Rosenna
Lookingatmycomputerscreen, I felt as though my eyes were deceiving me.
Two million dollars. Two million dollars on opening night, not counting Mr. Howe’s secret purchase or, rather, the donation that he and Vincent put together. The expenses of the night totaled less than twenty grand, and we made two million.
Sitting in my office as I read the projected net on my computer screen, I couldn’t help but shake my head in disbelief.It worked. We actually did it…
Standing up from my chair, I gazed outside the window as the sun was setting. I was one of the last left in the building as Kira went to Vincent’s office to finalize some of his own purchases.
Gavin ended up being called back to the office before Kira could run him around the building, and Beckham didn’t show for the night.Just as I knew he wouldn’t.
Walking out into the gallery, I wandered over to the most discussed showroom of the night. I’d avoided it like the plague, but now that I was alone, I found myself standing inside as I admired it.
Each of Beckham’s paintings represented different aspects of my time with him.Anger, reluctance, acceptance, desire…
Each painting had a different name.Treasure Me, Worship Me, Adore Me, Cherish Me… Love Me.It was beautiful. Our photos together, the way his hands caressed me. And his sculptures, depicting each of my insecurities in the most beautiful way possible.
From the roses that hung from the ceiling to the painting under my feet, I feltabsolutely cherished.I felt seen, understood, and appreciated… all of the feelings he’d already made me feel had been confirmed here in this room. There was no doubt he loved me. I was just too stupid to realize it.
Hearing footsteps behind me, I wiped away my tears as I looked over my shoulder. My heart raced as I made eye contact with the man himself—the man who did his job of breaking and mending me all at the same time.
“Beckham,” I whispered.
He placed his hands in his pockets as he gazed around the room. “Not a very subtle way of exposing our affair, I suppose.”
I gave a small smile as I followed his eyes as I shook my head.
“Believe me, I was absolutely livid before the event.”
His eyes returned to mine silently.
“And now?”
I shook my head. “Now, I’ve confirmed that you truly are insane, but at least I can appreciate your artwork”
He nodded, his gaze lowering, and my face went red as his eyes landed on my ringless finger.
“You’re not wearing your ring…”
I shrugged lightly as I was reminded of the countless times I’d taken it off while I was with him in his warehouse.
I’d always wear it otherwise, almost as if it were a shield, a reminder of my past of some kind. Now… now it didn’t feel right in the middle of Gavin and I still on bad terms. Wearing it after all Beckham and I had been through, what we’d shared, what we’d experienced, it felt like I was betraying him in some way.
“Didn’t feel right wearing it…” I responded softly.
Beckham didn’t say anything. His eyes lingered on me for a moment, and I noticed a familiar look in them: possessiveness, desire… and another very intense emotion I wasn’t quite used to seeing. He’d given me the same look before, when he looked at me without me knowing, when he was cherishing me… when he put me back together after Gavin had torn me down.
Throughout our so-called relationship, I wanted to believe he truly couldn’t exhibit emotions or feelings, that this was all because he lacked the ability to understand his own emotions, that his obsession with me was purely driven by desire and fixation.
Simply examining the way he was looking at me now to the way he looked at me before, I couldn’t help but feel foolish. And as much as I wanted to deny our growing connection each and every time I recalled I had a husband waiting at home for me, I knew I was only lying to myself.We both were.
“I missed you, Flower,” he uttered, approaching me slowly.
My heart fluttered as I openly wanted to admit that I possibly missed him more. Waiting for him to call me every morning or night with my hand itching over the call button, longing to be held in his arms again, hoping to feel his lips on my skin…
“Beckham...” I whispered, my voice barely audible as the air between us began to thicken. His hand slowly rose, landing softly on my cheek. I leaned into his embrace slightly, my hand rising to hold his wrist. As he caressed my cheek lovingly, my heart felt content as I was reunited with him, feeling his unique touch once again.
“This room expresses my love for you, my obsession, and my absolute need to possess your mind, body, soul, and heart. I’ve given you… everything of me, and I want—I need you to put me out of my misery.”
