Teach Me Love

Marcus's Raise

Stef's POV

I'm on my way to Lena's house since Marcus came to pick me up directly from campus. I didn't expect it at all, and I tried to chat with Marcus on the way, but the man wasn't a big talker. I was bored so I was trying to make jokes to make him laugh all along, and I think I saw him crack a little smile that he hidden immediately. And for me it was still a victory and I'm so eager to tell Lena for she told me how serious Marcus always has been, but I can tell she's attached to him.

When we parked in the driveway, I jump out of the car to go open the front door as Marcus almost shake his head for the rules want that I wait for him to open the car's door. I honestly think he likes me though, at least I like to think that he does.

I enter the house and almost run to find Lena who was in the living room, reading a book.

"Guess what, I made tons of jokes and I managed to make Marcus almost smile!" I whisper excited, as Lena shakes her head and smile widely at me.

"You're so silly, Stef. He's like this, he's very attached to be perfect at his job, leave him alone." She giggled as I sit next to her, very closely.

"I'll wear him down. I'll make him laugh one day!" I say determined, as Lena can't help but giggled and come to kiss my cheek before Marcus enter the room to ask us if we needed something as I ask him a glass of water.

"So, why have I been escorted to your house today, hum?" I say playing with her hand as she turns more to me.

"Well, I need to talk to you about something."

"Oh, oh. Sound serious." I say, seeing that she's hesitant to tell me whatever she wants to say.

"No... I mean yes, it could be if you listen to all I have to say, before getting angry, because I know you are going to be angry at me at first Stefanie, but you have to hear me out, okay?" she says very gently yet seriously, even though she knows that I hate the buildup.

"Lena, just spill it, please." I say, trying to remind soft and open minded.

"Okay... so, one of the best friends of my dad came by yesterday. He came for a project, I'm sure you'll like it, but whatever, I'll explain later... now, I didn't show him anything, I didn't say anything, but he saw the painting that you offered me since it is so large, and in the entrance and he..." she starts explaining as my blood pressure was growing as she was speaking for she wasn't going directly to the point, and again, I don't like the buildup.

"You sold it?" I ask, automatically cutting her off, feeling my heart getting heavy, because that I know would hurt me if she did.

"NO! Of course not, Stefanie! I could never sell it, he actually wanted to buy it, he wanted me to give him a price and he would have pay whatever I would have asked him since he's even richer than me, but I said no. Of course I said no, babe." She says, looking seriously into my eyes, like I had lost my mind as I sigh from relief for a minute.

"Okay, okay... sorry, it's the buildup, love. Can you get to the point please?" I ask, trying to relax a little.

"Well, he was very insistent to buy it, and well... I made another kind of offer to him... I told him that I would give him your name, if he was willing to throw a show especially for you in one of his galleries and invites his numerous friends that he has in the art industry..."

"You did what?! I've specifically told you that I didn't want to have a pass because of my relationship with you, we discussed this, Lena!" I say, pulling away from her and feeling my anger building because I don't want to use her, I want to build my career myself and she knows that.