chapter 18

The air around Leslie stilled, the sunny atmosphere suddenly becoming chilly to her. “Proposition.” The last time that word was uttered to Leslie, she had to make a life-altering decision. She took out a shaken breath and placed her hands on the table, clasping them together.

"And what could that be, Arthur?"

Arthur cleared his throat; it was his turn to be nervous.

"Believe it or not, I have been looking for you."

Leslie's eyes widened and she was about to retort when he raised his hands in mock surrender and continued with a smile.

"Again, not in the creepy stalker kind of way. Actually, I bought your painting during your school's annual auction. It was the piece ‘Ethereal.’ I saw it and I knew I had to have it."

A look of recognition flashed across Leslie's face. It was one of her favorite pieces and she remembered it was auctioned off at a price higher than its worth.

"You know," Arthur continued, "the rules of the auction don't allow the artist and the bidder to meet. I could