I tried my best to return her smile while thinking about what kind of trouble I had gotten myself into. It was already too late for to tell Daniel that I didn’t want the painting, and it didn’t feel like the right timing for that either. I figured I would tell him later that there was no way I could accept such an expensive gift. I was well aware that he was trying his best to win over, but that only ant it would be misleading and disadvantageous for to accept his expensive gift.
“The painting will be available for us to see up close in the back room. Care to join ?” Daniel said as he offered his arm invitingly.
“But...” I mumbled as my eyes glanced in the direction where Raphael had made his exit.
“Co along this way. I’m sure you’re very excited to see the painting up close. After all, you’re going to be its new and proud owner,” Daniel said as he pulled after him.
I bit down on my lower lip as Daniel led away while Raphael’s words of instructions rang in my ear. Although he told to say in his sight, he was the on who ran off sowhere unknown without letting know when exactly he was going to return. Thinking of that made feel oddly irritated so I decided to turn my attention to Daniel instead for the ti being.
...
“Are you sure this is the way?” I asked as I started feeling like we had gotten lost.
“Yes, just keep following ,” Daniel replied without hesitation.
After leaving the venue, it seed like we had been walking for quite so ti down a hallway that was quite dark. I had initially thought that the room backstage was supposed to be literally behind the stage where the auction had taken place. Apparently, that didn’t seem to be the case. The further we progressed along the hallway, the more uncomfortable I beca, and my thoughts kept turning to Raphael.
“I think we should just head back. To be honest, I think the painting is very beautiful, and there’s no need for us to see it up close. After all, I guess I’ll be receiving it soon anyway,” I said as I tried to remain calm. Raphael’s instructions before he left rang loudly in my ear, and I had to admit I was doing a very poor job of following them.
“We’re almost there,” Daniel replied. At the sa ti, his grip tightened slightly around my wrist.
For a mont, I sensed that sothing was off, but just as I was about to yank my arm away from him, Daniel stopped in front of a door and turned to show a friendly smile.
“We’ve arrived. The staff should be waiting for us inside with the painting,” Daniel announced casually. I watched with mixed feelings as he turned to open the door before ushering inside. True to his word, the painting was displayed in the center of the room. However, we were the only ones there, and the staff was nowhere to be seen.
The room was dimly lit, with a spotlight softly illuminating the painting.
“Isn’t this such a beauty?” Daniel asked as he placed his hand at the small of my back and gently pushed toward the painting. Seeing the painting up close truly added to its beauty, but I wasn’t in the mood to admire any art.
“Yes, I think this piece is truly beautiful. It’s a sha that I’m not knowledgeable about art, and this treasure might be completely wasted on . I’m actually not sure if it’s such a good idea for to accept such an expensive gift,” I told Daniel honestly as I tried to distance myself from him.
“Not at all. It’s such a sha that you think that way. A beauty such as yourself is truly suited to be the owner of such an amazing piece of art, and I would be extrely honored if you were to accept this gift from ,” Daniel said, beaming a smile at . It was probably at that mont that I realized it was a bad idea to be alone with Daniel in a room so far away from other people.
“I think we should head back. Raphael must have returned by now, and I don’t want him to worry,” I said as I turned to head for the door.
“Wait,” Daniel called after , and at that sa mont, I felt his arm wrap around my waist to hold back.
“What are you doing?” I asked, starting to panic. Instinctively, I began struggling to free myself from him. That was when I fully realized I had been such a fool for allowing him to lead there and isolate from everybody else.
“You don’t have to sound so scared of . All I want to do is talk to you,” Daniel replied calmly.
“Then let’s quickly get it over with. I’m pretty sure Raphael is looking for right now,” I said with a hint of warning in my tone. I had no idea what Raphael was up to, but I was very certain he wasn’t looking for at that mont. I prayed silently that he would return and realize I had gone missing, and that he would co looking for .
“What is it that you want to talk to about?” I asked Daniel, without beating around the bush.
“I’m sorry for scaring you because that wasn’t my intention at all. I honestly wanted to purchase this painting for you and have you see it up close to admire its beauty,” Daniel began explaining calmly as he relaxed his hold around my body. I quickly took a step away from him to distance myself as I tried to take deep breaths.
“You ntioned that there was sothing you wanted to talk to about?” I reminded him, urging him to get to the point. I was already certain that admiring the painting wasn’t anywhere close to the top of his list of what he wanted from .
–To be continued...
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