Chapter 14

Silver’s POV

Elliot surprised me with a romantic dinner; Mariah prepared my favorite meal, and the dining room was beautifully decorated like it was some kind of special occasion. When I asked Elliot about it, he simply stated that he wanted to celebrate my success at the auction.

The meal itself was amazing, but what I wasn’t expecting was for Leo to show up with a beautifully wrapped box with a bow on it. He whispered something to Elliot and then handed him the box. Elliot said something in return before turning to me.

“Did someone get you a gift?” I asked him, curiously.

He looked at the box and then back at me.

“No, I had Leo pick this up for you,” he told me much to my surprise as he handed me the box.

“You got me a gift?” I asked him, confused.

He nodded.

With a trembling heart, I carefully tore at the wrapping paper and opened the box, gasping when I saw what was inside.

New watercolor paint! These colors were rare; some of which hadn’t even been released yet.

I looked up at him, shocked.

“How did you get these?” I asked him.

“I have many connections, Silver,” he reminded me.

My cheeks flushed and I thanked him by hugging him. He hesitated a moment before returning the hug.

The next day I was contacted by Pandora Bloom’s boss, Barrett Anders. Before I left the auction, he offered me an exclusive year-long contract stating that I would only send my paintings to the Pandora Bloom Gallery for a year. Considering Pandora Bloom was worldwide and the most famous art gallery in the world, I thought it was a pretty good deal. Plus, they were willing to give me a profitable wage for each painting I sent them, along with a commission for the paintings purchased.

Only the best of the best gets exclusive contracts with them, and I was honored to be considered worthy.

I already have a few other paintings that I plan to send to the gallery.

I was with Rebecca on the back patio catching up when Barrett Anders called my cell phone.

“Hello, Mr. Anders,” I greeted into the phone.

“Miss Stormwind,” Barrett replied. “I look forward to seeing what kind of artwork you have prepared for me. Please make sure to send them soon.”

“I will,” I told him. “Once I make some finishing touches, I’ll send them to your office.”

“I was also calling to see if we could get a few more paintings of that mystery model of yours. I’m getting quite a few offers already. They would be quite profitable.”

My chest is constricted. I already told Elliot I wouldn’t sell any more of his paintings and I fully intended to keep that vow.

“I’m sorry, Mr. Anders. But I can’t paint that model anymore. But I have other paintings I’m sure will do just as well.”

He was quiet for a moment.

“Other paintings will certainly not do. Can’t you make an exception? Why can’t you paint that model again? I hate to let my customers down,” he said, his voice hardening.

“It’s just that I made the model a promise I wouldn’t use him again,” I confessed. “I’m sorry to disappoint.”

“It wouldn’t just be profitable for me, Miss Stormwind. It would also be profitable for you as well. Don’t forget, I pay you a commission for each art piece you sell. You’d be stupid to turn this opportunity down.”

“As I said, I made a promise and I intend to keep that promise,” I told him.

“I’ve been in contact with other galleries as well that spoke to you before you signed your exclusive contract and they said you turned them down as well,” Barrett said, sounding agitated now. “I thought seeming you signed the contract with me, that you’d be a little more accepting, but I see I was wrong.”

A knot formed in the pit of my stomach.

“I apologize…” I said.

“Were your achievements at the auction just a fluke then? Are you incapable of repainting that portrait?”

“Sir, I—”

“I expect better from my exclusive painters,” he scolded, and then he hung up before I could say another word.

I looked at Rebecca who was staring at me with raised brows.

“Why would you turn down the offer?” She asked, curiously.

“I made a promise to Elliot,” I told her. “I can’t go back on my word.”

“Maybe you should speak with him about it.

I sighed, not wanting to talk about it anymore. Picking up on my mood change, Rebecca changed the subject and the rest of the evening flowed nicely.

When Elliot returned to the palace after being away all day, he handed me a red blindfold.

“Put this on,” he instructed.

I raised my brows at his request.

“What for?”

“I have a surprise for you,” he told me.

Hesitantly, I put the blindfold on.

Elliot adjusted it to make sure I couldn’t see anything and then he guided me away. I could tell from the various scents and sounds that we had wandered outside. Elliot surprised me by lifting me into his arms and carrying me the rest of the way.

A few minutes later, he was putting me down and untying my blindfold. When I adjusted my eyes to the new setting, I gasped at what I saw.

We were standing in the middle of a greenhouse and surrounded by roses of all different colors. I gasped at the beauties around me and then I noticed a greeting card on a small table in a small pavilion that read: A belated wedding gift.

I turned to look at Elliot, a crease between my brows and tears in my eyes.

