Life's Canvas

What a Letter Entails

Chapter 5: What a Letter Entails

Life's Canvas

Chapter 5: What a Letter entails

Kori sat quietly, staring evenly into his azure eyes. A slow grin crept onto his features and the young woman's emerald pools narrowed. "Why are you staring at me?" Richard asked curiously. Kori narrowed her eyes further, so they were nothing more than gloriously bottle green slits.

"Why does it matter?" she retorted, her voice implying she was getting at something. What, he had yet to find. There was nothing ordinary about her. He had yet to know her a full twenty-four hours and she had him smiling, laughing, finger painting... and now she was making him feel self-conscious. This, of course, was a rather new feeling for the cool and collected, suave heir to the Bruce Wayne fortune.

"It doesn't, I guess. I'm just... wondering why you're staring at me," he said easily, handling the situation with practiced ease. Kori, however, had not finished.

"Well, if you must know, I'm trying to figure you out. You know I've never met anyone as bottled up as you? Not even Madame Logan!" she exclaimed. Richard coughed.

"Yeah, well I've got my reasons. Just be happy you convinced me to be your 'friend' in the first place. I don't need you going off and trying to understand me," he snapped, sensitive with the subject. Kori took no offence, but rather regarded him with a curiosity that both disturbed and intrigued him. She sighed suddenly.

"When shall we go to the gallery building?" she asked, steering the conversation elsewhere for the time-being.

"Tomorrow at quarter after nine. Will that be ok?" he replied, thankful she'd let him end the topic quickly.

"Alright, that'll be fine. So..." she trailed off, unsure of where to take the conversation next. Richard shifted in his seat.

"So," he repeated, also at loss. Kori suddenly sat taller in her chair and widened her eyes, taking on the expression he was coming to know as her apologetic/imploring look. He waited, and sure enough the young artist began.

"I'm sorry if I've behaved badly today. I don't make the best first impression with people who aren't used to my..." she scrunched up her nose, shrugging. Used to her what? Kori supposed she couldn't answer that very well.

"Forwardness?" Richard supplied, idly swirling the ruby colored wine in his goblet. Kori's cheeks flamed up brilliantly and she shook her head.

"Oh, no, not forwardness. I'm by no means like that..." she squeaked. Richard found her almost endearing, sitting there so completely frazzled by a single word.

"Friendliness, then," he decided, and Kori seemed to take this solution much better.

"I suppose so," she giggled and dropped her gaze. "I'd just like you to know I'm terribly bad with the whole professional thing... I'm really glad you'll just let me be a friend. I can relate better that way," she said earnestly. Richard offered a slight smile.

"Works for me." he said. Kori beamed at him and cut a tiny piece of her chicken and ate it.

"Oh, I'm going to be so spoiled after meals like this, it won't even be funny!" she exclaimed to herself. Richard grinned.

"Yeah, well, got to feed my employees right. And my friends. Got to feed them right too. Alfred does a good job, doesn't he?" he took a bite of his own food and eyed her carefully. Kori nodded furiously.

"Very, very good! It's lovely to hear you call me a friend. It makes me feel happy," she mused. Richard couldn't help himself, and rolled his eyes.