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CHAPTER THIRTY-FIVE
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2025-01-04 06:30:35Related chapters
Canvas Of Secrets Chapter Thirty-six
I slightly adjusted on the bed and opened my eyes slowly, the rays of the morning sun shone right on my face as I squinted my eyes to avoid direct light. I rubbed one of my eye with my left hand as though that would clear the sleep in my eye as I looked around and saw Julian fast asleep right by my bed side. He had held my hand over the night and fallen asleep while seated, with his head rested on the edge of the bed. I looked at him with so much warmth and knew within me that there was no way I could ever get away from this attachment I have toward him.I gently caressed his face, traced my fingers all the way from his forehead to his ear and to his beards and this woke him up.At first he looked at me as though it was a dream and when he realized I was truly there on the bed, his eyes shined and sparkled with so much care.“Are you okay? How’s your ankle?” Julian asked now as he sat up on the chair and I did the same on the bed, a duvet covered me halfway. “I am fine…..I am just s
Last Updated : 2025-01-06Canvas Of Secrets CHAPTER ONE
I pushed open the brown wooden door and stepped into my studio, a sense of excitement rushed all over my body as I was eager to start work on the next painting. I shut the door right after me with my left hand while holding a cup of coffee on my right. Setting the cup of my coffee down on the table filled with different sketches of paintings, paint brushes, and some disorganized books about painting, I reached out my handbag and hung it on the bag holder by the wall. A number of finished paintings lay on the wall by the floor and a couple more hung on the wall. A few were finished, a few unfinished and a few were client's orders to be picked up. I always made my paintings from scratch and my mind and never copied anyone’s work no matter the amount a client was willing to pay. I pulled off my trench coat, leaving my black shirt and a pair of deep blue jeans on a pair of boots on and pulled a stool closer to an empty canvas I had already set and sat. I took a sip of the coffee and pi
Last Updated : 2024-11-16Canvas Of Secrets CHAPTER TWO
I sat there with a paint brush in my hand, my eyes staring blankly at the white canvas in front of me.I have always found solace in the quietness my studio exuded, the different smell of oil and paint- it was my own sanctuary and I loved being in it. But today, I wasn’t in my sanctuary, there was no familiar scent and warmth in this room. The room I was in had dim lights and gave off a cold aura as it also had meager interior decoration. I could feel the weight of Julian’s sharp gaze over my shoulders, being calculative from across the room.“60 days, nothing less, nothing more,” he suddenly said in a low growl thus breaking the silence. Julian Blackwood came off as a man who commands attention the moment he steps into the room. Tall, a lean muscular build, jet black curly shoulder-length hair and his aura gave off some sort of quiet but dangerous confidence. I could feel my heart thumping but I quickly squeezed my eyes shut hoping that would suppress the rising panic within me.
Last Updated : 2024-11-16Canvas Of Secrets CHAPTER THREE
The room became awfully quiet after Julian left. Sixty days, I had sixty days to replicate a painting I barely remembered and also not figuring out why Julian wanted me to do so but I knew there was something more to this task. I stood from my stool, paced the room for a while and coming back to the spot I stood from, I stared at the canvas again as though that would tell me the true reason why I was here. I was still fixated on the canvas when I heard a footstep approach the door. The door creaked open and I made a swift turn to the door to see who it was.It wasn't Julian.A young girl of about eighteen years of age entered, dressed in a plain black dress. She had her face down and clenched to the tray of food she had brought in as she closed the door. “Julian said you should eat,” she said in a low voice.“Is she a staff or his woman? No, I'm sure Julian wouldn't let his woman do such basic chore and plus she seems pretty young to be here in the first place,”“Hmm thanks,” I mut
Last Updated : 2024-11-16Canvas Of Secrets CHAPTER FOUR
There he stood in the doorway, dressed in a black shirt and a pair of black pants. He looked out of place yet somehow in control. He stepped into the room and closed the door behind him.“Lexi,” he said“Marcus?” I said with a mix of surprise and confusion in my voice.My instincts suddenly stepped in and I went over to him and gave him a warm hug.“What are you doing here? It's been years since I last saw you,” I said in a worried tone. “Yeah, I know. It’s been quite tough moving on since that day Lexi,” he said almost teary. “Let’s not talk about that, that’s not why I am here,” he said, switching tones.“Then how are you here Marcus? Did you sneak in? Did anyone see you? I don’t know what this is all about but I think it’s dangerous here Marcus,” I said frantically. Marcus came closer to me and placed his hands right on my shoulder. “Let’s sit first Lexi,” he said We both moved towards my bed and sat facing each other“I only came on board as one of Julian’s security,” he said
Last Updated : 2024-11-16Canvas Of Secrets 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 Julia
Last Updated : 2024-11-16Canvas Of Secrets CHAPTER SIX
