Amour éternel

chapter 3

Anaïs was so glad she had Frédéric to help around the Gallery. She couldn’t seem to concentrate on the clients because every second that passed brought her closer to seeing Ryder and if it wasn’t for Frédéric she wouldn’t have made any sales today. He was such a dear man; one of the most intelligent art enthusiasts she had ever met. He was so enthralled by art, he studied every piece extensively before allowing her to purchase it. Anaïs didn’t mind because she knew that he was knowledgeable and trustworthy and would never lead her on the wrong path. Besides, she herself knew when an artwork was no good. 

Anaïs watched him lead an older woman into the back room where they had all the sculptures on display and wondered what kind of piece she was looking for. The woman looked pompous in a way only someone of wealth could possibly look; this could be an important sale.

With this thought in mind, Anaïs left her place at the front desk. She stopped halfway to the back room when she heard the front door open and turned to welcome the visitor. Her words were swallowed up when she saw Dominic enter with a bouquet of roses. She grinned as she walked to him.

“Coming to my Gallery with roses is hardly going to silence the media,” she teased.

Anaïs could see several reporters outside with cameras and wrapped her arms around Dominic’s neck for their benefit. She didn’t really care what rumors they spread; the French media must really be lacking in inspiration if they had to resort to such silly articles to get readers, Anaïs thought.  

“Neither is a romantic hug,” Dominic replied. 

He had been her friend for a year now and Anaïs felt truly at ease around him. He was an easy going guy who just so happened to be a Vampire. Anaïs felt she could depend on him all the more because he didn’t judge her for what she was. Even in this day and age, humans tended to look upon Vampires as unnatural or even as freaks. Did it bother her to be seen as a freak? Not at all! Anaïs couldn’t care less what a very few, ignorant people thought. That was why she didn’t give the reporters much though as she accepted the flowers and led Dominic further into the Gallery. She closed the door of her office behind him and took a deep breath.

“Whew, this charade sure takes a lot of energy. Why is it that they follow you around so much?”

“I suppose a renowned artist wouldn’t normally get this much attention but I’m a vampire and a wealthy one at that. Being a duke is more about the prestige now than about the power but I remain a center of attention I’m afraid. I have no privacy.”

“Oh you poor darling,” Anaïs teased as she leaned back against her desk, “however could you live with such popularity. You must be absolutely miserable.”

Dominic chuckled as he walked toward her. He put his hands against the desk on either side of her hips and leaned in; light brown eyes twinkling mischievously. 

“Oh I’m very miserable. There’s this woman you see, a mademoiselle, who continuously ignores my every attempt to take her out to dinner. She is always too busy.”

Anaïs smiled sheepishly; she knew she had been dodging his offer for a while but she couldn’t help but feel he was secretly asking her on a date and she didn’t want their relationship to go down that route. She liked Dominic quite a bit; he was incredibly handsome and a total gentleman but she simply did not see them as a couple.