Content, relaxed, and thrilled—that's precisely how I feel after spending the entire day spoiling Tawny and making the day unforgettable for her. At least, I hope today was memorable for her. But, it also made my day and the day much more meaningful after seeing the appreciation in Tawny's eyes, her expressions, and the genuine smiles that brightened her gorgeous face throughout each of my spoiling adventures.

Apart from the fact that what I did for Tawny made my day—spoiling her rotten and making her smile—I'm more than satisfied knowing everything I did; it had her feeling special. That's what matters to me the most. And I fucking love it since it's been a while since I made a girl feel important and treated them to a day at the spa, on a shopping spree, and taking them to get their hair done. And to see Tawny smile like she was earlier, I'd do it again and again.

After seeing Tawny's happiness and gratefulness for everything she received, it showed me how exceptional of a person Tawny truly is. It also showed that Tawny could possibly be the best thing that's ever happened to me, and because of that, I now know that I have to do everything in my power not to fuck my relationship up with her.

I walked Tawny around the art gallery, introducing her to artists and others, showing her my most prized art collections, with me also showing her what'll be going for auction. And just as we walked around the corner, Tawny gasped, then grabbed hold of my arm and stopped walking.

"Ian?"

"Yes?"

She spun on her heel, facing me with a curious look on her face. "Why is my painting on the wall? I thought you said you wanted it so you could put it in a safe place?"

I slithered my hands around her waist, and with a grin, I pulled her closer to me, saying, "Where do you think it is? It's in a very safe place."

Her brows drew together. "I thought you wanted it, though? You know, to hang up inside your home."

"I do want it. Why do you think the painting is hanging where it is? It's hanging on my wall." I leaned my head closer with my eyes locked on hers and said, "In my art museum."

"But... but there are people over there pointing and talking about it with one another. Acting like you're going to be auctioning it off."

I waved my head slowly.

"I would never sell it. When I said I wanted it, I meant it. You could slap a million-dollar price tag on it, and I still wouldn't sell your painting."

"You wouldn't?"

"Hell no. Why would I sell my girl's original artwork?" I spun her around, facing her to her painting, then rested my hands on her shoulders and leaned into her ear, saying, "See those people admiring your work?"

She nodded. "Yes."

"They're here because I spoke to them earlier in the week to see about having your painting reproduced; they wanted to see it for themselves and to see if it would be something they would be interested in."

Tawny slapped her hands over her mouth while gasping. "Are you serious?" she asked, her voice muffled.

I slid my hands along her arms, kissed her cheek, and said, "They want to meet and talk with you. And they would like to see if they can convince you to sign a contract with them."

"What?" she quietly breathed.

Tawny's reaction made me smile. And now I can't wait any longer to fill her in on what else I did for her. "I suppose I should also let you know that since I didn't think you would mind, that on your behalf, I paid to have your work copyrighted."

"You thought it was that good?"

I lowered my hand into hers. "It's not a thought, Tawny... The truth is, it is that good... So come on, let's walk over to say hello and so I can introduce you to them, finally."

Excitement filled inside me when I felt Tawny's own excitement rushing throughout her as we walked over to the art dealers. Then her hand became clammy when we stopped, and I interrupted their conversation. "Hello, everyone. I hope we're not interrupting you, but I'd like to finally introduce you to the woman who I spoke to you about earlier this week. The same woman who painted that beautiful picture. Here she is, Tawny Kincaid."

"Hello," Tawny said with a smile, offering her hand. "Excuse my shakiness. Ian just informed me about who you are, and I'm a bit nervous. As I'm sure, you're well aware that this was not on my bingo card this year."

"It's quite all right. Every new artist we've had the pleasure of meeting act exactly the way you are right now... I'm Veronica, and the amazing people standing beside me are Andrew, Issac, Malachi, and Bonita. It's nice to meet you, finally."

I couldn't be any more excited for Tawny and her future and feel if anyone deserves this golden opportunity, it's her. But, while standing quietly and listening to what they had to offer Tawny, my heart came to a screeching halt when I heard a familiar voice talking behind us.

I snapped my head to the side, and when I saw who that voice belonged to, all the blood flowing through my veins suddenly stopped. I leaned to Tawny's ear and quietly said, "Excuse me for a moment. I'll be right back."

I spun on my heel, then quickly walked over to the group of uninvited guests talking amongst themselves and stood next to the last person I wanted to see tonight, growling, "I don't remember sending you an invitation. And come to think of it, I know I didn't."

"In the last six years, when have I ever missed coming to this yearly event you've put on?" Alexandra responded, smiling ear to ear, like the bitch that she was. "It's nice to see you, Ian. How have you been?"

If Alexandra weren't a woman, I'd clear that smirk off her face in a heartbeat. "I was doing wonderfully until you showed your face at my exhibition, uninvited. So now I'm doing horseshit. But thanks for asking."

My response had Alexandra looking surprised. But I didn't care; all I wanted was to get her to leave before Tawny figured out who Alexandra was. Then she got my blood to instantly boil when she reached for my face and slid her thumb along my bottom lip, saying, "Oh, Ian. Must you be such a grouch all the time?"

