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*Sophia’s POV*

“Wow, you’re really good.”

I jumped. I wasn’t expecting to be disturbed. I looked for the source of the voice and saw a handsome face smiling down at me.

“Er, thanks.”

He moved closer to my canvas, cocking his head to this side and that to take in the image. His shoulder was nearly touching mine. I tensed at the feeling of someone being so near. I could smell his expensive cologne. I took the opportunity to look at him a little closer. He didn’t look much older than me, maybe in his early 20’s? He had light blonde hair, a complete contrast to my raven locks. His clean-shaven face displayed the sharpness of his features. I couldn’t work out his eye colour from this position.

He turned his face towards me, and I blinked. I wasn’t used to people being this close. “Do you do portraits?”

Blue. His eyes were blue. I shook my head. “No not really. I only do landscapes. Mostly of the river.”

I felt his eyes trace my face, feeling myself flush a little when he looked at my lips. “Why not portraits?”

I wasn’t sure what to tell him. I was going to sound like a complete loser if I told him it was because I had no friends and family. Well, I had a brother. But I could barely see him at the moment. Fuck. I missed him. Realising he was still waiting for an answer I tried to compose myself.

“I guess I just find landscapes easier.”

I watched him regard me, a small quirk appearing at the corner of his mouth. I got the sense he didn’t believe me.

He took in a breath and finally leaned away. “My name is Danny by the way.” He stuck out his hand for me to shake, I took it. It was so warm.

“I’m Sophia.”

He still held my hand and I wondered when he would let go. “Beautiful name for a beautiful girl.”

I cringed a little at the cheesy line, but his easy smile made me give him the benefit of the doubt.

Finally letting go of my hand, he faced my painting again. He looked as if he was thinking something over. I watched him cautiously as he sat down on the bench next to me. His strong legs were outlined by his tight jeans, his thigh almost making contact with my own.

“You know Sophia, you look very familiar. So is your name.”

I looked at him curiously. I definitely hadn’t seen him before. “I’m not sure why. I’ve never met you.”

“Hmm.” He looked at me intently, and I struggled to maintain his gaze. His confidence radiated off of him.

Finally he snapped his fingers triumphantly. “I know. You lived with the Drews right?”

My eyes widened. How did he know the Drews? “Er...yes. How do you know them?”

He waved his hand dismissively. “Old family friend. Mrs Drew showed me a picture of you once when I bumped into her on the street. She mentioned your talent. Including your ability to do portraits.” He winked at me, letting me know that I’d been caught out.

“Well…” I shifted uncomfortably on the bench I was sat on. “I meant I don’t do them anymore.”

He chuckled and placed his hands in the pockets of his black leather jacket. “I’ve inherited my house, which has been in the family for quite some time. It’s traditional for each owner to have our portrait done and hung in the hall. I would like you to do mine.”

Inherited a house that is grand enough to have painted portraits? This man had to be well-off.

Sensing my hesitation, he added, “I will pay you of course. It would be like a proper commission. Should we say...£1000? Think of how proud Mrs Drew would be.”

£1000? That was insane. I couldn’t lie. I was in desperate need of the money. I told myself it would help get Jack back. He was right about Mrs Drew as well. Danny seemed alright. I had to try.

“O…Okay.” I managed.

Danny flashed me his perfectly white teeth. “Great!” He reached into his jacket pocket and pulled out a card. “Here are my details. My address is on there too.”

I read the card.

Daniel Blatch

Red Moon Ltd.

21 Upper Grosvenor street

Mayfair

London

07849523132

Oh my god. Mayfair? This guy didn’t just have a lot of money, he was rich. Like super rich. I’d never heard of the company though. Red Moon seemed like an odd name and didn’t really tell me anything about what it could be.

Danny was watching me with interest. “Just call me when you can come over.”

The sound of a mobile went off, and I realised it was his. He pulled it out and checked the caller ID. His face darkened a little. “Shit sorry Sophia, I need to take this. Call me soon, okay?” Not waiting for me to answer, he brought the phone to his ear. Standing up, he strode off with a confident swagger.

My eyes fell back to the business card. My first commission. Not bad considering I was only 18 really. I took out my scarily empty purse, and placed it carefully inside the credit card sleeve.

