The Blood Heiress

Moretti Exhibition I

Adella

René had arrived before me and was on the phone in his office. I placed my dress over the back of one of the chairs and grabbed my familiar clipboard. All my to-do items were self-generated now. Thanks to this opportunity, I was no longer subjected to his. He hung up, eyebrows drawn together and lips pursed. I kept my focus on the list of what needed to be done to launch the exhibition.

"René, it is 5:30. Was that catering on the phone? Has something gone wrong?" Those knots in my stomach were multiplying at the thought of catering falling through. I had no sooner looked up to see why he wasn't responding, than I had to duck out of the way of his flying keys.

"No, I haven't. Been busy on the phone with something else. You can deal with it." He motioned to the keys, where they were lying behind me. "Go ahead, I will get the music queued up and the lighting."

"Thanks" I tersely replied, I did not take kindly to having sharp objects thrown at me. "The playlist is saved to your desktop. It is labeled 'Moretti Exhibition."

"I think, I can find it." He snapped sulking and I was all too happy to leave him behind and continue setting up and coordinating. I immediately called the owner of the catering company and found that they had simply hit traffic. I made sure they knew to call me when they arrived in the alley so I could let them in.

Cassian and Valerie showed up as I was finishing sign and spotlight placement in the plaza.

"Adella, what are you doing still in your plain clothes? The exhibition starts in 20 minutes?" Valerie's concerned voice came to me before I noticed them. I finished setting down the signage and turned to greet her with a hug. Her black dress and black hair played up with a bold lip and eyeshadow. She looked ready made to be a part of the exhibition.

"Val! You look stunning, like a piece of your art in the flesh! Don't you worry about me. This is your night. I will be ready on time. You just enjoy the show we have put together to honor your new collection." She returned the hug and pulled away, giving my make-up and hair an appraising look.

"I see that now. I was worried you were going to hide in the shadows and after we found that lovely dress too." She moved off to the side to reveal her brother standing behind her in a tux. My feet grew roots into the pavers below them at the sight of him.Valerie watched us with a knowing smile. We just stared at each other for a moment. He looked the part of the dashing rogue he played so well. Simply enhancedamy times over by the tuxedo. My breathing slowed down as my focus narrowed to his face, drinking it in. To think I had gone my whole life without knowing him. Then one day, we happened to meet and it felt so wrong to have not seen or heard from him for a week.

"Would be a crying shame sis, especially since I made sure to match the color perfectly at your suggestion." He broke the spell first and winked at me. His tie was the same shade of blue as my dress. My phone began to ring, the caterers had finally arrived. No more time to waste.

"My dress is in the office. I will change into it, promise. But first I need to go and let the caterers in through the alley entrance and make sure they know where to set up. I will send René out to meet with you both while I take care of it." I motioned to both of them to follow me. I didn't miss the way Cass's lips turned down as I passed. He will have to wait.

The bells tinkled above the door and that, coupled with the precious little time we had until opening, drew René from his office. Seeing that he was ready and willing to handle the Morettis and had a better attitude, I went straight to the back door and let in the caterers. They were to set up in the space between the two galleries I had learned was put there for just such a purpose. The Main had been closed off for the event, so catering had the space to themselves. By the time they had set up the food and bar, to my satisfaction, I was looking at two minutes until we opened the door and began checking in the invited guests. The guest list had been the only portion I had let Valerie and René work on and take care of. It wasn't my place to be choosing guests for Valerie and René had all the contacts anyway.

The office was empty, as it should have been. I could see on the surveillance monitors that we had a line forming at the door. René and Valerie were waiting to open at the entrance. I couldn't find Cass on them, but didn't have time to think too much about it. My lovely boss had queued the music but had not saved the correct time to play it. I sorted that out and got it up and running just as the doors opened to allow the first guests in. I watched the first ones walk in and be greeted by Valerie and, in turn, René. Relief washed over me. I did it. Rather, we did it. There was nothing more I could plan for tonight. It was all in motion finally. I took my dress in its bag and left the office to get changed in the staff bathroom.

"I knew you were going to cut it close Dells, but some may say that you are actually late to your own event." Cass's voice called out to me as soon as I shut the office door. My heart skipped a beat and my neck flushed. I turned towards his footsteps coming from the East Gallery and he soon came into view. I was frozen again as he approached. I held the bag in front of me like an awkward shield. He didn't stop until we were standing less than a foot apart.

