If You Were Ours

Chapter One - Kinsley

Kinsley ~

I had been to Adriana's house multiple times, but I didn't think I'd ever get used to the size of it. Her home took up nearly an entire city block and made me feel like I was two inches tall and very, very poor. The immaculate trimmings of her front door alone reminded me of the bills I had to pay and I internally scolded myself as I frantically checked the date on my phone.

Shit, I don't think I paid my electric bill.

Before I could obsess over my financial oversight, my thoughts were interrupted by the massive door opening, revealing Adriana in workout clothes, but a full face of make-up.

"Kins!" Adriana squealed as if we hadn't just had lunch the day before.

"I cannot wait to see how your piece looks in the study!" Adriana said, reaching for the artwork that I had in a case resting against my side.

"I thought you said it was going in the dining room?" I asked as I entered the house, hearing my own voice echo off of the marble floors.

"I was kind of thinking I wanted something bigger for the dining room. Like bam right when you walk in, maybe some big pops of color." Adriana said enthusiastically as we passed the large dining room.

The thought of being contracted to create another piece for Adriana was more than appealing, not only was she a low maintenance client who gave me tons of creative freedom, she paid generously for my work - well over my asking price. I wasn't sure if the payment was because we were friends or because she valued my work, but either way I had an electric bill that needed to get paid and didn't care about client motives.

"Every time I come to your house I find something new to admire." I said, tilting my head up to gawk at the elaborate chandelier that hung above us as we made our way to the study.

Adriana rolled her eyes and waved her hand at the absolute masterpieces that were scattered along her walls.

"These are all dated - I'm trying to make this house my own and your pieces are my favorite. They're so edgy and trendy. I can't get enough of them." Adriana said excitedly.

Her compliments pulled a bright smile from me as I opened up the case, readying myself for her reaction to the large painting I'd brought with me. No matter how many times I had received compliments from Adriana, revealing my finished pieces to anyone was nerve wracking.

"Oh my God it's perfect! Kins, babe, your work is to die for!" Adriana clapped her hands together excitedly.

"I'll have someone hang it immediately, but first, let's talk payment."

This is my least favorite part.

Making friends with Adriana had skyrocketed my business, but I was still uneasy about assigning monetary value to my pieces. If I priced them too high, no one would buy, but too low and the high brow elite would lose interest and view me as beneath them.

Adriana eyed me, waiting for me to name my price.

"$5,000" I said meekly, in more of a question than a statement.

Adriana let out a sigh and shook her head at me before correcting my obviously incorrect decision.

"I'll give you $10,000 and consider it largely discounted."

Did she just say $10,000?

My mouth involuntarily flopped open at the large number before I could stop it and Adriana gave me an over exaggerated eye roll in response.

"You have to stop doing that." She scolded me.

"Doing what?" I asked, closing my mouth and schooling my expression.

"Acting shocked when people offer what you consider to be a large sum of money for your work."

I knew she was right. If I wanted to sell to Adriana's high brow friends, I needed to at least be able to pretend I'd seen checks that large before.

"I know, I know. I'm just not used to it. I don't really fit in with all of this." I waved my hand around the room, motioning to her entire house and waitstaff that was standing around in various places.

"Welllll, I think we need to change that." Adriana said with a wide grin as she looped her arm in mine.

You can't change how we were raised Adriana and spoiler alert - ten different foster homes is the opposite of lavish and luxurious. I'm out of place here, no matter how much money you hand me for my paintings.

"How do you plan on doing that?" I asked in a skeptical tone that mirrored the quizzical look on my face.

"Exposure."

"I'm not following." I said honestly.

"Come with me to a party tonight. Let me introduce you to the people who will help take your little business to the next level. If they think you are up and coming and trendy they'll eat up your work and pay you top dollar for it."

Her suggestion made me nervous for a number of different reasons with the main one being the type of people that Adriana and her family surrounded themselves with. It wasn't just intimidating to be around people with that much wealth - it was how they obtained their wealth that intimidated me.

Adriana's father was high in the rankings of the L.A. mafia. I had seen him in the news a few times and knew that the people who would be at this party would not only be extremely wealthy, but would most likely be extremely dangerous as well.

My stomach knotted and Adriana picked up on my apprehension immediately.

"Just come with me tonight. If you hate it, I'll never ask you again. Come on, you can be my date." She stuck out her bottom lip, giving me a comically pouty expression that I'm sure her parents saw non-stop when she was growing up.

"Fine." I relented. "But I don't have anything to wear!"

"I have plenty of things for you to borrow my love." Adriana said, guiding me to her closet that was larger than my entire apartment.

I had to admit that the idea of attending such an exclusive party with some of the wealthiest people in L.A. was intriguing and exciting. I'd never been exposed to that type of clientele  before and my curiosity was starting to overpower my anxiety.