The Billionaire's Missing Wife

Chapter- 1

It was going to be a sunny day as lily ventured out of her home c*m studio. Her steps fell lightly on the pavement as she made her way through the familiar neighborhood. The city slowly but surely was rising from its slumber. Its pace as a lazy sloth but she knew that it won’t last long. She knew that when would make her way back to her house after her morning jog the shops will be fully opened and streets bustling with people. Morning rush, she had aptly named that hour.

She made a stop at the bakery to take fresh bread and mango jam, her zio’s favorite. Next would be the general store so that she could stock up her art supplies. Finishing her errands she finally reached her street; her gait that of a lazy swagger humming a tune of a song that she heard last night. Reaching for her keys in the back pocket she unlocked the door and went inside her safe haven.

She was on time as her munchkin would be rousing out of his slumber. She made her way to her bedroom and stood at the entrance. The door was slightly ajar so she could see that her zio was sleeping peacefully. Anytime now and he would wake up.

She did not have to wait for long. Minutes later her zio yawned and then opened his eyes. She loved his eyes. They were a shade of grey that was so light that you would have a hard time looking anywhere but them. She watched in amazement as he stretched then started looking around and finally realizing that he slept with her last night.

He had insisted that since he was about to start his school then he need not sleep with her mom. He is a grown up now. She had conceded to his demand of having a separate room all for himself. They had painted it shades of blue and white, his favorite colors.

Last night would have been his first to sleep alone in his new room. She had told him stories until he was sound asleep and then left his room with the night light switched on and door slightly ajar. She had decided to do something with this moment of free time in her hand.

She hardly had time for her as her 5 year old kept her busy along with the clients. Now that she hired herself a manager all thanks to her best friend’s coercion she had some time to breathe. She made her way to the stairs and finally reached first floor. Opening the door to her studio she went in and took in the sight before her.

She was yet to finish this last painting that was due coming Monday much to her manager’s delight. As if she did not complete it before then she would lose the bet she made with her manager. She knew that it won’t affect the deadline that was Saturday of the same week but she never backed off from a challenge. Her manager was well aware of her skill in this department and baited her until she fell for the trap.

She was always on time and her work excellent. Never had she got any complaint from any of her client. But this piece surely was giving her a hard time. It was a scene where she had sketched a couple who were gazing in each other’s eyes, hands joined together as they shared an umbrella oblivious to the passerby and rain.

Her friend had asked to sketch something with the theme ‘Love in rain’ and he had provided the idea for the sketch too. This would have been too easy for her to make but she got mixed up when it came to eyes.

What made her paintings unique and eye catching for the viewers were the emotions they arouse. They would surrender to her paintings like people do when they visit sacred places. Her paintings were capable of leaving people emotionally naked and she took pride in that. Every artist wishes to leave a mark on their viewers and she too felt good when her work moved a person. When her art would make public stop and contemplate. She then knows that her goal is achieved.

But the emotions that she wanted to evoke among people after looking at this painting were not coming out just right. She felt that it lacked something and she knew that the problem lies with eyes. She had issues drawing love and it was the only segment in her paintings that she never did.

But this painting was needed for a charity event to raise funds that would be donated for making of a new ward for children with cancer. Her friend had asked for a favor and after knowing the cause she had happily agreed and even offered to donate some of her other works. She knew that her signature at the end of a painting could easily make a huge profit. In the past two years her fame as an artist has risen tremendously. Now her artworks could easily sell for a minimum of thousand dollars to hundreds of them.

It was all because of her hard work and passion. She gets her inspiration from the people around her. But unfortunately after trying thousands of times in her initial years to make paintings where love was the main color she failed. She could never perfect that emotion in her drawings and hence never took work regarding that theme until now.

She was stuck and had nowhere to run. It’s been two days since she picked up a brush for another stroke. Time was running out, she only had a day left and she was in turmoil. In fact even now she was clueless about what it would take to complete it.

She had time but she did not wanted to work on this painting. So she took out a fresh sheet and started sketching her favorite. She loved sunset and had already drawn many of them but she wanted to draw some more. This time it was the essence of burning out; the lingering melancholy was what she was aiming for.

Time flies when you are doing something that you love. Lily felt that it was only a moment before that she had picked up the brush for her first stroke of red but already two hours has passed. She was done with her work and took time to gaze at it lovingly. Cleaning the brushes she covered her art and then went downstairs to sleep.

She checked on zio and then went in her room. She did not know how much time had passed when she felt a small body climbing up her bed and then snuggling in her side. She felt herself smiling and then turning sideways drew him in and fell asleep.

She knew that her son would join her soon and her prediction was true. Now she was watching him scratching his head in nervousness and could tell that he would be blushing soon. She did not want to embarrass him any further and decided to save his son from this dilemma. Her son was a proud child and she never wanted to crush his growing confidence.

She cleared her throat and to gain his attention.

‘I was having trouble sleeping alone so I took you to my room.’ She felt amused when her son nodded his head and relaxed. His antics never fail to lift her spirit.

‘It’s okay mommy. I think I should sleep with you tonight too, so that you can sleep well.’ I could hardly control myself from laughing out loud. My child is so smart he can come up with excuses in minutes. How he did that I do not know.

‘Let’s get you ready for school. It’s your first day and we don’t want to be late, right?’

‘Only tortoise are late and I am no tortoise so I won’t be late.’ He exclaimed loudly and rushed out to his room. I could not hold my laughter and laughed out at his remark, trailing after him to his room. Kids sure have a different sense of logic and reasoning.