Paint Stain <Lashton>

IX

The essence of all beautiful art, all great art, is gratitude. ~Friedrich Nietzsche  

Luke's POV

I sat in my office, typing away on my computer. Back in the uncomfortable suit and chewing on my lip ring. I decided not to go to the university today, but I recalled having a lot of fun during the photo shoot. I was looking over a lot of notes when there was a knock on my door. "Come in." I said. The door opened in my assistant Calum walked inside. A big smile on his face. "What is it?" 

"I never thought I would see the day where you, Luke Hemmings, would decide to help with a photo shoot." Calum smiled. "It's all over the news!" I found myself slightly shocked but Calum handed me his laptop and I glanced over it. 

Son of Marcus Hemmings of Hemmings Enterprise has recently be seen assisting Kodi Plaidy of Golden Sierra University. She posted on of the pictures(below) of Luke Hemmings(Left) and Ashton Irwin (Right) as a special preview to her upcoming project. The shocker to everyone? This is not the Luke Hemmings the world is familiar with. 

Staged as one of the University's students, he can be seen out of his normal suit and into clothes that are more comfortable. This did not seem like the son of the one of the world's most influential businessmen. 

This is not the first time that Luke has volunteered to assist students like Kodi, either. 

In protest to the new wave of interns Hemmings Enterprise receives every year, Luke Hemmings went above and beyond the typical business majors, instead he claimed that since the industry praised innovation that Liberal Arts Majors should be considered for these roles as well. 

To boost the productivity of these majors, the business has also consulted two young artists. One being Michael Clifford and the second being Ashton Irwin - one of the other students involved with Plaidy's project. The purpose of these two young men was for them to display the potential for Liberal Arts majors by being commissioned for a piece that would hang in the lobby of the main building for Hemmings Enterprise. 

How does Marcus Hemmings feel about these changes? While he does not see the same way that his son does, as he told us last Friday, he does allow for Luke to attempt making these decisions. "He will learn from mistakes and that is the only way he will learn. While these students are good investments, I do not believe that they would - or want - to help the business go farther. Although since I know Luke will one day own the company and make decisions, I want him to learn now about good and bad choices in this industry." 

Although, even large scale modeling companies and magazines have noticed and appreciate the artist - and nerdy - side of Luke Hemmings. The company may soon get more recognition from Luke's efforts than his father thought. 

At the bottom of the article was a picture that Kodi took of Ashton and I on one of the park benches. Fake binders on our lap, and I was chewing on the end of my pen. I frowned slightly at it, now I was just a poster-child for Hemmings Enterprise. 

"Reminds me of how you used to lounge around your house when we were teenagers." Calum smiled fondly at the photo. "It is kind of sad though, no one thinks that you actually are like that. The cute little nerdy kid." 

"No one thinks I'm anything but cold and serious." I rolled my eyes as I looked at it. "The goal wasn't to get Hemmings Enterprise more publicity. It was to get Kodi some recognition and so she could work on her project." 

"You look happy." Calum added.

"I was happy." I sighed as I ran my hand down my face. "I should apologize to Kodi. She's probably really upset, plus she has blackmail on me, so I don't want to - "

"Of you doing what?" Calum asked.

"She has a picture of me smoking. I swear if anyone sees that they're going to assume the worse. It's the wrong look for this company." I said. "Calum when is my next free time?" 

"You have eight o'clock tonight, Luke." Calum smiled. He never even had to look at my schedule. "You cancelled a lot of meetings to go do that for Kodi. As a result, you're going to be here late doing them." I nodded my head, trying to get my thoughts together. "Do you want me to pick up something you can give to Kodi?" 

"No, I don't really want to give her anything." I shook my head. "I'll just bring her to the bar I always go to." Calum nodded his head and left the room. I let out a sigh, at least he was helpful. 

Then an hour later, there was the first knock on my door. In walked my first meeting with a women in a red button-up shirt and a long black pencil skirt she smiled as she shook my hand. "Melinda Waters." 

"Hi, Luke Hemmings." I greeted her. "What can I do for you Melinda?" 

"I'm just a reporter." Melinda smiled. "So, I just want to know what a daily life of working for your father. We wanted to do a series on Hemmings Enterprise. Especially since you've been so notable lately." 

"Alright, you can ask ten questions, each question can have two follow up questions. You may record me speaking if that helps you." I explained. "I will not answer questions about the relationships I share with my father or anything about my mother or father, as well as other family members. There is some information that I cannot condone to you, but you can replace your question if I can not answer it." 

"Sounds fair enough." Melinda said. She placed a tape recorder on my desk and flashed that old reporter smile. The same smile that we businessmen would use. It was odd to be able to see myself in her face. After all, she may not have liked me, but she was never going to let that through. 

AUTHOR'S NOTIFICATION; Ariana

I'm not the proudest of this chapter but I think it will do. After all, not every chapter can make you gasp and cry and scream. Sorry xD 

Hugs, Kisses, Cuddles and Serenades xX