Chapter Two
1960 Words
Chapter Two
The Invitation.
Anais’s acceptance into the grand art college.
“ Académie Royale des Beaux-Arts”
Should feel like a no brainer, a dream come true
But she’s not entirely hyped about it
She feels great no doubt but it sparks up an array of emotions - From excitement to doubt and an unsettling feeling she can't wrap her fingers around.
The weight of success
Anais wakes up to the sound of distant car horns
As the city of Paris breathes with life…
Claire, Anais’s mother walks into her room “Get up baby breakfast has been ready for like four hours now”
Anais(Rubbing her eyes trying to shake off that post sleep eye fatigue away) “Mum are you serious?—
Did I really sleep that long ohh my goodness I’m already late” she says as she gets up from bed hastily
Claire chuckled lightly “I was only joking baby it’s still just 8:30am and I just made breakfast”
Anais finally relaxed at sat next to her mom on the bed “ C’mon mum don’t play like that, what’s happening tho you got jokes these days”
She said smirking at her mum
Claire and Anais exchanged glances and they both burst out in happy laughter…
(Their life has been amazing so far, except the fact that Anais dad died in a plane crash a few years ago)
Her mum moved leaving her room as Anais prepped for the day ahead of her.
She connected to her aux playing beautiful piano ballads, it’s soothing beats flowing through the space as she geared up to start off her day
She almost forgot about her acceptance letter
Until she turned and stumbled upon the bedside table, she stares at the acceptance letter lying flat on the tabletop, The reality of it all sinking in almost immediately…
She wonders;What if I’m not good enough? What if I don’t belong there?…
She shakes it off shortly after, reminding herself of who she is, remembering her mother’s teachings too “You can do anything, and i mean anything you set your mind to Anais, never count yourself out before even trying “
With that a short burst of adrenaline surged through her… A new found confidence edged on her face
.
She gets ready and heads out to the dinning area where she and her mom Claire have breakfast…
Shortly after Anais heads out into the city of Paris.
A Surprise invitation
Anais arrives at a sitout near the seine river
To take some photos, she sees an old couple and asked for permission to take them some pictures
“Good day folks, Can I take some pictures of you? You guys are perfect, how long have you been together?”
The old man replied “Thank you young lady, we've been together 65 years now”.
Anais felt amazed “ Wow, that’s amazing”
The old man had a beautiful welcoming smile on her face “Isn’t it?… life has definitely been full of ups and downs but we’ve remained strong… and yes you can definitely take some photos you’re a nice little lady”
Anais smiled before taking amazing photos of them as they blended with the scenery behind like it was all meant to be….
Shortly after she printed series of instant photos and gave it to the old couple, they thanked her as she left and walked down to the riverbank to take some more shots, her phone beeped in her front pocket
“A formal invitation” no sender name
She reads the content, the invitation leads to a private event at an undisclosed location, with nothing but coordinates provided “Hmm sneaky” she said wondering who it was from. She debates whether to go “Should I go? What if it’s just a prank or (gasp) could be worse no no no I won’t go anywhere I’m going to go home after I’m done here”
That’s what she told herself initially but after sometime she delegated once more finally saying “alright alright I’ll go” she was just too curious to ignore it.
The mysterious event
She heads back home soon after, She called her mom to say she was going to be out late and she was going for another gallery exhibit…”Don’t wait on me ma, I’ll be out late”
She left the house and arrives at the event using the coordinates provided.
Anais is dressed in a stylish yet simple outfit,
The gallery is lavish with old intricate symbols and designs etched around the mini dome…
“ This place is huge! And beautiful” she said, grabbing her camera from her cute handbag. No matter how dressed she was, she always carried her camera everywhere! That’s Anais Dupree for you…
She was sure she was invited to take photos…
The gallery was hidden in heart of Paris
And inside Art collectors, Critics from all elite backgrounds and other elite figures are present.
The atmosphere is different from any event she’s ever attended before it had that intimacy about it, that almost secretive and polished feel to it
“ Feels like I’m in some medieval French museum”
She said as she traced her fingers through some intricate details on the walls of the dome..
And then As the day was going swell for her, she spots him “Alexis Chalantier”
“Oh Lord and I wanted to call this the most perfect day ever” she says, trying to avoid him noticing her.
