Work of Art
Chapter Nine: Friendly
Conspiracies
By DamageCtrl
All Standard Disclaimers Apply: I do not own the X-Men or anything associated with it.
"Umm...No." Betsy said critically as Jean's face fell. She had been giving out suggestions as to something she can do to get her mind off of Scott now that she was 'free'. Everyone was surprised at how well she was taking the whole situation, even though they all agreed that Jean was the most level headed of the group. Still, she believed that she couldn't just keep going home every night and just watch television.
"Why not?" the red head gasped. "I need to get out! I've already gained three pounds this month. AND it sounds like a fun class-"
"Uh-huh...that's what you said about that ceramics class," Kitty said as she kept her eyes up at the marquee. "No offense, Jean...but you're not really the artsy type."
Betsy and Rogue nodded in agreement as Jean frowned. The last Friday of the month, it was time for their ritualistic get together. But tonight, it was more important. During college, they would go out as one big group every three months to catch up. It was the usual four and any friends who could make it. It was the third month and it was Kitty's turn to choose the outing destination.
Dinner in town and a movie at the Metreon. First thing to do on a Friday night was to buy the tickets before they were completely sold out.
"God, Kitty, just pick a movie already!" Bobby exclaimed as he crossed his arms and grumbled. "I'm starving!" To make sure his point was understood, he grabbed his stomach and leaned forward. The others rolled their eyes.
"Fine!" Kitty sighed. "Jeez, Bobby...we told you to get a snack before we left..." She got in line to buy the tickets and Bobby groaned.
"I'm going to starve to death, guys..." He looked around desperately. "Where's a hot dog stand when you need one?"
"Stop being such a drama king, Bobby," Betsy sighed. "Piotr and Kurt are already at the restaurant. Just-" She was cut off as Bobby pulled out his phone.
"Rogue, what's your brother's cell number?"
"What? Why?" Rogue asked with a frown.
"Just tell me!" Bobby insisted.
"Do not tell me you're actually going to call Kurt and ask him to order something for you." Jean rolled her eyes.
Bobby nodded energetically before he looked at Rogue with big, pleading eyes. "Rogue...please..." he whimpered pathetically.
"Fine!" Rogue pulled out her own phone and pressed her brother's number, which was on speed dial. She crossed her arms over her dark green pea coat as she glared, annoyed, at Bobby, who smiled giddily. "Kurt? Yeah, can yah order Bobby something ta eat? Boy's as hungry as a bear after winter...Ah don't know what he wants-"
"Gimme the phone! Gimme the phone!" Bobby asked excitedly.
"Ah ain't giving yah the phone, sugh...yah'll end up ordering a whole dang cow!" Rogue said as she pulled the phone away from him. She concentrated back on her phone call. "Order him some of those cheese sticks and fried calamari or somethang...nothing too pricey. Thanks, Kurt!" She snapped the phone closed and looked at Bobby. "Happy now?"
"I'd be happier if you had let me order." Bobby frowned. Betsy immediately slapped him upside the head. "Ow..."
"Okay! Got them!" Kitty said as she lifted up the tickets. "One for all of us, one of Petey, one for Kurt, one for Wanda and her husband..."
Bobby counted the tickets and frowned. "What's with the extra ticket?"
"Oh..." Kitty glanced over at the other girls. Rogue sighed.
"It's for Remy."
Bobby jerked his head back and raised an eyebrow. "Your stalker?"
"He's not a stalker!" Rogue exclaimed. "Oh, forget it, let's go." She turned around and headed up the street to get to the restaurant.
Bobby looked at the others and Betsy sighed. "Remy is in the process of sweeping Rogue off her feet."
"And doing a damn good job at it," Jean agreed. "Flowers, rescuing, physical labor, cooking...and he's and excellent cook, by the way."
"Ah CAN hear yah'll..." Rogue grumbled from the head of the party as she blushed and buried herself in her multi colored scarf.
