Chapter 1

Seem's like we'll be having a bit of a rainy day today, I slide out of bed as quietly as I could so I don't wake Dastan, after I shower and brush my teeth I head down to the kitchen to make us some breakfast, it is something I've grown accustomed to over the years, this routine of ours.

It's been Six years, since Dastan and I met at the Dolici Restaurant one evening while I was picking up my take out, he came over to me after I paid and was about to turn to leave when I felt him tap me gently on my shoulder.

FLASHBACK ( Six Years Ago )

Excuse me, Miss I am sorry to approach you like this but I just wanted to tell you that you're so elegant and beautiful, I just had to let you know and if you don't mind me asking your name, I am a regular at this restaurant and I've never seen you here before.

At first I was appalled slightly, I mean yes I've had countless men approach me over the years, most of which had ulterior motives like trying to use me to get close to my family to advance themselves business wise, so I learned to weed through people and read their eyes and body language, I took a step back to give myself some personal space and take him in.

He stands roughly 6 ft 1" and was dressed in a suit, his hair slicked back and a pair of brown eyes stared at me as though analysing every inch of my face.

I appreciate the compliment sir, why do you need to know my name? It was a question I had to ask, I left Diamond City where my family is prominent and well known and came all the way here to finish my studies and pass the time working on Art where my status would not or at least should not affect the outcome of anything I put my mind to here, it would be of my own merit, well everything I achieved was of my own merit and hard work but obviously persons would always think because I am a Bergesse, the only daughter of the Bergesse family I ride on my family’s' coat tails which is far from the truth.

At least here I am away from that stigma and can shine on my own as not many people know of my family in these parts and I plan to keep it that way, I managed to make a few friends who I truly treasure and who also treasure me and we've become close, now this man here he doesn't seem to have an ulterior motive in approaching me, I suppose it'd be fine to me civil.

I do apologise if I came off too forward, it is simply because you reminded me of someone dear who has long since gone, that is all.

Oh my, tugging on my heart strings, I extend my hand to him I'm Stormie Burgs and you are? he takes my extended hand and shakes it gently, his hands are soft which means he does not do a job that requires hard labour, an office worker perhaps it's nice to meet you Stormie, my name is Dastan Lemos. 

He looks at me as though he's expecting some sort of reaction but I truly have no idea who this man is, I take my hand back and cradle my food once more well it was nice to meet you Mr. Lemos, I must be on my way, I need to get back to work, I move past him after glancing at my watch ah where do you work? I look up at him, you sure ask a lot of questions to strangers Mr. Lemos, I do not know you and you expect me to just tell you where I work? what if you're a crazy stalker or a serial killer?

He gave a small laugh then shook his head apologies once more Stormie, it's been so long since I've approached someone it seems I have gotten way ahead of myself there, I assure you I am none of the above, please take my business card, perhaps that will put you at ease?

Mmmm no it doesn't, being a man of business does not make you any less suspicious just better at hiding in plain sight, I really must be going.

W-Wait p- The door closed behind me before he finished speaking, even if the gallery belongs to me it does not mean I can be late, I always believe in leading by example, I purchased the gallery last year as it was on the verge of bankruptcy, the owner was under a lot of pressure to sell it to someone who wanted to turn the building into office space, she is the only one who knows the gallery is mine as I bought it from her but chose to work as a rep and let her be the "boss".

It was the only time I used my family’s' name to get what I wanted and commissioned pieces of art from around the world to get them here and I too made a few pieces and added them to the gallery under the name Arie.