BURRIED IN THE HEART OF DARKNESS
doubt. Liam's offer had lit a fire in my mind, a constant hum of what-ifs and maybes. But ever
m such an opportunity. Jenna had been adamant that I should take the deal, but even her enthusiasm
backing. It was him. His intensity, his presence, the way he looked
what unsettle
rtment, staring at a blank canvas. I needed space to think, to breathe.
and paint-splattered walls. But it was mine. It was the one place where I felt
f turpentine and fresh canvas filled the air as I set up my easel, squeezing bright bursts of color onto t
w, or what my future might look like if I said yes to his offer. All that mattered was the brush i
the outside worl
et. I ignored it at first, focusing on the curve of the brush as I
e out, expecting it to be Jenna checking in on me. Ins
Mer
conversation. I wasn't ready to face him, not yet. But ignoring him di
the line, smooth and confident as a
ing in front of me, my fingers still
st picture him sitting in his office, leaning back i
ion," Liam said, his tone measured. "Ha
of his question pressing down on me.
ig decision, but I don't make offers like this lightly, Isabella.
. It was almost suffocating, the way he spoke as
said, my voice soft.
replied. "But remember, the world mov
down my spine, a quiet reminder that while he was
d help if you could see the bigger picture. There's a charity gala tomorrow night-an event
guard by his sudden
nity for you to meet some of the people I work with, people who could become im
deeper into his world. But before I could protes
ou if I didn't think
ections, of high society, of people who could elevate my career to levels I had never imagined. And yet, the more I thought about it, the more I realized how out of place I felt. Could
dea of finally having my work seen by th
steady despite the knots for
ing the hint of a smile. "I'll have a
ing me standing in the middle of my studio, phone
n't own anything remotely appropriate for a high-society charity gala. My wardrobe was a mix of paint-splatte
ourse, had
n black dress I had pulled out with a look of disdain. "Th
of annoyance and insecurity. "I
. "Lucky for you, I do. I'm calling my st
mini salon. Jenna's stylist friend, Lila, swept in with an armful of desi
a said, giving me a once-over. "You've got gre
st into someone who could, at least on the surface, fit into Liam Mercer's world.
my features without making me look overdone. And the dress-Jenna had chosen a deep emerald gown that hugged my figure i
id, beaming with pride. "You
man who wore thousand-dollar dresses to exclusive events. I was just Isabella Wright, the girl who
that. Tonight, I had to be someone
d heads as it glided through the city streets. I sat in the back, try
light of the evening. As we pulled up to the entrance, I could see a line of luxury cars stretching down the dr
where people knew exactly how to navigate the social currents, where every word, every ge
ed my door, and I stepped out onto the red carpet. There were
es found mine immediately, and for a moment, the noise around me faded. There was something about the wa
his gaze unwavering. "Isabella," he said, his voi
steady my nerves. "Thank you," I managed to sa
dream. Crystal chandeliers hung from the ceiling, casting a soft, golden light over the room. Waiters
ed from magazine covers and business headlines. CEOs, philanthropists, and socialites-all o
These people didn't know me. They didn't care about my art.
rd. I couldn't help but marvel at how effortless it seemed for him, how comfortable he was in a room full of power players. He spoke their language, charmed them with a subtle
and, felt like a
s in exotic locales. Every now and then, someone would turn to me with a polite question, but it always felt like small talk, a courtes
breathe again. The grand event was overwhelming, but for a moment, I allowed myself to take it all in-the sparkling chandeliers, t
appeared at my side once more, h
he said, his voice cut
the glass he offered. "Just taking a
eyes searching mine. "I know. But
f-joking but also genuinely curio
serious. "You don't give your
feel like I was capable of more than I thought, but there was something unnerving about
de hair was perfectly styled, and her diamond necklace sparkled under the ballroom l
is arm in a gesture that was too familiar for my
nsion in his body that hadn't been there before. "V
o me, her smile tight. "A
belonged in this world-elegant, poised, and perfectly in control. I was the opposite, an ou
," Liam continued, his voic
't quite reach her ey
h, that she didn't think I belonged there. She spoke with Liam as if I wasn't even standing next to
e excused herself, leaving me and Li
o keep my tone casual, though the
ollowing her as she disappeared into the c
sit right with me. There was a history between them, that
subtle hostility of Victoria's presence. I couldn't shake the feelin
to gather my thoughts. "This is your world, isn't it?" I ask
pression unreadable. "It'
ink I can f
loser, his voice lowering. "I think you can
t was as if he saw something in me that I didn't fully understand, something tha
t my world, that I didn't truly belong here. Liam might bel
hand resting lightly on the small of m
t off guard. "Wh
ne smile that took me by
our of the gala fading behind us. Liam led me down a path lined with lanterns,
until all I could hear was the sound of our fo
y breaking the silence
ng under the moonlight. He turned to face me, his eyes refl
world, Isabella. It's not about fitting in. It's about creating something new. And you... y
he truly saw me. Not just as some artist with potential, but as someone who could s
s words settling deep in my c
ever leaving mine. "You can. An