"Thank you so much for allowing us to exhibit your sculpture in our museum..." I thanked the man on the other side of the phone "Of course, you'd understand that I need to examine it before allowing you to bring it here..."
"Absolutely!" the man I was thanking answered, joyful "Unfortunately, I won't be able to greet you myself, as I have to take a flight this afternoon to New York, where I'll be the next week... But I'm sure my daughter would be delight to help you..."
"Wonderful!" I was slamming my fist in the air, completely excited and happy that I managed that loan "If you could send me your contact information, I'd arrange a date for tomorrow..."
"Splendid! I hope you are pleased with the sculpture and you find it in perfect conditions..." We bid farewell, before I hung up and started to dance as a crazy woman around the office. I was so happy and focus on my crazy dance that I didn't see the curator passing by my office and stare at me, scandalized.
"Ms. Ross!" His attention call made me have a forced trip back to Earth, shrugging my skirt to perfection "This is a fine establishment! We don't dance like that on the hallways. If you wanna dance like that, I recommend to you to go to a night establishment..."
"Oh, Mr. Bourne..." I sighed, happy. He raised an eyebrow, not having a clue what excuse I was gonna say. And, I kid you not, his last name is Bourne. My first day here I asked him if his name was Jason and that if he was undercover. He looked at me as if I was crazy, which I felt like it at the moment "I'm just celebrating, as I managed to get an important loan of art for the museum!" I announced to him. In that moment, I had his full attention.
"Explain"
"A few weeks ago, I remembered that you mentioned in our last gala that you'd love to have a piece of sculpture from a very unknown artist... So, I made a little research and I found out who was the private collector of it. I managed to contact him and he allowed us to make an inspection, to see the sculpture before loaning it to us, here!" I explained to him. He smirked and nodded.
"Well done, Ms. Ross, though I'd appreciate that your shows of celebrations can be kept private..." Apparently, that was his way of reprimand me after doing a good job.
"From now on, Mr. Bourne"
~oOo~
Since Mr. Bourne was impressed by how I managed to get the piece, he allowed me to do the inspection. So, I was standing, with my best work clothes, at the entrance of this huge mansion in California, waiting for someone open me the door. Soon, the door was opened by a very pregnant woman that allowed me inside.
"Welcome, you must be Ms. Nora Ross, right?" the woman asked me, pulling her hand out. I found it strange that who could be the housekeeper was being this loose about me, but I shook her hand, before looking at her. Like I mentioned, she was pregnant, probably about seven, eight months. Her skin was darkish, but not chocolate. Right in between. Her hair was tied up in a loose side ponytail and her clothes were a simple darkish floral dress. Her eyes were forever-changing.
"That's me, and you are...?"
"I'm Piper Grace, Tristan McLean is my father..." she explained to me, still smiling at me.
"Oh, yes. I spoke with him over the phone and he mentioned you..." He didn't, not mostly, but I didn't want to sound rude.
"Perfect! Now, I'll take you to the sculpture-"
"Piper, what the Hades are you doing up?" A man's voice echoed around the hallway, while me and Mrs. Grace turned around to greet a man around her same age, but he was tallish, with black messy hair and a little cared beard. His skin was tan and had several wrinkles around the eyes, as he probably smiles a lot. Though now, he was very serious "You know you have to stay down..."
"I can walk, you know!" Piper complained to him. It was obvious that one was his husband or she wouldn't allow someone else to talk to her like that "And, if I spend one more minute sitting down and doing nothing..."
"Pipes, you want to see me dead? That your father and Jason tear apart my body, limb by limb?" Mr. Grace exaggerated, dramatically "I'm in charge of you until Jason comes back in a few days..."
"Percy!!" she whined, like a little girl, but Percy was having none of it.
"I already have a stubborn children, Pipes..." he rubbed the bridge of his nose "I can deal with you all day..." That was enough for Mrs. Grace to stop her stubbornness and accepted Mr. Grace's hand, guiding her away.
"Please, follow us. The sculpture is this way" Piper said. I diligently followed them. Though it was the man who was guiding the pregnant woman, it was the pregnant woman who was deciding where to go. We ended up in a room, that seemed no one had walked inside in a long time, as everything was covered in white sheets "Dad started to close rooms when I moved out... I think he might tear down a wall or two..." she expressed, not really giving much importance.
"May I?" I wondered. Piper nodded and I pulled away the sheet revealing the sculpture that I was here to see.
The Poker Player.
"Please, tell me I'm having a nightmare..." I heard Mr. Grace say. I turned around and saw that he was pale, but kind of smirking. Piper, immediately, was worried.
"Percy, what's wrong?"
"That sculpture... My Mom made it... Your father bought it from her!" he told her, before scooping her in a hug, twirling her around.
"Perseus Jackson, place me on the floor if you don't want me throwing up on you!" she demanded. Jackson? Weren't they married? The man placed her down, smirking "So, we're responsible for Sally's amazing novels?"
"You only paid for her and mine education, Pipes... But, you should let her know" he chuckled, before his phone rang "The wife is calling..." he left the room to get the call "You won't believe what I just found out, WiseGirl!"
"I swear my cousin is completely insane sometimes..." she mumbled. I just minded my own business, thinking how could I manage that the artist made more sculptures...
----
Hello!! A little longer author's note than usual... Please, near with me...
I had this idea in the bag for so long, I think it was time to get it out! I was delighted to fantasize about this been a reality, cause we never know who bought the sculpture from Sally, so... And, from my point of view, Jane (remember Jane, Mr. McLean's assistant before Mellie?) could had bought it, claiming her boss would like it...
Who knows? Maybe we're right...
Anyway, I have news! Maybe, not that exciting, you decide... I'm a few chapters away from finishing my Chaos story, A New Order of Chaos. As bittersweet that is, it was an amazing ride and experience, though it will have a long author's note for all of you. This means that, after I'm done, I could take a break and finish my other stories (at the present, I have this book and four/five collaborations, but who's counting?) or start any other story you decide. For this, go to Comments Are Poll and bomb the comment section of your favorite story. It would mean a lot to me.
I'll put it in another way: no comments = no new story. Got that?
Also, I want to let you know that I'm making the incursion into my first ever original story outside the Riordan's Universe. I'll try to have it done for the end of July, so I can post it, with mistakes and all, in August. Why, you may ask? I was in a book store the other day and saw a table only for Wattpad/FictionPress/ect. books!! I immediately called my mom and told her, "do you have a good story idea I can write?"
She gave me a couple of ideas, but I have to see if you like it... I'm just asking for a little time to finish my story. This doesn't mean! This doesn't mean I'll abandon my fanfictions, alright? I'll keep with this as I have many stories in my head. Just want to have a little originality around all this.
Thank you for reaching the end of this author's note. Means a lot to me...
By the way, next Sunday Reyna/Annabeth!! I have no clue what I'm doing, but they are coming!