Page 47 of The Maverick (WaterFyre Rising #7)

CHAPTER FORTY-TWO

VANESSA

For the next few days, Attikus worked at the museum and spent time in his home office. He took breaks and visited me a few times in my studio. We fell into a natural routine like a real married couple. Today, he was busy at the museum preparing for an upcoming business trip.

I was close to finishing the painting for the First Lady.

All I needed was her face. She mentioned on the order form that the portrait didn’t need to look exactly like her.

She wanted a unique version of her that was stylistic, which meant I could paint any woman as long as I added aspects of her.

I had the figure and even a regal gown painted, but the face needed more time.

When I held my paintbrush, I couldn’t make myself start. The artist’s block had kicked in, and I needed to take a break. I looked at the time on my phone—one hour before Gigi and Ellen visited the store.

I washed my brushes and left them in a container to dry. Then I went into our bedroom to change out of my painting clothes and put on a floral dress. Our bedroom. I’d been sleeping with him in his bedroom. The man was a sex god, but he was also attentive and tender with me afterward.

I hadn’t given him an answer about being his official girlfriend.

We were a couple—whether it was as boyfriend and girlfriend or as husband and wife.

On paper, we were married, but behind the scenes, we were dating.

Everything blended together, and regardless of how I defined it, I was with him.

Girlfriend and wife became the same thing.

To an outsider, that might seem confusing.

Perhaps one day, I’d want a real marriage. But for now, I was content.

Attikus was helping me carry an enormous burden, making my life easier.

He’d discovered that Leo Rossi—the man I had hired to rescue my mom from prison—and his associates were part of The Trogyn.

The girls and I had discussed them at our last gathering.

It seemed everyone was working for this crime organization. How far was their reach?

Emmanuel was dead, and the trainer who hadblackmailed him was missing. Attikus had located the video used to threaten me and said the quality was poor. Regardless, they couldn’t prove it was me. The video showed I was defending myself from a violent man—a man who belonged to a wealthy family.

So now I didn’t have to worry about people knowing I was bothNessa Lambert and Vanessa Lam. Attikus’s legal team was prepared to defend me at all costs. He was doing so much for me, but I feared that something bad was about to happen. I didn’t want him to get hurt because of me.

Before I headed to the gallery, I stopped by the greenhouse to check on my plants.

My heart burst with happiness at seeing the little sprouts in the trays and pots.

The hanging pipes sprayed a gentle mist onto the plants.

I could tell hidden pipes were built into the tables where the trays sat because I could hear the water traveling.

This life growing in his garden was like my feelings for Attikus—each day, it grew more and more.

I was in love with this man. My heart raced every time I saw him.

In the morning. At night. I didn’t realize love could be so powerful.

It truly was transformative. I could see it in the colors I chose for my paintings.

I could see the change in me—more hopeful about life.

ButI was afraid to tell him all this when his emotional state was unstable. He was under extreme pressure. He had a vendetta to focus on, an employee who was still missing, and a crime organization to destroy. And he was helping my mom and me. That was a lot for one person to take on.

Sighing, I exited the greenhouse, walked into the house, slipped on my purse, and grabbed the box with the twoterrariums I’d made for Gigi and Ellen. I slid into one of Attikus’s Land Rovers and headed out.

When I arrived, several patrons were in the gallery. I had a comprehensive collection of paintings in the back room for when inventory ran low. I’d have to produce more art soon.

As I entered my office and set the terrariums down, a thought occurred to me. What if I sold these here? I’d never been to a gallery that sold items other than paintings. I could organize a section in the front display to showcase novelty plants and pottery.

“Hey, Nessa!” Willow knocked on the door. “There’s a customer who has a question about the abstract painting.”

“I’ll be right out. Thank you.”

I approached the older woman and answered several questions about my journey as an artist. She purchased the abstract painting A Drip of Time for her new vacation home in the Cape. As the woman paid and signed the documents to pick up the painting at a later time, Gigi and Ellen entered.

“Hi, Nessa!” Ellen gave me a hug and a gorgeous bouquet of flowers. “For you, from us.”

Gigi hugged me and glanced around. “Your gallery is gorgeous. Thank you for having us.”

They seemed exceptionally friendly compared to last week. Perhaps Attikus had spoken to them.

“I have something for you too. Have a seat.” I led them to a table where I usually discussed customized artwork with my customers. “Be right back.”

I brought out the terrariums and placed them on the table.

Gigi looked at them and gasped. “Those are gorgeous. Where did you get them?”

“This one is for you.” I gave Gigi a terrarium in a glass container shaped like an abstract canoe.“I made it.”

