Chapter 31

Julie

The Winery looked fabulous. I have to remind myself to congratulate Veronica. Everything was perfect.

Julie chose the place for the event because Alba LaRoux, an artist she represented, had a new collection of incredible paintings. Most of them featured vineyards, grapes, wine, or the people who made it.

The place was perfect for the exhibition. It was a huge hall, made for big events, like weddings —rich people weddings. Its old-style architecture matched exactly with the feeling she wanted to evoke, with its huge windows on the back wall going up to the ceiling, and its hardwood floors.

The tables were set, the paintings decorated the walls beautifully, she was ready.

She loved Alba’s style. She would be her most famous —and expensive— artist. Her pieces sold for tens of millions to clients all over the world.

A trio began playing Florentine music, one man played a harp, a girl played the violin and an old man had a guitar. The whole place smelled of rain, colored by the soft fragrance of fermenting wine on the room just across this one, on the front of the building. Four huge wine vats stood there, both as decoration and because their three best selling wines fermented there.

People gathered around and talked on their tables. Some of them smoked under the veranda outside.

"You made it," Remy said, just behind her.

She stiffened in surprise, when she turned to see him, his smile was like magic, lifting her mood even higher. His smile, his hair… and the pride in his eyes. She never knew she needed someone else to complete her, but after meeting him, she couldn't understand how she managed to live so long without him.

"Thank you," she replied, and kissed him on the cheek.

"I've seen some of these paintings, somewhere."

"Probably on TV, or online. Alba is pretty famous, I'm lucky to have her as a client."

"She's lucky to have you, too. She's only gonna get richer."

She smiled, "that's right."

"So what do we do now?"

"I don't know."

Julie looked around. She knew what he was talking about. Would they act as a couple, or wait until she introduced him properly? Would he meet her parents? Was it dangerous?

"Let's just have a good time," Remy said, "things will fall into place."

She smiled, "deal."

***

After the introductions, and her big announcements, a band began playing, big time.

Artists, businessmen, magazine editors… everyone was there. The rain fell hard outside, lightning and thunder cracking from time to time, but it didn’t keep people from having fun.

After tonight, everyone in the art world would know her name. She was ready to take another big step in her career.

They danced for the better part of the evening, the man knows how to dance! It was a surprise to her, she never thought he would be into dancing.

"You're good!" He said.

"I didn't know you liked dancing."

He rolled his eyes, smiling wide, "I learned when I was a kid. I can teach you if you want."

She laughed.

"I'll teach you!"

He laughed, "I'm just kidding honey, you're the best."

It was a fun, perfect evening. Day turned into night earlier than she anticipated. The room was lit in purple, orange and green, almost like a night club, but it still kept that classy atmosphere that she loved —and paid for.

Someone crashed against her, obviously on purpose. What the—

It was Nina. Dancing with Mark.

"I thought you weren't coming!" Julie said.

"We just arrived! We couldn't make it in time for your speech, how was it?"

She bit her lip, unable to hold back her smile.

"Oh God, congratulations!" She said, giving her a big hug, "you're a heavy hitter now!"

Nina knew her too well.

"I hope!"

"You're not drinking, man?" Mark asked Remy, holding a glass of wine in his hand.

"Not tonight, bro."

They kept on dancing, the guys were too funny. They started doing these ridiculous moves, like nineties style kind of dancing, clapping and turning, it was embarrassing to see them… which was what they wanted.

"Stop!" She and Nina said, "I don't want to lose any of my clients."

They sat at their table, she wanted to drink some water.

"It's going well."

"Yes," she said. She was worried now. She'd seen her parents glancing at her several times through the evening. She had to introduce Remy to them sooner or later.

Stop acting like a baby.

They brought her a glass of Champagne and she swallowed it in one gulp.

"Are you okay?" Remy asked.

"Kind of nervous."

"Really?"

"People are going to ask questions."

He kissed her, right there, in the middle of the room. And she kissed him back. Fuck it.

It was just what she needed.

"I'm going to the ladies room, okay?"

He smirked, "sure."

She grabbed her purse and left, she needed to tell her parents, now. Today. This was her opportunity and she wouldn't waste it.

Let's get all this drama over with.

It was decided. She would take his hand and let everyone know who she was with tonight.