The Art Collector and His Billionaire Lover

WADE'S POV

“Pa!” I yelled from the garage. “We are leaving.”

It was my first day at work. The Malta museum and art gallery location offices were located an hour away in the capital city of Valletta. My cousin, Auden Malkiel, rushed and got into the beat-up truck, reversing from the garage as I impatiently waited for my father.

Pa rushed down the stairs with a food container in his hand and handed it over. “Here is your breakfast. I want to make sure you have something to eat. Being a curator can be intense. Especially the long hours of training. I am thankful you got this job.”

“Yes, Pa.” I had heard this speech for the past few days. But Pa was right. I was thankful for the job and hoped to make enough money to start my own art business.

“Wade. You need this job. Reign your temper in from now on and be obedient. I know your feelings and stance toward the elite society, but a man must provide for the family and have his own money,” he pressed.

“Yes, Pa. I promise to be on my best behavior,” I responded. It was going to be hard but I did not want to disappoint him.

I hurriedly jumped into the old truck as we sped off on the bumpy and deserted Malta roads. The sea breeze was refreshing as autumn had started to settle in. The weather was suitable for long walks by the beach and night boat rides made me wish I were not reporting to work today.

I had finally graduated top of my class in university and made Pa proud. The classes in society had forced my upbringing to be tough and hence I had worked hard to prove them wrong. Ma and Auden's parents passed away when we were just ten years old and life had been hard for both of us. Pa worked hard to raise us and hence we had to oblige and be filial.

The elite-class students all hated my guts and hence the low-born class students looked up to me and Auden. The Malkiel boys were born smart, and it was a no-brainer when we excelled throughout our school life. Being the art club captain, school captain, and rugby captain made my name known. Being in the rugby club helped me build the muscles that I needed to stand up to bullies and defend myself. Pa hated the sport. I would always come home blue and black with injuries.

“Wade, why do you need to be in the club? What would your Ma say?”

“Pa, she would smile and say, ‘keep going, son’.” I would laugh through the pain and suffer through the night. But Pa was keen and would check up on me always. In the morning, I would find medicine placed by the chest of drawers by the bed.

“We are finally here, Wade!” Auden yelled, snapping my thoughts back to the present.

The guard took us to the gallery manager's office, and we found him on the phone. He nodded and signed with his hand for us to have a seat.

He finally disconnected his call after a minute then sat back and said, “My name is Callum Winston, the gallery manager. You are the sons of Eli Malkiel. Everyone had high praises for you, but you are yet to impress me.”

His tone of voice was irritating, and I immediately knew that he had a prejudice against the lower class. There was no way he was friends with my Pa. I was sure Pa must have begged or traded one of his paintings for us to get the job.

“I expect to be addressed as sir, and if any of the customers complain about you, it will warrant a suspension.”

“Yes, sir,” we both responded in unison.

Auden looked scared while on the other hand, I wanted to punch the living sh*t out of him. Auden knew me so well and I felt him step on my shoe as a warning. I needed to reign in my temper and hence I put on a fake smile with the pretense that I was being obedient.

The first day at work was intense. The gallery manager took us through training and by the time the day was done, my body and mind were complaining of fatigue.

A week later, the training was done, and work commenced. Mr. Winston did not allow us a moment to breathe but just dumped all the work on us. Art was more of a passion for me and I enjoyed every bit of the work. The customers and tourists flowed in, day in and day out. It kept us busy.

A month went by, and the daily routine was now embedded in my bones. The art gallery dinner was in a week. Plans and preparations were underway keeping everyone on their toes. The gallery manager announced that the mayor's daughter was visiting the gallery to plan for the dinner. As a curator, our work was to agree on which pieces to display and sell during the event.

We convened in the museum boardroom and a beautiful young lady walked in. The gallery manager stood in a hurry and enthusiastically greeted her, “Welcome, Elaine Everette. It is such a pleasure for you to visit the gallery.” He then pulled out a chair for her to sit down but she remained standing and turned to Auden and me. This woman had manners and she made me smile at the way she stood her ground.

