A/N
Merry Christmas to everyone!
This chapter is dedicated to chic_travler for being the first to comment my story :)
Enjoy!
4 years later!
"Are you ready Nikki? It's about to start in a hour and you need to be there to great the clients and the potential buyers." Mike, my boyfriend of a month called me. We meet in Africa where I was taking pictures of people, their everyday struggles but also about their beautiful culture. I was welcomed with open arms and I loved my 1 year stay there. Mike was a pediatrician, volunteering in Africa to help the ones in need. He had blue eyes, blonde hair and a dashing smile. He was 5"8 and had a good body. He didn't have a six pack but I didn't care. As long as he didn't have a pot belly it was fine with me. He asked me out a couple of times but I always refused because I was still hurt from losing Jack or jackass like Danny calls him.
We meet again three months ago when I was looking for a new pediatrician for my 3 years old son since the one we usually went too retired. He asked me out again and I finally said yes. After going in a couple of dates we become official a month ago.
"Be there in a minute."
"Wow,just wow." Mike said and also whistled when I entered the room. I was wearing a dark green evening gown with a sweetheart neckline and a slit that showed my leg. I was also wearing silver pumps. My blond hair was up in a stylish bun and I was wearing natural eyeshadow. I was also wearing my signature deep red lipstick and cat eye eyeliner.
"Thanks, I guess" I smiled to Mike. He had a heart of gold and that was one of many reasons why I liked him.
"You look gorgeous honey. I will have my work cut off for me, getting rid of anyone that looks your way." He smiled and winked at me.
"You don't have to. I am one man's woman only. I don't have eyes for others when I am in a relationship. Thank god you don't have a wandering eye either or I would have to say goodbye to you, no matter how charming you are.
"Thanks for the vote of confidence. Now shall we? He asked giving me his arm. He was such a gentleman, I swear sometimes I thought he just came out from one of those old movies, or a good historical book where men knew how to respect women.
"We shall." I said accepting his arm.
The ride to the gallery where I was putting up my photos and my painting for the first time under my real name was 20 minutes long. Today everyone would know who Blackheart really was. It was an artistic name that I choose after breaking up with Jack. It reminded me of a pirate who was not afraid of the open seas and just wanted to concur everything. I though it was a strong nickname for someone who lost their soul and whose heart became as black as the starless night. The name represented me, lost and without a light to follow. At the end I conquered the darkness and instead found my force to defeat it. I found part time job as a waitress at a bar whose owner also owned a bakery shop. She helped me to get booked for some of the fotoshoots that her customers needed for special occasions like birthdays, baby showers and even some engagement parties. After that I created an online website and started to work more and more hours as a photograph. I managed to go back to college and get a Bachelor of fine arts degree. I loved painting to and to tell you the truth I don't know if I like painting or taking picture more. Today I would held my head up high and be proud of what I have achieved so far. I wondered if Jack would be proud of me too if he knew, or to him I would still be a stupid child that was after his money. I refused to think about him even though sometimes my thoughts would shift to him,no matter how hard I tried not to.
"We are here." Mike's voice interrupted my trip down to memory lane.
"Be ready there is a lot of press outside, ready to finally learn who Blackheart really is. I bet they expect a man that looks like a pirate, not a beautiful woman like you, they will be in for a good surprise." He chuckled and opened the car door for me.
As soon as we got out of the car cameras started to flash, blinding me for a second. The reporters didn't pay much attention to us since we weren't famous so we just made our way into to gallery. I saw a few of my friends and some contributors and I made my way there with Mike in my arm.
*****
Jack POV
"Can you remind me again why are we going to a stupid gallery show?"
I asked Jennifer while fixing my tie. I was wearing a black suit and underneath I had a black waistcoat and a white shirt. Black was my color since my hair and eyes were also black. I wanted to look intimidating and untouchable and my look helped me with that. People thought twice before approaching me.
"Baby, I told you that a very famous artist will be there tonight, showcasing his work. No one know who it he really is because he never showed his face to the public. He is known as Blakheart and today everyone will know who he really is."
"Got it, just don't call me baby, you know I hate that." I hated it because it reminded me of a brown eyed beauty who stole my heart and played with it. Nikki always called me baby and now I hate that word with a passion.
"Sorry hon, I forgot. Anyhow, it was hard to get an invite to this gallery because everyone who knows something about art wanted to be there. Apparently Blackheart is a hero in their circle. Opened many schools in poor countries and donated millions to make sure that those kids could have an education and medical help. They say that he even taught art himself to those kids, saying that art healed the soul."
