Chapter 3

It was five o'clock in the evening on Monday when Lexi left her apartment for her sitting with Smith. She was nervous and didn't know what to expect.

While he was waiting for Lexi, Smith sat in silence in front of a sleek black grand piano. He closed his eyes and put his fingers to the keys as he started to play Mozart's Fantasy in D minor.

Lexi got into her car and put in her Mozart CD as she started the car to drive. The first cut that she heard was the same tune that Smith was playing not too far away as she drove to her destination. She drove past buildings until they disappeared into acres of finely manicured lawns and large houses with iron fences.

Smith still continued to play as his eyes were still closed. It was almost as if he were in a trance as his long fingers glided over the keys.

Finally, Lexi reached her destination. It was a modestly sized two story town home. It was a dark grey and it looked very modern and streamlined as it looked almost out of place among the traditional looking colonial manors in the neighborhood. It was surrounded by a white steel fence and as she pulled up, she was greeted by a thin red-haired man in a dark suit and sunglasses that were very similar to the suit that Smith wore the day that they met at the café'. He walked up to her window as she rolled it down.

"I'm here to see Connor Smith. I have an appointment with him." She said.

He took out a clip board and searched for her name.

"And you name would be?" He asked.

"Alexis Morgan." She answered.

He scanned the clipboard and then he found her name and nodded. He looked at her through his dark shades.

"Ah, Miss Morgan. Mr. Smith is expecting you. Just one moment."

He went back to his booth and opened the gate for her. As she pulled in, on each side her there were very tall cherry blossom trees that were in full bloom, the smell was quite fragrant as she drove by. Finally she pulled into the driveway and put the car in park. She slowly walked up the steps and discovered the door was unlocked. Cautiously she stepped in. Once inside, in front of her was a marble staircase. On the walls were paintings that looked like they could have been works by Da Vinci and Michelangelo. On the left side on the bottom of the stair case was a replica of the Venus De Milo and on the right hand side of the staircase was a replica of the statue of David. She heard music coming from upstairs. So she went to where it was coming from. She followed the direction of the sound as it grew louder. A few moments later she was in the room where Smith was still playing. Finally he was finished and turned towards her. It was like he knew she was already there.

"Hello Miss Morgan." He said.

"Hello, I hope I'm not late." She said.

"No you are right on time." Smith told her.

"Was that Mozart you were playing just now?" She asked.

"Yes, Fantasy in D Minor to be exact." He told her.

"You play quite well."

"Thank you." He said.

Smith looked at her for the longest time before he spoke again.

"So do you play Miss Morgan?" He asked.

"I took some lessons as a kid, but I'm really not that good." She admitted.

She slowly walked over to him.

"Please have a seat. I promise I will not bite." He said.

She took a seat next to him, he looked at her with his deep blue eyes.

"So when do we get started? I mean me posing for you that is?" She asked him.

"We can start anytime you like. May I get you anything?" He offered.

"Oh, no I'm fine thanks." She said.

"Well now that you're here, let me show you around the estate." He said.

They left the piano room and Smith took her on a tour of the house and also took her on a tour of the grounds. Not too far away was a very tall hedge that was really a maze she followed him inside as he guided her through several twists and turns.

"That over there is the maze." He told her.

"Usually they're associated with castles aren't they?" She asked him.

"Usually, although the origins of the maze seems cloudy." He said.

"How so?"

"They say that the first mazes were made around the time of the ancient Egyptians to thwart intruders, it was impossible for them to find their way in and out of temples back then." He explained.

"You learn something new everyday." Lexi said to herself.

"Yes, I find them quite fascinating." Smith answered.

A few moments later they were on the other end of the maze. They made their way to what looked like a small, outdoor artist's studio.

"This is where I go when I do my drawings." He said.

They stepped under the shelter.

"I thought we would start with you being clothed first." Smith said.

"Uhm, okay. No problem." Lexi answered.

Smith removed his jacket and loosened his tie and rolled up his sleeves as he took his seat in front of his easel.

"If I can get you to sit over there." He said pointing a stool.

She pulled up the stool and sat down. He looked at the paper and then at her as he started to sketch. The first pose took about ten minutes and then she switched positions and Smith sketched her for another ten minutes. This went on for about an hour as Smith sketched away.

"You are doing quite well Miss Morgan." He said.

"Thank you."

He looked at his watch and realized it was getting late.

"I believe that will be all for now Miss Morgan. I think we will get to the nudes the next time." He said.

"That's fine." She said with a slight smile.

"Will cash be alright Miss Morgan?" He asked her.

"Uhm, yes cash will be fine." She answered.

He handed her a sealed envelope.

"I hope that will be enough for your time Miss Morgan. It was a pleasure working with you."

"Likewise." Lexi answered.

"Are you available to pose again for me this weekend?" Smith asked.

"Let me check." Lexi said.

She checked her day planner and saw that Saturday was free all day.

"Saturday works for me." She answered him.

"Good I will see you here at around noon that day." Smith said.

"Okay I will see you then."

"Let me show you out." Smith told her.

He lead her through the maze once again and walked her to her car. He watched as she pulled away, once she was out of sight he stepped back inside of his house and went back upstairs to his grand piano and started to play Piano Sonata #11 by Mozart.

She was close to home as she stopped at a light. She decided to open the envelope that Smith gave her and inside was about ten one-hundred dollar bills.

"Holy shit!" Were the only words she could say at that moment.

Meanwhile Smith continued to play Mozart.