5 Chapter 6- The Exhibition ii

The time is half past 7 and the exhibition was in full swing when Elizabeth and Alisha stepped into the hall. Elizabeth was dressed in a long one arm red dress which flowed freely from her waist. She had her hair packed neatly backwards while Alisha adorned a gold strapless gown that also did justice to her impeccable figure, her hair flowing down in rich waves on her shoulders, her glasses sitting beautifully on her face.

Elizabeth Anderson's dress



Alisha's dress



Both walked into the venue and picked a glass of champagne on their way in.

"Hhmm..always heavenly" Alisha commented as she took a sip of the champagne.

"You are a parasite Ali"

"One that you obviously love.." she replied with smiles as they look around the paintings.

Elizabeth do not really understand a thing About arts or paintings, which is why she came with Ali who is a sucker for beautiful paintings and drawings. They walked slowly around the hall, admiring the paintings hung on the wall across the hall.

"What kind of painting do you think grandma Arks would like? Elizabeth asked casually.

"I'm thinking something abstract...they always this feelings embedded in them that mere looking at them alone satisfies the owner and beautifies the space' Ali explained,smilling beautifully.

"Hhmm...I hope we find something like that soon".

Both walked around more, making small talks, while Alisha picked up her second cup of champagne from the ushers standing around the hall with trays of drinks.

As they walked around, they came to Joshua's booth where he was having his live painting demonstration, two young boys besides him, drawing alongside playfully. His hair looked a bit rough and he has patches of paints here and there on his face and body. His back was turned to the ladies who has started walking towards him hesitantly ...but curious to see what he's up to.

As they got behind him, they could see a glimpse of what he was working on, it's a painting of a young someone crouched down by the bushes on a road side, drops of rainfall scattered around her, the person was putting on a white flowered how. But he's yet to paint the head and face.

The painting was inviting and both ladies couldn't help but move nearer behind him to see the painting.

Just as they got behind him, Joshua stretched his two hands backwards to relieve his back pain,his painting brush in his right hands, while moving his hands back, his right hand unknowingly brushed his paint stained brush through Elizabeth's reg dress, making a long black stain along her beautiful dress.

"What the hell did you just do??" Elizabeth shouted, her face contorted in anger and disgust as she examines her dress and looks at Joshua who now turns back abruptly.

"Oh my God!! " He exclaimed as he got on his feet, his face showing his dissapointment at his mistake. "IAM so sorry Miss ...that was unintentional please" he offered genuinely.

"Unintentional you say?? Do you know how much this dress costs??? "Ranted Elizabeth getting more angry.

"Babe. Calm down please...it's okay..he couldn't have stained you intentionally, besides we were behind him and there's no way he could have seen you there" Alisha quickly chipped in, trying to pacify her as her face voice has started attracting people to them.

"No Ali, you won't tell me to calm the fuck down!!! " He ruined my dress"

" If I can get your Name and Address please, I will get a replacement delivered to you by tomorrow please" Joshua offered nervously, fidgeting around.

Really?? You would get a replacement delivered?? Are you plain stupid or just want to act like one? This is a limited edition dress moron!!! You just can't get it off the shelves !!" Elizabeth shouted, looking irritatingly at Joshua who was lost for words as he looked at her intently ..not believing his ears that a lady just insulted him.

"Oh my God Liza!!! That is enough!!!!" Ali shouted back at her,clearly angry too. " You should go and wait in the car,I will tidy up here and join you soon".

"But he..." She made to talk.

"No buts Liza...just go Now...please".

Fuming with anger, Elizabeth stormed out of the hall as Xander rushed in, clearly surprised to see his friend flustered.

"What's going on man?" He asked Joshua.

"I'm so sorry for my friend's outburst, she's not very good with words and tend to say hurtful stuffs most times ' Alisha cuts in before Joshua could answer his best friend.

"You got your butts whipped by a lady??" Xander asked in disbelieve, looking at Joshua in wonder.

"Not actually, I accidentally brushed her dress with black paint, wasn't intentional, didn't know she was behind me" Joshua explained calmly.

"My Apologies again Mr Joshua Davis" Alisha said sweetly, offering her hand for a shake.

"It's alright ma'am... I was just caught off guard with her outburst" replied Joshua as he shook her hands

*IAM Alisha Raymond, I actually love your paintings, they are original and refreshing"

"Thank you Alisha, this is my friend and business partner, Xander " he introduced Xander who could not take his eyes off Alisha the whole time.

"Hello Alisha, thank you for coming to my friend's rescue he shook her hand, putting on his seductive charming smile.

"Elizabeth was too hard on him and I'm sorry again for that" she offered shyly.

"I bet he's good now...right man??" He said smilling, tapping Joshua playfully.

"That painting looks great by the way, I can bet it would be a hot seller when it's finished...looks like you trying to tell a story" Alisha said, pointing briefly to the painting he was working on.

"Y..yeaà... I guess you can say that... Just some fragments from my memory" replied Joshua nervously.

"Eemmm....would you like to look around for something that might fascinate you? " Xander said sweetly as he helped her towards the paintings on the other side of the hall.

Joshua heaved a sigh of relief and turned back to take his seat but he couldn't get Elizabeth's face out of his memory. She looks so beautiful, even as mad as she was...he couldn't help but marvel at her perfect face, the succulent lips, her pointed nose and her hot body.

"What's gotten into me for God sake" he muttered silently as he wip d his hands down his face, trying to get his composture back.

Few minutes later, Xander walked up to him and sat beside him. He looks worried.

"Hey Josh,you good?

"Yes,I guess iam" he answered absent mindedly.

"You look shaken up kind of, you sure you fine? You can take a break, I will handle things here" he said with genuine concern looking at Joshua.

"I think I would do just that...I feel so drained and tired "

"Cool..I will get your assistant to pack up the brushes and all..I will join you at home later"

"Thanks Xan...I will see you later"

He side hugged his friend and made his way out through the back door to their private parking space where he packed his newly acquired Benz.

Today couldn't have ended any better. The day started well till that encounter with Elizabeth and her friend Alisha, but something about her struck him and he couldnt help thinking about her all through the drive home

Yay!!! Another one down...

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