CHAPTER FIVE

It's been two weeks now and sleep didn’t come easily, my mind always raced at the thought of what Marcus said and also what Julian said—the deadline pressing down on me. 60 days, much less now. 

I kept turning from the  right to the left side of the bed, the clock ticking steadily, more as a reminder of time slipping through my fingers. 

I suddenly threw off the covers and stood from my bed, pacing the room like a restless prisoner—maybe that’s what I was. Imprisoned to this painting, to Julian, to whatever game was unfolding before me. 

I grabbed my sketch pad from the table filled with different paint brushes, color palette, oil paints and normal paints and started drawing, trying to replicate the original Elysium with the vague memory I had. 

Halfway through the sketches, there was a soft knock on the door, I paused with my pencil mid stroke as the door gradually opened. The same young girl stepped in, standing in the doorway her expression remained still and unreadable. 

“Mr Julian requested that you meet him in the study in 10 minutes,” she said, her voice low but clear. 

“Now? It’s the middle of the night,” I said surprised. 

She didn’t respond but just stood there waiting for me to comply so she could take me there. Knowing that she wasn’t going to leave until I was ready to go, I picked up my robe because I was putting on a short light silk nightwear and I didn’t want to catch a cold. 

We walked in silence down the brightly lit hallway, the mansion was expensive. I hadn’t explored much beyond my studio/room as I wasn't allowed to step out but now as I was led deeper into the mansion, I realized how isolated I was in that room. 

Finally we arrived at the study and a large set of doors as she pushed them wide open revealing a vast gallery of books, paintings, sculptures and artifacts. She immediately turned to leave as I called her out. 

“Wait! Can I at least get your name?” I asked politely.

She looked at me at first, quite unsure of what to do

“Just so I can have something to address you with, I don't think that's a crime” I added convincingly 

“My name is Ella” she said, turned around, shut the doors and left, not giving me a chance to say something else.

I turned to the study and got engrossed in the beauty that lay inside. Admiring and touching each artifact and painting elevated my mood and welcomed a smile onto my face. 

My attention suddenly was caught by an artifact just at the top right corner of the shelf, of course my curiosity got the best of me as I went close to get a closer view of it. Trying to figure out what the artifact was, I tried to pick it up and suddenly I heard a low and gentle voice from the door. 

“ I wouldn't touch that if I were you” he said gently

I quickly turned around and before me was a man, a bit lean, 5,9 tall and had baby blue eyes. He had this glowing charisma around him that I never imagined I would meet a man of such aura here. 

“Sorry, I didn't mean to touch that. My curiosity got the best of me” I said and chipped in a short laugh. 

“ Oh well it's fine although I doubt Julian would think so” he said with a smile

“You don't sound like you're one of Julian’s men” I said curiously

He came into the study now after closing the door.

“ I would say that I’m one of his men and I'm also not one of his men, what do you think that makes me? " he asked. 

“His closest friend I guess,” I said reluctantly.

“ I see you're quite a quick thinker more than just a painter. Please call me Frederick” he said, extending his palm towards me. 

“Lexi” I said accepting his handshake with a smile

“ I believe my time here is up and I think you'd want to continue the conversation with the man of the hour” he said with a smile and exited the study.

That was quite refreshing, having a proper conversation with an actual gentleman. 

I waited around for a while after Frederick left but Julian wasn't still here. I just couldn't get my mind off that artifact as I went back to it and in trying to pick it up, there was a not so loud sound as though something became unlocked and to my amazement and surprise, the shelf started opening and thus it was a hidden door.

I had moved back the very moment the door started opening out of fear but came close when the door was finally opened. 

“Why is there a hidden door in Julian’s study? What could he possibly be hiding in there?”

“Hello?” I said as I knocked softly on another door that supposedly leads into the space

There was no response so I opened the door and my eyes fell on the grand four poster king sized bed covered with deep red velvet sheets, one side of the wall was dominated by a fireplace, and above hung a semi large painting covered with a linen, a large wardrobe next to a door that leads to the bathroom, a leather armchair and a small table by the windows. The room was a subtle mixture of opulence and menace, just like a typical mafia boss’s room would look like.

“How can this room be hidden behind the study?” This room is too exquisite to be a room to lock up people or could this be Julian’s room?” 

I couldn't get my mind off the painting covered with linen as I wanted to know what the painting was all about. I was done looking around the room and I moved further to take a closer look at it when a sudden familiar thick voice echoed into my ears and sent a chill down my spine.

“Curiosity gets the best of you doesn't it?” Julian said

I quickly turned around and my breath stopped halfway when my eyes met with Julian’s intense eyes. 

There he stood leaning on the door frame, a white towel tied around his waist and his bare upper right arm covered in tattoos, his bare body still dripping with trickles of water as he had just showered, his jet black hair now wet with wavy strands. 

“ I-I- I didn't mean to intrude” I said although my words betrayed me

“My curiosity has indeed gotten the best of me, now I'm in this mess!

Why does it feel like words are beginning to melt in my mouth? 

What does this mean?!”

He took a deliberate step closer to where I stood, leaving a short distance between us.

“Oh I'm sure you didn't. But curiosity can be dangerous Lexi, especially with me” he said, his voice low and teasing. 

At this point, I could feel my heart thumping. I tried to take a step back and bumped against the reading table, there was no more space to retreat into. 

“I— I wasn't going to touch it” I said softly, trying to take away my eyes from his eyes that were still locked in mine. 

As though he knew there was no space for me to withdraw into, he came closer and stopped just inches from me. He smelled of Sandalwood, giving off a warm, woody, and sophisticated scent around me. 

“But you wanted to” he said, his voice low and raspy

“Is it a secret?” I asked trying to regain composure and my words

He looked at me as though he was curious about me, like there was something about me that always caught his attention and he couldn't just wait to unravel it. 

“Everything with me is a secret but not everything is meant to be uncovered Lexi” he whispered, his gaze moving from my lips to my eyes.

“Then why are you still letting me in?” I asked in a low tone

He suddenly brushed a stray of my hair behind my ear, his touch so soft yet electrifying.

“Because you Lexi are already in too deep to leave now” he said

He leaned in, his breath hot against my ear and his voice like a seductive whisper “And I wouldn't let you go even if you wanted to” 

“What the heck just happened? Why did my words fail me now? Why am I feeling this way all of a sudden? He's dangerous Lexi and you know this, but why does it feel intoxicating? This has got to be a game, he's got to be playing with me. Get him out of your mind Lexi!”