The Erotic Artiste

CHAPTER 33

At the conclusion of yet another long and arduous day filled with art classes and creative endeavors, the rookie artists were finally able to make their way back home. As Evelyn meticulously packed her belongings and organized her art supplies, she was pleasantly approached by the undeniably charming Sebastian, who seemed to light up the room with his presence.

"Our star," he playfully flattered her, and she couldn't help but chuckle at the compliment.

"I'm far from that, Seb," she replied modestly, shaking her head slightly.

"Are you really? Because you've been consistently topping the sales charts in our group without fail. You absolutely deserve that title, don't you think?" he countered, a teasing glint in his eyes.

Evelyn shrugged in a playful manner, feigning modesty. "Maybe I do. But only if you insist on calling me that," she joked, eliciting another laugh from him.

"Are you heading straight home from here?" he inquired, tilting his head curiously.

"Why do you ask?" She raised an eyebrow, intrigued by his sudden interest.

"I was just wondering if you'd like to join me for a meal or perhaps grab a drink. Not that the food provided by the organization is terrible or anything," he added, honing his words with a playful tone, and Evelyn couldn't help but laugh softly.

"I would absolutely love to, but unfortunately, I have prior commitments today," she replied apologetically.

"Aw, okay. That's perfectly fine then. Whenever you happen to be free in the coming days, just let me know," he said with a cheerful smile.

Evelyn shot him a playful, inquisitive look. "Are you trying to ask me out on a date, Sebastian?" she questioned, her voice light and teasing, to which he responded with a hearty laugh.

"A friendly date, Eve. I'm just trying to get to know my colleagues better. Honestly, I would love for all of us in our batch to actually become friends. There's nothing more to it, I promise. At least, not for now," he assured her, his tone sincere.

With a playful glint in her eye, she regarded him again, and they both shared a good-natured laugh.

"Alright then. If it's purely friendly, I'm definitely in," she agreed, a smile breaking across her face.

"Perfect! And just to let you know that I genuinely mean it, I invited and went out with everyone else from our group just last week. Individually. They were all friendly outings, aimed at getting to know everyone better. My treat, of course. You can verify it with them," he added, his enthusiasm palpable.

"Oh, that's really sweet of you, Seb. Given how the organization tends to indirectly pit us against each other, I would have never considered doing things your way," she remarked, impressed by his approach.

"I know, right? But I truly believe that if we come together as a team, we can help one another excel in this organization," he responded earnestly, his conviction evident in his voice.

Evelyn was genuinely fond of his way of thinking. She had already found him charming and kind-hearted, yet he continued to validate her initial judgment of him with each passing day.

"You mentioned that you invited everyone else and they agreed to join you?" she asked, seeking clarification.

"Yes, indeed," he confirmed with a nod.

"Even Paris?" she joked, fully aware of how much of a killjoy her fellow artist could sometimes be. Paris often carried herself with an air of superiority, behaving as though she was above the rest of them.