Unbreak My Heart (18+, ManxMan)

Chapter 18 No Love, No Glory

Chapter 18

Finn

When I walked into my apartment I started pacing.  First around the living room, then into my studio looking at the paintings I had completed or started for my next show, my show at Juntado.

He said he'd never met Garrett before and I could easily confirm that with Garrett.  He said Garrett didn't know he had any connection with me and didn't know I had any connection to Juntado.  I looked at my watch, it wasn’t all that late and I had Garrett's personal cell…I remember him telling me he was a night owl. 

I found his name in my contact list and quickly pressed the button.

"Finn!"  He answered right away sounding pleased to hear from me.  "Tell me you've just had divine inspiration and are calling to tell me about a new idea for a painting that will rock the art world."  Wow, he sounded kind of tipsy.

"Garrett, have you been drinking?"

He began chuckling, sounding so un-Garrett-like.  "I'm downtown at Cappy's sharing a few drinks with an old college buddy.  Why don't you come join us!"

"Um, I can't tonight Garrett, sorry.  Listen, I won't keep you long, I just have a couple of questions.  We may have a mutual…friend…in common and I just wanted to see if you knew him."

"Shoot."

"Who owns Juntado, who hired you?"

"To be honest, I'm not quite sure.  I was interviewed and hired by a guy named Evans…George Evans.  He's the manager of the holding company, but I guess it's some sort of joint venture…you know where the company is owned by a large Corporation…I don't know, it seemed too complicated for me.  I'm an art guy, not an MBA and the offer was sweet, they offered two month's salary up front, I had the contract reviewed by my own lawyer and they were giving me pretty much free reign to run it with just a basic set of guidelines.  They said my reputation spoke for itself."  He let out another chuckle.  "Fun in the sun in L.A."

"Yeah, that does sound like a pretty sweet deal.  And where did you hear my name?  From this Evans?"

"No actually, I've got a buddy who's a collector in New York, I thought I told you, he has ties with a little gallery in Brooklyn, the Grieg Gallery, didn't you do a small show there a year or so back.  He'd been following you ever since, has a few of your paintings."

"Yeah, I remember Grieg, great place, nice people.  Samuel Perelli runs it."

"Yes, Samuel is Marty's cousin."

"Marty Perelli?  I've met him, nice guy.  I know exactly which paintings he has, he talked to me for an hour about his fascination with my perspective," I laughed remembering my long conversation with the very short round man.

"Sounds like Marty, he's talking about flying out for the opening, so you'll get to meet him again…but don't worry, I won't leave him alone with you…talk your ear off that bastard."

"Ah, he's alright."

"So Finn, come join us!  I'll buy you a drink and you can tell me all about the new paintings."

"Rain check  Garrett, I've got something going on tonight that I need to take care of.  But thank you!  Thanks for the information…it clears up a lot."

"No problem, and I'm holding you to that rain check!"

"Night Garrett."

"Arrivederci Finn-ito!"

Have another drink Garrett, I thought to myself as I hung up the phone with a chuckle.  Okay, so that part checks out.  Garrett gave me the show completely based on my work and reputation in New York.  How did I feel about the rest.  The insurance policy…all this time I thought my Dad had set it up.  It never struck me as odd because that was something my Dad would have done…if he had known...But…he hadn't known and money was tight at the time, he probably couldn't have afforded an insurance policy.