"Wait, you actually let that guy who painted that picture of you and was groping you on that balcony-"
"Bobby, he wasn't groping me!" Rogue sighed. She threw her arms up in the air and turned around to look at them. "Remy's been a complete gentleman and he's been very good to all of us."
"ALL of you?" Bobby asked. He looked around at the three other women and paled. He stopped in his tracks and began to whimper. "Oh my God...are you finding a replacement for me?"
"What? No!" Rogue exclaimed. She'd never even considered that.
"Bobby, no one could ever replace you..." Jean assured him with a hug.
"That's right, luv...you're one of a kind." Betsy reassured him with another hug. Bobby kicked the ground in front of him and nodded.
"I guess..." he mumbled.
"Besides," Kitty said with a grin. "He's not lame enough to replace you."
"Hey!" The girls laughed as Bobby sulked. "Thanks a lot..." He crossed his arms. "Do Piotr and, better yet, Kurt, know?"
Rogue froze in mid step and seemed to have the world slam right into her full force. "Er...Kitty...did yah mention it ta Petey?"
"Well, I did mention he came by a few times...but that didn't go well..." she admitted weakly.
"Like 'was annoyed - didn't go well' or 'wanted to kill Remy - didn't go well'?" Betsy asked curiously. Kitty swallowed nervously as she refused to look at Rogue in the eye.
"More like 'freaked out that Rogue is allowing her stalker so close' sort of way..." Kitty explained. "But I told him not to tell Kurt!" she added quickly.
"So...I'm taking this as they don't know..." Bobby mused. He grinned. "Interesting..."
"Bobby Drake, don't yah dare tell them!" Rogue said. Suddenly she was right in front of him, holding up a threatening fist. He broke into a cheesy grin.
"Tell them? Are you kidding me? Do you know how Kurt will react when he sees the guy? It'll be hilarious!" Bobby laughed.
"You're dead, Drake-"
"Rogue, calm down," Betsy sighed. "I'm sure Kurt will act accordingly. He IS a grown man after all."
"Remy, Ah am so sorry," Rogue said for what seemed like the millionth time. "Kurt's just really over protective, especially since he thought yah were mah stalker."
"Had worse, chere," Remy said as he shifted uncomfortably in the BART train. Across from him, Kurt was sitting, with his arms crossed over his chest and a stern frown on his face. His eyes were narrowed as he watched Remy warily. "Wasn' like he was tryin' t' kill me."
"Kurt, will yah stop glaring?" Rogue sighed as she frowned at him. Her brother had been silent that entire night. "Yah spent all of dinner glaring at Remy. Yah were staring at him more than Ah was!"
"And vith good reason." Kurt asserted. Rogue groaned and ran a hand through her hair.
"For the hundredth time, Kurt - Remy ain't a stalker!"
"Zhen vhat about zhat painting at ze gallery?" Kurt asked, raising a questioning brow.
"Merde, homme, it wasn't like dat!" Remy sighed. "I'm not stalking y'r sista!"
Kurt merely regarded him with another glare. "You show up at her work place, follow her on the bus, zhen you show up at her apartment."
"Ah told yah, Wanda set us up!" Rogue exclaimed. "Wanda even said so herself!"
"If you lay one hand on mein schwester-" Kurt began, Remy held up his hands, as if to show him they were no where near his sister.
"Kurt!" Rogue snapped. She shot him an irritated glare. "What is wrong with yah? Yah never were this protective about all those other men Ah saw!"
"Vell, zhey never stalked you, did they?" Kurt retorted stubbornly.
Rogue groaned. "Okay, Ah see Ah can't win yah," Rogue frowned. "It just hurts meh that mah own brother would ignore mah feelings on the situation and just go on being a jerk."
Kurt frowned and lowered his arms. "I'm not being a jerk!"
"Yah sure were at the restaurant!" Rogue snorted. "Yah caused a whole scene yelling at Remy and threatening ta get him restrained." Beside her, Remy bit his lip to keep from laughing.