“What’s all this?” I asked, my voice coming out in a whisper.

“I noticed that roses often appear in your paintings… including the one you did of me,” he said, shrugging and putting his hands in his front pockets almost sheepishly. “I figured they were your favorite flowers.”

I was at a loss for words. My heart swelled with gratitude, and I closed the gap between us, kissing him on the lips.

---

A couple of days had passed since Elliot surprised me with the greenhouse and only one day had passed since I submitted my artwork to the Pandora Bloom gallery. However, my paintings were returned to me the following day. One of the workers at the gallery informed me that my paintings did not fit the theme and was told to return them to me.

Feeling rejected and annoyed, I had a feeling I knew exactly who was behind this and why.

The Pandora Bloom cocktail party was scheduled for this evening and considering I am an exclusive painter for the gallery, I’m invited to attend. I was going to confront Barrett about my paintings being rejected.

I wore an elegant red evening gown with shimmering silver heels. I let my hair down and curled it so it would bounce freely around my shoulders and down my back. I applied some makeup to bring out my brightest features before heading downstairs.

I paused in front of Elliot who was looking at me with desire in his eyes; it made my chest constrict and I cleared my throat to bring his attention to my face.

“I was wondering if you’d attend the cocktail party with me. I’d like to share my successes with you. Considering you are the reason behind them being my model and all.”

“Sorry, but I have other plans this evening,” he told me casually.

I didn’t press him for more information and once again, I was left masking my disappointment. Without another word, I left and went to the cocktail party.

It was a beautiful event and just as elegant as described by everyone who attended last year. I never thought I would ever get the chance to attend such an event, but here I was.

I saw Barrett mingling with a few guests and sipping champagne. I took a deep breath before confronting him.

“Can we talk?” I asked him as I approached.

He turned his scrutinizing gaze in my direction and plastered a smile for his viewer's sake.

“Miss Stormwind, you made it,” he said in greeting. “We were just talking about your incredible art piece at the auction and how you’ll be painting more for your fans soon.”

I pressed my lips together.

“I already told you; I’m not painting anymore using that model, Mr. Anders. I’ve made a promise I intend to keep,” I told him firmly, causing murmurs to erupt around us.

Barrett gave a fake, and slightly nervous laugh as he glared at me.

“And I told you, I expect more from my exclusive writers,” he said, his fake smile never leaving his face.

“Then why exactly did you reject the paintings I sent you yesterday?” I asked him, raising my brows. “I’ve worked hard on those, and they were well done in my opinion. Did you reject them out of malice?”

His face turned red at my accusation.

“Are you saying I’m not professional, Miss Stormwind?” He asked through his teeth. “As my worker explained, your paintings simply did not fit the gallery's theme.”

“That’s funny because I made sure to match the theme properly before painting those pieces for the gallery,” I said, raising my brows at him. I was wholly aware of our gathered audience and the growing silence around us. “If you ask me, I will say you rejected my paintings because you were upset that I wouldn’t cooperate with your demands.”

“How dare you walk into my cocktail party and insinuate such nonsense,” Barret growled, pointing his long finger at me. “If it wasn’t for me, you would be nothing right now. You needed my auction to put your name out there and it was my gallery that is getting you the recognition that you have now. The least you could do is cooperate with my requests.”

I folded my arms across my chest.

“I’m afraid I can’t do that,” I said with finality.

“Then I guess there’s nothing more for us to discuss, Miss Stormwind. If that’s your viewpoint, it would make better sense to just terminate the contract and forget this exchange ever happened.”

He said, waving his hands in defeat. Just as he did though, a waiter walked by holding a tray of champagne and Barret’s hand whacked the tray, causing all the champagne to fall and crash to the ground.

I felt the liquid before I saw the giant stain on my gown.

Gasps erupted around me but before I could react, a strong hand grabbed my wrist and pulled me away from a very angry Barret. I looked up at the figure that stood in front of me and my mouth fell open.

It was Elliot and he was fuming with rage.

What was he doing here? I thought he had other plans…

Whispers erupted around me as everyone took steps away from the scene.

“It’s the gallery owner!”

“He’s the big boss!”

“It’s never good pissing the boss off…”

The gallery's owner? I thought to myself as I stared up at Elliot’s back as he continued to glare at Barret who was now trembling in fear.

“Alpha Crown. It’s an honor to see you,” Barrett said, showing his head in respect.

Elliot took off his suit jacket and to my surprise, he turned to face me, draping it over my shoulders.

He spoke loud enough for Barrett and everyone else to hear, the anger evident in my voice.

“I came here as a surprise to my wife but imagine my own surprise when I arrive and see her being treated with such disrespect.”