Chapter 228 - 31: Pick One And Buy It

Kate thought after this experience, Tristan would not take her out. However, after a few days, he asked her to dress up and go with him to a place.

"Do the makeup." He reminded

What Kate knew were eyebrow pencil and lipstick, but Tristan's secretary bought a lot of cosmetics for her last time.

Most of them were with French on the packages. Kate didn't even bother to unpack them because she didn't know what they were used for.

Tristan was impatient and thought this rare species had its disadvantage. Luckily they still had time. So he had to sit down with her by the dresser to study the things.

He read the instructions on the package and said, "You have to ask somebody to teach you tomorrow. Makeup is not just for you, but also to show some respect to others, and for basic social etiquette. You don't know?"

And he added after a pause, "And it can also boost your confidence."

Kate muttered in agreement, but she thought it was most disrespectful of Tristan to take her out to the meetings.

"You are studying all day long. You don't know a French word?"

Kate pouted silently.

Tristan arranged the small pots and tubes in a row in front of her. "Here. Toner, serum, face cream, foundation, eyebrow pencil, eyeliner, mascara cream, blusher, finishing powder, lipstick…"

"Ha, all-rounder," Kate said, sarcastically inside.

After she tried her best to use most of the items on the dresser, Tristan had picked clothes for her.

He examined her face for a while and took up the big brush and gave her cheek two brushes as a finish. Then he picked a small pin from the jewelry box and clipped her bangs up."This will do for this time."

Kate reached her hand to touch her forehead. She was not used to showing too much of it. Tristan pulled her hand away and said, "Don't cover yourself up. Give yourself a sense of existence."

They said nothing on the road until the car stopped. It was an art gallery.

Kate appreciated the artistic designs of the gallery door, and Tristan said, "My friend owns it. We came to support her today."

The gallery assistant saw them. He recognized Tristan and said he would go to tell his boss, but Tristan said don't bother and that they would take a look first.

He held Kate's hand to walk around and said, "Pick one and buy it."

"I know nothing about this." Kate put it off hastily.

"You don't have to know. Just buy one."

It was the first time Kate had been to this kind of place.

She literally thought she should not be present. The men and women there all had finery outside and artistic temperaments inside. They appreciated each piece of work with profound expression. Someone nodded, and someone exchanged with his partner in a low voice.

"How are you, Tristan? So glad to see you again."

Kate turned in the direction of the voice and saw an elegant woman walking towards them, smiling.

She had a dark green dress and a light green silk shawl wrapping around her arms casually. She was a little over 30, not particularly pretty, but very stylish.

Tristan introduced, "This is the boss here, Monica Caine. Monica, this is Kate White."

The woman stretched her hand and said, "Hi, welcome."

Kate shook hands with her and smiled.

She kind of stared at her for a second and smiled back.

Guessing they might want to exchange a few words, Kate walked away to see the work on the wall.

Looking at her back, Monica said, "No wonder…"

"No wonder what?" Tristan asked.

The woman chuckled, "Well, I have invited Jessie, and she said she would come."

Tristan didn't make much response to that.

Someone came in at this moment, and Tristan said, "You go busy with your guest. We will look around."

He went away to look for Kate and found she was in front of an oil painting, looking very interested.

It was a still-life work, a vase with some flowers he couldn't tell the name on a table covered with a tablecloth.

The flowers looked messy, and the vase looked crooked as it was going to fall down. The strokes were rough and naïve.

The artist column was blank on the tag, but the name of the work was "Fury."

Fury, probably the artist was furious when he did it, Tristan said in his mind.

Seeing Kate still observing the work, he leaned his face close to her ear and said, "You like this one?"

Kate was startled by his sudden attack and gave him a stare. Tristan smiled and suppressed the d.e.s.i.r.e to pinch her cheek.

"Right. It is special." A voice came from their back, and they turned to it.