It had been a rather amusing scene. He had walked into the upscale restaurant and Rogue immediately saw him and stood up to greet him. Kurt lifted his head just as he Rogue kissed Remy on the cheek. Kurt was confused and, not knowing that Remy was Rogue's alleged 'stalker', smiled politely.
It all went to hell when Wanda greeted Remy and Kurt realized who it was. Then the man shot off his chair and demanded to know what the 'stalker' was doing. The entire restaurant had looked over to watch as Rogue tried to calm him down and explain. Kurt seemed immensely disturbed, and had glared at Remy throughout dinner AND the movie.
Bobby had a good laugh at the whole thing, wiping tears from his eyes as Kurt threatened to cut off parts of Remy's anatomy. Piotr had to hold Kurt back at one point and the girls were shaking their heads, embaressed. Rogue could still remember the concerned look on Wanda's husband's face as he leaned over to Wanda and asked "Are they always like this?".
Kurt merely scoffed and turned his head away. "Vhen mother finds out-" Rogue's head shot up as wide eyes stopped his words in a second. He instantly regreted the thought as Rogue's horrified and angry voice cut through.
"Don't yah dare tell her!" Rogue shot up from her seat across from her brother and nearly stumbled as the train car came to a stop. She grabbed on to the railing and glared at Kurt. "Ah swear Kurt, if yah tell momma, Ah'll never forgive yah!"
He looked up at his sister's furious green eyes and frowned. He looked down, as if ashamed of the mere thought. He was fully aware of their mother's take on relationships and men. And considering Rogue's history on loser after jerk after asshole, Raven was even more protective of Rogue than she normally would be.
"Yah..." Kurt admitted tiredly. "I know..."
"Y'r mere sounds scary, oui?" Remy chuckled weakly, trying to break the sudden heavy tension. Rogue sat down next to him and took a deep breath.
"Yah have no idea..." Rogue murmured.
"Fine, I'll keep quiet," Kurt assured her. His eyes darted over to Remy and gave him a warning glare. "But if he hurts you, he'll have to deal vith me!"
"Don't have t' worry about me, homme, I treat Rogue like de Queen she is." Remy beamed Kurt a winning smile and put his arm over Rogue's shoulder's.
"Vatch your hands!" Kurt snapped.
The weight from her shoulders was instantly lifted and Rogue sighed. She looked out the window as they came to a stop and frowned. "Kurt...we passed yer stop."
"I know."
"Why?" Kurt was silent as Rogue narrowed her eyes. "Oh mah Gawd! Yah're gonna follow meh ta mah apartment!"
Remy smirked as Rogue sat up straight and sent daggers are Kurt. Somewhere during the conversation at dinner, he heard that Kurt lived a few blocks away from Rogue, about two stations away. They were now one station away from her place. "Vell, I just vant to make sure-"he began sheepishly as he withered beneath her glare.
"That WHAT?" Rogue raged. Remy began to laugh and Rogue turned to him. "Why are yah laughing?"
"'Cause it's funny, chere!" Remy laughed. "Remy can tell y' and y'r frere are close. Homme jus' wants t' make his soeur gets home safe."
Rogue grumbled and Remy put his arm back around her shoulders, ignoring Kurt's disapproving look. "If Jean didn' decide ta stay ova at Betsy's tonaght fo' their little shopping thang tomorrow, he wouldn' be so paranoid." Rogue mumbled as she eyed Kurt.
Her brother merely shrugged as the train came to a stop. "Y' gonna walk Roguey up?" Remy said the three of them stood up.
"I didn't come all zhis vay not to." Kurt asserted. The Rogue gave Remy an apologetic look as they got out of the train and headed up the escalator to the ground level. Once, there they walked a block to Rogue's building. Remy could feel Kurt's suspicious glare on him the entire time.
At the door way, Rogue glanced at Kurt expectantly. "Well?"
"Vell?"
"Yah did yahr job, Kurt. Yah walked meh up here."
"Yah," Kurt agreed, but didn't budge. "Aren't you going to go in?" Rogue narrowed her eyes.