"Hm, I already like the guy. Blackheart you say, it has a nice sound to it. I am looking forward to met the guy."
"How do I look?" Jennifer asked while twirling around. She was wearing an expensive red dress that fitted her body like a glove, leaving little to imagination. She knew she was beautiful, with black hair and green eyes, and she liked to show off. Not humble like Nikki. Stupid, I said to myself, why you compare every woman with her. She cheated on you and wanted you for your money.
"Well?" Jen asked when I was not responding.
"Sexy as sin, I spaced out because I was thinking how would you look without the dress." I winked at her. Nice save I said to myself.
"Well you can discover that after the party." Jen whispered in my ear, before tugging my hand and pulling me out of the door.
People said that we made a good couple and after dating for almost 4 years I popped the question last months asking her to marry me. I wouldn't be a marriage out of love but one that was more of a business arrangement. After getting my heart broken I didn't do love anymore. It was better this way.
"Smile for the cameras?" Jen asked me since I almost never smiled in any of the pictures that the press had of me.
"You know that I don't do that. I can be the serious billionaire while you can flash them you dashing smile."
"At least I tried," Jen said before getting out of the car and flashing her smile to the cameras, while staying close to me and never leaving my arm.
We had been going around the gallery for the last 30 minutes, meeting famous people from different fields. I couldn't believe how many people were already here to finally met the famous Blackheart. I left Jennifer to talk with some of her acquaintances and was in my way to the bathroom when I thought I heard her voice. I turned my head to see a young couple talking with an old man that I recognized as Jeff Smith. He was a ruthless businessman that never liked anyone and now he was talking with the couple, especially with the woman like they were great friends. She was wearing a deep green dress that emphasized her curves. Her hair was up and from her posture one cold tell she had class. Probably born into money, not like Nikki that barely had two cents together. Great now I was losing my mind too, imaging Her here. I turned my back and entered to the bathroom while kicking myself for thinking about her again. I hadn't heard a thing about her since she got all the money and left. Probably was to busy in spending my money with Daniel by now.
I was to busy thinking about Her that I wasn't paying much attention and bumped into someone went I got out of the restroom. I was rubbing my forehead and when I lifted my head to see who I bumped into the first thing I saw was a long sexy leg showing from the slit of the green dress that I saw minutes ago. I was about to say sorry but she didn't give me time to see who she was because she run towards the bathroom. I probably had scared her by ogling her leg instead of looking her in the eye and saying sorry for bumping into her. I guess I could say sorry to her later tonight because I would look like a creep if I waited for her outside the restroom.
***
Nicole POV
I couldn't believe my luck, bumping with Jack outside the restroom. At least he was to busy ogling my leg and didn't see my face, otherwise I would have had hell to pay.
"Breathe Nicole, breath. You can do it." I tried to calm myself but it didn't help. I picked up my phone and after two rings he finally picked up.
"What's up baby doll, you famous yet?" Daniels voice came from the other side of the receiver.
"He is here Danny." I whispered
"Who is there? Is there a thief? Do you want me to call the police? Where are you? Just stay hidden and don't make a sound." He was rambling by now.
"Danny stop. I am at the gallery, there is no thief here, and he is Jack Ryder. He is here at the gallery. I just bumped into him."
"Damn? What did say to you?"
"Nothing he didn't see me."
"Didn't you say that you just bumped into him, how could he not see you? Please tell me he was blind."
"No he wasn't blind. He was just busy staring at my leg. I took the opportunity and fled to the restroom."
"Pervert." Danny hissed on the other side.
"And baby doll, he was blind because he let you go. Now deep breath and head up high. Don't let him bring you down. You have accomplished so many things without him. People call you a hero Blackheart. No get out of that restroom and face the world. You can do it. I believe in you baby doll and so many others. And don't forget that you have a little angel home that loves you unconditionally. Be strong for him."
"Thank you Danny boy." I smiled when I heard his intake of breath. He hated when I called him that.
"No seriously Danny, thank you for always being there for me. I love you. You are the best friend that one can ask for."
"I love you too baby doll. Now go before Tom hears me and becomes jealous of you."
"He won't because he knows that you love him. Thanks again Danny." I said before hanging up and getting out of the restroom.
Jack here I come, I am ready for your remarks this time.