***

Kate exclaimed that every woman here was so gorgeous, but this one was even more stunning. A red, tight dress outlined her perfect shape. She was tall, bright brown eyes, and sleek brown hair reached her shoulder.

She looked both graceful and capable and a little familiar.

Jessie's eyes fixed on her and said, "This is?"

Tristan introduced "Kate White. Kate, this is Jessie Harderson, the famous hostess of the Finance Channel."

Kate was reminded. She appeared on the finance channel Tristan always watched. She had seen the program she hosted.

Jessie obviously was more interested in Kate than she was in her. She scanned her intangibly and said, "Miss White is still a student?"

"No."

"Then where are you working?"

"I do not work."

Her candidness made Jessie speechless.

Tristan asked, "Which piece have you picked?"

Kate pointed to one casually, "This one."

Jessie showed some contempt in her eyes. The shop assistant seemed awkward. He went to bring his boss.

Monica showed some weird expression and explained to Tristan, "This one is not for sale. It belongs to one of my friends."

And then she turned to Kate and said, "Can I ask why you only pick this one?"

Kate said, "I only understand this one."

Someone laughed in a low voice. Kate added, "It shows the emotion of the artist."

"What emotion?"

"Love of life."

Kate looked at the painting and said earnestly, "They just went through a storm and endured the attack, but they survived and bloomed. They are lively and…" she added, "tough."

She looked around and found a dozen people around her, staring, especially the hostess Jessie, with a pair of eyes like torches.

Luckily Tristan was standing beside her. She cried inside that now she had too much sense of her existence.

Tristan said half-jokingly to Monica, "So you won't sell even to a good old friend?"

Monica laughed and spread her hands."OK. I guess my friend would be happy that somebody appreciates his work." And she gave instructions to her staff.

Kate asked, "How much is it?"

The staff told her the number, and Kate opened her eyes wide. She looked to Tristan awkwardly and apologetically. Tristan smiled and said nothing.

Monica said, "It is almost the most expensive work in this exhibition. But trust me, it deserves this price."

As they finished the mission there, Tristan held Kate's hand and said goodbye to Monica.

When they reached their car, they heard a hasty clattering of heels on the floor. "Tristan!"

He turned back and saw Jessie. She looked pale."Can we talk?"

Tristan opened the car door and let Kate wait for him inside.

They stood a few yards away. "So this is the reason you refused me," Jessie asked straightforwardly.

Tristan hesitated a while and nodded.

"Because she is younger?"

Jessie seemed to feel the contempt of the question herself but seeing him stay silent, she asked again, "You are serious about her?"

Tristan didn't rely upon but watched Jessie. His reaction irritated and hurt her.

She blurted out, "I know you have had some painful experiences, and I have been waiting for you patiently. I thought even if you could never forget the past, I would accept you anyway. But, you suddenly showed up with a…"

She couldn't find the right adjective after searching her brain for a long time."An unknown woman. I cannot accept it, Tristan. I cannot accept this."

Tristan said, "I will try to make it up to you."

Jessie walked back and forth, "I know what you are going to say. I don't want to hear, and I don't accept it. I never lack money. And I never want money from you. I can lose you, but I cannot lose you to her."

Jessie raised her hand, which carried her purse to her forehead, "I am not giving up."

Tristan showed no surprise as if he was expecting this. He rubbed his eyes and said, "You can do whatever you want to me, but don't bother her."

Jessie raised her eyebrows, "You protect her now?"

Tristan smiled, "She is not your rival. She doesn't deserve your competition."

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Dearest Lovies, 

This short story is a bit different than those I created. I made this one a very special novel since this is the first time I created and research some facts about gangsters, yet who tried to change their lives. Hoping you like the flow of this story. I decided not to put a privileged chapter too so that everyone can read the coming chapters immediately. Do me a favor to vote, write a review, and comments if you wanna know a bit some spoiler. I will be happy to answer your comments!

HAPPY VALENTINES DAY! Have a great weekend!

Love lots,

Anna Shannel Lin