Her Assistant

-CHAPTER TWENTY-TWO-

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-WHAT LOVE IS-

Olivia and Alexander both made their way back to the ballroom for the grand reveal of Nicholas and her piece. Nicholas had noticed them walking in with both Graces and knew he had lost then. To be honest, he kind of knew he was going to second to Olivia once more.

She's always been above him, ever since they went to art school together. Olivia Garden, number one continuously. Nicholas' eyes met John's who's standing close to the front. The man smiled faintly at his boss and Nicholas returned it.

He remembers what John had told him before they got here. "Even if you don't win, you'll still be first in my eyes." He didn't answer the man. Instead, he thought about it. And now he knows his response to that statement.

Olivia joined Nicholas on stage and both Graces joined everyone in the crowd, but standing more in front.

"Everyone gather 'round. Here we are gathered tonight to reveal through art, what true love may be. We will have a poll handed out to announce the winner. And as promise, winner gets to paint both Your Grace." Explains a royal servant.

Olivia's eyes drift to Alexander who's standing two persons away from John. He stared at her, apologizing with his eyes. Olivia looked away, feeling absolutely terrible for hitting the man. She shouldn't have done so.

"The hand outs will be given now. As that presumes, our world wide artists will reveal their piece." The server took a step back and motioned to Nicholas Pierre.

"Mr.Pierre, please present to us the topic for tonight." Nicholas cleared his throat and took a step forward.

"Goodnight, everyone. I am Nicholas Pierre for those that do not know of me and this, is my piece." Nicholas pulled back the white cloth to reveal what he had been working on prior to this moment.

There were a few gasps and head turns upon seeing the piece. Olivia knew then that what Nicholas said earlier was not a facade. It was real. In his painting, there are two men. One standing and the other clinging to the other as he cried.

"Love was always a challenge for me to understand since I knew that I was always so...different." His eye land on John who stiffened in his place.

"I never understood why I felt the way I did and it sent me into my own self loathing. There were a few times where I wanted to kill myself. Pardon my French. However, I was able to pick myself up again because of one person." Nicholas still stared at John.

"You see, after I met him, I knew who I was. I grew to understand what love is. Love doesn't have to require the act of physical contact or lust or even desire. Love to me, is when two people understand each other so much, it's like they know what the next person is thinking. Or when they're talking but you pretend not to hear a word they say.

"Love is annoyance from that person, anger, but most importantly...distance. Being so close to them but yet so far just because you're different. Not being able to express yourself because you're afraid of the outcome. But I don't want to be afraid anymore, or trapped with my heart begging to be let go and loved. So love, is a story that tells itself."

Silence. Olivia looked at John and the man is crying. He wiped his eyes and shuffled through the number of people to leave. However Olivia knew nothing about Pierre's actual piece. The explanation he gave was more so an expression of his own feelings.

Pierre on the other hand wanted to go after John and was even tempted to kiss the man right where he stood. But he doesn't want to take away from a royal moment. That being said, Olivia needs to hurry up.

"Well, that was absolutely terrific. Ms.Garden?"

Olivia took a step forward and cleared her throat. "Before I present my final piece, I would like to present a gift for both your Grace." She begins. Olivia looked back and eased over the canvas that's set onto the wooden easel.

Nicholas arched a brow and cussed himself simultaneously. He didn't think about bringing a gift for the Duke of Haynes or his wife. No wonder why Olivia is always on top.

Olivia pulled back the white sheet and everyone was stunned at the reveal. It was of both royals standing back to back, however their hands intertwined.

"It may look like a simple painting of two people. But there's more to it than that. They are in love and they can finally express that. A gift." Olivia curtsied and smiled faintly before returning beside her original piece.

She's nervous. Not even Alexander had seen it, but he has faith that she'll win. "And now...what I think true love is. My own definition of what true love may be. What it feels like and what it does to us as humans."

Everyone kept their eyes on her, watching as she revealed the other painting. Alexander's eyes widened at the sight. A man, him, and a woman, obviously her. It was just like Pierre's but different.

Alexander, in the painting, is clutching her leg and tugging at the hem of her red dress. His expression is painful and pleading, but hers is that of sadness. And it looks like she's attempting to run away. There is a red kiss on his mouth and her makeup is smudged.

She is running away from him. Just like she did. In the background is a stage filled with people holding cameras and flashing lights. It's a painting that shows a woman who's scared when captured in love.

"What love is? That's simple. Love is pain, happiness and fear. I am someone, that is afraid of falling in love mainly because the person I had been in love with before blamed me for not loving them the way I should. Years later I decided that being by myself is better. But I was wrong. Then I met someone and I got scared. I don't want them to think that the reason that I pull away is because I don't love them, but it's because I'm afraid that I would not be able to succeed." Olivia blinked and tears fell from her eyes.

"I want to express my love, but I'm scared."

Alexander strut his way up the steps and into the stage. Olivia blinked and a few tears fell.

"What are you do

He kissed her. Alexander kissed her. Olivia kissed him back, yearning for his touch. She's ridiculously in love with the man. The man she barely knows. She loves him. She wants to love him.

Nicholas sighed and shook his head. "I should've known to kiss him first." He says to himself. There was a round of applause and both Graces just smiled at the scene.

"They really are like us."

"Uncanny."

Olivia pulled away and Alexander wiped her tears. Olivia hugged him and sobbed. Alexander knew her reason and held her as she cried.

"I cherish you, Olivia Garden. And I will continue to do so for as long as we live. You don't need to be afraid. I'm here to protect you and help you. Always remember that."

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