I closed my eyes. Behind my lids, I saw Russ gazing at that girl, his expression soft with adoration.
I let that image burn through every last trace of love I had for him.
When I opened my eyes, my heart was still water.
"Don't make any sudden moves."
"We only get one chance to draw the snake from its hole."
——
"Excuse me—could you sketch a portrait of me and my girlfriend?"
The familiar voice made me look up sharply.
My gaze collided with Russ Harris's beautiful, heavy-lidded eyes.
He used to love watching me draw.
He said that every time he saw me with a brush in hand, he felt a peace that cleansed his soul.
To ensure I would only ever paint him, he'd thrown enough money at me to buy exclusive rights to my portraits for thirty years.
And now—now it was his own voice asking me to paint him with another woman.
The girl blushed at his words, her voice soft and coy: "I haven't even said yes yet! How could you just assume—"
Russ's smile turned wicked. His fingers reached up, pinching her earlobe with casual possessiveness.
"No one else gets to be your boyfriend. Only me."
"You don't have a choice."