Chapter 6: Rendezvous

The week dragged on and the gallery manager's mood worsened. He kept snapping at everyone and making our lives a living hell. The teams kept away from him, and everyone was walking on eggshells. Auden kept complaining while I laughed at the whole situation.

When we got home one evening, I walked to Pa's painting garage and asked him, "Pa, how are you friends with Mr. Winston?"

His hand froze midair with a brush in hand, and he turned around, his eyes squinted. "What happened? Did he give you or Auden a tough time?"

"No, Pa," I denied vehemently. "I have been thinking as to how opposite personalities can be friends." The sarcasm at the end of my voice was enough to make Pa laugh. He put the brush down and walked over to hug me.

"Wade, my son, you must be giving him a run for your smartness."

Pa knew it. "Why did you send us there knowing the kind of man he is?"

Pa smiled and looked at me. "Experience, Wade. I sent you there to gain experience and do work that you like."

We hugged and then walked over to sit on the couch. "Pa, Mr. Winston does hold grudges, right?"

"He is a little bit petty, but he is not a bad person. Do you think I sent my two sons to the wolf's den? The Museum art gallery will give you exposure to so many people, events, and art."

"Yes, Pa." He was right. I learned a lot in the past months. The kind of art that would sell, what remains as an exhibition, and the events. The kind of art society loves to see and the kind of artist who submits work in the gallery.

"Pa let me ask you, how come I have not seen any of your paintings in the art gallery?" I had often wondered where Pa's paintings went.

"Because your godfather Calisto has exclusive rights to all my paintings. And I only paint for him to fulfill your mother's wishes."

Maurice Calisto was my godfather. He runs an art gallery in Milan, Italy. He was my mother's tutor when she went to study art in Milan.

Pa was the sentimental kind of man. I knew it was part of his healing journey as he kept painting after Ma passed away.

"Come now, let's eat dinner. We can't leave Auden in the kitchen alone or there will not be any food left."

We heard Auden shout from the dining room, "I heard that!" We laughed hysterically. I was so glad to have Pa and Auden around.

***

The next day was a slow Friday. Mr. Winston called me to his office, and I knew I would get a scolding. Preparing myself for it, I sat next to his desk and waited.

"Wade, I hope you have not been feeling neglected or hurt by me. As your manager, I am just trying to mold you into a good curator."

I stared at him in disbelief. What was he saying?

"Hence, I hope you don't take it to heart when I scold you or reprimand you. I am just making sure you get better at your work," he pressed.

What the f*ck was going on? Was the damn lazy b*stard trying to justify himself?

I shook my head and answered, "No, sir."

"Good. Now that this is done, you can get back to work," he said as he gritted his teeth.

"Yes, sir." I stood up and left his office. Had the manager been forced to apologize to me? But by whom? Was it Pa? I suppressed laughter as I walked back to my desk. Auden looked up questioningly and I picked up my phone and texted him.

Wade: The sleazy old b*stard apologized to me.

Auden's intake of breath was an indication of disbelief in my text. He looked at me and I nodded in acknowledgment.

He shook his head and then texted back.

Auden: Be careful Wade. I can sense something wrong is going on.

I lifted my eyebrows and smirked. But Auden's gut feeling was always right.

***

Elaine arrived at the gallery Friday at noon. She walked into the manager's office alone, while Gideon smiled. I sulked in despair. I had hoped that he would come with Elaine, but the disappointment hurt more than I imagine.

I dragged myself through meetings and then went to hide in the storage room with all the art with minor defects. I must have been engrossed in the arrangement for over an hour when I felt my stomach growl. I walked to the gallery kitchen and made myself a cup of coffee and sipped it while I walked back to the storage room feeling tired.

When I walked in, my angel was standing in the corner, staring at a vase that had a crack. He looked up at me and smiled, then he said, "Close the door, Wade."

Like a puppet, I closed the door and put down the cup of coffee. "You are here," I murmured in disbelief.

"Mmh." He nodded shyly.

"I did not see you come into the storage room."

We stood in awkward silence, neither willing to speak. I took a step closer to him and his eyes widened in surprise. "I-I just wanted to say hi," he murmured. "I hope you don't mind."

"I have been waiting for you," I stated. I had been hoping to see him the whole week.

I see his eyes flash in hunger and then he looked away and asked, "Why?"

I laughed and took another step closer and stated, "Aren't you happy to see me? I don't want to dance around you. I want to explore this feeling between us."

His breath hitched and he smirked. "Are you sure?" he asked and then turned to stare at me. He was daring me.

I walked over to stand in front of him, eye to eye. I felt like I was drowning in sweet lust and happiness. Up close he was breathtakingly handsome.

"I want to kiss you." My angel gently grabbed my neck and kissed me. Tentatively at first, he pushed the kiss with more urgency when I responded.

I couldn't believe he had made the first move. This has been my plan. But it felt so good when he kissed me and I felt his heart hammering next to mine. My chest heaved and I ended the kiss and open my eyes to gaze into his.

He stroked my neck slowly and pushed his hand behind my head, pushing our faces closer. "You are playing with fire," I breathed.

"Burn me," he whispered in a seductively husky and slightly breathless voice.

There was nothing methodical about his words. I kissed him without care or consideration. I held his face in my hand and kissed him with desperation – his lips, the corners of his mouth, his chin, and his neck. I felt him clutch my wrist as he kissed back and moaned. I pushed his mouth open and licked deep into his mouth, slowing down to savor the taste and coming up for air.

His hand dropped from my wrist, down my waist, and pulled me closer. He rubbed himself against me, making me moan with need. My thumb trailed across his lips coming to rest at the corner of his mouth. Then my angel surprised me even more by pulling my thumb toward his mouth and sucking on it.

"Angel," I moaned in pleasure.

I pulled my hand back, and kissed him with a low moan, catching his lower lip and tugging ever so gently. My angel squirmed against me, and our bodies vibrated, I grabbed his hips and ground myself on him with need and want.

The sound of someone pushing and touching the door handle snapped us out of the passionate haze. We took a step back and for the first time, I saw fear in my angel's eyes. He was scared. The look made me hurt and angry.

I turned away and he must have realized it and said, "It's too dangerous for you to be seen with me."

My eyes blazed as I turned to look at him. I was about to say something, but he moved closer, barring my mouth with his hand and he shook his head and stated, "Let us not spoil this moment. I felt good being here with you."

I nodded in acceptance but the defiant stance in my body was an indication that I was not backing down anytime.

"Please," he begged.

I removed his hand from my mouth and then stated, "I am not the kind of man that is hidden by a lover or hides his lover away."

He gasped and then made his way to the door of the storage room, and stated, "You are asking for too much yet we have just only met ." And then, he was gone in a flash.