4

*Sophia's POV*

The next morning, I woke up with a sense of anticipation and nerves. Now I had agreed to continue with the painting, I realised I was going to have to accept Danny. Along with whatever ‘business’ he was involved in.

He had assured me that although not always legal, he was making decisions for the greater good. Surely that meant he was helping people? Perhaps if I showed my commitment to the painting, he would trust me more. Maybe he would tell me in more detail what he did.

There was also something else though that was playing in the back of my mind. The more time I spent with him, the more he seemed to get under my skin. He was clearly good looking, but it was more than that. He interested me. There was something that hooked me in. Despite my little experience with men, I knew it was very likely that Danny was popular with women. I would have to guard my heart throughout this process.

Danny had promised to pick me up today. Maybe he wasn’t sure I would turn up unless he came to get me. I tried to make more of an effort with my appearance, although that was difficult to do with the materials I had.

Thankfully, my alabaster skin was clear, so foundation and concealer were not necessary. Mrs Drew had given me a mascara which I used sparingly. I had no other make-up. I felt it was unfair on Jack to spend money on preening myself when I should be saving up to get him out.

I tied my long hair in a ponytail, more for practicality than beauty. As for clothes, well they were whatever I was able to get second hand. I tried to select the things that I felt were the least scruffy. Eventually I settled on blue jeans and a white t shirt.

I looked in the mirror at my slim frame and laughed with derision. I looked exactly the same as I always did. What was the point in trying to make an effort? What was my hoped-for outcome anyway? Danny to whisk me away and solve all my problems? I shook my head. For years I’d managed my expectations. Danny was kind, but at the end of the day, I only had myself to rely on.

A text came through from Danny. He was here.

Attempting to swallow my fear, I picked up my phone and jacket. I didn’t bother bringing my supplies this time. I knew he already had everything I would need.

Securing both locks on my flat door with badly peeling paint, I began to descend down the stairs. I winkled my nose as the smell of urine hit my nostrils. This stairwell was often used as a bathroom by homeless people, or even residents that just didn’t give a fuck. Graffiti had been plastered over every spare inch of the wall, and there were often used needles on the floor. The lift hadn’t worked since I’d moved in, so there was no choice but to use the stairs.

Finally, as I made my way out the front door, I took a deep breath. It wasn’t clean air by any means, but it was cleaner than that stairwell. I looked around, suddenly realising that I didn’t know what kind of car Danny drove. A loud horn going off caught my attention, and I saw a hand waving out from a black Range Rover sport. Of course he drove a stupidly expensive car.

I made my way over, perturbed that I couldn’t see inside the blacked-out windows. He wound the window all the way down so I could finally see his face. He was grinning at me, and I weirdly felt shy under his gaze.

He pulled his dark glasses down to the tip of his nose so he could look at me. “Get in then pretty lady.”

Comments like that weren’t going to help me feel less shy.

I stepped up into the car, getting a shock when I realised the seat was warm.

Noticing my flinch, he chuckled. “Sorry, thought you might appreciate the seats being on. I can turn them off if you want?”

I shook my head, enjoying the feeling of warmth spreading from every point of contact. “No, it’s fine, I just didn’t expect it.”

He started the car and began to reverse out of my street. As he did, he placed his arm on the back of my seat, pulling himself towards me so he could turn his head to look out the rear windscreen. I tensed a little, my skin prickling at the close contact. His right palm laid flat on the steering wheel, turning it with ease. I could smell him now too. A mixture of whatever masculine cologne he sprayed on himself, with an undertone of his natural scent.

I found it pleasing.

When he had finished reversing, he moved away and righted himself in order to drive, and I let myself breath again.

He glanced over to me as we made our way towards the centre of London. “So, what’s the plan today? Are you still drawing me, or will you lay any paint on the canvas yet?”

My mouth went a little dry. I hadn’t expected a technical question. “Erm, likely still sketching. Depending on how much time you have, I will might start doing some test mixes for your skin tone.”

“I’m all yours today Sophia, take all the time you need.” He was so confident, so blazon. I envied him in a way.

I wasn’t really sure how to reply so I just nodded and tried to smile. Part of me could sense he enjoyed making me feel uncomfortable. As if he knew the effect, he was beginning to have on me. I was sure he was used to it.

The memory of the strange man with a scarf and glasses in the café came back to me.

“Danny?”

“Hmm?”

“You didn’t send anyone to…I don’t know, check up on me. Did you?” I wasn’t sure if the question would offend him.

Danny shot me a sideways glance. He looked confused. “No. I didn’t even know you worked there remember? Why? Did something happen?”

I shook my head. “No. Not really. I probably just read into something. Don’t worry about it.”

He narrowed his eyes, as if he was thinking about something he didn’t like. But he said nothing.

When we got nearer his house, he pulled into a private underground car park that he used a fob for to get in. It meant that I got to enter the house from a different way, seeing more of the beauty the old building stored.

Entering from the back of the building, we walked into what looked like a causal dining space. There were a few people talking at the large black table, one of whom I recognised.