"Ah hate yah sometimes..." she grumbled. Remy chuckled and swept down for a quick kiss on the head. "Remy-"
"Better get back, non? Before it gets too cold," He smiled, red eyes twinkling as Rogue struggled to hide the disappointment on her face. "Kurt," he said as he turned around and extended his hand to the other man. "It was nice meeting y', homme."
Kurt shrugged, but politely shook Remy's hand. "Vhatever."
Rogue glared at him. "Kurt!"
Remy just smiled and waved good-bye to Rogue once more before ascending down the stairs. Immediately, Rogue turned to Kurt and smacked his arm. "Ow! Vhat was zhat for?"
"Yah know what!" she snapped back as he rubbed it.
"You're too strong..." Kurt grumbled.
"Ah'm home. Remy's gone. Yah happy?"
"Very."
"Ugh!" she let out a frustrated yell. Rogue turned around and unlocked her apartment door.
"Rogue," Kurt said in a serious voice as Rogue was half way through the doorway. "I just don't vant to see you hurt again. I'm your big brother...you know I love you. I don't vant to see you in zo much pain again."
Rogue stopped and took a deep breath. Her mother said the same thing. Reluctantly she turned around and faced her brother. "Ah know," she nodded. "Ah know yahr just beingh cautious. But Ah can do this by mahself, sugah. Ah'm a big girl now. All grown up. Ah ain't a skinny, naiive little girl no more. Ah learned from mah past mistakes," she stressed. "Ah can handle this."
Kurt looked at her worriedly. "Just be careful, yah?" he said as he wrapped his arms around his sibling and gave her a tight squeeze. "You're a big girl, zhat's true...but if something happens, it'll still hurt," He reluctantly let her go and offered her a reassuring smile. "Zorry about tonight."
The corners of her lips curled up slightly and she nodded. "Ah know yah are, big brother." He smiled once more and patted her shoulder before turning around and leaving. Rogue waited until his head disappeared down the stairs and then closed the door.
Tiredly, she kicked off her boots and stumbled into the darkened kitchen for some good old ice cream. She threw her coat over the back of the couch as she passed. She grabbed a spoon and placed it in her mouth as she walked over to the freezer. She had barely pulled the door open when she heard a tap on her balcony's sliding glass door. Rogue froze and frowned.
She stepped back and looked around. There was no one else in her apartment. She took a deep breath to calm the nerves that shot up.
Must be hearing things... She pulled out a fresh pint and lifted the top off. Then she heard the knock again. Rogue frowned. "Ah'm three stories up..." she mumbled as she looked at the balcony. She stabbed the ice cream with her spoon and cautiously walked over to her balcony.
Someone knocked there again and Rogue jumped back. Okay, girl...don't be scared...yah can take them. Momma didn't make yah take all those self defense classes for nothing. She took a deep breath and braced herself as she put her hand on the little cord that would open the blinds and pulled swiftly.
The first thing she saw was a pair of glowing red eyes set over endless black depths. She let out a surprised yell as she stumbled back and stared with wide green eyes at the man on her balcony. Sitting on one of the black iron patio chairs, was Remy. Clad in that night's attire of black pants, boots, and a blood red buttoned up shirt beneath a new trench coat, he looked all to pleased with himself. He was casually stretched out across it, his legs spread in out lazily in front of him as a lazy smirk grace his smug face.
He gave her a little wave and winked.
"Remy, what the hell are you doing?" Rogue shrieked from inside. Through the thick glass doors, Remy could hear the muffled screaming and chuckled. Rogue stomped over to the window and pushed aside the vertical blinds as she unlocked the door and slid it open. "Remy, what they hell are yah doing here? And HOW did yah get up?"
Long legs moved back as the tall man stood up. The cool breeze that passed by the building ran through his thick hair, ruffling it as he stood just a few feet from her, with a naughty smile. "Not dat hard t' climb up balconies, chere."
