THE MISTRESS CONTRACT

The only thing Ivy McDonald was able to sell out was her dignity. She sat on the center floor of her void gallery, her legs crossed and head bowed, moping at the floor. The sharp scents of unaccomplished dreams and aspirations filled the air. Once, she dreamed of painting masterpieces that would be hung in exclusive art galleries. However, here she was, still struggling to get a single collector to look at her work twice enough to buy them. She clicked her teeth, "When will the art world get to notice my paintings?" Tonight was her last opportunity to finally prove she belonged somewhere. The art world maybe, she shrugged her shoulders. To show hope in her art exhibition, but instead of art collectors- its emptiness and silence echo. No sale, no offer - what a shame! She dug her nails into her palms and slammed the hard floor. Everything she had labored so hard for seems bleak now; nothing is working out for her. Months had rolled by with unsettled debts, increased bills, and now this was 'a failed art exhibition'. She blinked her eyes furiously, biting hard into her lower lip. "I work hard still, I struggle the most to get the bare minimum out of life." She chuckled, "Every lemonade she tried to make out of the lemons life threw at her, none seemed to be juicing out well." Tears finally tripped down her cheeks as she brushed them off slowly. Ivy yanked the 'SOLD' tag off the front display piece, a lie she had created to make promising buyers think her work was in high demand. No one got fooled, and she laughed at her misfortunes. Reality sets in, striking her like a slap. She had run out of time, but her nagging past whispered otherwise. Ivy wasn't just a struggling and suffering artist; she was the same girl whose first love, Jason Lockwood, disappeared and abandoned without a word. This life-draining torture of a betrayal has been haunting her for the past ten years. She never said a word of it to anyone alive; she bottled up that very part of her life and buried it. A pain. No one knew the extent of its damage except her, eating her up like a can of worms. Part of her died the moment Jason Lockwood betrayed her love and trust in him. "Gosh!" "No man deserves her love," she spat out. Just one betrayal and her life felt like a wrecking ball. The one person she thought she could trust after the demise of her late parents did her dirty. She can still feel its hurt — fresh as ever, a wound that will never heal. She had crumbled in an ocean of tears, prayed, and hoped for Jason to come back to her, but he never did. She tightened her fists as she bit her lip, not to scream out her heartbreak. She had been admitted to the hospital for weeks; Depression had her life on the roster. Sleep took an extended vacation, and the food became bland. Her eyes glared into space; the pain was so unbearable, that her heart had shattered into a million pieces. Life became uninteresting; it seemed like her life wire had been cut off. She wallowed in self-pity and started inflicting pain on herself because she blamed herself for his disappearance. But, she realized she was the victim and shouldn't hold herself responsible for his actions. She fought tooth and nail to get back on her feet. When she looked back at every pain she felt due to Jason Lockwood's betrayal, tears started gathering in the corner of her eyes. A pain she didn't deserve. She closed her eyes as chills swept over her; she let go and broke down, muffling her sob with a tissue. She rubbed her eyes and sniffled loudly, "I won't cry again; he doesn't deserve my tears." she hissed. Even as she spoke, her voice broke in between; she hugged herself tightly and sniffed deeply before letting her breath out. "What a waste of my time and emotions," she scoffed. This betrayal left her wounded, and since then, there has never been another man in her life. That's a promise she made, never to trust men with power again. But why does it feel like her life still hangs on to her past? The gallery door opening broke her thought. Gina, like a creature of habit, walked in. Her childhood best friend and confidante, who is an investigative journalist. "That hurts," Gina declared, taking out her heels. "I thought of giving that proud critic a knuckle sandwich who said your work was too ordinary for serious collectors." "Too ordinary? Really?" Ivy rolled her eyes. "If they see what I see in your paintings, they will rush to buy them with a snap of my finger." Ivy gave a dry laugh, "You should have let him be." "Oh! I was almost pushed to do what was necessary for his face." "I can tell," Ivy chuckled. Gina took a bottle of wine from Ivy's mini fridge, pouring two glasses without asking. She stretched forth her hand, passing a glass of wine to Ivy while closely observing her. "You look like a mess," Gina mumbled. Ivy exhaled slowly, "Shouldn't I? My life is crumbling right before my eyes, and I find myself helpless. It's enough for me to look like a mess, Gina." A grin mischievously spread on Gina's face as she paraded through the gallery space, her dark-shaded lipstick and blond hair flowing down her shoulders. "You can't give up now, Ivy. You're strong and beautiful, look on the brighter side," she murmured. Immediately, Gina's eyes lit up with sparks, and a broad smile appeared. "I have a plan." Ivy frowned her brows and fixed her eyes on Gina. "You do?" she smirked. "Yes, Ivy and you would love it." "I'm terrified." "It was expected," Gina busted into laughter. "Out with it, please." "Tomorrow night, an exclusive gala will take place at Lockwood's mansion, and you are going for it." That name hit her like a punch to her ribs, and she thundered. "Lockwood!" "Hell No!" "Hell yes!" Gina affirmed. "I'm not hunting to be noticed by wealthy people," Ivy blurted out. "Oh! No, you're not hunting; my best friend is simply networking. There's a difference." Gina gulped down her glass of wine and fixed Ivy with a look. "Listen, your paintings are excellent, but as you know, I'm a realist. Talent and creativity won't do it for you; they're never enough." "These wealthy people make and bend the rules in any career path with just a word." "There will be an exhibition and auction sale for guests who bring in their creations. It's more like a fundraising event. I can get you an invitation," she nudges Ivy. Ivy was lost in thought, and Gina furiously shook her. "Are you listening to me at all, Ivy? This is not the time to sulk like a ten-year-old child," she snapped in disgust. "Brace up and quit blaming yourself for your misfortune," Gina let her breath sway slowly. "Listen, see this Lockwood event as an opportunity that might positively impact your career. You can never tell," Gina prodded. Ivy blinked, lost for words. She was never a fan of societal events. She exhaled, while looking away slowly. They reminded her of a past she was trying so hard to forget. But, if this was the Lockwood event, it could only mean one thing: Jason, Is he back? Would he be there? Could this be fate or damnation?