the other woman Ep 3

Ep 3
"Mark!" I said delighted to see him. "Were you expecting me?" I ask.
"I knew you'd come." He says confidently. "Come, I'll show you around."

He takes me around showing me his paintings and the inspiration behind them but I was not interested in knowing that, I want to know him better.

I suddenly stopped and stared at him while he kept talking, he looked back at me when he noticed he wasn't getting a response.

"Is there a problem?" He asked
"Tell me about yourself, Mark. It feels weird knowing someone like you, the way you stay alone, ignore friends has a talent as this and... and"
"That's just the way I am." He says interrupting me.
"Are you unhappy, Mark? Is it something that happened that changed you." I could see his jaw tighten as I continue. "Can I help you?"
"Let's go to my office." He says and start to walk to the back of the studio.
Where are we going? I ask myself. Did he change his mind and is chasing me out through the back door?

He opens a door and steps aside for me to go in.

I take a look and open my mouth in awe. Its the workshop where he paints.

I guessed I expected more, a large table and the CEO's chair behind it, classy look and all that you can find in the CEO's company.

"Mark." I began. "This is your workshop."
"And my office." I look around and back to him. He definitely meant it.
"Actually, I don't receive guests and I need my privacy always so this is the best hideout. Have a seat."
"Sure." I nodded.
I pick a stool and sit on it while he gets a drink from the refrigerator. He comes with two cups in his hand and an orange juice and places it on his painting table and grabs a stool for himself, serves the drinks and sips his. I sit still watching.

"What?" He asks.
"Nothing, just wondering how you are able to mask your feelings." I say.

He drops the drink in his hand and walks towards the window, looking out. I expect him to say something but instead he turns around and picks up a painting and hands it to me.

"Have this. A gift." He says and gave a smile that doesn't reach his eyes, I saw the hurt in his eyes and it went away almost immediately.

I look at the painting and it was awesome. I smile forgetting all that I had in mind. It isn't a bright colour painting but it is excellent.

Its a big tree with plenty leaves but has a single fruit on it. Another fruit was on the floor, guess it fell and was rolling away. It looked marvellous.

"Mark. This is lovely. Thanks." I say smiling
"It's the best piece I ever painted." He says and I don't miss the sound of pain in his voice.
"I'll take care of it." I stretch my hand forward. "Friends?" I ask
He takes my hand and smiles. "Friends." The butterflies in stomach starts to dance and I quickly pull my hand away.

I call Mark later at night to say thanks and we talked about meeting up for a drink days later.
My perfect man. I call him
And that was four years ago.