Blank Canvas

●Chapter 24●

"I'm sorry for the inconvenience caused but it is in our best interests," the Director apologized with a soft smile. "I just want our meeting to be held in peace and quietness so that no one would feel uncomfortable. Away from the probing ears and intriguing eyes."

I nodded my head in understanding and a tinge of embarrassment coursed through me for choosing such a lousy location. "I understand, ma'am."

"Please just call me Elizabeth." She chuckled good-naturedly.

The Director had suggested that we change the location for a proper ambience since it would get really arduous to have a proper talk in a cafe where we would be bombarded with unnecessary stares. Especially when it came to Elizabeth Hale, so it's a given that anyone would feel fidgety under such situations. 

To say that I was feeling abashed for choosing cafe as a meeting place would be an understatement of my whole existence. I wanted the ground to swallow me entirely and never dare to spit me back up even when I'm misbehaving. When the director had noticed my expression, she'd given me a genuine smile which eased my tense body and I had agreed.

After driving for about twenty minutes, we had arrived in our town's most expensive hotels and my jaw was slackened because I couldn't fathom the fact that I was here. Within a few minutes, we were inside her suite. It was lavish with a touch of Victorian style in everything. Living in this town for years, I never had the fortune to be in this hotel before today.

I had taken a seat opposite her on a beautiful créme colored couch shyly. Placing my hands on my lap, I tried to look around me but honestly, I was feeling really timorous. The fireplace to my right was giving the warmth to my already frigid body. I wasn't in any way feeling cold but my nerves were enough to put me on edge.

"Sure ma - um, Elizabeth," I quickly amended my mistake. "I am just not used to it." I began twisting my fingers to lessen my anxious behavior. It was happening to me because it's not always I get to meet people like her. I was clueless to the point where I didn't even know how to behave around her.

"Relax, Aria. You should - you seem intimidated." She observed, narrowing her eyes. Her visage is always soft, contradictory to those I've seen or pictured her by looking at her sophisticated images in the magazines or basically anywhere.

She stood up from her position and sat down beside me. Placing a comforting hand on my shoulder, she passed me a stimulating smile. It instantly calmed my nerves down and I let my body slump in a relaxed position.

"Good. Now I think we can actually have a conversation," she said, beaming. The wrinkles were more prominent when she smiled.

"Thank you." I cleared my throat and shifted my body to look at her more properly. "It feels better," I said and took deep breaths in and exhaled them. "It's just - it's the first time I'm talking to..." I trailed off, scratching my cheek awkwardly. 

"Big people?" She provided for me playfully and I laughed.

Collecting myself, I pursed my lips and asked the question that was on my mind ever since I got her secretary, Amanda's call. "If you don't mind me asking, then can I ask you the reason for this meeting?" 

"To the point, eh? I like it," she said. 

'Or maybe I am just getting too jittery and jumpy to already know it?' 

"Actually, I personally wanted to meet the person whose painting is creating a lot of hullabaloo in the art world. It is quite beautiful, your painting. And to be frank, I don't usually see many emerging artists with such talent."

My heart was soaring with pride that I didn't even know had existed in the first place. If I were a cartoon, I was sure my smile would have literally reached my eyes. I've heard my fair share of compliments from a lot of people but from someone who is a professional in this field, it's like a dream come true.