“Hi…” Brent replied, almost confused, though he continued as he gave me a once-over. “Looks like you’ve been out here quite some time.”
I shrugged, slowly catching my breath. “Probably around three hours? I’m heading to Kira’s now to take a shower and go to the office with her.”
Brent nodded. “Gavin told me you were running more these days. You look great.”
I wasn’t running to lose weight or to be more healthy.I ran because I was going fucking crazy, and I needed a distraction.
As I took a sip of my water, Brent’s jaw clenched. “He’s worried about you, you know. He told me you took off your wedding ring a few days ago.”
I shrugged. “Didn’t feel right wearing it.”
“He wants to work things out, Rosenna… he wants to make things up to you.”
“He has a funny way of showing it,” I retorted.
“He wants to make things right,” Brent reiterated.
I said nothing.
Deciding to continue my walk, I began making my way out of the park. Brent followed.
“This Friday is the big day, huh?” he remarked. “Beckham must be excited.”
“If he is, I wouldn’t know. I doubt he’ll even be there,” I muttered.
“He isn’t excited to go to his own art exhibit?”
“No. Not at all.”
Brent shook his head as a chuckle surfaced. “Can’t say I’m too surprised. That guy is unpredictable. I wonder what his muse is. What inspires a guy like him to create?”
First, it was to understand his emotions, and up until recently, it wasme.I was his muse.I drove his passion because he wanted to know, understand, learn, and analyze me.
Shrugging once again in response to Brent, we continued walking.
“Probably a bit too personal to ask,” he cut through the awkward silence, “but how much do you think you’ll make on opening night?”
I gave him a subtle side-eye. “Not sure. We have a few of Mr. Garcia’s billionaire posse coming, so I’m praying we break at least a million. But realistically, I’m thinking four to five hundred grand.”
“With all of your expenses and actually paying Beckham… how much are you going to pocket as profit?”
All of the profits made during the art exhibit, all of the profit you can make sharing my artistry with the world, will solely belong to you. I don’t need anything in return. The only thing I want, Flower, isyou.
“All of it.” I breathed out.
Brent paused as he stared at me incredulously. “You’re kidding.”
“I’m not.”
His eyes widened in surprise. “Wow... I have no words. How did you score that?”
I shrugged innocently, not ready to dive headfirst into telling him of my infidelity.
“Does Gavin know?”
I shook my head silently.
Brent’s lips parted, and for a split second, I swore I could see a sense of alarm in his eyes. “So... why are you telling me?”
