Chapter 13 The Painting
“You look ethereal....Katelyn” Quisito admitted when they were stuck in traffic, causing her to whip around from the world outside to look at him. He was looking afar at that moment but suddenly turned around and their eyes locked. An electric sensation ran down her spine when his gaze fell on her parted lips. He shifted in his seat a bit and just when she thought he was going to kiss her, the traffic moved. He glanced back to the road and resumed driving.
“Thanks for the compliment” Kate stated briefly before slumping back into her seat and looking outside.
The world outside was dangerous yet beautiful. Mothers cradling their infants, children playing on the park swing, kids enjoying ice-cream, teenagers playing baseball, huge birds that perched upon their nests and the cotton candy clouds that were scattered across the blue sky – every bit of it called out to Kate and that’s when she realized how much she had missed this world.
Even though she knew her father was helpless in front of the dangers she might encounter because she was part of the mafia family, her mind always held a grudge against everyone for giving her such a life. She had money, plenty of it, but her heart longed for something else – Freedom.
Their destination reached and after parking the car he got out and held the door open for her. But she was preoccupied in tracking a butterfly that danced on the windshield of the car. Her soul felt free just by watching it.
“Come on Kate” Quisito grumbled, his voice a bit gruffer than usual. She immediately obeyed him. They walked together to a huge building with her arm looped around his elbow.
“Don Quisito! We are so glad to have you with us today” one of the men in black who stood at the entrance of the building welcomed Quisito, beaming at him and Kate.
“The pleasure is all mine Harry” Quisito replied warmly as he patted the man on his shoulder.
He then led Kate into the building and immediately her mouth dropped open in awe because it felt like stepping into another dimension of the universe. The ancient carvings on the walls, the large tapestry that hung down from the ceiling, the huge chandler in the middle – Everything screamed luxury. The paintings that hung on the walls made her feel heavenly because every brush stroke on the canvas was so perfectly done to make one feel beauty in its purest form.
As they walked hand in hand to the area were the main even was to occur, Kate caught the glimpse of a painting that had birds flying against the blue sky. Since the canvas was partially covered with a red cloth, she wanted a better view of it and made an attempt to walk towards it but he forcefully pulled her along with him to the seats in the middle row.
She was this close to throwing a tantrum right then and there, but when she read the room, she understood that if at all she tries to pull off something, she would be making a complete fool of herself in front of the great leaders of the mafia clan. So, she kept her cool and gracefully took a seat next to him. Even as they sat down, he held her hand in a death grip, as if she would run away any second.
But Kate didn’t have much problem with it because she was too excited to be surrounded by people who weren’t her bodyguards or maids. Within a few minutes all the seats were occupied and only then the lights were dimmed.
In the middle of the room, the stage lights came on and two women with sparkling dress and elegant smiles appeared on the raised platform. They introduced themselves as the hosts, welcomed everyone and gave a small speech on the event.
Kate then got to know that it was mostly a charity event. 40% of the money goes to the artist, 50% to charity and the rest of the 10% went into the expenses of event organization.
“First up is a painting called ‘life of fireflies’ by Judith Jane. Let the bidding begin now!” one of the hosts announced and immediately the people began shouting numbers.
Quisito kept quiet but the men and women around them went on cheering higher numbers. The prices were higher than what Kate had expected, even though she knew that everyone in the room were filthy rich. But now she knew better; Such events were held so that rich and powerful people can put a display of their wealth, without even making an effort to.
A tsunami of voices later, the bidding price was fixed. Immediately, the winner was called on to the stage to click a picture with the artist who did the painting.
After the auction of five pieces, the painting she saw earlier came up and the crowd went wild again. Kate excitedly tugged at Quisito’s arm, making him look at her.
“I..I love that painting” she chirped, looking right at it.
Quisito was simply staring at her without saying anything. Astonished, he noticed how her eyes sparkled with happiness at nothing but a painting spread out on a canvas.
Kate’s excitement reared down when she turned around to look at him, who’s eyes were boring into her and just when she thought that he was going to scold her,
“3 MILLION DOLLARS”
Kate jumped slightly at the unexpected loudness of his voice that rolled above all the sounds in the room and immediately all the noise died out. It took a moment for her to understand why it happened. The bidding prices for the painting reached nowhere near 3 million. And moreover, it looked like no one in the room wanted to fight with Quisito.
The hosts gleamed happily and invited them to the stage because they won the painting.
“Let’s go” Quisito told her as he rose from his seat. When they began walking towards the stage, people shouted congrats and expressed their respect to the Don.
Quisito – he had built quite an empire.
When they reached the stage a shy artist in glasses came forth and handed her the painting. “Thanks for buying...I..I.. was a week away from going broke” the artist whispered in Kate’s ear and she mouthed ‘you are welcome’ back.
“Sir...can you come a bit closer to the lady” the photographer asked and that is when Kate noticed that he was standing a little too far from her. But even after the camera man’s instructions, Quisito remained where he was and Kate wanted nothing more than to smash his head for acting aloof and bipolar.
Giving up his attempt to bring the Don closer, the photographer snapped the pictures of Kate and the artist with the painting. She smiled widely for the camera and her smile was genuine. She hugged the artist and walked down the stage to her seat, after returning the painting for packing.
After a few more auctions the crowd dispersed and everyone including them went downstairs but Kate wasn’t prepared for what awaited her in there. It was a completely mirror decorated bar with fairy lights.
“Oops!...sorry” Kate apologized when she accidentally collided with Quisito while adoring the decorations.
“Watch where you go. I don’t want you bumping into anyone else” he said in a passive aggressive tone and she gave a meek nod, before continuing to let her eyes wander the length of the bar.
“OH...MY GOD..; Kate...is that you?” An excitement fueled male voice made her turn around until her eyes locked with the person.