PARISIAN HEARTS

Chapter 3

Isabelle sat at her easel, a half-finished painting glaring back at her. The apartment felt smaller tonight, the walls closing in as if reminding her how far she still had to go. She wiped her brow, pushing back strands of hair that had come loose from her messy bun. Paint-streaked fingers hovered over the canvas, but her mind wasn’t in it. She couldn’t stop thinking about him.

Adrien Laurent.

His name echoed in her thoughts. She had been in Paris long enough to recognize the name, even if she hadn’t realized it right away. He wasn’t just some businessman—he was the businessman, the one whose family’s name was synonymous with power and influence in every corner of Paris. His world couldn’t have been further from hers, yet for some reason, he had stopped, noticed her, and even offered her his card.

The business card sat on the edge of her worktable, taunting her. A connection like that could change everything. One introduction from someone like Adrien could open doors she had never dreamed possible. Galleries, patrons—maybe even a break from the constant worry of where her next rent payment would come from.

But was it worth it? Isabelle wasn’t sure if she was ready to jump into his world, a world of luxury and cold calculation. Would her art still mean something if it became just another piece in a rich man’s collection?

She sighed and tossed her brush down, frustrated. Focus, Isabelle. She couldn’t afford to lose herself in fantasy. Not now, when everything felt so fragile.

A knock at the door pulled her from her thoughts. Isabelle stood, wiping her hands on a rag as she crossed the room to answer it. The familiar face of her neighbor, Marie, greeted her—a wide smile, but with an unmistakable look of concern in her eyes.

“Isabelle, I brought you some food,” Marie said, holding out a small basket. “I figured you’d been working all night again.”

Isabelle smiled gratefully. “You know me too well.”

Marie stepped inside, her eyes immediately falling on the half-finished painting. “You’ve been working on this one for days. Still not happy with it?”

Isabelle shrugged. “Something’s missing, but I can’t figure out what.”

“Maybe you just need a break. Fresh air might help,” Marie suggested. She glanced at the business card on the table and raised an eyebrow. “What’s this?”

“Oh, that...” Isabelle hesitated, unsure how to explain. “I met someone by the river. He offered to connect me with people who might be interested in my work.”

Marie picked up the card, reading the name aloud. “Adrien Laurent? The Adrien Laurent?”

“Yeah,” Isabelle said quietly. “Him.”

Marie’s eyes widened. “Are you serious? Isabelle, this is huge! You could get your work in any gallery in Paris if you called him. Why haven’t you?”

Isabelle bit her lip. “I don’t know. It just feels... strange. Like I’d be stepping into a world that’s not mine.”

Marie shook her head, handing the card back to her. “Opportunity doesn’t knock twice, Isabelle. Maybe his world isn’t yours, but if you want to succeed, you’ll need help from people like him. Just think about it.”

Isabelle nodded, but the uncertainty lingered. Could she really trust someone like Adrien? And more importantly, did she want to?