Chapter Six

Chapter Six

ELOWEN VALE WINSLOW

It had not been hard to find my way to the diner that I had agreed to meet the collector at. Well, not the collector. The collector had reached out to me on behalf of a woman who was interested in both my art and a thing I did on the side; interior decoration.

I had found that out the previous night after I had gotten back to the hotel suite and Seren was in bed. Curiosity had made me go ahead with it.

I had had a semi long morning. I had woken up late, ordered a meal for Grace, Seren and I, and gone back to bed. I had completely forgotten about the meeting with the woman, Greta Virelis, until Grace woke me up again.

I stepped out of the taxi, thanked the driver and hurried onto the sidewalk and into the diner.

Greta's last text had said that she was sitting at a window booth two booths away from the entrance.

As I took speedy steps towards the booth, constructing an apology for my almost late arrival, I bumped into someone.

Bumped was an understatement. We collided. And everything on his tray spilled.

I needed the world to close in on me at that moment. “Oh… my God,” I gasped, on the edge of a breakdown. This could not be happening.

Some liquid had spilled on my skirt and shoes, but I was more concerned about the fact that I was about to fall.

The man held unto me and the sound of the tray clattering on the floor reached my ears.

“Are you okay?” He asked as he steadied me. I looked at him with embarrassment.

The embarrassment immediately faded as soon as I recognized him.

Mael Virelis. Again.

And as always, my body's reaction to his presence was visceral. I managed to hold myself together, stopping the uncomfortable heat from spreading through me.

What twisted game was the universe playing with me?

“Miss Winslow?” I heard a woman's voice behind me and I glanced back at her. I immediately recognized her to be the woman in the picture the collector had sent to me. Greta Virelis.

Virelis. It clicked in my head. This was bad news. I looked at Mael again as my heart dropped to the base of my chest. Had this been some elaborate plan to get me to see him? He had used his mother?

What had he discovered? He had a lot of resources at his disposal and if he wanted to find out anything, he very well could have. I was the woman who had bothered his fiancee so much that she cried, after all.

What were the chances that he had found out something about me, about Seren? I inhaled sharply, clutching my purse.

“I need to go, I'm sorry,” I told Greta, not waiting for a response before heading out of the diner.

There was liquid in my shoes and I did not have the chance to wipe my skirt. I only made it a few steps down the sidewalk before something latched onto my arm. Someone.

“Wait…” I turned around. It was Mael. I snatched my arm from him.

“I…” I frantically grasped for words in my mind. I had never envisioned that I would meet him out here. He looked surprised to see me too.

“My aunt needs to see you,” he said, and as if on cue, Greta walked out. His aunt.

“I don't think I'm interested anymore,” I said loud enough for her to hear. “I'm sorry.”

“Please, she has been looking forward to it,” he pleaded. “I'm sorry I spilled our food on you.”

“I…” I trailed off, taking the napkin that Greta held out to me. Was that why he thought I was leaving? Because he spilled food on me?

“This is important, it has to be you,” Greta said from behind him. My pulse spiked yet again and Mael grimaced at her words. What had to be me?

“Your work and style is the best fitting for this,” Greta added. I was still slightly confused.

“Can you hear us out before you leave?” He asked and I wanted to slap myself for even considering.

“Please?” He pleaded yet again and I sighed, disappointed in myself for giving in. This was not the way to stay out of their sight.

But I was curious to hear what they had to say. And I needed to leave them with knowledge of whether I needed to run with my daughter or stay.

“Fine. Only if she's the one that does the talking.” I stated, referring to Greta. Mael nodded.

*** *** ***

We had shifted our meeting place to a fancy restaurant just down the street from the diner. Mael had paid for the spilled food despite the manager saying he didn't have to.

I stepped out of the restroom, hating that my skirt was wet against my thighs. I had to use a wet towel to get rid of the yogurt on the skirt.

What's worse? I was holding my heels in my left hand. If I had to deal with my feet squirming in the wet shoes for one more minute, I would have lost my damn mind. It was a good thing the restaurant didn't have a lot of people in it. It seemed more of a dinner spot than anything else.

I settled in the third seat around the round table. They both went silent, indicating that I had interrupted something. I took my hair out of the tight ponytail it had been in and sighed with relief as it fell down my shoulders.

“So…” I trailed off, keeping my eyes on Greta.

“We're working on a project in New York, Mael and I. Mael especially,” she glanced at Mael.

“New York…” I repeated, unable to stop myself from wondering what that had to do with me.

“It’s a foundation for children. An orphanage and a donations centre at once,” she continued and my heart softened. “I've been seeing your art and interior decoration works. I love your versatility and creativity, and I believe you can help with the decorations and paintings for the foundation. You can make it feel like home for them.”

Greta had won my heart. I had gotten into interior decoration after I was finally able to give Seren the room I had imagined for her. Seren loved it, and I enjoyed every part of the process.

I sighed, allowing my eyes to dart to Mael. His eyes were on his phone but after I spared him two more seconds of my attention, he looked at me. I looked away from him.

“You have a daughter, don't you?” He asked. I was immediately alarmed.

“Stop that, Mael. We are not trying to manipulate her,” Greta smacked his hand. Mael sighed and went back to his phone.

“You have a daughter?” Greta asked with a bright smile. It seemed genuine.

“Yes,” I responded.

“What's her name?” She asked with a curious smile, leaning forward.

“Seren,” I cautiously said, wondering if I should have lied about it. Mael didn't seem to be paying any attention anyway, so that was fine.

“It's a wonderful name.”

“Thank you,” I smiled at that.

“I always wanted a granddaughter,” Greta said, glancing at Mael for a moment.

“Oh my God,” he muttered, rubbing his eyes. He looked embarrassed.

Greta ignored him. “What do you say?” She asked gently. She seemed kind and enthusiastic about this. I fought with myself. The rational part of me wanted me to say no and skip out of here. But the sentimental part wanted to help out with the children's foundation and not disappoint Greta.

I pulled a piece of paper and a pen out of my purse and wrote my email. I handed it to Greta.

“I'd like to see what the structure looks like. After that, I'll need to consider,” I said. Greta nodded, a hopeful expression on her face.

“Please understand that I have a three year old, and moving between Portland and New York will be stressful on myself, my work and my daughter. The chances that I'll take this up are low,” I told Greta.

Mael put his phone down at that. “We will discuss the arrangements we can make for your living conditions and everything else. They will be sent to your email, along with the pictures you requested,” he said, his tone all-business.

I nodded and rose to my feet. My shoes were still soaked. I could not wear them.

Greta smiled apologetically. “We can drop you off,” she offered, glancing at Mael. “I don't mind.”

“I'm fine, thanks.” I didn't want them knowing where I lived with my daughter. Meeting them was a sufficient risk.

“I'll walk you out,” Mael stepped to my side. “Aunt stay. You need to eat,” he told her and she gave me an embarrassed smile before reaching for my hand. I shook it and walked away before Mael could come after me.

As I walked down the sidewalk barefoot, Mael caught up with me.

“Thanks for meeting with us. It means a lot to my Aunt,” he said, walking with me. I paused, almost feeling guilty for being so hostile to him.

Almost.

“It's fine,” I said, waiting for him to go back. I needed to take a taxi and I didn't want him to hear the address.

“I…” he stopped himself and stared at my face, like he was trying to understand me. “Well take care.” He said and walked off.

Relieved that I had gotten rid of him. I stopped a taxi and climbed in, sighing. I needed to leave Connecticut. I hated this place so damn much.