A Second Encounter With Alexis
He’s standing in front of a new painting…. One that feels raw, vulnerable and completely different from the former one she previously critiqued…
He notices her trying to hide in the crowd he initially wondered why she was acting suspicious but then he remembered their previous encounter and how heated it was “He Smirked, sipping his wine”
He moved quickly and appeared in front of her in the middle of a crowd…
She had that look of disappointment when she saw him in front of her
“So Madame, did you come to criticize my work again? Or did my painting invite you this time”
Anais laughed almost mockingly
“Well Mr Chalantier, believe it or not i was invited here, I’m not stalking you, if you think I am get it out of your head you’re so full of yourself”
Alexis smirks “Interesting Madame, because this event is by private invitation only, So who invited you here ? “
Even Anais wondered who, she doesn’t know the answer to that just yet “Mr Alexis Chalantier, what if I tell you I don’t know? Believable ?”
Alexis responded “Then I’ll know you’re just a stalker, stalking the rich billionaire just like every other girl”
Anais frowned in anger “You wish no matter how much of a Prince you think you are Anais Dupree will never give anyone that satisfaction”
“Yeah I know your name now, Anais Dupree, that’s nice
Why don’t you come with me, I wanna show you something…”
Before Anais could even respond he takes her hand carrying her to the section where he exhibited his painting
“Hey! I didn’t even agree to go with you, leave me alone” Anais said.
Alexis smiled as he continued walking towards his area.. when they finally got there he showed her his art piece..
“ What you said the other day got me thinking, so I went to work on something else, serves right that I bumped into you today, God must really be on my side after all”
“Critique this” he gestured at his painting…
Anais stood there, eyes hovering around the painting, she sees just how different it was from the last… how raw and intimate it was…
“It’s… it’s beautiful” she said almost faintly
Alexis responded “Sorry What?” He pretended not to hear her
Anais rolled her eyes unimpressed “You heard me the first time you cocky rich …”
Before she could complete her sentence Alexis said “Thank You”
She was shocked and it made the whole room silent for a while…
“You pushed me to dig in deeper and I love a challenge, so thank you”
Anais starts to realize he’s not just some arrogant billionaire, there’s something about him something vulnerable something that haunts him
Before she can press further someone interrupts…
A New Mysterious Figure
A charismatic woman in a black dress approaches them
She introduced herself “Hello there, My name is Madeleine Beaumont, I’m an art curator”
Before she finishes Alexis speaks “ I know you ma’am your reputation speaks for itself, nice to meet you too” he said eagerly.
“Nice to meet you too Alexis, I can see you’ve already met my invitee Miss Anais Dupree”
Both Alexis and Anais were perplexed…
“Wait how… how do you know me?”
Alexis: Yeah how do you know this girl?
Ms Beaumont responded “The internet, I follow her”
She turns to Anais “You’re a very talented and beautiful young lady I admire the way you create life with your pictures I can honestly say I’ve been a long time fan”
Anais was shocked to the bone she never expected this she just uploaded pictures seldomly online she never expected it would resonate with someone of this stature… She was speechless almost caught her tongue managing to mutter a “Thank You Madame Madeleine, I .. I really appreciate your kind words” she spoke calmly but her mind was ecstatic!
She couldn’t wait to tell her mum and her friend Annabel about this…
Ms Madeleine smirked then said “You’ve earned this praise”
There was Alexis staring at Anais with a sense of recognition and admiration…
Ms Madeleine expressed her reasons for being there she said she has a job one that can boost Anais’s career even before she joins the academy
“Anais I want you to work on a media project for my a company I’m affiliated with, I recommended you to them, they’re eager to meet up with you to start preparations it’s a mixed media art project where you capture images and an artist reinterprets them with paint it’s for a forthcoming fine art exhibition”
Both Anais and Alexis were shellshocked!!
Boom! Just like that a life changing opportunity especially for Anais…
She didn’t even know how to feel…
“W…wow” Anais mutted, “ That’s amazing ma’am I don’t even know what to say”
Ms Madeleine smiles calmly “ It’s nothing, so I’ll take this as a yes?”
Anais deliberated shortly “Can I know the artist I’ll be working with”
Ms Madeline; oh of course you’ll be working with Mr Alexis Chalantier right here on this project.
“WHAT??” Both of them shouted in shock…
“Are you serious?” Alexis said
Ms Madeleine responded a bit perplexed “Oh Yes, I am I recommended you too Alexis, what's the problem”
Alexis quickly responded “ohh there’s no problem ma’am, right Anais. He wore a sinister smile on his face when he stared at her….
Anais scoffs “ ummm can I take sometime to think ma’am ?
Ms Madeleine: “Sure Anais here’s my contact card, it’s in a month so you have enough time to think call me when you’re ready”
As she walks away
…
Soon after Anais leaves the event feeling uneasy
But also buzzing inside very intrigued by the opportunity in front of her…
- Writer