“You remember, Mack, right Sophia?” Danny formally introduced the man who had opened the door to me last time.

Mack gave me the same discerning look as before.

“And this is Denise and Adam. They both work for me as well.”

Both of them looked at me with unapologetic interest, as if I was a specimen in a lab. I certainly didn’t get any friendly vibes from them.

I gave a weak smile and raised my hand as a limp way to greet them.

Thankfully ending the awkward exchange, Danny guided me towards the staircase that I was familiar with.

As we got to the first landing, Mack called to Danny from the bottom step. “Sorry boss, can I have a word?”

A flash of annoyance crossed Danny’s face. “Give me a second, Sophia?”

I nodded and watched him walk down the stairs to Mack, they disappeared off down the hallway out of view. They kept their voices low.

As I moved my gaze back to the landing, I noticed a door open. The last time I had been here, they had all been shut. Curiosity got the better of me. I knew it was rude to look, but it was such a beautiful house, and I was keen to see more of it.

Moving towards the entrance, I told myself I would just stand at the doorway. I peered in. The room appeared to be some kind of private gallery. There were works of art, both paintings and sculptures, displayed in the room.

Something glinting in the morning light caught my attention. Towards the back of the room was a glass cabinet. From this distance, it looked like a shiny rock. I bit my lip. I was desperate to take a closer look, but I didn’t want Danny to think I was snooping. I hesitated, wrestling with myself. Before I knew it, my right foot had somehow made its way over the threshold. The left one quickly followed suit. I was in the room, so the damage was done. I might as well go over.

As I got closer, I realised it was not really a rock, more like a large gemstone. Except, it was like none I had ever seen before. My mum and dad had owned a jewellery store, and despite being young, I still remembered the precious gems that had embedded the various items. Rubies, emeralds, diamonds, sapphires…every one you could think of. But this didn’t look like any of them. In a way it was almost indescribable, appearing reflect every colour of the rainbow back at you, similar to a prism.

I felt myself oddly drawn to it, as if it was a piece of me. I stared and stared at it, almost content to spend the rest of my life looking at it. A sudden hand on my shoulder made me jump.

“Sophia? Are you alright?” A voice reached my ears, but I didn’t know who it was.

“Hmm?” I asked dreamily.

I felt myself being turned. My gaze was forcibly removed from the beautiful gemstone. The image of Danny’s face replacing it.

“Sophia? I was calling you for ages.” He looked at me strangely.

I tried to shake myself out of the daze. “Were you? Sorry…” I trailed off. Part of me wanted to ignore him and go back to looking at the gem.

He seemed to choose to ignore me, instead pulling my arm to drag me away. “Come on, time to work your magic.”

I was surprised to feel a sense of loss as we left the room. Danny shut the door behind him, and continued on.

I couldn’t help myself. I had to ask. “Danny, what was that…gemstone? I’ve never seen anything like it before.”

He did not look at me, merely shrugging his shoulders as we continued to climb the stairs. “Some piece of art my mother liked. I always thought it was a bit weird. But she liked it, so I kept it.”

When he spoke about his mother in the past tense, something occurred to me. “You never mentioned…”

“It’s not something I like to talk about.” His tone was hard. I knew better than to press the matter. After all, I understood better than most about what losing your parents was like.

As I picked up from where I had left the sketch last time, I contemplated this revelation about Danny. He was so cocky and self-assured all the time, seeing that brief moment of weakness when he mentioned his mother, had actually endeared him to me.

Yes, he was clearly rough, and possibly even dangerous, but there was a softer side. A side that maybe he didn’t reveal very often. Part of me felt privileged that I had been allowed a glimpse.

Half-way through my sketch, Danny gave me a strange look.

"You mentioned your brother last time, how likely do you think you'll be able to get him out of the system?"

My heart twisted at the question. "Truthfully...it's not going to happen any time soon. But I have to keep trying." I tried to swallow the emotion in my voice.

Danny nodded sympathetically. "Do you get to see him much?"

I shook my head. “Not with working and him having school. All the meetings have to be arranged with the social worker too. The family he’s with at the moment are okay, but they don’t like me to drop in. Everything has to be planned.”

He went silent after that. He looked as if he was thinking something over.

After an hour, I sat back from the sketch. I was finally happy with the way it looked, and knew I was ready to start applying paint to the canvas. Sensing I had come to a rest point, Danny rose from the chair he was sat in and made his way over. I was overcome with nerves, wondering what he would think.

He leaned in beside me, even closer than he had the first day we met. I stayed perfectly still, scared that if I moved even just a little, I would brush against him.

He raised his eyebrows in awe. “Wow. That looks really great. I can’t wait to see what it’s like once you start painting.”

I gave a shy smile, pleased that he was happy with what was there so far.

He turned his head towards me, catching my gaze. His cobalt eyes looked into mine, and I looked down quickly. My breath hitched as I felt his fingers brush against my face, lifting my chin to bring my eyes back to his.

His lip quirked, and he ran his thumb over my bottom lip. Then, very slowly, he moved towards me. His head tilted a little so that he could place his lips gently against mine.

I was not doing well at guarding my heart.