Page 5 of A Monster's Obsession

“No, I just wanted to make sure everything was going okay. We’ve had a lot of interest tonight. Almost all of the pieces have sold!”

Bambi visibly relaxed, but she continued to look around nervously. I’m not sure what was up with her, but she was safe here. I don’t know all the specifics of her story, but you always know when someone is running from something. And Bambi Laurence-Vásquez was definitely hiding something. I just hoped that she would trust in our friendship enough to tell me if she ever needed help.

“There’s a customer that was asking about theTree,”Bambi pointed at the man, “I’m sure he’s ready to buy,” she smiled at me as she walked toward the blond man with striking blue eyes. TheTreewas one of my favorite pieces of work. It was an expression of how I viewed women to be the root of all the world. The vibrant browns swirled with the golden greens and midnight blues to create a soulful woman. Her body was the trunk, and her hair the leaves.Mother Earth.

I was brought out of my musings when I say my bestie from across the room. “Oh! There you are, Raven! I’ve been looking all over for you!” I exclaimed, happy to see her. I wasn’t sure if she would be able to make tonight’s opening with everything that had happened to her recently. But from her and her husband’s looks, it seemed as if they were getting along great after their unconventional beginning. Raven finally looked happy, and I couldn’t be more relieved.

“Hey, Sash! I’m so happy to see you! Congrats, girl!” Raven said with a proud grin.

“Thank you, Rae! I was so nervous, but it looks like almost all of my art has sold.”

“Wow! That’s awesome, sweetie!” We hugged one another in excitement. Raven had been my biggest supporter when it came to my art.

“I know, right! Hopefully, I’ll get to meet the buyers. After all, they are helping me with my goal of buying this place instead of renting it.” When Raven got some of her trust fund last year, she offered to help me buy this place. But people were always using Raven for her money, and I didn’t want to be in that category. It wasn’t her responsibility to help me, besides I was capable of owning this place myself.

“So, you want to own this place? I think it would be a great buy.” Lennox smiles down at me, and I flush. I didn’t realize how much he and his brother looked alike until this moment.

“Yes, the building itself is a work of art. I love showing my pieces here.” I respond after I gather my composure. Raven seemed like she was actually in love. Her face was glowing as she looked up at Lennox, and I couldn’t help but smile at the couple, wondering just how much Raven will need to tell me at our next happy hour meet up.

“Nice set-up you have here,” Before the wedding, I hadn’t heard that voice in over two years, but even then, I’d known I would never forget it.Monster.

“What are you doing here?” I glared at the man who dared to encroach on my happy place. He wasnotsupposed to be here. I knew for a fact he was supposed to return home to the states because Raven had mentioned it in passing the one time we’d talked on the phone after the wedding.

“I came to admire your work, of course.” Sawyer’s wicked smile reminded me of our time together. A time I promised myself, I would forget. It was too painful to remember such a happy time knowing that I had to give it up—thereasonsI had to give it up.

“I didn’t realize you two were so familiar with one another.” Raven stated with a curious expression in her gray eyes. At that moment, I felt ashamed. I never told a soul about my time with Sawyer, not even my best friend.

“Oh!Sashdidn’t tell you. Raven, you’ve practically been replaced as her best friend.” I frowned at Sawyer because he was never so petty in the past. But I guess my leaving affected him more than I thought it would.

“Uh, no. Sasha hadn’t mentioned it,” Raven looked at me with an arched brow, and I looked away. For once in my life, I was able to keep a secret. Usually, I couldn’t hold water when it came to keeping a secret. However, my time with Sawyer was something that stayed close to my heart. I didn’t want to share that with anyone, not even Raven.

“Raven and Lennox are newlyweds, Sawyer. I would never interrupt Rae to complain about her bullheaded brother-in-law that doesn’t know how to mind his damned business.” I ball my hands into fists, frustrated because Sawyer called me out, and I didn’t want to talk about us. It would lead to conversations that I knew we couldn’t have.

“You call me bullheaded after I just purchased all of your pieces.” Sawyer shakes his head in mock disappointment, “Some people are simply ungrateful.”

“Y-you did what?” I gasp my hands fly to my chest in complete shock. Why the hell would he do that?

“Ipurchased your artwork.Sweet Sasha.” I recognize the dangerous growl in his voice, and the nickname he wielded like a threat. That tone in his voice used to make my panties wet because I knew what was coming. Now though, I wasn’t so sure.

I vaguely hear Raven and Lennox make a hasty retreat at the awkward exchange, but Sawyer didn’t leave. He just stood staring at me.

“What do you want from me?” I bravely asked.

“Everything.”

***

I was all discombobulated after my exchange with Sawyer. It was easy to forget him when he wasn’t standing in front of me, reminding me of what I’d given up. I just hoped he would change his mind about pursuing me, and let me go back to my life. I couldn’t focus when I knew he was around. I couldn’t trustmyMonster, and I couldn’t trust myself not to tell him the truth behind why I left.

But I wouldn’t be deterred by his gorgeous face, sparkling emerald green eyes, or persistence. I had to leave him once, but I can’t be sure if I’m strong enough to leave him again. And deep in my heart, I knew I would fold if he kept showing up and asking questions. I may have been able to keep a secret from Raven, but I was never able to keep anything from Sawyer. The only reason he didn’t know much about me was because he never asked.

Our time together started as a fling. I was in New York, working as an apprentice to Jon Lucca Espinosa, a world-renowned art curator. I was twenty-four-years-old, wide-eyed, and naïve. It was my first big job in the art world, and I was excited to have the opportunity so fresh out of college.

I had only been off of Founder’s for college, but living in New York was the first time I’d been completely on my own. I was living my best life in the big city. Meeting new people and finding my way. Then one day, I met Sawyer Nash.

Sawyer was older than me, worldly, and sophisticated. He was mysterious and dark, and I was completely enraptured by him from the beginning. He was a man that knew what he wanted and got what he wanted. And he wanted me. And truth be told I wanted him.

But after two months of infatuation and pure lust, it all came to an abrupt end. I wouldn’t ever be the same. So, I came back home and started over. I left New York a different woman. I was determined to make my life my own, and although it took me two years to get to a good place, I was finally there. I had enough for the down payment to buy the building where I housed my gallery, and I was determined to move on in my life without Sawyer Nash.