Chapter 3

Remy

Shit.

Remy eyed Mark. He’d been so eager to take her away from that motherfucker back there that he forgot about laying low.

And you told them your real name, you idiot.

“I’m Mark,” his friend said, “and this is—”

“Remy Morgan.”

He wasn’t going to lie on the first day they met. That always ended up badly.

Telling the truth will end up badly, too.

“And you guys are like, what, agents?” The blonde girl said, “looking for talent?”

Mark was about to nod but Remy spoke first.

“We’re crashing this party, actually.”

Both girls just blinked, their faces still wondering whether he was joking or not.

Mark shrugged, “that we are!” He said, and gulped his drink.

Remy turned to the brunette girl beside him and smiled.

“We’re tired of clubs.”

The curly haired girl laughed so loud everyone turned towards them, but Remy’s attention was focused on the girl he just took away from that vulture back there.

“What’s your name?” He asked her.

Her eyes, big and brown stared deep into his soul, the moment he touched her for the first time, just a minute or two ago, were enough for him to want to own her. Calm down you fuck, calm down.

But it was too late. When he accidentally grazed her hand he knew it. The girl was meant to be his.

Whatever it takes.

The words came to his mind without him even wanting to. It would have scared him, but he feared nothing.

“Jules,” she replied, and sipped her wine, “Julie.”

There was a moment of silence, the harp and cello kept playing in the background, people gathered around, talking mindlessly, easily.

He wanted to kiss her, but had to restrain himself. His mind was blank, every second that passed seemed like an eternity.

“How did you get in?” Julie asked, “Did you forge an invitation?”

“Good question,” her friend said.

Mark looked at him, what was he going to say? My family has deep connections everywhere in the city, we’re trying to see if this is a money laundering scheme by—

“A friend of us had one, he gave it to us.”

“Who?” She said.

She wasn’t very happy about it, apparently.

“Are you angry?” He asked.

“Well, she has to pay for security,” her friend said, “this was supposed to be a business gala, no outsiders.”

“Now I—” She began saying.

“You’re wondering how many people here are just like us, right?”

She smiled, finishing her glass.

“Don’t worry, I’m pretty sure we’re the only ones.”

“How can you be so—”

“Take my word for it, besides, this place is boring.”

She gasped, her eyes widening in shock.

“Boring?”

“Oh, God. You did not just say that.” Her friend said.

“Let’s get out of here, before she explodes.”

She grabbed Mark’s hand and got lost in the crowd.

“I mean, not boring boring, just like…”

“You said it, not me.”

“Are you always this hostile?”

“Oh my God! First I have to deal with Trey over there and then—”

“We’re here to see what’s this about,” he blurted out, “a friend of my family is an artist… a good one, and he kindly shared an invitation.”

She looked at him, examined him, really. Was he telling the truth this time? He was.

“Who is he?”

“Maori.”

Her jaw dropped to the floor.

“Jonathan is your friend?”

“Friend of the family, yes.”

“I’ve been trying to get him to come to these parties but he always refuses!”

“Well, he’s a recluse, you know that.”

“I love his work.”

“I can set up a meeting if you want.”

“No, thank you.”

“Why not?”

“I don’t want to use you to get to know him, I was just impressed.”

She thought about that for a second or two.

“Thank you, by the way.”

She didn’t need to tell him Trey wasn’t with her, he noticed from the other side of the room, it was an opportunity he had to take.

“No problem.”

“So Joseph Maori gives away his invitations to my parties?”

“Nah, just this one. You know the man, he doesn’t care about these kind of things.”

“I don’t know, haven’t met him.”

“Invitation’s open, any time.”

She nodded.

“So,” he said, “who are you?”

“Well, just an art dealer, I guess.”

“How come I’ve never seen you before?”

“What do you mean?”

“Well… I don’t know. Sorry, I’m rambling.”

She smiled, “don’t worry. I just got here, I studied abroad and worked for two years in Florence.”

“That sounds great.”

The music was getting louder and louder, going into a crescendo that seemed to be the climax of the piece. He leaned closer to hear her.

“I don’t know. I mean. Yeah, it’s cool, but I needed to get back home.”

He nodded.

“I’m glad you did,” he whispered in her ear, and he could have sworn he felt the heat radiating from her body. It turned him on.

This was the girl who would change his life. He knew that already.