towards where my paintings were hung and a man around the age of twenty-seven or so looking at my paintings

“good morning sir” I greeted him, he turned to look at me and my breath hitched, sometimes I wonder how people can be this good-looking, like God was definitely choosing favourites and that wasn’t fair.

Since he didn’t say anything for a while, I decided to speak again

“How are you liking the paintings, is it to your taste? These aren’t the only ones, if you don’t like them they are many more over there, but please check it out, I need this opportunity, and these aren’t even my best work wait to see the others”. I don’t know why I was rambling to a complete stranger. Maybe it’s just desperation and I looked so unprofessional and the fact that he’s face wasn’t saying much except for the little confusion in his eyes.

As he was about to say something, I heard someone call my name, looking back and saw it was Sarah.

“Oh hi Sarah, why do you look out of breath? She looked like she just ran a marathon.

“Who do I look out of breath? Oh, she was mad “why wouldn’t I be when I have looking for you for the past thirty minutes since you said you were going to be here by then, but it has been more than an hour, she paused to catch her breath 

“the art curator left twenty minutes ago. I tried stopping him, but he said he can’t work with someone who can’t be punctual and keep to time like you and left in anger, what were you doing anyway?

“There was a traffic jam on the way here, and I couldn’t run all the way that would have taken longer, and what do you mean the curator left he’s right here, gesturing to the man behind me

“Uh, Bella that is not the curator” as she said that, my face dropped

I turned around slowly, looking at the man with an amused look on his face. I think he heard us well, we were whispering, I turned around quickly back to Sarah

“Oh my God, oh my God. I just rambled out everything to a stranger. I feel so pathetic” I turned to the guy

“Uh, I am so sorry about the misunderstanding, I thought you were someone else I was looking for”

“Well I should probably stop talking and go sorry once again, bye” I said, grabbing Sarah by the hand and running as a way as fast as we could, didn’t stop until we were outside

“OK that was stupid” I whispered, trying to catch my breath, it took me a while, but I finally realized that I had missed my chance with the curator, what am I going to do now?

“Hey Bella, do you know what you just did? Sarah asked me, pulling my out of my depressed thoughts.

“Yeah I do. I just ruined my chances of my art ever getting popular, I should have set my alarm. What was I thinking I could wake up own my own, if only I listened too, I was about to star rambling again when Sarah cut me off.

“No, not that, do you know who you just spoke with”

“No isn’t he just a random guy that came for the exhibition

“That was Noah knight” I still didn’t get 

“And what does that mean Sarah just get to the point, so that I can go back to my sad thoughts

“That guy you just mistook as the curator is the famous billionaire that just got out of jail a week ago”

Then I remembered the new on the t.v earlier, so that’s the guy everybody keeps talking about. well he is really good-looking, I wonder if ias dating anyone. not like it matters to me, but it will be a shame if he was single

“Hey earth to Isabella, what are you thinking about, she asked snapping her fingers in my face.

“Oh, yeah, I have heard of them, so what? I don’t see what the big deal 

“Um, excuse me, I heard a voice say from behind me. Turning around to see the rich billionaire walking towards us

“Can I talk to you for a few minutes, maybe grab something to eat. I was lost for words, what does a billionaire want to possibly talk to me about.

“Uh I am not sure about, my friend and I were about to grab something to eat”

“No, go ahead I still have something to do inside anyway, you guys can go ahead. Text me when you get home, I will talk to you later” Sarah said, putting me on the spot leaving no room for excuse as she wiggled her eyebrows at me before going inside, oh what does she think she’s doing, surely up to something.