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"I told you I wanted Anna here." Taehyung groaned into his phone, striding towards the elevator.
"Taehyung, please. Just this once. I know you can handle it for like a couple more hours."
"I need to meet Church today. It's an important commission." Taehyung sighed, before reaching out to press the button for the ground floor with his knuckles, his phone balanced between his shoulder and ear. He struggled with five paper bags and a cup of iced latte.
"I know. I'm so sorry, love. But she is handling Audrey's exhibition today." Said his manager, genuinely apologetic. Taehyung sighed again. He knew this came with not hiring an exclusive assistant for himself, but his bank balance seemed to cry at the thought. It was ridiculously expensive to employ a private assistant in NYC.
The doors closed.
"Fine." Taehyung squeezed his eyes shut for a moment. It felt like all he had been doing was sighing lately. His paintings were being displayed at the biggest art gallery his life had seen, but unfortunately Taehyung's very affluent and busy acquaintance, Olivia Church, who had commissioned him for his art before as well wanted to meet up today for another commission. This was the part, he thought, they didn't mention when you finally made it. He could just hope that when he explained to Olivia that he'd not be able to show up until evening, she would understand.
"Love you." The line was cut.
Taehyung shuffled the bags to free his fingers and slid the phone into his pocket. He looked out at the city—busy, uncaring. But somehow it never lost the warm undertone whenever Taehyung looked at it. Not on his first day here. Not today. Perhaps, he was biased because it was his dream. Had always been.
Taehyung took a sip of the latte. The doors opened and half-a-dozen people slid in, noise carrying its way inside easily. Taehyung excused his way out to the first floor and huffed. Some of his paintings were here. He could see other artists, being asked to pose in front of their paintings, followed around by their assistants, talked to by admirers. Quite a few people were crowding his paintings as well, clicking pictures.
Taehyung's heart swelled every time he saw people admiring his art. He felt even prouder when he remembered how he had struggled his way to where he was now. He had started getting into the elite circles. Being invited to galas. To some art auctions. He was getting there, slow and steady. Till then, he assuaged himself, he could work with an on-and-off assistant.
"Oh, Taehyung!" It was a fellow artist Taehyung was well acquainted with.
"Hey, Simon." The brunet grinned, as the taller man approached him. He had a crooked, toothy smile and a gentle brow.
"Where were you? I saw your paintings and thought you might be around. I scoured the whole floor and here you are." He said feigning disgruntlement.
Taehyung grinned sheepishly, and held up the bags. "Emily requested me to get her a few gift bags for her invitees–"