Rogue raised an eyebrow and crossed her arms. "And just how many balconies have yah climbed up, Romeo?" She leaned against the door frame and smirked knowingly as he chuckled once more.
"Does it matter?" Remy said as he walked forward. "I'll climb a thousand t' get t' y', mon coeur." Rogue couldn't help but smile as his arms wrapped around her slim waste and stroked the small of her back.
"Thought yah left, swamp rat." she whispered roughly as her body molded against the defined contours of his.
He pressed her against him, relishing the soft curves of her body as he tilted his head down and pressed his head against hers. "And leave y' widout a proper good-bye? 'Specially since dis day a month ago..."
Rogue's eyes widened as she realized what he meant. She lifted her head up slowly and felt his head move away. "Yah showed up at mah doorstep..." Rogue said as her smile widened.
"Thought I'd try someting new dis time." He grinned. Rogue's arms tightened around him as she buried her face against his chest. The soft beating of his heart echoed in her ear as he reassuringly stroked her back.
Rogue closed her eyes, allowing his subtle masculine scent and warmth wrap around her. She wasn't aware that he had moved them inside, until she felt his grip loosen so he could close the door. As he turned back to her, she met his eyes and grinned.
"Yah know, in order ta give meh a propah 'good-bye', yah actually have ta leave..." she trailed off. Remy sighed, defeated.
"Y' really want me t' leave, chere?" he asked, fully expecting her to agree once more.
"No," Rogue told him coolly. "Just stating a fact." Remy paused, a smirk coming his lips as he gave her a questioning look.
"And dat means...?"
"That Ah just gave yah an invitation, sugah," Rogue said. She lifted her hands up his body, smirking as she felt his heart rate quicken as her arms snaked around his neck. She tilted upwards and licked her lips quickly. "Yah gonna take it?"
Sleep laden eyes opened reluctantly. Rogue cringed at the thought of getting up and lifted her head slightly to get a look at the clock. It was around six in the morning. She closed her eyes and sighed, trying to remember her plans for that morning.
Park...art show...Remy... Her eyes flashed open and she stiffened in her warm comfortable bed. "Remy!"
"Chere...it's still early, non? Go back t' bed..." a sleepy voice replied next to her.
There was slight shift in the bed and suddenly Rogue remembered the tall, dark, and ultimately undeniably gorgeous man laying next to her. His arm was draped over her stomach as his head laid over one folded arm. She could feel the heat of his bare skin through her plaid pajama bottoms and long sleeve gray thermal shirt.
"Sorry..." she whispered softly. She relaxed in his embrace, moving her arm back over his as she shifted to her side. She felt his body press against her back and his warm breath against the back of her neck. "Did Ah wake yah?"
"Non..." he yawned.
Rogue smiled slightly. "Sorry, sugah..." His arm merely tightened around her as lips gently grazed the point between her shoulder and her neck.
"Why y' sorry, chere? Y' didn't do anyting wrong," he assured her as his hand rose and gently rubbed her arm. "Y' still wanna go to back t' sleep?"
"Can't go back ta sleep now that Ah'm awake." Rogue sighed, disappointedly. Damn her internal clock. She felt a hand run down the length of on her arm and run over the thin cloth between him and her skin. She let out a sharp, surprised gasp as she felt light finger tips dance over her ribs.
"Dere be other things t' do in a bed den sleep, chere," His deep, hot voice whispering so closely against her made Rogue tremble. He smirked slightly as she let out a feeble moan and arched her back against him. "We can finish what was started last night, oui...?"
Prangs of sharp, but pleasurable pain shot from her ear as pearly white teeth smoothly nibbled against her lobe. His unshaven chin brushed up against her sensitive neck and Rogue moaned. Beneath his touch, he could feel her body heating up. Gently, his hand momentarily left her stomach and stroked her chin.
Rogue felt her head being turned and her body followed until she was on her back looking up into deep red eyes. She laid there, searching his eyes for something she couldn't quite identify. His face was inches from hers, his soft locks of hair brushing over her forehead as he stared into green pools he so easily drowned in.
