ENDANGER

Chapter 1

Dean Night

I watch, as she stands and gazes at the painting that hung on the make-shift wall in front of her. The blond she was standing with, says something in her ear to which she smiles and nods and  turns back to look at the painting, as the blond walks away. I watch, as she sips the champagne from the sleek glass she holds, her gaze fixed on the colorful canvas, looking as if trying to devise its meaning. 

She was beautiful, stunning really, from where I stood, I could see the minimal make-up she wore and the simple light pink dress that layered her petite form. You could tell she didn't prefer to draw attention to herself, judging by the way she ignored the stares she was receiving from the men and the conversational advances she politely cut short when some of them tried to talk to her. She looked way more tempting than any woman I had ever seen before.  

She wasn't pale or tanned, she was just fair but not unnaturally so, her hair that reached the middle of her back, was so black, it looked blue under the light that hung above the painting and her eyes, those chocolate brown spheres, were different than anything I have ever seen. They were the most softest brown with a black ring around them, encased in long, thick black lashes. 

The softness of her eyes and lips, gave her an innocent look, but the dark colour of her hair and the lightly defined cheekbones that framed her face, gave her an ethereal air, the soft features maintained her look of innocence, but the sharp ones, made sure she didn't look naive.

I watch, as she lifts the glass of champagne to her soft and supple, pink lips and notice a ring on the third finger of her right hand. It wasn't a promise ring, I could tell that. It was simple, as she appears to be , a plain silver band with a single white pearl in the middle. She was different than everyone around her, and anyone I had ever seen, not just because of the unembellished way she had dressed to such an otherwise embellished event or by the way she wouldn't mingle with anyone in hopes of growing new business ties. There was something about her..... Something in her air, that set her apart.

She was, no doubt the most alluring woman I had ever laid my eyes on. 

She had captivated me since the moment I had seen her walk through the entrance. Something about her, had drawn me in, I had found myself unable to tear my gaze away from her. And by the way almost every man in the art gallery was looking and sneaking glances at her, I discovered I wasn't the only one. She wasn't oblivious to the attention she was receiving, in fact, it was quite the opposite. She seemed to know exactly the kind of effect she was having on everyone, she just politely ignored them. However, I didn't miss the way she would occasionally squirm at the attention, she was, though, very skilled at covering her discomfort.

I see Kenneth Hayes, a conniving, two-bit crook, who used to be involved in the Mexican drug trade business, go up to her in hopes of conversing with the beauty who had captivated every man's attention at the event, mine included. I look at her to see how she would react to him and see that as soon she turns to face him to reply to his greeting, she immediately tenses, but covers it masterfully well. Why had she tensed? She seemed to know who he was, or maybe her instincts were good and could sense trouble. She says something in reply to his greeting, a soft smile gracing her sweet pink lips, and moves on to the next painting . 

I watch in amusement, seeing the hopeless and embarrassed expression take over Kenneth's face after being politely rejected by the woman, whom he no doubt, thought would be easily beguiled.

My gaze follows her, as she walks from painting to painting, this time, she doesn't look very interested in them, she just merely glances at the colored canvases. As I look closely, I see her previously relaxed shoulders, now tensed in anticipation. Yes, she had sensed troubled from Kenneth Hayes. She was, indeed, a smart one.