Get rid of the painting. Now!" Victoria Williams repeated, her glare hard, voice as icy as forever.
Leilani blinked back the tears that threatened to fall. She swallowed hard again, her throat feeling tight.
Her mouth hung open for a moment, no words forming.
And when they managed to form, it came out in stutters.
"I…agree it's...ugly, but at least, consider the gesture behind it. I poured my heart into it. Doesn't… that count for you to accept it?"
Victoria scoffed. "So what?"
Her eyes flashed with scorn as she took a step closer, deliberately choosing her words to pierce Leilani's heart. "The fact remains it's so old fashioned and it doesn't deserve to be on our wall or be seen by our esteemed guests."
Leilani's heart sank, her muscles weakening at her words as a tear rolled down her cheek.
"I never planned on hanging it. It's just.....we don't have a proper family portrait. I saw the portrait of you and Lucia at home and it looked nice. So I thought it would be nice if we had one together as a family." She muttered, her voice cracking as she avoided her gaze. "And I'm sorry if that has offended you."
Victoria couldn't help but roll her eyes. There she go again, with her tireless efforts to bring the family together.
And of course, Leilani's painting was great like it had always been. One could hardly tell if it was a painting or a picture.
"Trying so hard to fit in, huh? I have told you several times to stop being greedy."
Leilani raised her head to meet her gaze, her brows furrowed in confusion.
"Greedy?"
"Yes, greedy. Just because we took you in does not mean you are one of us. Stay in your lane.
And besides, you're getting married in a couple of weeks so you should think more about your new family."
Her words sent a sharp pain to Leilani's chest. Her lungs constricted, making it hard to breathe.
Victoria stormed out of the showroom, after casting her another glare from her head to her feet.
Leilani fell to the floor, her sobs breaking free. Thankfully, there was no one in sight. The guests for the tenth anniversary of the Williams Group Art gallery were yet to arrive. It was a gallery that had a reputation of keeping rare and valuable masterpieces by legendary artists.
The gallery, part of The Williams Group conglomerate, which also owned a luxury hotel, was well managed by Victoria Williams, the wife of Thomas Williams, the founder.
Leilani sobbed uncontrollably, her chest tightened as Victoria's words replayed in her head. It was so hard to believe she meant nothing to them, after all the years she had spent with them. Her love for them was never affected, even with the constant mistreatment from her adoptive mom and sister. She couldn't bring herself to hate the only family she had ever known. And also, she couldn't be more thankful to Victoria for helping her out of the orphanage and bringing her into her reputable family.
After sobbing for a while, she wiped the streaming tears with the back of her hand and got on her feet.
No…..She wouldn't allow anyone to walk in on her vulnerable state. Her day was already ruined, and she wouldn't want to add to it.
She picked the painting and headed for the abandoned store at the gallery. Staring at it for the last time, she confiscated and dumped it there, just as Victoria had instructed.
Then she slammed the door shut, her fingers tightening around the knob.
A tear slipped down her face as she remembered the effort she had put into it. She was up all night, making sure it came out perfect.
She changed her position at the door, leaning against it instead and looked straight at the vacant wall in front.
She stood there, even as the event began in the Grand hall, suddenly feeling uninterested, something she had looked forward to. It started with the chairwoman's speech and ended with Auction sales of the most magnificent pieces.
After a few hours, it ended with the guests walking out of the Grand Hall.
Some stopped by the showroom to check out other pieces, glasses clicked as they exchanged pleasantries and business cards.
Leilani was now at the far end of the show room. She was lost in thoughts, her heart still aching as her eyes remained fixed on a beautiful oil painting of a raven perched on a tree branch which embodied the beauty of nature.
As she stood there, her thoughts suddenly drifted to Atlas and her mood lit up immediately. A faint smile spread across her lips and her heart felt lighter.
There was still a bright spot left in her day.
Atlas was her fiance and his birthday was later that evening.
She pushed back her shoulders, feeling better there was someone she meant the world to. He had been there through her toughest moments, always calm and understanding.
She smiled at herself as she thought of the gift she had prepared for him. She imagined his lip stretched into her favourite smile of his as he receives it, one that always makes up her day.
At first she was stumped on what to get him but then she did find the perfect gift. A high performance gaming laptop with advanced features as he loved to game.
Although it did cost a lot, she did not hesitate as she was willing to go the extra mile to make him happy.
She walked out of the show room after adjusting her dress, heading for the elevator.
Reaching it, she pressed on the call button and it arrived.
