Sold to the mafia boss

” Excuse me love, I have to take this ” I told Layla.

” Okay ” she replies with a small smile. Taking my free hand off her bare back, I walked away from the crowd, feeling her eyes watching me as I walked away and towards the stairs. I picked it before it went to voicemail.

” Nice of you to call today ” I spoke first as I landed on the stairs top, looking down on the people walking around, admiring the arts.

” Hello Logan ” his voice is plain .

” I wonder why you’re suddenly calling your old friend ”

” I heard about what happened at the family dinner ”

” That explains everything. I did wonder why you never made it to the dinner though ” my eyes fell on Layla who still remained where I left her, watching the painting on the wall.

” But you never bothered to ask, did you? ”

” I don’t see why I should bother ”

” Let the past stay in the past, Logan. You did try to murder me once but I let it go. Now you have to do the same ”

A smile crossed my lips as I replied ” you seem to have something else in mind. If not, I don’t see why you’d be calling ”

” I’m in town Logan. I’m having a party. It’s for the old folks, for friendship. You can come, let’s catch up on old times ”

I saw a red haired woman stop next to Layla. She says something which causes Layla to turn a bit to see her. Then they both smiled and seemed to exchange pleasantries. My face darkened as I listened, as if I could hear what they were saying from up here.

” I take your silence for a no then ” Nigel’s voice rings in my ear, causing me to blink repeatedly.

” I’ll be there, and I want you to meet someone ” I told him, my eyes still fixed on Layla and her new acquaintance. The red head seemed to have said something strange or upsetting judging from Layla’s changed facial expression because she slowly looks over her shoulder towards me, as if trying to know if I was still watching them.

That does it.

” I have a feeling it’s a woman ” Nigel’s voice comes off again.

” It is. Right now I need to get to that woman before she runs off ” I said into the phone before disconnecting the call and hurrying down the stairs.

As soon as Layla caught sight of me, she looks down. Reaching her, I snake a hand down her lower back and faced the red head who stopped talking as soon as she saw me next to Layla.

” Oh hello Mr DeAngelo” she greets like she knew me ” I was just trying to have a conversation with your girlfriend here till you came back. Rumor has it that she’s your girlfriend. She’s a very beautiful one ”

Giving her a smile that didn’t reach my eyes, I replied ” yes, indeed she is. Would you excuse us? ”Belonging © NôvelDram/a.Org.

” Oh sure! ”

As I walked us away from her, I tried to remember who she was but failed. A lot of people knew me more than I knew them. The instant I walked into this building with Layla as my date, everyone presumed she was my girlfriend. Of course I didn’t mind the rumors, I just didn’t know how Layla would feel about it. The big bad Mafia man, Logan DeAngelo, owner of the large Art Gallery bringing his woman to the place. I think it’s a sight to see.

I walked her to the next room. This part of the room is for VIP use alone and right now, there wasn’t anybody here. Just a couple of sculptures standing around, a few other iconic original things on display and a couple of art frames.

I stopped us in front of the sculpture I’d intentionally brought her here to see. It was the sculpture of Medusa, the legendary snake Queen. Layla doesn’t seem surprised when we stopped, everyone did know Medusa.

” I always loved Medusa since I was a kid, ” Layla spoke just as I was about saying something. ” She’s beautiful and brave ”

” Just like you ” I replied with a smile and she turns a small smile at me. ” Art is is the language of the universe, and many does not know that ”

” Is that why you love art so much? Because it gave meaning to your pains and everything about your life? ” I asked him.

Logan hesitates before replying ” yes, indeed it does, love”

Silence.

” Tell me, what makes you love art so much? ” I asked as the silence dragged in around us.

” I’ve always loved watching the flowers at the back of my house as a little kid. I always found them beautiful. Then I started to draw them in papers. And slowly I started sneaking into local museums and galleries back in my place with my best friend ” I saw her eyes glistened at the memory ” I did think about going for art school. Become an artist. But that’s not possible ”

She looks away and back to Medusa’s sculpt. I knew I was the man who prevented that dream from coming true. I didn’t know how to fix that but I would try.

” I don’t wanna be the reason why you don’t pursue your dream, Layla…”

” No, you’re not Logan. My family couldn’t afford it anyway. That’s why I was waiting for some miracle scholarship when I met you ”

A silent gasp escaped my throat. I hadn’t realized she must’ve gone through such. And now that I knew it, I felt entitled to making her feel a lot better.

Grabbing hold of her hand, I pulled her out of the gallery and ordered for us to be driven home.