Chapter 30: Canvas

"My brother sells paintings for a living. The people in San Jose love filling their homes with beautiful paintings from all over the world. It's kind of like a custom, a way of life or a trend.

"Hector started selling them and when he started having more customers, he needed more paintings but they don't come cheap. Xavier's a dealer. He gets paintings from all over the world and sells them to shops. Getting it from him is cheaper but it involves more risk because he steals most of them and Hector and I can't afford to purchase from legitimate dealers so we stick to Xavier. After getting the paintings, Hector will have to sell them at much higher prices to make a profit and that could chase customers away because there are so many shops in the area selling as well.

"This is how we survive so we do what we have to," Victoria told her.

"l don't think you'll need to buy those paintings from Xavier anymore," Sharon said with a smile.

"Why not?"

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"Hector, you'll never be able to guess what Sharon can do," Victoria said to him.

Sharon was behind her as they walked into the front of the building which was the shop. Sharon looked around and saw only a few paintings on display. They were beautiful but they were old and withered.

"She can cook. I already know that but it's not enough to change my mind about her staying here. We ate just fine before her arrival, we'll eat just fine after she's gone," he said dismissively.

"That's not it, Silly. She can paint. She's a painter," Victoria said with a sparkle in her eyes.

"So what? She can paint. It's not a big deal. I can paint too but you know people don't come here just for a lousy painting. They come here for real art. It's not just about the painting but about who painted it," Hector said to his sister.

"I'm not just a painter who does it as a hobby. I'm a professional painter with many years of expertise and experience." Sharon made him aware.

"Really? Tell me more" Hector said to Sharon sarcastically and turned around.

"Well, I was the most sought-after painter in all of Colorado in America. I sold paintings of my creation to the wealthiest and snobbiest people you'll ever meet at insane rates. I paint landscapes, portraits, imaginative and even abstract," Sharon said with pride, trying to convince Hector of her skills.

"Really?" Hector said with his arms folded. "If what you say is true, then how come you don't have a house of your own, or clothes? Oh, how come, my sister found you sleeping on the streets in a foreign country away from all of your rich patrons in America?" Hector asked with his brow raised.

"I had to leave America and come here for personal reasons but it doesn't change the fact that what I tell you is true."

"Well, I don't believe you,"

"Then, let me show you," Sharon said and took a book from Victoria and handed it to him.

"What's this?" He asked.

"Open it and take a look," Sharon told him.

"These are drawings in a little sketchbook," he said unimpressed.

"They're not just drawings. They're samples of paintings I've made. I draw them out in that book as an advertisement platform. Whenever I would make a painting, I would draw it out in that book before selling the original painting, so I could show others my work and have them patronize me," she explained.

Hector continued flipping through the pages. If these were indeed paintings, he thought, then they would be incredible on a real canvas.

"Okay, then. You're a painter. So what?"

"So, I'd like to offer you a deal."

"What kind of deal?"

"I will paint for you so you can sell. The money you'll spend to get me the tools I'd need won't even be half of what you want to pay Xavier for just nine paintings and I'll be able to paint more than nine with it. I paint for you and in return, I can live here," Sharon offered.

"And what if your paintings are no good and no one wants to buy them?" Hector asked raising a brow.

"Oh, trust me. They'll surely be bought," Sharon said confidently.

The room was silent as Hector stood still and deliberated in his head.

"First, you show me what you can do and if it's good, we'll work out the details of your deal. I have a little bit of paint and some brushes in the storage room. Vic, go get them."

Victoria went off to get the materials for Sharon to paint with and prove to Hector that she really was a real-life Michaelangelo.

Sharon began to paint while Hector continued prepping to open up the shop. Victoria sat on a stool and posed for her. Sharon was focused. She was in that place in her mind that she usually went to whenever she painted. With every stroke she made, she added a dab of beauty to the canvas.

Hector was ready to open the shop but he decided to wait until Sharon was done. He sat in the corner and stared at her as she painted. He was impressed by her unwavering focus and her silent intensity.

After a few minutes, she finished, put down her brush and wiped the sweat from her forehead.

"I want to see, I want to see," Victoria said excitedly and went to stare at the painting.

She saw it and her jaw dropped in disbelief, her eyes widened in excitement and she was at a loss for words.

"Hector, you have to come and see this," Victoria said to her brother.

He got up and walked over to the painting, not knowing that his mind was about to be blown.