In Love With Mr. Billionaire

CHAPTER 42- THIS IS JUST THE BEGINNING

"It's so good to see you again," I said, breaking the hug.

"We missed you," Aunt Jenna gave me a motherly smile.

"Me too," I replied.

Dylan excused himself to attend to the other guests while I introduced Aaron to my aunt and uncle. Of course, they had already heard of him, though their knowledge of him was strictly restricted to his business endeavors.

"I've heard a lot of things about you, both good and bad. But now I'm meeting you as my little girl's husband. I hope you take good care of her," Uncle William forwarded his hands to shake with Aaron. The underlying threat in his voice was loud and clear.

They loved me just as much as they loved Dylan. There were times when they favored me more than him during our childhood. They had made constant attempts to get back in touch with mom and me for several months, after we had stopped all contact with them, afraid of James' threats. They had tried to contact me after mom was gone. None of it had made a difference because James had weaved the lies too deep. Their efforts hadn't reached me and it wouldn't have made a difference because I was too scared of him to go against him.

"You don't have to worry about her, sir. I will," Aaron stated confidently.

Uncle William smiled at the response. After everything that had happened with my mom, he needed that reassurance.

After a brief chat with them, Aaron took my hand to guide me to the dance floor. We had barely moved out of my aunt and uncle's company when someone called for Aaron.

"Mr Woodwords!" Said the man making his way towards us through the swarm of people.

He shook hands with Aaron and then turned to greet me with a polite smile.

"Good evening, Mrs Woodwords."

"Good evening," I replied with a smile, waiting for the introductions that were due.

"Caroline, this is Mr Drake Martin. He owns some of the most famous art galleries in New York," Aaron said.

"That's wonderful. I'd love to visit them someday," I said and shook hands with Mr Martin.

"Any time you want, Mrs Woodwords. It'll be an amazing experience to work with you."

Work? With me?

Not knowing how to react to that, I kept my mouth shut and simply smiled back at him. When I looked at Aaron, he didn't seem confused or surprised about it.

"We'll contact you with the details soon," he said to Mr Martin. "Please excuse us for now." With that, he took my hands in his again and pulled me along for a dance.

I wrapped my arms around his neck while his hands automatically went around my waist, pulling me closer, more than what was required for a dance. "What was that?" I raised my brows in question, still confused about Mr Martin's 'work with you' part.

Aaron smiled at me. A mischievous smile that made me frown. "Let the world welcome a new artist," he said.

"What? Me? I'm not good."

"You are, Caroline."

"I'm not. And I'm not ready," I asserted.

Every artist dreamed of a day like this. To be given a chance for their creations to be put out in the world, to be admired by people, to be praised. But it's been only months since I got back to painting again, and I didn't think I was ready yet. There was still so much to learn, so much to practice, so much to discover, and only experience could give that to me. It will need time and patience. Painting something and showing it to Aaron was a different thing, but painting something with the purpose of giving it away to the world to watch, analyze and criticize, was a totally another thing. It was terrifying.