clexa promts

FSL and Gallery Clarke

Clarke might not have recognized her if she hadn't just been staring at the Forbes magazine sitting under her easel catching paint drips. She had almost stepped on the pale face and green eyes that graced the cover when she had rushed out of the studio at the back of her gallery to greet the guest that had caused the front door bell to jingle.

But she did recognize her. There stood Alexandria Woods, famous young business extraordinaire, standing all crossed arms and wide stance in front of her new painting. Even without the magazine the woman was easily recognizable as someone important with long legs clad in those nice, charcoal-grey Armani pants.

Clarke assumed they were Armani, but really they could have been anything. Whatever the were, they fit well just like the white button up the woman wore rolled at the elbows. She was undeniably attractive and well dressed, but there was something disheveled about her as if she had been rushing from somewhere.

Clarke caught a glimpse of the Forbes-cover green eyes when The woman glanced over her shoulder briefly with a quick smile. "Sorry, I know you're closing soon," she said in a voice more gentle than Clarke would have expected from the woman, "I was told there's a new piece worth making a side trip for, so I came straight from work. I'll try to be quick."

Clarke smiled and nodded before she realized that the woman had already turned back to her attention back to her painting. "No problem," she added, feeling a sense of pride in having a fan in such a person as Alexandria Woods. "Let me know if you need anything."

The woman nodded and continued to stare fixedly at the painting. It would have made her nervous to have her work scrutinized so closely in her presence if she hadn't been doing this for close to a decade.

"I do have a question, actually," came the woman's gentle voice.

Clarke took a step forward so that she was inline with her. She watched in a mixture of pride and something akin to amusement as the woman furrowed her brow and opened her mouth several times before actually speaking. When she finally turned to her, Clarke was shocked to see those emerald eyes glossy with unshed tears.

Clarke's lips parted slightly in a silent gasp that must have been obvious to the powerful business woman because she immediately turned her attention back to the painting with a small blush slowly creeping onto her face. "I'm sorry," she almost whispered, "it's just that-this may be one of the most beautiful paintings I've ever seen. Ms. Griffin's best yet, I'm sure."

It was then that Clarke realized the woman didn't know who she was. Rather than embarrass her further, she simply smiled and nodded, trying to hide her own glossy eyes and tight throat. She had never before been so touched by how moved someone was by her work. "She would be flattered by the sentiment," she added quietly.

"Well she deserves it. This is incredible. It all is. I've been following her work for close to a year now."

Clarke smiled. She had only opened a year ago. "Did you come to the grand opening?"

Those green eyes turned to face her once more. She shook her head and smiled sadly. "I had a work function. Tried to reschedule, but the North American Business Guild was not having it," she said with a chuckle.

She was certainly charming, Clarke would give her that.

"Seems every other function here has been in conflict with something related to my work. In fact, this is the first time in several months that I've had a chance to get back over here."

"Well, I'm glad you could make it tonight."

The woman hummed and turned back to the painting where she seemed to get lost for a moment. She literally shook herself a moment later and turned back to Clarke. "I'm so sorry. You're probably trying to close up. This piece is mesmerizing." There was another embarrassed chuckle.