Chapter Eleven

Daniel

At this moment, I found myself caught in a whirlwind of confusion, and I struggled to comprehend my own behavior and what was driving me to act in such an unusual way.

Normally, I would have easily dismissed and blacklisted an artist like Bella. I wouldn't have wasted my time attending this meeting. Yet, here I was, behaving like a petty child and complaining about a painting that, in all honesty, wasn't even that significant.

I felt a tinge of embarrassment at my pettiness, but strangely, I couldn't bring myself to put an end to it. It wasn't that I could not control myself; rather, I consciously chose not to do so.

Ever since Bella reappeared at the exhibition, my thoughts had become muddled, particularly when it came to her. All I wanted was to capture her attention by any means necessary. If resorting to pettiness and irritability was the only way to keep her focused on me, then I was willing to endure it.

Initially, my intention on entering the room was to meet with Mary and explain that the issue with Bella had been a mere misunderstanding. I had planned to leave it at that and move on, letting go of whatever turmoil was consuming my mind. However, the moment I laid eyes on Bella walking in, that plan went straight out the window.

"You know, Daniel, I did discuss the matter of the painting with her, and I have to agree with you that her behavior may have been excessive considering you only wanted to purchase a painting. However, you must understand that there are procedures to be followed, and she couldn't simply disregard them or change her plans just because you desired the painting," Mary explained.

It was evident that the reason she wasn't allowing Bella to speak was probably to prevent any further escalation between us, sensing that I was likely getting on Bella's nerves.

"Before she can sell you that painting, we have to wait until the ongoing exhibitions are over. Only then can she provide you with a price, which you can decide whether to pay or not. I understand that she should have clarified this to you, but knowing how persistent you can be, I'm certain you didn't give her a chance to explain. You probably tried to offer her more money, which understandably irritated her and led us to this situation today," Mary added, and I saw no point in denying it since it was the truth.

"As I mentioned earlier, I apologize for being overly insistent, and if she feels disrespected by me in any way, I also apologize for that. The truth is, I simply wanted to acquire the painting quickly because I didn't want someone else to purchase it before me. I also had the impression that she wasn't serious about it not being for sale and that her refusal was because she didn't want to sell it to me," I explained honestly, and Mary let out a soft chuckle.

"Why would you even think that, Daniel? Do you realize what a significant moment it is for an artist when someone expresses interest in buying their work, especially when that someone has a reputation like yours?" she rhetorically asked. "I just wish that both of you could have handled the situation better. This animosity is completely unnecessary. Daniel, if you are so keen on obtaining the painting, you'll have to exercise patience until the exhibition is over and all the artworks are available for sale," she added, and I sighed.

"I don't want this to sound like I'm trying to pick a fight, but I need to ask you, Mr. Russo, and I expect an honest answer. Can you do that?" Bella suddenly interjected after remaining silent for a while.

"I promise to be completely honest with you, as long as your question remains respectful and doesn't cross any boundaries," I replied, and a faint smile appeared on her lips.

"What is the true reason behind your interest in that painting, Mr. Russo? I know you're probably going to attribute it to my explanation or claim that you suddenly developed an interest in it, but I don't believe you. I need a more believable explanation before I can feel comfortable offering it up for sale to you," she calmly stated, and I smiled.

She was a challenging person to please, which meant I had to tread carefully in my response. I couldn't reveal that I had met her before and that I was intrigued by her, as that was the genuine reason behind my desire for her painting.

"Are you planning to respond to my question, or will you continue staring at me like that because you have nothing to say?" she inquired.

"I'm interested in you, Miss Bella," I suddenly replied, relishing the amused expressions on both women's faces.

"What did you just say?" she asked calmly.

"I believe I was clear enough for you to hear me. The answer to your question, Miss Bella, is simple. I persisted in wanting your painting because I have an interest in you. I wanted to establish some sort of connection between us, and I thought purchasing one of your artworks would be the best way to achieve that," I explained, noticing her eyes widening and her face paling.

I had been honest about my interest in her, but I knew I couldn't reveal that just yet. I didn't want to come across as some sort of obsessive individual, so I decided to tease her a bit and elicit a reaction before clarifying what I truly meant by my statement.

"Mary, can you believe this guy? Does he even listen to himself? What does that even mean? Have you lost your mind?" Bella hissed, visibly enraged, and I let out a weary sigh.

"Allow me to offer you some advice, Bella. Not everyone possesses quick wit or the ability to discern multiple meanings from words. Perhaps you should take a moment to calm down and consider alternative interpretations of my words that do not align with your assumptions," I suggested, and she scoffed in disbelief.

"Save me a load of nonsense, Daniel. We're not close enough for jokes like that, and I would appreciate it if, next time, you simply respond directly to a question instead of resorting to distasteful humor," she hissed, and I couldn't help but roll my eyes at her response.

"Are you two going to continue this childish banter indefinitely? I don't know about you, but I'm waiting for you to resolve this so I can order a meal and satisfy my hunger. How about you both do me a favor and put an end to this unnecessary misunderstanding as soon as possible?" Mary interjected, her frustration evident. As for me, I was secretly enjoying this exchange.

Bella was undeniably exasperating, but her particular brand of annoyance amused me. I found her reactions quite entertaining.

"My apologies, Mary, but could you kindly ask Mr. Russo here to provide a clear answer to the question I asked? That is the only way I can consider him as a potential buyer for my work. Selling my art to someone who fails to appreciate or understand its value is not something I'm inclined to do. You're in the fashion industry and other businesses, so let me ask you this: Would you willingly hand over your hard work to someone whom you know won't ever appreciate it?" Bella inquired.

"I believe this is where our issue lies. I understand that you have a dislike for me, and I might have given you the impression that I disliked paintings, which isn't entirely untrue. However, I have never directly approached an artist to acquire their work until now. I'm not implying that it holds any special significance, but my point is that you took the time to explain it to me, which is a first I have allowed. I simply wanted to use your painting as a means to explore and understand the world of art," I responded.

"Your work may not be the best or the most unique out there, but for someone who doesn't have a natural affinity for paintings, I was curious to experience a personal and sentimental connection to a piece. However, since you are hesitant to sell it to me, believing that I won't appreciate it, then I suppose that's fine. I will no longer persist in this matter because I don't want you to label me as disrespectful," I concluded.

"Mary, it has been a pleasure having this conversation, but I'm afraid I have pressing work matters to attend to. Unfortunately, I won't be able to continue our discussion. Bella, I apologize if I have inadvertently disrespected you, and Mary, I apologize for any disrespect towards your student. To make amends, I would be more than happy to treat both of you to lunch as a gesture of goodwill for bringing you out here," I informed them hastily, realizing that I had an important meeting to attend. I knew that if I missed it, Ariana would undoubtedly nag me incessantly.

"Thank you for meeting with us, Daniel," Mary responded, and I offered her a small smile.

"It's not a problem, my friend. And Bella, let me clarify what I meant earlier about being interested in you. It's not in the way you're thinking. When I say I'm interested in a person, it typically refers to their work, and it signifies a desire to collaborate or invest in their talent. Have a wonderful day," I quickly clarified, rising from my seat. I exchanged a brief hug with Mary before making my way out of the establishment.