After what had just happened, I found it difficult to concentrate on my painting again. 

Before Danny had interrupted me, I was about to add more highlights to the water. Water was one of the most difficult things to paint, but if you got it right, it was stunning. One of the reasons I painted the Thames so much was so that I could practice.

The conversation with Danny had unnerved me a little, and I had lost track of time. I checked the time on my phone. Fuck. I needed to get home now, or I would be late for my shift.

I packed away my things as quickly as possible, and ran towards the station. It was going to take me at least an hour to get back to Croydon, I wasn’t sure if I was even going to have time to drop my stuff at home.

I worked two jobs. This meant I worked every day. This job was in a questionable pub called the Black Bull, not far from where I lived. I was pretty sure the landlord had only employed me because he wanted a young girl behind the bar serving the much older male regulars. After all, I’d had zero experience before starting.

As I continued to run down Tooley Street, I checked my phone again to see if I was going to make the next train. Suddenly, I hit something rock solid. I fell to the ground, my paint brushes and paints crashing onto the pavement. Thankfully, I’d clung to my easel, saving it from breaking. How could I have hit a wall in the middle of the pavement?

“I do apologise miss. I didn’t see you coming.”

I blinked upwards to find a captivating face looking down on me with concern. He eclipsed the sun, giving him a strange angelic glow. I shook my head a little, and started to get up.

I felt a firm hand on my arm helping me to my feet. I hadn’t hit my head, but for some strange reason I was utterly mesmerized by the stranger before me. His eyes were like bottomless emerald pools with flecks of gold. Almost inhuman in nature. His dark hair was perfectly slicked back, a smattering of dark stubble covered his angular jaw. His lips were full and parted slightly, I briefly wondered what they would feel like.  Broad shoulders filled his tailored charcoal suit. The gold Rolex resting on his wrist glinted in the light. As he towered above me, I tried to work out his age. He was probably in his early 30’s, but he somehow seemed…older? 

I still hadn’t spoken. I wasn’t sure if I could.

“Please, let me help you pick these up.”

Only then I remembered that half my belongings were still on the floor. Feeling flustered, I hurriedly bent down to gather them up, trying to stuff them into my shoulder bag as quickly as possible. We both reached for one of the paint brushes at the same time, for a brief second, our fingers touched. I felt a jolt go through me, like electricity, and I gasped audibly. He seemed to be a little surprised as well, and he was giving me a curious look.

“My apologies. Please, take it.” He handed me the stray paintbrush and I stood up.

“Thank you.” My voice was small and pathetic.

He seemed to stare into my eyes, as if he was looking for something. The concentration in his expression was intense. “What’s your na…,” he began, but I cut him off.

I didn’t have time for this. “I’m so sorry, I have to go.” I started to run again towards the station. This shift was more important than a mysterious stranger, no matter how good looking.

There was no way I was going to be able to go home before. I was going to have to go straight to the pub.

Finally getting to the station, I swiftly scanned my travel card to get through the gates, and bolted down the escalator. My boots clanged noisily on the metal steps. I made a last-minute decision to get on the tube. I would have to walk further the other end but it would save me waiting for the next train. It was the start of rush-hour, so the platform was already crowded. I weaved through as close as I could to the front, the screeching of the tube train getting louder as it came into view. I managed to squeeze my way into one of the carriages. I scanned for an empty seat, but there weren’t any. I stood to the side of the door so I could at least lean against the wall.

I was going to be on here for a while, so I let my mind wander back to the day I’d just had. My life had been fairly monotonous since leaving the Drews, and yet on the same day I’d had an encounter with two separate handsome men. I wasn’t sure what to make of it. Something inside me had shifted, but I couldn’t work out what or how this had happened. I felt a mixture of fear and anticipation at the thought of doing this portrait for Danny. There was something that seemed dangerous about him. I shook my head. Perhaps I was being too judgemental. My life had taught me to be suspicious, but if he knew the Drews then I should be willing to trust him.

As for the stranger, well I would likely never see him again. I was surprised to find I felt a little sad at the prospect of not coming into contact with him again. His eyes had been so intense, so beautiful.  Even though it was ridiculous, I was conscious of a notion of loss, like I would miss them. Even though my time looking into them had been brief.