I stood still, caught in between and trying to process his words and everything that's been going on. Julian was a puzzle— a dangerous but beautiful puzzle. I wasn't sure if I wanted to solve him or simply let myself get lost in it all.“ I don't know if I should be flattered or worried” I said in a low voice“A little bit of both wouldn't hurt” he said, his lips curling into a playful smirkI looked away for a moment, needing space to think, his words held such a weight that I wasn't ready to carry. “ I-I should go” I said as I slipped out of the side and towards the fireplace. His eyes followed me as he stood there, his gaze unwavering“Is that what you really want?” he askedMy throat suddenly felt dry. Of course it wasn't what I wanted but what I should do if I were to avoid being just a pawn in this game. “This is complicated. I haven't made progress with the painting and I have fewer days counting down for me. I-I think I should be more focused on that” I said “Life itself i
Last Updated : 2024-11-25Canvas Of Secrets CHAPTER SEVEN
Marcus walked down the dim lit hallway carefully, his eyes searching all over the place to see if he was noticed. Obvious to him, a fellow colleague on the security team had been watching him. He saw him entering and exiting the room as he trailed Marcus' movement with curiosity in his eyes until Marcus was out of the hallway. He brought out a pack of cigarettes from his pocket, picked out one and lit it up to smoke. He suddenly had a mischievous grin after he took a puff of his cigarette and carefully followed Marcus to wherever he was going. Marcus, oblivious of being followed by Sammy, walked into the supply room because that was the only place without a cctv as it was empty. Bringing out his phone from his chest pocket, he quickly made a call to a man named Marve. “Hey Marve, huhh there might be a little bit of a problem with Lexi but-but not to worry, I’ve got things under control,” he said, his words fidgeting. “And what’s this problem?” Marve asked over the phone. Ma
Last Updated : 2024-11-26
Latest chapter
Canvas Of Secrets Chapter Thirty-six
I slightly adjusted on the bed and opened my eyes slowly, the rays of the morning sun shone right on my face as I squinted my eyes to avoid direct light. I rubbed one of my eye with my left hand as though that would clear the sleep in my eye as I looked around and saw Julian fast asleep right by my bed side. He had held my hand over the night and fallen asleep while seated, with his head rested on the edge of the bed. I looked at him with so much warmth and knew within me that there was no way I could ever get away from this attachment I have toward him.I gently caressed his face, traced my fingers all the way from his forehead to his ear and to his beards and this woke him up.At first he looked at me as though it was a dream and when he realized I was truly there on the bed, his eyes shined and sparkled with so much care.“Are you okay? How’s your ankle?” Julian asked now as he sat up on the chair and I did the same on the bed, a duvet covered me halfway. “I am fine…..I am just s
Canvas Of Secrets CHAPTER THIRTY-FIVE
Marcus was busy and diligent with what he was doing. He and five other ball boys were in the part of the abandoned ship that was used to package Xavier’s drugs. They all wore nose masks as they were busy packing and wrapping the drugs in small transparent satchets and also in small quantities. “Did you hear about the disturbance yesterday?” One of the ball boys who wore a black face cap said. “What disturbance?” The other ball boy asked still busy with what he was doing. Marcus overheard them from where he was busy with his packaging and decided to pay attention. “I heard some girl got taken from the boss’s mansion.” The ball boy with the face cap said. “Some girl? Are you sure she didn’t run away?” The other ball boy asked. Marcus still paid attention but didn’t think anything of some girl being taken until he heard the other ball boy respond. “I heard she’s some painter that was kidnapped by the boss……I also heard she’s painting him a top coded artwork” the ball boy with the
Canvas Of Secrets CHAPTER THIRTY-FOUR
Marve was seen seated on the bonnet of his car smoking a cigarette when Mateo approached him. “The kid seems eager to work……he’s been at it since morning, is he trying to prove his worth to Xavier that bad,” Mateo asked. “Put him to more work if he’s so eager,” Marve said and hopped down from where he sat. “You don’t like that he’s here? Is he related to you?” Mateo asked out of curiosity. “Like you said, he’s just a kid trying to prove his worth….so help him do just that” Marve said.“How’s it look? The goods” Marve asked.“The ball boys are quite good at offloading them off the ship, we’ve been able to ship some of the stuff out of the country” Mateo said.“I need to head back” Marve said as he looked at his watch and the time read 8:50 pm.“I actually found it odd that you’ve been here since you came in the morning…. I didn’t think you’d stay till this late. Got any issues back at Xavier’s?” Mateo asked.“I needed to clear my head……keep your eyes on the kid, I am outta here” Ma
Canvas Of Secrets CHAPTER THIRTY THREE
It was a couple of minutes to the said time for getting me out from Xavier’s mansion. Klaus and his men were ready and all set as they headed into their car while Julian followed as well. Klaus made contact with one of their men in Xavier’s mansion and gave them the time for the secret passage be opened. They were all dressed in black outfit, used a black nose cover and a black full face cover. Julian had picked up his silent gun and also stuck a pen knife right beside his sock before he got into the car with the other three as they drove off. They finally drove and parked at a spot not too far from the mansion and walked over to the secret entrance. Klaus led the way while the other two and Julian followed from behind and indeed there was a secret passage and it was already opened. They all got into the mansion now as they moved sneakily to avoid attention. Using the house blueprint, Klaus found his way to the house entrance and stabbed one of the guards by the door while one of h