"Technically, this is Valerie's event. What are you doing here and not at the door?" I half whispered, feeling like anything but a whisper was too loud with how close we were.

"I was sent to retrieve you. Clarification, I took it upon myself to get some time with the woman of the hour before I have to share." He gave me a pleased grin. He leaned in a little closer. "You were taking too long. I wanted to know if I could help." He pointedly looked at the dress bag in my hand.

"Thanks Cass. But I am confident in my abilites to dress myself." I wiggled the bag for effect.

He opened his mouth and then closed it, his eyes intensely staring at me while his mouth was pursed in indecision. It didn't take long for his intense gaze to grow to be too much for me, especially with the silence that accompanied it. My feet broke loose from the spell they were under and I held up the bag a little higher to get his attention.

I walked backwards in the direction of the bathroom while I told him my intentions. "I am going to go change now. I will be right back."

He leaned up against the wall and smiled. "Okay, I will be waiting right here." I turned then, satisfied he was aware, anxiously thrilled he was going to wait for me.

Maria had been thoughtful enough to pack some make-up for touch-ups in a separate clutch. I pulled it out of the garment bag and placed it aside for now. I practiced once this week, at Maria's insistence, getting the dress on and off by myself to make sure that there was no reason why I could change into it at the gallery. She then modified and tailored it to remove any obstacles. But what I hadn't counted on was how, in practice, getting changed in a bathroom was a bit more cramped than my room. With some extra effort I was able to get the dress on, smoothed out and all but the very top button closed. I then made up my face again, touching up as needed. After a few deep breaths and a good once over I returned to where Cassian was still waiting.

He let out a low appreciative whistle at my return. "Dells...wow. You look like something straight out of a dream." My cheeks reddened instantaneously. I lowered my eyes and gathered my courage. I turned around and pointed to the back of my dress.

"Would you mind closing that top button for me? I can't seem to get it on my own." I heard Cass's throat clear and his footsteps came nearer.

"Sure thing." The instant that his fingertips made contact with my skin a shiver traveled through my spine. He made quick work of the button but he didn't move. Instead, his hand appeared with a necklace hanging from it. I could feel his breath tickling my neck as he softly whispered. "May I?"

I turned my head carefully to catch his attention."Are you sure? That looks expensive. What if I lose it?"

"Do you like it?" I looked back at it and took note of its details. It was a deep crimson stone, possibly a ruby, on a silver chain. The stone pendant was in a similarly silver setting and was cut like a square. I didn't dislike it.

"Yes, I do."

"Then it is yours." He brought his other hand around and pulled the necklace on and secured it in place. I felt his presence retreat from behind, so I turned to face him. "Beautiful" His shining emerald green eyes appraised me with the new accessory in place.

"Why?" I blurted out, my cheeks flaming and my brain felt like it was going haywire from his attention.

"Why are you beautiful? Now you are fishing for compliments. " He scrunched up his face and pretended to be thinking.

"No, I am not. I meant, why the necklace?" I crossed my arms and tried to ignore how flushed my cheeks must be.

"Why not the necklace?" A wolfish grin spread on his face. "Because I thought it would go well with your dress. Because it reminded me of you. But mostly because I wanted to." He held out his arm and waited for me to take it.

"Thank you. I will make sure you get it back after the night." I reached for his arm and took it. We started towards the East gallery. He leaned down towards me.

"None of that Dells. It looks good on you. You should hang onto it for me." His mouth was barely grazing my ear and sent another shiver down my spine. "Besides, I got it for you." I stopped short at the last sentence, he was forced to stop as well.

"Cass, thank you. And I don't mean this as an insult, because I am moved by your generosity and thought."

"But, there is a but coming, right?"

"But, I am not comfortable accepting it as a permanent gift right now. Could it be on loan for tonight?" Mentally, I applauded myself for being brave and pushing for what I wanted. What I was comfortable with.

He shrugged in response, but I could see some disappointment in his eyes. "Sure if that is what you are comfortable with. Hand it back later and I will keep it safe if or until you decide you would like it on a more permanent basis." I breathed out a sigh of relief. "Now, shall we make our grand entrance?" I nodded and we walked into the crowd.

Cassian steered us past and through group after group of attendees until we arrived at Valerie and her small group. They were all chatting happily. Val was, on any given day, a stunner. But now, at her exhibition, she was every inch of otherworldly beauty. She captivated the people in her immediate circle and beyond it. I had thought her a living piece of her collection when I first saw her outside and now, amongst her other pieces, I couldn't have been more correct.

