Chapter 11. – Hope Floats

Natalie's POV

It had been weeks since I had met that man and I still couldn't forget his eyes.

Ivan...

I crossed my arms, standing back from the canvas I'd been working on for the last couple of hours. His eyes. They were just such an interesting shade of blue that they deserved to be painted.

I sighed. Why couldn't I stop thinking about him?

I wish I could say it was the artist in me that wanted to see how his eyes would look in other situations, how the light would reflect when he smiled and expressed love. But it was also the curiosity of wanting to know more about the man behind some of the prettiest pair of eyes I'd ever seen.

Was I daydreaming again? Most definitely.

But I was going to marry John and I would never see those eyes again, nor would I be able to continue with my art. Because even though I used my uncle's last name when I painted a comission, I was still a Dashkov.

And that responsibility on its own, was a heavier burden than anything. Taking a one last look around my dingy little studio and I felt myself get angry.

I'm not a quitter. Why am I giving up so easily?

After all, I had begun this career without my dad's support. I could leave and then I could start over in a new city somewhere far away from here.

—Ring, ring, ring.

I walked over to the office phone that rarely ever rang and answered. "Hello…"

"Hello, I was looking for Natalie Doru." It was a man's voice. "They gave me her number for a new commission, I know the time isn't the best but I was hoping I could talk to her or leave her a message so she can get back to me."

"Just a moment, please," I said pretending to put the phone down. I smirked, as if I had enough money for an assistant.

Clearing my throat, I answered. "Hello, this Natalie speaking. My assistant mentioned that you wanted to talk to me about a new commission. I'm all ears."

I couldn't help but be amused at the faint laughter coming from the other side of the phone. "Hello, Natalie. I'm glad you are all ears about this new commission it's a very important piece, one I've been looking for, for quite some time now. I'm calling from Zeeklos Enterprises and I was hoping we could get together and discuss the fine details of this very special commission."

Zeeklos Enterprises?

That sounded like a big company and what would a big company want to do with a small artist such as myself?

Stop it, maybe they saw some of my work on Instagram… A big company wanting a commission would mean big money, which could mean a giant leap into my independence.

"Sure, if you let me know the details of where you'd like to meet and who I'm meeting of course."

"How about I meet you at the Water Avenue coffee shop tomorrow at six? You can ask the barista for me, I'm a regular there."

"Who will I be asking for?"

"You can ask for Ivan Zeeklos, Natalie. I'll be seeing you tomorrow. Goodbye."

I hung up the phone and pinched myself.

Could it be him?

I looked down at the old piece of junk I called a phone, it didn't have caller id.

"Why didn't I splurge on a damn phone when I had the chance?!" I yelled up to the heavens.

But the tiny voice in my head yelled it was him! He'd found me, but how?

*.*.*.*.*

I returned home with a lightness to my step and a smile I couldn't shake despite how much I tried.

"Natalie, my dear, even your disgraceful tardiness couldn't blemish the beautiful day I'm having."

"I didn't know you were waiting for me, father." I said knowing well that this wasn't going to be a good conversation.

"These days you don't seem to be knowing a lot, Natalie. Like for example, knowing your place and your obligations with this family.''

''I'm already doing the best I can...'' To avoid you.

"Oh, but you aren't. Instead of wasting your time trying to make something out of that useless hobby, why don't you get a focus on what's really important. Like your wedding for example, instead of running around dressing like a splattered canvas." He said as he swirled the whiskey he was drinking.

There was only one reason he was drinking whiskey, something was going right for him. Which meant that someone was having a terrible day because of him.

Not wanting to anger him any more, I turned around and made my way up the staircase.

"Natalie, did fifteen years in boarding schools teach you nothing? John Spiridon will come pick you up at seven o'clock tomorrow for a formal dinner with his family. I will not have you embarrass me, do you understand? It would be a shame to see that dingy little place you hang out in go up in flames too, don't you think?"

Too? I clenched my fists. "No, father, I don't think that will be necessary."

"For your sake, I really do hope so, Natalie." He said, finally excusing me from the room just as his cell phone rang.

As I made my way up the stairs, I heard him say. "It was about time you called Tasha, I was getting impatient and you know how much I hate waiting, especially for a pesky little woman…"

Tasha.

Was he seeing someone? And if he was, what type of woman was he seeing?

Rose's POV

The butterflies in my stomach made it impossible for me to be able to concentrate on the conversation going around the table. The only thing that anchored me to the real world was holding onto Celia's arm for dear life. She reminded me that if anything went wrong tonight, I still had her to protect.

"Rosey, why are you so quiet?" My mother whispered.

"I'm worried about Dimitri, with everything that's going on at home."

"Your father and I were very worried when we heard the news about the fire, we thought you wouldn't be able to make it, but it was really nice of Dimitri to let you come back home with your family."

