Chapter 76

Today at Noah’s house had been quite the challenge. He had taught me a very intricate brushstroke and I did not have it perfected by the time I left. He said not to worry about it. That it had taken him years to finally get it right.

It hadn’t really made me feel better. I wanted to be an expert in my craft. And Noah had started at a much earlier age. I would be lucky if I mastered it before I died. I said as much and he just laughed.

Then he cryptically mentioned that we would be seeing each other a lot more often without any further explanation. I didn’t see how. Arthur had been pretty strict about my working schedule. And now that Noah’s exhibition wasn’t going to be at the gallery, I didn’t really have a lot of work to be done there either.

I had left his house feeling slightly confused, but I had brushed it off. Noah could often be eccentric. He didn’t think like other people. I wasn’t sure if it was because of his wealthy upbringing or because he was basically a recluse.

It didn’t matter. He would never get Arthur’s approval for extra hours at his house. He would also be persona non grata in Arthur’s mind. I think Arthur regretted giving me the gallery job since that’s how I met Noah, but there wasn’t much he could do about it now.

At least that’s what I told myself as I walked into the gallery. I knew there was tension there, especially since Noah had feelings for me. But I valued our friendship and I knew that Noah would never do anything that I didn’t want. I didn’t feel uncomfortable around him. I just felt guilty that I couldn’t return his feelings.

I felt even more guilty since I had led him on a couple of times in the beginning of our relationship. I hadn’t meant to, but I also hadn’t been able to help myself. I never thought that Arthur would love me back and there Noah was, handsome and kind and he had wanted me.

It wasn’t something that I had been used to so of course I had chased the feeling. Lily had even encouraged it. But I hadn’t been able to go through with it. We’d only ever made out. I don’t think I would have ever gone further with him. At least, not while Arthur and I had still been pretending to be a couple.

I shook my head. That was all in the past. As long as there were no more slip ups on either end, I thought our friendship would work out, even if Arthur didn’t like it. I felt a little bad, but I was allowed to have friends other than Cathy.

I immediately knew something was up when I saw people running around like crazy. I tried to ask my colleagues what was going on, but none of them paid attention to me. They were too busy prepping for whatever was going on.

I was able to finally track down Molly who held up a finger to me while she finished whatever conversation she was having on the phone. I patiently waited and when she was done, I was surprised at the wide grin that she gave me.

“I don’t know how you did it, but thank you. It seems like I’ve once again underestimated you. You might actually prove to be useful,” Molly said, throwing an arm around my shoulders in an unfamiliar show of camaraderie.

I gave her a tense smile. “I’m not sure what you’re talking about. What did I do?”

Molly gave me a little shake, hard enough to have my brain rattling around my skull. “Don’t be so modest. Noah Cunningham called right before you got here. He said he’d be willing to agree to the exhibition again. And that it was all thanks to you.”

My eyes widened. Noah had put the exhibition back on? I guess that was what he had meant about spending more time together. That would also mean more work for me. I knew Molly was going to rush it this time in case he pulled out again.

“Not only that, but he has offered to help out here every day until it’s ready. With his guidance, we can open the exhibit in no time. Isn’t that wonderful?” Molly asked, pushing me toward the room where we had kept all of Noah’s art pieces.

I nodded. It was, actually. If Noah was going to be here, he would most likely take on the brunt of the work. He was almost as bad as Arthur was when it came to my well-being. I supposed I should be happy about it, but all their coddling was starting to get on my nerves.

“Make sure that everything is available for his inspection. He’ll be here any minute,” Molly said and took her leave. I watched her walk away, disbelief marring my features. Noah was coming in today?

He could have at least driven us here, Lily complained and I scoffed. She was so spoiled.

We have our own car, remember? Arthur gave it to us. It even comes with a driver, I told her as I walked into the art room. Everything was as we had left it months ago. It was still separated into different sections, depending on what each wall was going to look like. The only thing I really had to do was pull the white sheets that were protecting them.

Yeah, but Noah’s cars are nicer, Lily said and I chuckled. She was such a speed demon. I knew she was talking about his sports cars. Unfortunately for her, Arthur had banned us from getting into fast cars until the baby was born.

Noah’s arrival at the gallery caused quite a stir. No one other than me had seen him since he’d backed out of the exhibit months ago. As I watched him get surrounded by my colleagues, I had to laugh. He looked absolutely out of his comfort zone.

He glanced up and caught my eye, giving me a grimace. I stifled another giggle and went over to save him, leading him away from his adoring fans and into the room I had just left. He visibly relaxed as soon as I closed the door.

“Are you sure you want to come here more often? You’re going to get that kind of treatment every time you show up,” I warned him and his already pale skin grew paler. He definitely wasn’t a people person.

“I’ll be fine. Besides, you’ll need my help. Otherwise Molly will work you to the bone,” Noah said, his voice sounding more confident than I thought possible. Without further ado, he rolled up his sleeves and got to work.

He went through each piece, making small adjustments here and there. While he’d helped arrange them the first time around, I wasn’t surprised to see him changing his mind. Everyone knew artists, me included, were fickle when it came to this type of thing.

We fell into an easy rhythm. Well, I should say he fell into an easy rhythm. He had made me sit down as soon as he possibly could and would only allow me to answer questions. I was not able to get up at any point in his inspection.

When he was finished, he dropped into the chair beside me. “I don’t want you to worry about the exhibit, Sweetness. I’ll do all the work for you. You can still have the credit though,” he said, winking at me.

I rolled my eyes good naturedly. “You’re just like Arthur.”

I instantly regretted it as I watched Noah’s face close down. It had been the wrong thing to say.

“I am absolutely nothing like him, Sweetness. I’m better.”