Chapter Three: Colorful Love
1057 Words
After three weeks Constance was finally able to open her shop. She filled the windows with her artwork, some were paintings while others were just drawings. She had an opening celebration with her family and friends, and it was on that day she met him. A man came in and Constance could not help but watch him as he walked around looking at all the paintings. After a few moments he approached her a smile on his handsome face.
He was dressed in an elegant suit that looked like real black silk. His complexion was pale, his long black hair was held back with a ribbon. He carried a walking stick that had a glass black panther handle on top. Constance could have sworn the figure winked at her but she ignored it as he stood in front of her. She looked at him and could not help but getting the feeling she knew him from somewhere.
“Good day sir,” she says with a smile and gives a curtsy.
He nods his head, “Good day my lady, I'm looking for the artist of these wonderful paintings.”
Constance smiled, “That would be me Sir.”
He gets a surprised look on his face, “Wonderful I'm looking to purchase all of these paintings and drawings, I have been trying to find your art for a while now. A friend of mine bought one of your paintings and I loved it.”
Constance was not sure how to respond, he wanted all of them. When she was able to speak, she says, “Sir I would gladly sell them to you. Let me have someone wrap them up for you.” She looked to her father who had been listening in and watching.
He nodded and then went off to wrap the paintings and put the drawings in something to keep them safe.
“Would you like to take them now or have someone pick them up later?” She asks the stranger.
“I’ll have someone come and get them. However, I will pay you now.” He tells her smiling.
“As you wish Sir.” She went and after getting all the tags off the paintings and drawings, she added them up. It came to almost fifty-five thousand pounds. He gave her the money as if it were nothing.
“When can I expect my order to be ready?” The man asks.
“We will have it ready by this evening, and what name shall they say when picking it up?” Constance asked him with a smiled.
“My name is Giuseppe Trevisan, and your name is?” He asks extending his hand to her.
“Oh, I apologize, I'm Constance Vitaly,” she put her hand in his and he kissed it gently.
There was something about him, something familiar. “Well Sir, I’ll make sure your order is ready, thank you for your purchase.”
He smiled at her and gently let his thumb slide over her hand before letting go. “You're welcome, tell me do you do requests for specific work?” He asks her.
His touch sent a shiver down her body and it took a moment to answer, “I’ve never been asked to do one yet Sir, however I would be willing to try my hand at a request.” She says trying to keep her composure.
“Well then I will be coming back to call on you in a week or so to set up a time.”
Constance nodded, “As you wish Mister Trevisan.”
He gave her a nod and a smile and then left. The scent of his cologne lingering in her store. Constance sat down in one of her chairs, her knees had gone weak. After catching her breath, she went and helped her father wrap the paintings, then she wrote out a receipt to give to whoever picked them up.
When Giuseppe’s man servant came, he handed Constance an envelope with her name on it.
“This is for you my lady from the master.” He tells her.
She thanks him and the opens the envelope, inside was several notes of money and a letter. The letter read, “Dear Constance,
It was wonderful to meet you today and I would like to invite you to come have supper with me at my estate tomorrow evening. Please give your reply to my man servant.
Sincerely,
Giuseppe Trevisan.
Constance smiled she told the man who was waiting, “You can tell your master that I accept his invitation.”
The man nodded and then got into the now loaded wagon full of her paintings. Her father came in. Constance handed him the note.
“It seems he wants me to dine with him. I don't know what to wear father.” She tells him.
Her father smiles, “Well I guess you'll have to find a dress to wear.”
“Do you know anything about him father?” She asks.
“Let’s go home and have dinner, your momma is waiting, then I'll tell you what I know.” They walked a few streets until they got home.
But Constance had the feeling she was being watched. She and her daughter sat down to a hot meal made her mother.
“Well father you said you would tell me who he is and what you know. So please do tell.” She says.
Her father smiles, “Well as you know his name is Giuseppe Trevisan, he is a nobleman who is an entrepreneur, he runs and owns several businesses and is extremely wealthy. He is unmarried and has no children. I have heard he is quite kind and giving. I think he would make a good husband for you.”
Constance laughed, “Come now father it's only a dinner. Besides it's my art he’s interested in not me.”
Her father shook his head, “The way he was looking at you says otherwise. Plus, he invited you to a formal dinner, I wouldn't be surprised if he asks me to start courting you.”
Constance was surprised, but happily surprised, and that night she slept and dreamed of the handsome Giuseppe. She dreamt and hoped that he was the one...
- Writer