“Gerard, here she is. The lovely planner responsible for all of this. Can you believe this is her first exhibition?” Valerie saw us approaching and held out her hand. I untangled my arm from Cass’s as he reluctantly let me move over to his sister. She grasped my hand and pulled me into the group. Cassian made on her other side.

“I couldn’t have even done half of this without help.” I looked gratefully at them both.

“Nonsense,” Valerie squeezed my hand in emphasis and faced Gerard, whoever he might be. “Your work ethic and vision were instrumental in pulling this off. You are simply one of a kind.” A shy smile crept across my face at the praise. My cheeks are never not going to be red tonight.

“Her first exhibit! That is quite the feat. Well done, Adella.” Gerard, a short balding man, continued. “Though Valerie darling, you work on display is edgy, no doubt, but I find your choice of mediums to be a bit tame. But cheers to the first exhibition in years.”

“I suppose that is fair, Gerard, considering my last collection. I can’t help that I was moved in this direction when the inspiration struck, however. You must concede...” They continued their friendly debate with me steadily at Valerie’s side. I felt that I had nothing to contribute, having never seen Valerie’s work previously, and instead let my mind and gaze wander around the gallery from this new angle. The lights perfectly illuminated and added to each of the works displayed. I had overseen the layout but in the end it had been the gallery assistants, Silvia and Greta, that had physically set them up in their proper spots. My gaze eventually made its way to where Cass was standing. He looked like he had checked out of the conversation a while ago, as well. It didn’t take more than a few seconds of my eyes on him before he snapped back to reality and smiled his cocky smile and cleared his throat.

“Valerie darling" His voice dripped with mockery. "I am going to steal Adella back now,” He motioned to the art on display behind us.

Valerie nodded and turned back to her conversation, releasing my hand. I moved towards Cassian and gave him a questioning look. "Where to now?"

He looked at me and gasped in exasperation. "Must I be the tour guide? Didn't you plan this?"

I smacked his arm and he rubbed it with a silly grin playing on his lips.

"Well then, my mistake. I vote for food. Come with me or don't."

"Whoa, whoa, whoa Dells, wait up." About done with his shenanigans, I weaved my way through the crowd. I felt his hand grab my arm lightly as he reached me. "Why don't we take a moment and drink in all the hard work you and my sister have put into this. Then we can eat."

I had no real argument for his logic and turned to view whatever happened to be closest. It happened to be her signature piece. I hadn't seen it since she delivered it. On display, it was quite a different experience. At first glance, it appeared to be a chaotic monochromatic storm. But the longer I stood in front of it, the more I could see the form of a woman’s face, dainty features and perfectly proportioned, staring back at me from inside the storm. She stared back from inside the storm and peered at me with blood red eyes. I felt the hairs on the back of my neck stand up, something about it felt so familiar.

Cass watched my face as I studied the painting. “What do you think of this one?”

My brows came together and I pursed my mouth as I searched for the right words. “It makes me feel exposed mostly.” It turned to him “How about you?”

Turned and gave it limited consideration. “I see hunger.”

“No fair Cass, that is what it is named. Try harder,” I pointed at the nameplate.

“How was I supposed to know your rules for this were different from mine?” He playfully gasped and then regarded the painting for the final time. “It happens to be well-named. Not every painting can have some idiosyncratic name steeped in mystery. Sometimes the best paintings are those that are simply and accurately labeled.” He grinned widely as if he had won our nonexistent argument and we moved on.

Her glass pieces for the collection were our next stop. Chosen because there was nobody studying them. We both stood silently taking them in. Cassian, of course, finished his assessment before I did, but did an admirable job holding his tongue until I finished.

"What do you think of these," I asked him.

"They are the embodiment of the ethereal nature of emotion." He looked at the pieces in serious contemplation.

"Wow, I did not get that at all." I marveled at his insight. He shook his head and began to chuckle.

"I am sorry Dells, this isn't fair. I have been doing this with my sister for years. Those very same years, I was the only person she consulted to describe her pieces to, in an effort to make sure that her intended meaning made itself known."

"So there really is no point in looking at the rest then." I threw my arms up in mock surrender.

"Not true. We can see how your planning turned out. Maybe eavesdrop and see how the exhibition is being received." At that moment, my stomach growled. We both laughed. "Or we could get some food now."

"I like that idea. I seem to remember it was suggested before. Let's do that one."