The Chase

7

Kisses and handshakes.

DeAngelo's P.O.V

I poured myself a glass of wine and took a sip of it. As I look around searching for Loren, I brows faces looking for hers. Failing to find her soon after, I gave up. Looking to my right, I'd spotted lorens friend Esmeralda. I knew she wasn't a fan of me and I understood why too. Almost every encounter we had I realized I'd came off too rude or aggressive. I felt bad because she tried to thank me for welcoming her into our home and I blew her off rudely. I take another sip of my drink as I walk towards her. Seeing that she came to my showing, the least I could do was thank her.

"Hey." I said greeted her. She turned to me, a surprised look on her face.

"Hello." She spoke takeing sip of her wine. I'd noticed she was looking at one of my paintings.  I looked at her, taking in her appearance. She'd worn a a dress with matching shoes, which honestly look good on her. I couldn't lie, she knew how to keep up her appearance and I admired how she kept her hygene up. Everytime we'd encountered each other, she looked good, sexy even. It was something that men found attractive without a doubt.

She tapped he nails against her glass, bringing me back to reality. Her eyebrows pushed up. She was waiting for me to say something.

"I wanted to come over here and thank you for coming, I know your not that much of a fan of me." I admitted.

"Wow you have manners." She spoke pretending to be shocked. I chuckled at her sarcasm.

"Yes I do. I know I haven't used them towards you and I apologise. There was a lot going on so I wasn't in the mood to speak." I explained hoping she'd understand. Not that I valued her opinion, but I didn't like when people had a bad image of me painted in their minds. After all she was lorens friend.

She hummed side eyeing me. " Well, I appreciate the apology." She siped her wind before speaking again. "And why are you thanking me?" She asked, her eyebrows drawn together in confusion.

"Well you came to my showing, the least I could do is thank you for your support." I said.

"Your showing?" She was confused still. I nodded. "Yeah. Some of these paintings here are mine. People come here to browse and sometimes even buy them." I shrugged. Although people bought them, it was rare when a painting was purchased here, they were all quite expensive. I guessing she didn't know I was a painting artist from the surprised expression on her face. It amused me.

She nodded, now understanding what I'd been saying. "ohh okay I see. I didn't know you painted. Which ones are yours?" She asked.

"Well the section we are in is mine." I gestured to the paintings they we were close to.

She pointed to the painting she'd been looking at, her face filled with shock. "You made this?" I chuckled and nodded. "Yes, I'd did. It's my profession, you like it?" I asked.

She nodded. "Like it? I love it, it's amazing. I didnt know you were a painter." Her mouth slightly ajar. "Wow, I'll admit your really talented DeAngelo." She shook her head in disbelief.

"Thanks, I mean it's not hard to do. It's all in your brush and wrist. Any one can do it, even you. You just have to know how to stroke it right. After the words left my mouth I regretted it. I didn't mean to it to sound as in appropriate as it did, but it still sounded that way.

We both laughed at what I said. Smiling she looked at me. "Really now?" She asked an amused look on her face. I chuckled, "yeah. I think we got off on the wrong foot.". I said thinking to myself, she was nice to talk to. I wish I hadn't been rude before, she would've made a good friend.

With a idea i extend my hand smirking a little. "Hello, I'm DeAngelo. And you are?" I asked, introducing myself. She laughed, looking at me with amusement, hesitating before taking my hand. "Esmeralda, nice to meet you DeAngelo." As we shook hands, I felt a small tingle before letting go.  My eveybrows furrowed, before returning to their normal form. I nodded, "Well, miss Esmeralda, it was nice meeting you and you look rather stunning, it's okay if I call you miss, right? I don't see a ring." I said winking. giggling she rolled her eyes before replying. "Yes miss is ok. If I didn't know better I would think you're flirting with me Mr angelo." Finishing her drink before continuing to speak. "And from that ring on your finger, looks like you have a significant other." She played along. " Well, it's a little harmless flirting. I don't think she'd be upset." I said waving a hand dissmissingly. We laughed again. "Speaking of Loren, have you seen her.". I asked. I remembered when I tried looking for he but couldn't find her

Esmeralda shook her head. "No but I think she's in the bathroom, I could go get her if you want?" She offered. I refused. "It's fine I'll go wait for he outside. I need to speak with her." I said. As I turned around to head towards the bathrooms, she grabbed my arm stopping me, I felt that tonglie again but this time on my arm where she was touching me.

"No, I can go, I need to used the restroom anyways. That way I can check if she's in there. So u wont be waiting for nothing if she's not even there.". I thought before agreeing. "Okay well tell her I'll be in the lounge when you find her. And thanks again for hearing me out. Maybe this is the start of a good friendship." I suggest. She laughed shaking her head. "No problem, your not that bad when your actually nice. And as far as a friend ship." She passed pretending to think. "Hmmm I don't know about that yet." She patted me on the back before walking away. I smiled shrugging my shoulders. I headed to the lounge where my buddies were, I yawned tiredly as I checked my watch. Four more hours and we can get there hell out of here. I thought as I entered the lounge room closing the door behind me.

Esmeralda's POV

"Hmmm I don't know about that yet." I patted his back before turning to leave. I smiled, 'i can't believe he made these paintings. Id always taken for a body builder guy but no. Instead he paints.' I thought. I'd found it very interesting for some reason. 'And he wants to be friends,'. I laughed to myself. 'we'd have to see about that.'

I entered the hallway and headed to the restroom. Pushing the door open, I look up and stop in my tracks.

My jaw dropped at what I was seeing. I was speechless.