Family? Yeah, right…

Not wanting to stir up the pot, I nodded. "It's dad's birthday after all. Even if the circumstances aren't the best, I'm happy to see you well."

The truth was I did miss my mother, but I loathed how forced this life was and how she was forced to pretend that everything was okay, especially when it wasn't. Which in turn made me remember the last conversation we had, but I guess that topic would be frowned upon for dinner.

Instead, I tried to shake the anxiety slowly spreading through my veins and let my mask slip into place so I could understand what the women around the table were gossiping about.

Everyone that surrounded my family, all wore masks, hiding their real intentions. The only thing that mattered was power, and the person with most the power was surrounded by his men on the other side of the room, each and every single one of them hanging onto his every word. My father.

When he'd seen me he almost smiled, until he saw it was only me. He was upset that Dimitri couldn't make it, barely nodding his head toward me. It wasn't like I expected a welcome committee from a man that let me believe he'd killed a man, but it still stung.

Noticing my unease, Lissa changed the subject. "Well, Mrs. Belikov, I should be angry at you for disappearing all this time, but I guess I can't blame you. With that husband of yours, I'd love to disappear too."

The woman cooed, no doubt that after seeing Dimitri's handsome face they wanted to know every detail about him and our life.

I smirked. "You know what? I think Christian would love to hear that. As a matter of fact, why don't I call him over to see what he thinks? Especially, since having his baby."

"Hey, I may be his wife, but I'm not blind. Let's face it, your husband is just the reprieve I need from all of this morning sickness."

I rubbed her small baby bump, she was six months pregnant and she looked absolutely stunning. Hell, if she hadn't told me she was expecting a baby, I would've thought she had eaten one too many appetizers.

"You can't leave us at that! You have to tell us everything, how does he treat you? Is he nice to nice to you?" asked Mia Rinaldi, a girl from the family. "Did you sleep with him the first night? What am I asking? Of course you did! It would be a waste not to."

I coughed, the wine I'd been drinking finding the wrong route down my throat. The women laughed, my mother tsked and I couldn't help the flush that spread over my cheeks.

"Mia!" My mother reprimanded her. "I don't see why you would think this topic is suitable for dinner."

"Oh please, as if you weren't dying of curiosity to know what happened between them since she married that deliciously well-made man."

"I think you ladies need to cool yourselves down. I know we're used to everyone's private matters circling around, but like my mother said, it isn't a topic suitable for dinner and besides the less you know the safer my husband is from your advances."

Needing to take I break from the table, I left Celia with Lissa and my mother hoping she wouldn't do or say anything to make her feel uncomfortable while I was gone.

Leaving the backyard—which had been completely transformed for my father's guests—I made my way back to my old bedroom and found that everything was exactly how I left it the night I had tried to run away from home. The night Adrian had died changed everything as to who I was as a person, but it was funny how everything else stayed the same.

Opening the window that he used to sneak through, I let the crisp air in setting goose bumps on my arms.

How did he manage to live knowing that I thought him to be dead?

Could he find happiness wherever my father sent him?

I needed to know the answer to those questions so that I could move on and finally put past to rest. I was exhausted from feeling guilty over things I had absolutely nothing to do with. My decisions hadn't killed anyone, I was just eighteen for heaven sakes.

I was too busy with my thoughts, to notice the faint click of the lock.

"For old times I would've gone through the window, but I don't think I fit through there anymore."

I froze.

"I thought I would find you here. Isn't it funny how after all this time and this place is still the same?"

I didn't need to turn around to recognize his voice, I knew it from hearing mostly every night in my nightmares. Curling my fists to stop my hands from shaking, I found the courage to turn around fearing that I would still see blood on his chest.

"Hey there, sunshine." He smiled, calling me by the nickname he'd given me as if nothing had happened.

Feeling angrier than I had ever felt, I walked toward him and I slapped him as hard as I could.

My hand stung, but it felt good. Every emotion that I had kept bottled flowed, until I felt the sobs and tears coming out from the bottom of my soul.

I cried for him. I cried for the stupid girl that took flowers to the place she buried all his belongings, since he didn't have a proper grave.

I hit him and cried until my knees gave out.

"Rose, are you okay?! Fuck! Please. I'm a bastard for appearing like this but I really wanted to make sure you were okay." Adrian kneeled with me, as I began to feel the air in my lungs begin to escape.

I felt the panic spreading through my veins at the thought that I would die and I wouldn't get to make Dimitri smile again.

Did I get to tell him that I love him before I left?

I hope I did.

A/N

Hello!

I hope everyone reading this is safe, I missed writing and I missed you guys a lot.

Writing helps to escape and this a great opportunity to do so.

I know I'm terrible for coming back and making you wait so long…hehehe I hope you are still interested and thank you all for reading the dumb stuff I make.

Gracias :)

M-