The Castillo Crime Family

twenty four

a few of you may remember a few parts of the beginning, and that's because I kept some of it, but I've added many changes. So, I do suggest reading the whole chapter.

Mattia...

It was the next day, and many hours have gone by within the twenty-four hours. Natalie was working majority of the day, her time limited with Sam, and while she thought he was attending her friend's art show with her, she was saddened to know something intervened. So, here she stood getting ready around eight something for Alana's event; pretty thrilled to attend to only to support, but also to see what Alana's creative mind molded together.

Talk about this show has been going on for weeks, and as the hours grew closer to an audience seeing her work and possibly making sale, Alana was nervous. This was something big for her; one of her stepping stones to creating the life she's dreamed of and as the moment neared, she felt a little undeserving of it.

That was the problem with facing imposter syndrome. It made people feel as though they weren't deserving of their successes, and it made them less aware of their own responsibility for it.

Natalie found out about this because Alana called her as they were both getting ready for the event. Talking through it and hearing some encouraging words that everything was going to be fine, and that every piece hung on the walls would be appreciated in it's own way; Alana could breathe a little better and release some of those doubtful emotions.

It was nerve wrecking to know you could put your best work out there, and people would be free to be critical in the worst way. Alana has received a lot of shit about her work from the value in it to the reality of her needing to fund herself as told being an Artist would make that impossible.

But, Alana felt like a lot of jobs were unpredictable and uncertain, so why not go after something she truly loves, and take a chance on that?

Standing from her seated position to circle the bed in search of her small earrings, Natalie crouched over a little to rummage through her draw.

Although Sam wanted to be in attendance as Natalie's date, the urgency of the meeting happening at those exacts hours made it impossible. She was bummed and hoped 'this thing' Sam had to tend to could be rescheduled, but there wasn't much she could do.

Instantly finding the pair of earrings, she slowly stood back up to place them in one at a time. She was busy listening to the music that played on the tv that she didn't hear someone come in. The palm of their hands roamed from her backside and up to her hips, pulling her in close as the trail of slow, gentle kisses traveled up her neck. She smiled widely that her cheeks hurt, relaxing her frame against him.

Reaching her hand up to cup his face, she voiced softly, "you scared me," so used to his hands roaming her body, it was easy to detect who it was.

"I thought you said you were ready," Sam mumbled against her skin, his kisses reaching her cheek just as she turned her head to peck his lips. Although they were going in two separate directions tonight, he still stopped by to pick her up.

Turning completely in his hold, she pecked his lips once more before answering, "I am," resting her hands on his shoulders as he averted his attention to the rollers in her hair, "these takes two seconds to remove," of course she wouldn't rush because she didn't want to leave out with flyaways or frizzy hair. Using her thumb to wipe her lip gloss off, she notices his gaze lowered as he entered a trance, "what?"

He grins softly, "you look beautiful."

She smiles, lacing her fingers behind him after resting her arms on his shoulders, "thank you. It took me a few tries to conquer this wing," she flutters her eyes to show him.