Dante's Love (18+)

Chapter 11

Nothing could have prepared me for the stunning pieces in the grand room.

I immediately headed for the art pieces on display while Dante followed closely, his palm still pressed firmly on my back.

Servers offered us endless champagne and fancy little treats. However, I was too enamoured with the artworks.

Dante stayed silent beside me as I excitedly bounced from piece to piece. I finally stopped at the last artwork.

It was a beautiful painting of the Greek Goddess - Persephone.

The artist made the Goddess a pure epitome of unforgettable beauty. I tried adverting my eyes away from the painting. However, despite my efforts, I always find myself right back to it, transfixed by the artist's brushes on the canvas.

I squinted at the label on the stand holding the painting. It was done by an artist named Elio Agosti and it was one of the few paintings up for the auction tonight.

I sighed in disappointment. It probably costed thousands and I knew I did not have any money lying around to bid for it. I was hoping that it was a museum piece so that I was able to come back and see it again.

Dante soon pulled me away from the alluring painting and ushered me to a table nearer to the stage.

He pulled my chair closer to him and placed an arm over the back of my chair. A few other people joined us at our round table. However, I was too distracted with how close Dante was to pay them any mind.

The lights of the grand room slowly dimmed and a familiar face took the stage. I glanced up in surprise as Luke walks to the stand confidently.

He was dressed in a sharp suit with his hair gelled back. He still hasn't spotted Dante or I. But, the dark adonis behind me has. His arm left the back of my seat. He placed his palm on my thigh, squeezing it dangerously.

I was left feeling breathless as I tried to focus on Luke's speech. I yelped quietly as Dante's hands inched higher. Luckily, we were hidden under the white, long table cloth for anyone to realise what we were doing.

Regaining some form of control, I push Dante's hands away. I huffed in exasperation as his hands returned to its place on my lap.

Ignoring the brooding male, I solely focused on Luke who was doing a great job in warming up the audience with his jokes.

I laughed along with the others as Luke finishes up with his last joke. I ignored the glare of the male behind me. His hand was still pressed firmly on my thigh.

If I cant stop it, ignore it. Right?

Luke finally moved on the to main task for the night. The auction of the artwork.

The grand room was soon filled with joyous laughter as people bid against one another. My mouth dropped at the first artwork - a detailed stone sculpture of an asian bride in the 1800s.

It went up to a quarter of a million dollars. My original estimate of the cost of the artworks here were way off.

Luke went through a few more of the artwork before finally showcasing the one that I have been looking at.

The Greek Goddess caught everyone's eye and the whole room fell into silence.

"Wow. Haha. What an extraordinary painting." Luke laughed nervously, trying to get everyone's attention back.