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Niklaus

Allegra has not said one word since we left her house. Neither have I. Every time I was around her, I was always left with more questions than answers. The painting I saw at her house was, without a doubt, painted by the same person using the pseudonym Divoká Rostlina. The paint, the technique, the feeling evoked by the painting were all the same. The only difference in this painting was the lonely woman sitting in the field. I look over at Allegra briefly, her face averted, the figure in the painting and the woman sitting next to me similar in a way I couldn't explain.

Allegra tried hiding the initials painted in the corner, the obviousness of her attempt not missed. A.M. Did the A stand for Allegra, and if so, then what of the M? Her surname was definitely Edevane. I looked her up on the net, though admittedly, information on her was scarce and hard to find. She kept her private life very private. Surprising considering her popularity in the art world. Her pottery pieces were highly sought after, as indicated by the waiting list for one of her pieces which currently sat at just over two years. Perhaps those initials belonged to someone else. Someone she was protecting? But why?

The pained, pleading look in her eye was the only thing stopping me from pressing her further, though it did nothing to quell my curiosity. This woman was hiding secrets. Surprising as she didn't strike me as someone like that.

I am grateful that Allegra only lives an hour away from Aashiv. It had taken me an hour to get to her house from mine in New Hampshire. When Aashiv mentioned that Allegra didn't like driving, I immediately offered to fetch her. No doubt, the desired result Aashiv was hoping to achieve by telling me. I gathered by the way Aashiv was acting towards me and her constant nagging for me to be at her event tonight that Allegra must have mentioned our interaction the night of the charity event.

"Thank you for driving me." Allegra's words pull me out of my musings. I made sure to stick to the speed limit, knowing that speeding made her anxious.

"It's fine. I don't mind," I say, not looking at her.

"Are you mad at me?" Her question surprises me.

"Should I be?" I counter briefly, looking at her as she stares at me.

"I was rude to you, so you have a right to be," she says, looking away. "I am sorry. For some reason, when I am around you, you seem to bring out the worst in me."

"Being yourself and being vulnerable around me and then not knowing how to handle it, which leads to you acting irrationally, isn't you being your worst. It's just you not being in that position often enough to be comfortable and to know how to react. There's a difference... but you shouldn't blame me for it."

The words were harsh, but they were true. She couldn't keep blaming her behavior on me.

There is a long silence as she digests what I have said.

"You're right. I'm sorry. I am unaccustomed to being around people. Over the last couple of years, I have isolated myself. I needed time. And while that has helped in one aspect of my life, socially it has left me inept. Not that I was any better before, to be honest. But at least then, I had a sliver of social etiquette." There is no humor in her voice, the admission coming out softly and thoughtfully.

Her words reveal more about her than I think she intends. And raises more questions. Why did she need time alone? Why had she isolated herself? What happened to her?

We sit in silence once again, luckily short-lived, as we reach Aashiv and Ade's massive estate. Allegra's house, in comparison, would be considered modest. Especially in light of her wealth which I knew she possessed. She wasn't flashy with it. Unlike Aashiv and Ade, the money they had was on display for all to see. It wasn't bad, just different.

We stop in front of the house, a red carpet running from the entrance of the house to the driveway. A uniformed valet is ready and waiting, opening the door for me as I cut the engine. I hand him the key and tell him to have someone bring our bags in before moving to the passenger side of the vehicle.

Allegra is sitting with her eyes closed, taking deep breaths. Opening the car door makes her jump, her eyes meeting mine as I hold my hand out.

"Thank you," she says, taking my hand. It feels awkward arriving with her, and suddenly the thought of us arriving together and what it might signify dawns on me. People would more than likely jump to the conclusion that we were here together as a couple. The assumption, however, was not something I was averse to.

The vehicle pulls away, leaving the red carpet open for our arrival. I hold my arm out, Allegra looking at my face for a moment before hesitantly looping her arm through mine.

"You look lovely, by the way," I say to her, admiring the way her dress flows elegantly around her, kissing her curves in all the right places. If arriving together didn't raise questions, then the coincidental matching of our color palettes for tonight's outfits might very well wag tongues.

"Thank you. You look...very handsome," she says shyly, looking at me briefly before looking away. Her pink-tinted cheeks give away how hard it is for her to receive a compliment and give one in return.

The photographer stationed at the entrance has us pose for a photograph, this picture no doubt will find its way into my possession later.

As we enter the room, the chatter from those who have already arrived dies down somewhat as heads turn to look in our direction. I knew all of the faces here, many employed by me or investors in the numerous projects I had on the go. Allegra, on the other hand, doesn't appear to know many of the faces, her nervousness at the attention reflected in the way she digs her nails into her hand. I reach up, releasing the fist she has made as she looks up to meet my gaze.

"It's fine. Calm down," I say, rubbing her hand soothingly. She gives me a small smile before we proceed, Aashiv and Ade approaching from the opposite direction.

"Allegra, Niklaus, we were wondering where you were. You're late," Aashiv says, her brow lifting questioningly.

"Leave them, Shiv. It's good you are here," Ade says to Aashiv, laughing before shaking my hand firmly.

Allegra releases my arm, giving Ade an affectionate hug before glaring at Aashiv. Some silent communication takes place before Aashiv pulls her in for a hug. They whisper something to each other while Aashiv gives me a strained fake smile.

"We'll be right back," she says, looping her arm through Allegra's before they walk off, hushed whispers continuing as they walk. Allegra looks back at me briefly before disappearing into the crowd of people.

"So, how was the car ride," Ade asks, a knowing smile on his face.

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