I turned to look at Auden and he looked star-struck. Clearing my throat, I extended my hand in greeting. “Hi, I’m Wade Malkiel. This is Auden Malkiel. We are the gallery curators. It's a pleasure to meet you, Elaine Everette.”

Auden snapped out of his trance and nodded. “Please have a seat, ma’am,” I pressed on.

She laughed without care. “Ma’am? Don’t make me sound too old. We are age-mates,” she joked.

The gallery manager looked displeased. I sat down and withdrew from further conversations. The floor was his anyway and he looked like someone who hated to be pushed aside. Elaine discussed the dinner plans as the manager presented the painting that would be presented.

“Mr. Winston, forgive me for saying this but your choice of paintings is a little old-fashioned. Do you have anything abstract and chic?” Elaine asked.

She must have caught him by surprise since his mouth remained wide open. I salvaged the situation by stating, “We have five new paintings from a young painter from Gozo. His work captures the beautiful City of Victoria. His paintings center on the beaches, the cathedral, and the Tas-Salvatur valley. The view is quite breathtaking, and his paintings come alive. Would you like to see them?”

“Yes, please,” Elaine responded enthusiastically.

From the corner of my eyes, I watched Mr. Winston's eyes squint in displeasure, but he immediately covered them up with a fake smile. The month that I had spent in the gallery made me realize he was a stuck-up b*stard who was lazy. He only sucked up to the elite class and was rude to the rest of us.

We all stood up and left the boardroom with Mr. Winston leading the way as he chatted with Elaine. I kept a distance and smacked Auden’s head. “What the hell is wrong with you b*stard? Can you focus?”

He turned to look at me and whispered, “She is the mayor’s daughter? She smells like heaven. Did you catch that scent?”

“Scent my a*s. Get a grip, Auden, and remember Pa’s warning,” I reminded him.

Pa had made us promise him never to mix with the elite society. He would say, “Just work hard and keep a distance. Focus on your life and you will have peace in your life.”

“I know. But she is beautiful, Wade. Don’t tell me you can’t see that?” Auden whispered.

I grabbed his collar and dragged him forward, fearing being scolded by Mr. Winston. We got to the curator department which had an open office. It gave us ample room to work and plan for the gallery. It was designed to display and compare art and paintings that would be used for events or displays.

Mr. Winston was already in it. He was presenting the five paintings to Elaine. Auden and I stood at the corner waiting like ducks. Mr. Winston must have felt that Auden was not a threat because he turned to me and instructed, “Wade, go to the library and get the reports of the last gala dinners.”

The damn b*stard was truly insecure. He wanted me out of the way. “Yes, sir.” I walked out of the curator department and headed to the library to fetch the reports.

Deep in thought, I failed to realize that someone was standing at the entrance of the library until I bumped into him. “I am so sor–” But the words were stuck midair. The words never came out. I thought Auden was star-struck but I was hit by a meteor. I stumbled back and stood staring shamelessly at him.

My body vibrated as our eyes clashed. He had deep chocolate eyes, and his hair was neatly brushed back. Lust, hunger, need, and want, hit at the same time. Emotions that had never been evoked by anyone.

He stared back at me and tilted his head in wonder as we stood toe to toe, standing at the same height. He was absolutely beautiful, and I was drawn to him. I tried to open my mouth to speak and no words came out. God knows how long I stood there staring at him and he did not break contact. He smiled and a dimple flashed on his left cheek. I felt like the wind had knocked me down and I closed my eyes to catch my breath.

When I opened my eyes, he was gone. I turned to look around and he was nowhere in sight. I racked my brain to recapture his look and knew for sure he was from the elite class.

“F*ck,” I cursed. Wade you b*stard. A few seconds ago, you were scolding Auden for being star-struck, I thought to myself. I exhaled and released a breath I did not realize I was holding.

I hurriedly rushed into the library to retrieve the documents for Mr. Winston. Back at the curator department, I found that Elaine had already left. I knew that Mr. Winston had just sent me away on purpose, but that purpose had given me a glimpse of an angel.

Auden noticed my zoned-out gaze and asked, “What the f*ck is wrong with you, Wade?”

“You would not believe me even if I told you. Let's get back to work,” I said, hoping I would soon get another glimpse of my angel.