All Chapters of Billionaire Daddy's Little Artist: Chapter 31 - Chapter 40

*Lily*The call with Victoria stirred up emotions about my own mother I hadn’t felt in years. I ended the telephone call with her abruptly. Her tone remained kind and questioning when I thanked her for the offer, but I wanted to concentrate on my creations—which was true. There was no mention of William, our relationship, or our arrangement.The contract I signed and returned to Grace gave me the security I needed to keep working, confident in my abilities. Once again, I decided to throw myself into my work to take my mind off my personal life.Patrick and Adam lived in the DUMBO section of Brooklyn. DUMBO stood for Down Under the Manhattan Bridge Overpass. It was known for its delectable eateries, gourmet pizza, and high-end boutique stores. When I’d first arrived in the city, I’d taken a walking tour of the celebrated bridge, where I learned about the extraordinary structure and how it contributed to the city’s expansion. Walking across the Manhattan Bridge provided some of

*William*Wooing the twenty-eight-year-old tech prodigy Zac Rudrick was no easy task. He liked to drink heavily and go clubbing, something I had outgrown years ago, especially since clubs today played techno beats, that made me want to bang my head against the bar. The night before, Zac, Steven, and our west coast man Sean Fahey stayed out until four in the morning, hopping from bar to strip club and nightclub and then back to my hotel bar.I had planned to make Fahey the new CEO. Zak, however, showed an interest in staying on, mainly when I expounded Eva’s new app. Zak wanted to meet with her and combine the social and dating element with gaming. I explained that the app was Eva’s baby and that he should come to New York and discuss it with her.I didn’t know if I liked the idea of Eva getting cozy with Zak. I had seen his eccentric side at the strip clubs and worried he might make a play for her. I knew Eva was no innocent, but I had a different sort of man in mind for her, and

*Lily*I wrapped my long sweater tightly around my body, afraid of who I’d see on the other side. I hadn’t seen any reporters lurking around outside the condo. They still didn’t have my address as far as I knew. I was surprised that Eva hadn’t leaked that too.During my earlier outings, I did have a few double takes from onlookers, but this was Manhattan, and New Yorkers had better things to do than gawk at someone who may or may not be from a quick entertainment news clip. Back home, however, would have been a different story. To hear it from my mother, we were as famous as the Kardashians.I looked into the peephole and it was William. I opened the door and ran into his arms.He draped his arms around me and kissed the top of my head. “I’m here. I couldn’t stay away.”We walked to the couch, and he held me. “Can I get you anything?” I asked.“No, no. I’m fine,” he said. “Let’s sit.”We sat on the sofa together. “So, do you know who’s behind the pictures?” I asked. Wi

*William* It had been a long time since I slept at the office, but I didn't have the energy to go home and didn't want to be alone. I settled onto the sofa and stared at the ceiling for most of the night. I couldn't stop thinking about the pain that Eva had caused Lily. My mind raced with thoughts of how I could make things right for Lily.Unfortunately, the only way I could do that was by confronting Eva. As the sun’s first light filtered through the window, I sat up and rubbed my neck from the long night on the office sofa. It wasn't the worst place to sleep in the world, but it wasn't my soft bed either. I walked to my private bathroom and brushed my teeth. I always kept a clean pair of clothes, toothpaste, and a toothbrush in my office. It had become a habit from when I first began building my business and worked long nights. It had also been an escape from Victoria when we argued, and I couldn't stand to be around her. After brushing my teeth, cleaning up a bit, and

*Lily*I didn't remember the last time I’d slept so late. My body must have needed a good night's rest. I sat up in my bed and stared glanced at my recent paintings. Patrick and Adam were worried that I was doing too much since I had practically locked myself away and painted for days on end. I couldn't help myself; I was in a zone, and every emotion I had felt within these past few months came rushing out of me. I walked toward the last painting I’d made before my deep slumber–a butterfly. The vibrant red, yellow, black, and orange colors were like a burning flame, which I’d felt as I painted this picture. Similar to my cave painting, the butterfly reminded me of the transformation that was taking place in my life. It was as if I was morphing into a new person, yet its beauty reminded me of the end of what was blooming into a beautiful relationship between William and me. The weight of sadness quickly overshadowed my sense of pride, and the memories of our time together replac