Chapter 9.

POV: Uninvited Guests

By Friday, she was a ball of nerves. This was the first time showing without her husband by her side. Most of her art over the past seven weeks, several new pieces, clearly depitch her anguish and rage. Large red streaks and splatter against stark white canvas peppered with black and her blood which she had drawn by stabbing her finger tips repeatedly, entitled Fool No More, was her centerpiece of the latest collection. It was raw, primal, and angry and she knew it. A departure from the last show when her life had been boring and easy. If anything, her divorce was good for her art.

A self-portrait of her crying was mounted on the wall encased in a stark black wooden frame. Her lips painted an angry red, mascara streaking down her cheeks and the clear despair on her features clearly depicted the title betrayed. Then the self-portrait immediately next to it with rage, her features narrowed, fierce and vengeful was entitled Scorned.

She didn't put out such vulnerable work in years and letting her very real emotions to be viewed by the word was excruciating yet cathartic.

“This is by far the best work you've ever done,”

Janka gushed. “There won't be a piece left on the wall tonight. “I'm sure of it. I mean you have a niche following but this is going to bring you to a whole new level.” Especially if your new patron shows up,”

Laila grinned, playfully nudging with her lips.

She'd had multiple conversations with him all the weeks. He likes to call, not text. And he was very flirty. She really hoped he would show up. He would be a good bit of fun to rebound with. Or at least it was Fred's suggestion. Her brother kept asking her if she'd boned the billionaire yet.”

“I can't believe you bribed him to show his face for a simple USB.”

She was quite certain it was not the USB that made him agree but the prospect of getting his hands on the laptop which had pushed him, but she was not about to divulge this information. She'd falsely reported a crime which she had committed.

He was grateful for the information he had. He'd sent her a bottle of expensive wine and a dozen roses.

She heard the fuzz of more people entering the gallery and looked over her shoulder to see her ex in-laws entering.

“What the actual fuck?” she hissed under her breath while maintaining her smile.”

“Why are they here?” They were not invited.”

“It's an open invitation,” she gritted through her teeth.”

“Darling,” Maria gripped her shoulders and blew air kisses to her cheek. “You look gorgeous.

Doesn't she look gorgeous Tony?”

“She does indeed.” His gaze racked her up and down in a familiar way that has always made her skin crawl.

“I did not expect to see you here,” She kept her smile firmly planted on her face as she ignored his creepy stare

. “Thank you for coming.”

“Oh, we wouldn't miss the show of our daughter in-law.”

“Ex, she corrected quickly.”

“Urg,” Maria rolled her eyes dramatically,” my son would realise his mistake as soon as that woman provided the pregnancy test. Once the baby is born within weblock to meet and confirm the will, he'll come back to you, as he should.”

“Excuse me?” Her smile slipped at the woman's words.”

“Your sister is not fit to be a Williams and we all know it.” We did what was right for the child and Merlin had his role to play. She is a frightful woman, isn't she?” Maria whispered slowly, clutching Laila's hands tightly in her grip and putting their forehead together conspiratorially.

“She threatened to abort the child if he doesn't give her what she wants. She keeps making comments about how clumsy she is. I wouldn't put it past her to throw herself down a flight of stairs to cause the child harm. Horrible human beings.”

“Maria,” I don't know what to say about this,” she withdrew her hands and stepped backwards. She could feel Janka waiting to push forward to offer her two cents and waved her back, “but you need to know. “I'm never taking him back. They were together multiple times over an eleven month period.

This wasn't a one time drunken mistake, which even then I'm not sure I could forgive. It went on for months.

They had sex in my house when I was sick upstairs in my bed. “On the kitchen counter.” She saw her. Maria frowned at her words, I might be kind and a bit naive but I'm never ever going to forgive him.

“But she seduced him”

“I'm afraid his inability to control his pennies around a seductress is no longer my concern. He hurt me, can never forgive either of them.”

“You say this now, but once he is free-”

He may be free, but she won't be.” A deep voice spoke behind ending Maria's presence with decisive firmness.

Hello, love, I'm sorry I'm late,” a warm kiss pressed to her cheek coupled with a deep scent of spicy cologne with some word whispered in her ear made her shiver.

“Play along.”

She turned her head a fraction and met the humor-filled ones of Nicole Fernando dressed impeccably in a dark suit with a crisp white shirt. She immediately felt the air swept out the room, or perhaps it was only her lungs.

She looked around and noted every woman appeared to be gasping. No, it was the room. He was a gorgeous man. Her panties were dampening by the second.

“Fernando,” Trent's voice was barely controlled with his irritation.

“What brings you to our daughter in-laws' show?”

“Laila,” Did you not tell me you were divorced?”

“I am very much divorced.” She shot him and an annoying glance as his fingers rested on her shoulders. She looked at Janka who had moved to her side, out of Nicole purview.”

Janka mouthed,” Oh my fucking God!” And swung her hand as if it were on fire. Rose was clutching her chest as if wearing pearls. She fought her laugh at their antics.”

“Her friends were all in.” She decided rather than punch him for assuming she was a damsel in distress, she half-turned into his arms and wrapped her arms around his waist stepping closer to him and opted to kiss his cheek.

“Nichol, have you met Maria and Tony Williams? They are my ex in-laws and came to wish me well this evening.”

“Laila,” Maria stared at her,” can we talk outside of this room please?”

“Why?” Anything you say to me would be repeated verbatim to my boyfriend,” she felt he's laugh rather than hear it. He wasn't blanking at the boyfriend term. Good. He started it. She was going to run it now. Give an inch, taking a mile. Today she was playing by Lola rules.

“You don't know who he is?”

“Yes, I do.”

“Do you?”

“He was one of my very first customers,” she smiled up at him and her breath caught at the endearing way he smiled back. He winked at her and kissed her forehead. “He bought one of my pieces when I was still in art school.”

“It's hanged in my office still this day. We recently reconnected and when I realized she was the woman who had painted the scene which inspired me every single day, I couldn't help but pursue her.” He squeezed her hip tightly.”

“I mean talent, brains, and stunning beauty. Your son was an idiot to let her go but he's lost is my gain.”

“He grinned wickedly.” It seems like a pattern for him lately.”

“You went after her to get to our family.”

“Um,” I approached him actually.” She snuggled into his chest. Dame he was solid like marble. She had a strange urge to take up sculpting again and use his cheat for inspiration.

She rested her hand against his pec and resisted the urge to squeeze it.”

“You what?”

“Yes, in a restaurant. I saw him there and said hello. I couldn't resist, I soon recognized him as the buyer for my piece and the rest was history.”

“My mother has the other piece we purchased back then hanging in her den. She loves it. She'll be here soon. She was very excited to know you still paint.”

“Why are you doing this Fernando?” Maria glared at him.”

“Laila admitted she wanted to know as well, but the man simply gave a shrug and smiled.”

“Only a fool would trade a diamond for a dirty glass. When presented with such a gift,.you don't let it slip away. You grab and hold on to it, and you never let it go.”

The strange emphasis on the word. “Never” had chills running up and down her spine, they were dark, ominous and decidedly serious.

As Janka and Rose's eyes widened at his words.

“Laila had a sudden realization, maybe she'd bride the wrong billionaire. Perhaps, she was in over her head. Deeply.”