The Mafia Queen ELizabeth

i

gn

ign th

n it hanging in my dining room." Mr. Jackson said, bypassing the

gn it a

my mind. Everything was settled; I only needed his signature to seal the

used, but this one would be mine. It felt like so much more than a sale to me. It was the validation that I had done the right thing. That taking this chance and following my dreams was

rking it over and over again. No matter how many hours I put into it, it never looked done to me. Even as it hung in the gallery for the viewing tonight, it still rubbed me the wrong way. It wa

the pen sweep across the bottom

'd done it. He'd b

o seeing what else you come up with. Who knows? I might be in the market for ano

. When I graduated with my degree in art history, neither my mother nor I ever thought I would have a career that would generate this kind

I was, I gave Mr. Jackson a confident sm

play. He appreciated art of any kind, but for whatever reason, it was my work that he was drawn to. I spent hours letting him pick my brain, talking about how each piece came to fruition. Whenever he was in, he always insisted on coming b

with me. It means so much more knowing where your vision came from." He said. "Now, p

d champagne and appetizers were being survived by the tray. A few of our resident artists had shown up to talk with potential clients, and so far, everything was going well. This

contagious, and she had a special way of getting everyone around her excited about whatever she was excited about. She was so good at the personal aspect of this, and we made a good team.

yes, she was whimsical and quirky and had chosen an art degree because it required the least amount of science classes. She was only dependable to those she loved, and the girl wouldn't know the concept of a schedule if I hit her over the head with it. I, on the other hand, lived and died by my planner,

than most. We'd go weeks with barely a customer or two, and as rent spiked, we agonized over whether we'd even be

soon." Mr. Jackson leaned down and kissed my

wing her arms around me and squeezing so tightly I thought she migh

n my dream all of my life. "It still doesn't feel real. I tho

nning." Jane grinned, grabbing two small

t suspiciously smelt l

s tequila! But I can get you

like a ter

terrible idea." Ja

abbed a glass of wine and put the

tonight. I already feel so ne

e all of this is over, we're go

ng crowd. I recognized a few of the faces, but most of them were new. The front door opened and the c

es and whispering amongst themselves. Everything about them was intimidating, from their dark hair and partially hidde

drawing like it was just an ordinary day for him. The attention didn't seem to bother him one bit. He enjoyed it. The other men followed him from painting t

ings for several minutes with an undeterred stare. For a brief second, I thought abo

had been standing at my painting. "He's one of the biggest real est

o get giddy or love-struck over a boy. That was another glaring difference between Jane and I.

eyes, slappin

m the brochure?" I sugges

been dying for an excuse to go ta

g a brochure to the first man, and another who had now joined him. She was talking

d I immediately felt unarmed. His eyes were as dark as his hair and felt like they were piercing right through me. Even from across the room, I could feel the intensity in

urned toward another group of women and

or." One of our regular clients

e is so..." I started to delve right into my speech when I felt a hand

one was giddy. She moved in between Maria Corsen and me, not giving me m

I headed towa