Canvas Of Secrets CHAPTER THIRTY-TWO
Marcus finally broke free from the hands that pulled him away from the offender. Marcus then pushed the man out of his way as he exited the bar and in the process made an object drop from the man’s pocket. The man bent and picked up the object and apparently it was his identity card—he was a detective. Detective Garrett was a fairly dark skinned man in his early forties, his dark hair was on a low cut with black shiny beards that ran from one jawline to the other. He had no wife, no kids and just work. He’s been working on a particular case that is linked to Lexi's biological parents and a missing technology. He stood there in the bar as he looked outside and watched Marcus get on his bike and zoomed off. ****************************************************The morning brought forth three of Stronach’s men as promised to Julian’s gate as they were allowed into the vast compound and led into the main house. “Our Krestny Otets(godfather) wants us to help you get your girl out” the t
Canvas Of Secrets CHAPTER THIRTY-ONE
In total darkeness, Mr Thompson found his hand into his pocket and brought out his phone as the screen came on and shone some dim light on his face and he called his son Marcus. The phone rang all through and Marcus didn’t pick up. He called again as he walked towards his car and got in, still, Marcus didn’t pick up. He dialed the number one more time and dropped the phone on the passenger seat, started the car and drove out of under the bridge and while he drove, Marcus picked up. “Marcus! Why weren’t you picking?!” Mr Thompson vented out.“I was busy” Marcus said without remorse.“Busy?” Mr Thompson asked.“Yes, and I will be a lot more busy from today onward” Marcus said. “Busy with what Marcus? I want you to be extra careful, I don’t want you going around getting into a mess that would cost me!” Mr Thompson said, both hands still on the steering wheel. “Is that all I mean to you Dad?” Marcus asked. “What’s that supposed to mean?” Mr Thompson asked. “Never mind” Marcus chan
Canvas Of Secrets CHAPTER THIRTY
Julian finally drove home at night after making different findings about Dmitri. He drove into his compound and was welcomed by the head of security. “Welcome boss,” the head security said and collected Julian’s small luggage. Julian without wasting much time headed into the house, into his study and into his hidden room. He took off just his shirt and went into the bathroom with his black pants. He stood right there, under the shower, water drizzling down on his hair and down his well built body. He ran his wet dark wavy hair with his hands, moving the water flow down to the back of his shoulders and revealed a more broader shoulder and a tattoo of a snake wrapped around a sword at the center of his back, a scar slanting from behind his lower back to his waist; it was an old scar. He stood there in the shower getting soaked with water for a while as he hoped to recollect himself. He was finally done and came out of the shower and into the room in a white bathrobe. He then came ou
Canvas Of Secrets CHAPTER TWENTY-NINE
Xavier had exhausted his cigarette now as he quenched it in the cigarette plate. He picked up the cigarette pack and brought out another stick and gestured it towards Marcus. “Here, have a smoke with me,” Xavier said and gave Marcus the cigarette and then lit it for him with his lighter. Marcus held the lit cigarette with two of his fingers and took a puff. “There are so many ways for you to be a man and not just a man, a man that is feared, just like me.” Xavier said. “Sometimes you gotta move away from your father’s shadow to see how much you are capable of,” Xavier said again. “I remember you mentioned killing a man, was that the very first?” Xavier asked. Marcus recalled the event and inhaled the smoke through the wrong pipe and coughed out. “It-it was self defense,” Marcus answered with a raspy voice as he tried to clear his throat. “Easy boy, things like this shouldn’t flinch you…….these are things that build you up to a man!” Xavier said. Marcus now put out the cigaret
Canvas Of Secrets CHAPTER TWENTY-EIGHT
The next morning Julian was ready to drive back home since the purpose of him being in Ontario had been carried out by someone else. He picked up his small bag, picked up his gun and lodged it at the waist of his trousers and then headed to his car. He got into his car, brought out the gun from behind and put it in the compartment box, then his phone rang—it was Stronach. “Hey my friend…… you didn’t call me back to report,” Stronach said in his Russian accent. “I was just about to do that,” Julian responded. “Well, is he dead?” Stronach asked. “Yes, he’s been taken care of” Julian said.“Good, good….. I will send three of my men to your address tomorrow to go save tvoya devushka(your girl). They will handle the matters of getting in and out of Xavier’s mansion…..Poka!(Bye)” Stronach said and hung up. Julian placed the phone in the phone compartment and buckled his seat belt before he kickstarted the car and drove off. ************************************************************
