Bold!

The medical team placed Olly and Rogan on the stretchers. As they began to take them away for treatment, Kiba stopped them for some time. He pointed toward the painting in which the woman stood naked under the waterfall.

"You claimed she was a slut for enjoying a bath in the open," Kiba eyed Olly and continued, "What you don't understand is that she was hiding from people like you!"

Meghan, Sarah, and others were bewildered.

Sarah thought of his earlier words about how the painting depicted the woman washing away the ugliness of the world. Now he further claimed she was hiding from people.

"What does he mean?" Sarah wondered. Her interest in art was strong, so she knew that painting was more than what the eyes perceive.

"To lust after the opposite sex is natural!" Kiba's eyes were on the painting as he said, "But what's not natural is to hide lust under the guise of morality!"

Kiba looked around, his gaze scanning the judgmental men.

"The eyes of men would blaze with lust, and yet they will pretend to be sages! They would hypocritically label women as sluts while feasting on their beauty!

"The waterfall was one place where women were free of sanctimonious society!"

"Unlike us, the waterfall doesn't judge her!"

Kiba focused back on the woman in the painting.

"She has hidden from society, and yet, the freedom she now enjoys surpasses that of the royalty!"

In the hall, everyone contemplated his words. Many of them knew that art was not what eyes see but what the heart perceives.

"The most awful ugliness lies in the hearts of men!" Kiba concluded.

He then signaled the medical team to take away Olly and Rogan.

Sarah was awestruck by the conclusion Kiba has reached. His words were outlandish but when she thought of the time the painting was created and the people of that era; she felt he was definitely close to the truth!

She couldn't help but remember what the great painter, Vincent van Gogh, once said: "I dream my painting and I paint my dream."

"Only a dreamer could understand another dreamer!"

*****

A few hours later.

Close Horizon has a world-class private beach, offering more than a beautiful sea view. Its ambient, white sand was a perfect place for a relaxing walk, especially for the couples as they loved to dig their toes in the sand and enjoy the feel.

The best part was perhaps the tanning one can get while savoring the sight of clear water...

On a beach lounge chair, Meghan rested, clad in a seductive red bikini. Kiba rubbed lotion on her gorgeous body, caressing her curves and teasing her weak spots.

A few minutes later, her breathing turned heavy as her body wasn't able to handle the excitement building up inside her.

Kiba stopped and cleaned his hands with a towel. He then asked, "Would you like to have a drink?"

"Yes!" Meghan managed to nod. She wanted something else but for now, perhaps a drink would suffice.

Kiba stepped towards the drink counter. Nearby, Sarah and her friends were in the middle of a conversation when they noticed him.

"Look at those six-pack abs and powerful shoulders!" A friend of Sarah pointed at his shirtless body.

"He's blessed with an awe-inspiring body!" Another woman added, her eyes glittering. "Looks, strength, and a bad-boy attitude! He has got everything a woman wants!"

Sarah was amused by her friends' words. She has been acquainted with them for a long time so she knew most of them had extramarital flings.

"What a woman truly wants is love!" Sarah remarked with a smile. Affairs might be exciting but they were just short-lived fun.

"You are always so preachy!" one of her friends complained, "Once in a while, life needs excitement! Otherwise, it is no different than death!"

"I will get a drink while you discuss excitement!" Sarah excused herself. She walked to the drink counter.

"One margarita!" Sarah placed her order at the same time as Kiba.

Kiba and Sarah looked at each other in surprise.

"Please serve her first," Kiba requested.

"No. I can wait," Sarah declined his polite gesture and said, "Instead, let me buy you a drink as a thank you for yesterday's help."

"That was hardly any help," Kiba replied with a smile. "But I won't refuse when a beautiful woman buys me a drink!"

"Are you always like this?" Sarah asked.

"Always?" Kiba seemed surprised.

"I have seen you on the news."

Sarah didn't say she owned shares in SBC News nor that she was partly responsible for the 'breaking news' regarding him.

"Ah!"

Kiba's eyes flashed with understanding.

"News isn't always the truth. In today's age, we have journalists who would readily sell their souls to please those in power. So don't believe everything you read or hear!"

"Surely you must have a grudge against the media for you to use such harsh words."

Sarah wasn't offended by his words.

"Grudge? Not really," Kiba has a smile on his face as he replied, "If anything, I'm grateful for news has brought some wonderful changes in my life!"

"Wonderful changes?" Sarah was curious.

"That's a secret I can't share!" Kiba replied.

"You are a strange man," Sarah noted as she thought of the events at the art exhibition, "Earlier you were a man admiring art, but now you are just like what your reputation claims."

"I guess you misunderstood me then!" Kiba said while taking the drinks from the counter.

"Misunderstood?" Sarah was surprised.

"Yes!" Kiba nodded, "I was always like this! A simple man who appreciates and admires beauty regardless of its form!"

"That's some interesting philosophy!" Sarah couldn't control herself from smiling.

"That is not a philosophy but my nature," Kiba looked at her in the eyes and said, "To be honest, I am currently admiring you."

"Oh really?" Sarah was beguiled by his words.

"Yes! You have a beautiful smile!" Kiba scanned her bikini body before continuing, "And the most tempting tan lines I have ever seen!"

Sarah was caught off guard by his last statement. Before she could rebuke him, he walked away.

"He sure is bold!"