After stepping in, she inputted the number of the last floor and held back.
As the elevator made its way down, Her anxiety sparked as she thought of how the night would turn out.
She took out her phone from her purse and clicked on the message Mandy, her bestie had sent.
Leilani was still asleep when a loud knock woke her up that morning. She had opened the door to one of the house servants holding out a bag to her, informing someone had stopped by with it.
Taking the bag from him, she muttered a thank you and shut the door afterwards.
Dipping her hand into it, she had taken out a pair of lingerie, a red lacy g- string pantie with matching bra.
Her nose had scrunched a bit and the corner of her lips curled into an unbelievable smirk as she held it out.
Even without reading the note attached to it, she knew who had sent it.
That crazy bestie of hers.
Tossing the bag on her bed, she had walked over to the bedside table to get her phone, and was about dialing Mandy's number when a message popped on her screen.
"Hey…. morning girl. Hope you had a nice sleep? I'm sorry I won't be able to make it to Atlas's party. I will be out of town. Marcus' mom is ill and we would be paying her a visit. Hope you got the package I sent. Remember to do all that I have taught you.
Have a splendid evening (a winking emoji)
Xoxo"
Reading her bestie's message again, she felt that familiar crawling sensation on her skin.
How would she get through it without feeling tense or getting a panic attack as usual?
Atlas has been patient for long unlike the other guys she had been with. He promised to stand by her, that they would get through her genophobia together.
He had held her hands during therapy sessions, confronted her through her breakdown and assured her time and again that love was not all about sex.
However, she could not help but worry that she was depriving him of one of the most important aspects of a relationship. And tonight, with the help of her best friend, she intended to get through it.
The elevator stopped at the last floor and soon, she was out of the building and into the streets.
********
At the party
The drive to Atlas's apartment which was blocks away was quiet. Leilani sat at the back of the car, her face beaming with excitement as she clutched his gift to her thighs. She just couldn't wait to be with him.
When she arrived, she settled the cab driver and rushed to the door of his apartment.
After knocking twice, the door opened revealing Atlas with his charming smile. He welcomed her and pulled her into his warm embrace. Then he took the gift box from her and led her into his apartment, with their hands entwined.
Atlas was tall with brown eyes and a disarming grin that made her fall for him at first sight. And he was having a small party in his small but modern apartment, with a mix of his friends and business colleagues.
Leilani got settled on a long seated sofa in the living room, with Atlas next to her, feeling shy and nervous as he introduced her to some of his friends.
She still did find it difficult to initiate all the seductive moves Mandy had taught her, maintaining a steady intense gaze, biting and licking her lips seductively at intervals as they conversed.
Rather, she avoided his gaze and each time their eyes met accidentally, her heart skipped.
But nevertheless, she still gave herself credit for accomplishing a task on Mandy's seducing your man's list.
"Wear something red and sexy, remember red symbolizes love and desire." Those were her exact words.
And truly, she was impressed with the vibrant red dress with a ruched bodice and flared skirt. It was a knee-length fitted sleeveless dress with ribbon tie straps that hugged her curves firmly.
The silver jewelry she wore, a simple necklace, bracelet and a pair of stud earrings complemented the silver stilettos and purse, making her look dashing.
The evening started out well enough with Leilani mingling with a few guests sipping from her glass of wine. She had settled for a non alcoholic wine as she didn't want to get drunk, knowing she was a lightweight.
As the night went on, she noticed Atlas was distracted. He disappeared for long stretches and when he did return, his attention was elsewhere.
"It is just the chaos of hosting, he is the man in demand after all" Leilani told herself.
But then, she felt the need to search for him when he disappeared in the middle of the Truth and Dare game, without returning.
"Perhaps, do you know where Atlas could be?" She asked a tall dude, one of his closest friends.
He hesitated, a flicker of unease crossing his face "I think he might have stepped out for a minute. You know how it is at parties....always disappearing"
"Sure" Leilani flashed a smile. She then got up and began her search, her stilettos clicking softly against the polished marble floor.
The slow music and chatter of gathering faded as her search grew more urgent.
As she passed the hallway, a muffled sound caught her attention, a soft familiar feminine laugh.
Her heart froze as she recognized the voice.
Her steps quickened, her heart thumping in her chest.
Within the blink of an eye, she reached the door to Atlas's bedroom which was slightly ajar, and pushed it open without thinking.
She gasped, her eyes growing wide at the sight before her.
The scene seeme
d to steal the breath away from her lungs as it suddenly became difficult to breathe.