Without a moment of hesitation, his head dipped forward. The mere movement immediately triggered her to close her eyes as her flushed lips welcomed the arrival of his melting kiss. Blood rushed to her head as two pale arms wrapped around able body. Her hands tugged up the white, sleeveless under shirt he had been wearing and moved her sensitive hands along the defined avenues of his back.
A quick part for a breath was all that happened between them before another deep, luxurious kiss. His body gently laid over hers, his free hand running up the side of his body as a knee gently slipped between her legs and spread them apart. Her hands grasped the edge of his shirt and moved it upwards until he was forced to break off the kiss, just long enough to take the shirt from her hands and pulled it off. It was discarded on the floor behind him.
She could feel the intense beating of his heart against her chest as his talented mouth trailed down her chin. Rogue gasped for air as she felt him move down her pale, slender neck. Talented fingers unbuttoned the thermal before tenderly pulling them off.
Rogue's hand ran through his thick hair as he lifted his face to look down at her intently. "Y' okay, chere?"
"Yah were harder on meh last night..." she grinned lopsidedly. Remy chuckled and caressed the side of her face with a crooked finger. Slowly, his finger tips ran across her lips, still swollen from the onslaught of kisses he devoured her with the night before. They delicately pursed to kiss his fleeting hand. Ruby red eyes never once left emerald ones. For a moment, she couldn't breathe.
"Rogue..." he whispered her name. She held her breath.
"Ah!" A loud yell companied by the sound of something falling came from outside the door.
"Watch out!" Rogue's eyes widened as her body tensed beneath Remy's. His head snapped up and turned to the closed door. The sound had come from the living room. The Cajun man was instantly on his feet.
"What was that?" Rogue gasped as she sat up, tugging her top closed as Remy walked towards the door, clad in only black boxers with red devil rubber duckies on them.
"Don't know," Remy said with an irritated frown. He glanced over at her. "Stay in bed, chere."
"But Rem-"
"I'll be careful, chere. It's probably nothing." he assured her. She caught the concerned light in his eye, but didn't answer as he unlocked the door. At six something in the morning, during the fall, the sun was barely rising. As a result, the rest of the apartment was still a bit dark.
"Ow!"
"Are you okay?" a familiar voice asked worriedly.
"Who left their bloody boots in the middle of the room?" came an obviously annoyed British accented voice. Remy reached for the nearest light switch and flipped it on.
Stumbling against the back of the couch, examining one of his hastily discarded boots, was Betsy. Just a few feet from her was Jean, looking worried. As soon as the lights came on, both women froze and snapped their heads in his directions.
"Remy?" Jean asked, sounding confused, having expected Rogue.
Betsy mulled over the situation and then rolled her eyes. "Now it makes sense..." she mumbled. She tossed the black boot over her shoulder and stood up straight.
"Bon jour, mademoiselles..." Remy said as he raised an questioning eyebrows. "Little early t' be shopping, non?"
"Little early to just be visiting, too, don't you think?" Jean asked knowingly.
"Remy, what's happening out there? Yah okay?" As expected, Rogue stumbled out of the bedroom, still wearing her flannel pajamas. She had buttoned up her top and was wearing fuzzy slippers. Upon seeing her two friends, her face heated up into a furious blush and she stopped in her tracks. "Oh mah Gawd..."
"Let me guess," Jean said a she crossed her arms over her chest and smiled. "It's not what it looks like."
"Non."
"It's not!" Rogue slapped her forehead and ran a hand down her face as Remy answered. He chuckled and wrapped his bare arms around Rogue. She refused to look up at her friends as she buried her hands in her face. "What are yah'll doing here?"
"I left my credit cards here," Jean answered simply. She bit her lip to keep from laughing as she walked past them. "Don't worry, we'll be gone in a minute."
"We didn't do anything!" Rogue insisted.
"You don't have to deny anything with us, luv," Betsy told her casually as she leaned against the breakfast counter. "We're not your mum." Rogue merely groaned.