Is she for fucking real?

With my eyes on Tawny, worried she's watching Alexandra and my interaction, I quickly removed Alexandra's hand from my face, and then I snapped. "It's time for you to leave. Like right now."

Alexandra's eyes followed mine. "Wow, Ian. I've never seen that woman before. Did you finally meet someone?"

Before Alexandra walked over to Tawny and introduced herself, I gripped her arm and hurriedly walked her towards the exit doors. "Let go of me, Ian," she loudly demanded, "you're hurting me!"

"You know damn well this event is by invitation only. To which you weren't invited," I groaned, loosening my grip after I noticed all eyes were on us.

"That's where you're wrong, Ian. I was too invited," Alexandra proudly said, confusing me. Arnie may have been the one to make and send out the invites for me, but I know damn well he would never have invited my ex. Especially after knowing Tawny was going to be here and why.

"You're full of shit, Alexandra. You may have been invited to this event after we split for reasons I wish I could now take back. But now that I know the truth of why you were with me and with everything you pulled with me, there would be no way in hell I'd invite you this year."

Alexandra laughed, pissing me off more than I already was. Then she shocked me with her next confession as we approached security. "You're wrong again, Ian," she hissed. "I didn't come here tonight, just to be thrown out. I am here by invite. And since you haven't figured it out by now, I came here with Jefferson Thomas... my husband."

My body stiffened, my heart dropped into my stomach, and then I stopped walking, letting go of Alexandra's arm. "Excuse me? What did you say?"

She lifted her hand, and with a mile-long grin, she flashed her twenty-karat diamond ring in front of my face. "You heard me. Jefferson Thomas and I have been married for two years now. I'm surprised you haven't heard about it by now. Especially since he and I were here together last year."

Jefferson Thomas, another art dealer who is a more prominent fucking billionaire than me, who has a more extensive art collection than I, and the one I look forward to seeing and dealing with every year. All because of how he pays top dollar for every art piece I put up for auction.

If what Alexandra is saying is true. That she and Jefferson have been married for two years means they married right after our breakup. This also means this is the guy who she had been cheating on me with our entire relationship...

Holy fucking hell...

Alexandra wasn't with me because she loved and wanted to be with me—she was using me—a ploy to get inside information out of me about my business dealings with certain artists and for her to give to Jefferson. That'll explain how he beat me to the punch on many occasions when Alexandra and I were together.

Bitch...

"What's the matter, Ian? Have you seen a ghost?" Alexandra asked with humor in her voice.

Suddenly it hit me about the real reason she's here. Alexandra got word I had a new girl in my life and found out I was preparing Tawny to become the next famous artist. And now I know this means Jefferson is here to offer Tawny a contract she can't refuse.

Over my dead body...

I looked away from Alexandra and over at Tawny.

"Tell me, Ian. Does your girlfriend know about the infamous club you own? Because if you two are serious about each other, I'm sure she would love to hear about how your sick and twisted mind thinks."

"Sick and twisted?" I snapped, my eyes intensely watching Jefferson interact with Tawny. "If I remember correctly, you're the one who begged that I sodomize you while blindfolded and handcuffed. And when I refused, you acted like a toddler that didn't get their way... I may be a lot of things. And I may enjoy experimenting with sex with my partner in different ways, but the one thing I outright refuse to do is to fuck someone in the ass... now, do me a favor and please leave. I have more important things to do than to stand here talking to a money-grubbing whore."

Hopefully, what I said pissed Alexandra off because it's about time someone stood up to her—someone meaning me. And as I storm over to Jefferson and Tawny, I'm becoming more upset with myself for not listening to my little sister. Five years Hannah warned me about what kind of person Alexandra was. And I'd always laugh it off when she insisted I kick the gold digger to the curb.

The entire time Hannah was right, and now I owe her an apology after learning more about Alexandra tonight—the truth—straight out of the horse's mouth.

"No deal," I angrily warned as I approached Tawny and Jefferson.

"No deal?" Jefferson amusingly asked, turning to face me. "I'm sorry. I have absolutely no idea what you're talking about."

I looked at Tawny's confused expression, and then I became confused myself when she asked. "What did you mean, no deal?"

With my eyes on her, I pointed at Jefferson. "That man is up to no good, Tawny. He and his wife are only here to cause trouble. So whatever offer Jefferson presented, I ask that you tell him there's no way in hell you'll sign with his museum."

Tawny's big brown eyes darkened. Her brows drew to one, and then she asked, "Do you really think I'd take an offer from a man you didn't introduce me to or tell me about?"

I wrapped an arm around Tawny's waist and lowered my mouth to hers. "I hoped not. And I'm sorry for assuming," I admitted, with my lips softly pressing on hers. I leaned to her ear, whispering, "Trust me when I say this, but that man you're talking to cannot be trusted."

"Everyone has a price, Ian. Which I'm sure this beautiful woman who painted this awe-inspiring painting will cave to any offer I put forth."

I snapped my head towards Jefferson, giving him a stern look. "Not a chance, Jefferson," I warned, just as Alexandra walked over and stood next to him, causing me to stiffen.