“You made it?” Ellen asked.

“I studiedbotany when I was in college. I love plants, and these give me a reason to work with them again. I hope you like this one.”

Ellen’s terrarium was inside a round glass bowl with an opening on the side.

“I’ll be back in a moment.” I walked back into my office, grabbed my laptop, and brought it back to the table. “Would you like to see the wedding pictures? We just got them.”

Ellen nodded eagerly. “I’m dying to see them.”

I placed the laptop in front of them. “Take your time. I have to help Willow with something.”

“Don’t worry about us. Do what you need to do,” Gigi said. “Thank you for the terrariums. You didn’t have to do that.”

“I know, but I wanted to. Thank you for the flowers. I need to go get a vase for them.”

After speaking to another customer who wanted to meet me, I got a vase, added water, and placed the beautiful flowers inside. The white daylilies and lilac irises looked stunning.

I placed the vase on the desk and sat down at the table next to Gigi.

“The pictures are mesmerizing,”Gigi said with tears in her eyes. “He looks so happy. I’ve never seen him like this.” She reached for my hand. “You brought him back to life, Nessa.I’m sorry if I was angry or cold with you.”

“No worries.” I smiled. “You’re his mom, so you have every right to worry. You and I didn’t know each other well then, but that’s going to change.”I placed my other hand on top of hers. “Know that I won’t hurt him. I love him.”

My heart thundered at the admission. The power of the words filled the space with immense joy.

Gigi cried and embraced me. “If his mom were still alive, she would be so happy.” She drew back and looked at me. “Susan and I were good friends.”

“You guys make a gorgeous couple.” Ellen dabbed her eyes. “My li’l bro is all grown up.”

I didn’t know what had changed from last week, but I welcomed it. I was sitting with my mother and sister-in-law, having a wonderful conversation. This day had turned out better than I could have imagined.

While Gigi examined the terrarium from different angles, I said, “You know my real name isn’t Nessa, correct?”

“That’s your artist’s name.” She lifted a shoulder. “Kind of like an author’s pen name. How would you like us to address you?”

“Nessa is best for now. Thank you.”

“This terrarium is stunning and so unique,” Ellen said. “Have you thought of making them to sell?”

“Great minds think alike.” I beamed. “I thought that just now in my office.” With hope thrumming inside me,I stood and gestured to an area by the wide window.

“I could set up a display there for people to see when they walk by. The gallery could offer unique plants and other art besides paintings. What do you think?”

“That’s a splendid idea,” Gigi said. “I know many people who love terrariums and plants. I’ll send them this way. Just let me know when you’re ready.”

“Not everyone can afford expensive original art, but they can buy plants in unique containers,” Ellen said.

“Or smaller works from various artists,” I added.

“Exactly.” Gigi smiled. “People love unique things. You can sell these terrariums for a higher price than other places because you’re the artist.”

“I agree.” Ellen held hers up. “I love this so much. It’s like a little world.”

“Thank you.” I clasped my hands together. “I’m excited about this new addition.” I’d reach out to Shauna Casey, the artist who made the glass containers, for a quote for more orders.

“Thank you for having us,” Gigi said. “I know Attikus will travel for business soon. When he returns, come over for dinner.”

“I would love that.”

They stayed until they had to leave to meet up with some friends.

“If you need anything, call Ellen or me, okay?” Gigi looked at me as though she knew something about me that I didn’t. Despite that, the warmth in her eyes made my day. “We’re family now.”

“Same goes for you and Ellen. If you need anything, call or text.”

When they left, I got a call from M? . I didn’t tell her about the change regarding her escape. Attikus was still working on it, and I didn’t want to worry her.

“How’s everything going?” she asked in a tone that made me smile.

“I’m dating him.”

“I’m so happy to hear that,” she said. “He’s a lucky man to be with my daughter. I can’t wait to meet him.”

“I think you’ll like him.”

“I know I will,” she said with so much conviction.

“How do you know?”

“Because I trust my daughter’s judgment.” She sighed. “And I trust God to guide us along the way.”

My mom wasn’t a social media person, so she probably didn’t know about my fake marriage. She would have asked if she’d heard. I didn’t want to make her worry by giving her unnecessary information.

We caught up on life. She told me about her friends, Sheila and Josephine, who were taking online classes. Mom wanted to get her chemistry degree just because. Sheila and Josephine were doing well in their business and accounting courses.

Before we hung up, I told her not to worry about anything and that everything was going well.

But I was worried about Attikus. How was he going to get her out successfully? If he got caught, his career would be over. I couldn’t live with that.