"Got them!" Jean emerged from the hall, waving a wallet in the air. "Now to hit the early bird specials." she said. Betsy straightened up and grinned.
"Well, we're off now, luvs, have fun," she smirked as she looked over at Rogue after giving the briefs only clad Remy a long once over. "And from the looks of it, you will."
"C'mon, Betsy..." Jean sighed as she grabbed her friend's arm and dragged her out the door. The door slammed closed and Jean quickly locked it from the outside.
"Well..." Remy said, breaking the silence of the room. "Dat was interesting, non?"
"Ah can't believe mah luck..." Rogue groaned. "That was so embarassing."
Remy chuckled and rubbed Rogue's tense shoulder quickly before heading back to the bedroom. "Luck ain't got nothing t' do wid it, chere." Remy called as he disappeared into the room. Rogue looked over her shoulder.
"What do yah mean?" Rogue asked. She was about to follow him back when he walked out, tugging his shirt back on. He stopped in the hall to adjust the thermostat.
"Jeannie paid for de meal last night, chere," Remy said as he looked over his shoulder. He smiled, amused. "Wid a credit card."
Rogue's confused look slowly melted away. "Oh, damn it, Jean!" she stormed. She crossed her arms over her chest as Remy walked past her back out to the living room. "And what are yah doing now?"
"Thought de mood was spoiled," Remy grinned. "I was gonna cook y' another one of my famous breakfasts," He paused and jerked his head back towards the bedroom. "Wanna prove me wrong?"
Rogue raised an eyebrow and pointed to the kitchen. "Waffles. This tahme don' skimp on the syrup."
"Really?" Jean Paul walked down the hall of his gallery. Saturday morning and there were a few patrons there already. "Oh, Wanda, you are too good! Jean? Oh, that's one of her little friends! I think I met her the night at the opening..."
"Excuse me, are your Jean Paul Beaubier?" Jean Paul stopped and looked over at the tall, dark haired woman.
"Wanda, honey, I'm going to have to call you back," Jean Paul said. He snapped his phone closed and sipped it into the inner breast pocket. "Yes, madam, can I help you?"
"I was wondering if that painting in the main room was already sold." the woman told him. Jean Paul raised an eyebrow and followed her gaze.
His friendly, calm smile widened. "Remy LeBeau's painting?"
"The one titled The Rogue," the woman replied in a composed, cool voice. "Is it still for sale?"
"Yes, madam, it is," Jean Paul replied. "The artist is very fond the painting," He said as they walked into the room. "As you can see, Monsieur LeBeau rarely deviates from his usual style."
The woman gave him a haughty smirk. "So I've noticed."
"If you're interested in speaking to the artist, he'll be present at the Golden Gate Outdoor Art Exhibit this afternoon." Jean Paul informed her.
"Hmm...that is a possibility," the woman rubbed her chin thoughtfully, keeping her eyes on the painting. "How much for the painting?"
"Well, I'd have to contact-"
"Is this enough?" the woman handed him a pre-written check. Jean Paul sighed heavily, but took it. He opened it up and his eyes nearly popped out. The woman smiled. "I take it the amount will suffice?"
"I...yes!" Jean Paul gasped. He never expected Remy's painting of Rogue to sell for that much. He extended his hand to the woman and she shook it firmly. "Thank you, I'm sure Remy will be very pleased."
"I'm sure he will," the woman smiled back proudly. She looked back at the picture of her daughter and smiled. It truly was a breath taking painting...it would look wonderful in Irene's house. "How soon can I have it delivered?"
"As soon as possible, madam," Jean Paul chuckled. "Oh, forgive me, I never found out your name."
The woman turned to him, her head held high. She screamed out culture, success, and independence. "Raven Darkholme."
A.N. - Thanks for reading everyone! I really appreciate it. You've all been really nice to me on the review ends. I hope I don't disappoint. But do be warned that since I write these chapters while at work (yes, I have that much down time), I won't update on the weekends or holidays. So until next week!