Jefferson looked at Alexandra, then at Tawny, asking, "Out of all the artwork being auctioned off tonight, yours is the one my wife and I want." He reached into his inside jacket pocket, removed a checkbook and pen, and then he smiled a smile that had me clenching my hands into fists. "Name your price. I'll pay anything you want."

"What part of it's not for sale do you not understand?"

"One million? Two million? Three million?" Jefferson pressed, ignoring my demands that he stop pursuing Tawny while thinking the big numbers he's offering will get her to cave and sell, as many women would do when they hear that much money being offered to them.

Not my girl.

My girl made me smile when she interrupted Jefferson. "I really appreciate your offer. And it's money I could surely use. But as Ian said, my painting is not for sale."

"Such a pity," he groaned, shoving his checkbook back into his pocket. Then he handed Tawny a card. "Call me if you change your mind."

"When the reproductions come out for everyone to buy, I'll call you," Tawny informed Jefferson, causing me to chuckle.

Alexandra looked at Tawny, smirking as she proudly said, "Don't worry, Jefferson. She'll sell to you soon. And I mean very, very soon..." She looked at me and winked above her devilish smirk. "Isn't that right, Ian?"

******

Tawny laid her head on my shoulder while gliding her fingertips up and down my thigh. After dealing with Jefferson, I noticed that she wasn't her usual talkative self and was much quieter. And as the tip of her finger slid around my thigh, making designs, I knew for sure there was something on her mind and that she wasn't sure how to get it off her chest. So, I kissed the top of her head, then quietly said, "You've been quiet all night. Can you tell me what's on your mind?"

Her hand stopped moving, and then I felt her taking a long and deep breath.

"Are you feeling guilty for not taking Jefferson's offer?" I asked.

"No," she quietly admitted.

"Is it about the contract? Because if there's something you want to be changed in the one I had drawn up, let me know. I'll have whatever it is fixed first thing in the morning."

"No. That's not it either. "

"Then what's on your mind?"

After a long moment of silence, she finally said something that had me stiffening. "Jefferson's wife."

I swallowed hard. I knew it was a matter of time before Tawny asked about Alexandra. "I'm sorry you had to meet her. And I want you to know she's not a very nice person."

"You must have a history with her."

"I do," I painfully admitted. "And not one I'm very proud of, either. Why?"

She lifted her head, then looked me dead in the eye, trying hard to focus on them in the darkness. "I saw you two talking... well, it looked more like you two were arguing more than you were talking. But then I got inquisitive about the woman when I saw you trying to drag her out of your gallery."

"It's because I didn't invite her," I enlightened. "So I was trying to kick her out. And while doing so, I became shocked when she told me who her husband was."

"Is she an ex of yours?"

"Unfortunately," I painfully said.

Tawny tilted her head to the side as she quietly studied me. "Was that your ex-fiancée?"

I let out a heavy and very long sigh. "Yes. That was Alexandra." I raised my hand and started caressing the side of her face with the back of my hand. "Again, I'm sorry you got to meet her."

"Hannah was right. She's a bitch."

Tawny's response caught me off guard, and I couldn't help but laugh."Yes, she is. And after learning more about her tonight, she's more than just a bitch. She's a— shit... How do I say this without offending you? Put it this way. She's a; See. You. Next. Tuesday... and more."

Tawny giggled. "That didn't offend me. It's actually a funny way of saying it. But I do have to ask, even though I was adamant about not selling Jefferson my art. But what I'm curious about is why she would say that I would take her husband's offer very soon? Is she that sure of herself?"

"Knowing Alexandra's state of mind, it's all because of money—thinking money is the key to every woman's happiness. And after talking with her tonight, I got an instant and very strong feeling that after she heard I had a new girl in my life, she may have done some digging to find out who you are. And while digging into your background, Alexandra found out about your mother. And what you've been going through with your father. Which caused her to believe that money is what you need right now."

"It may be true that I need money. But money isn't that important to me right now. What's important is that I have you helping me with my father," she said with furrowed brows.

I tapped her nose and smiled. "Yes, you do... unfortunately, Alexandra doesn't understand or see it that way. She's a blood-sucking, money-hungry bitch. Something I wish I would have seen and realized when we were together," I groaned, with an awful taste building inside my mouth.

"Love does funny things to a person sometimes. And, unfortunately, it's always the people in your circle that seem to see the bad in someone. And when someone like you is confronted about it, they don't want to hear it, and they end up pushing those people close to you away."

I wrapped my arms around her tight, and then I kissed her forehead, thinking, why do all the women in my life have to be right all the time? Instead of responding to her remark and getting into an argument, I decided it would be best to change the subject.

For now anyway... as we have some serious celebrating to do.

"How about we talk about this another time? Now that you've signed with Fine Art Painting Services, I'd like to finish this night off with a bang... meaning I'd like to bang you all night," I added with a grin. "Sound good to you?"

I hope the chapter is okay! 🤞🤞

I'm so sorry about my not updating regularly, and that I haven't responded to any comments. I will be doing that again soon. I'm still trying to get my mind back in the game.

I do miss every one of you, though!❤❤