Leap OF Fate

She established a gallery in Coast City two years ago. Did that mean she's back? How could he not know about it?

Justin paced the whole exhibit venue in search of a familiar figure. How he missed her. He heard his heartbeats in his ear, it felt as if it's beating in his throat. Excitement pumped his veins as he scanned each person in the venue but after spending almost an hour of searching, he still did not find her. He's convinced that Serene did the painting and it was not a mere random coincidence as the artist Felicity Pax explained. He looked at the gilded card on his hand.

He traced it to calm his nerves and left the venue without telling his mother. He left her a message and asked for his driver to pick them up. As for him, he went straight to the airport.

The flight to Coast City was the longest 45 minutes of his life. He recalled the first time Serene flew back home with him. He was nervous then, apprehensive of how her family would accept him. It'd the same nervousness he felt now. He wanted to confirm his hunch right away. His fingers tap on the armrest as he tries to calm himself.

It had been five years of searching. Five years and all he had before today was a false lead when she was spotted shopping in New York. He clenched his jaws as he suppressed the emotions welling up inside him.

It's almost midnight when he arrived in Coast City. Needless to say, the gallery was already closed but he still asked his driver to bring him to the location stated in the business card. He stared at the plain facade of the building. Other than the golden letters that spelled Felicity Pax Art, the building's facade was bare.

He felt conflicted at the sight of the gallery on one hand, he felt excited, finally after five long years, he'd see her again, while on the other, he felt anxious. What if he's wrong? Could his heart bear another false hope, another heartbreak?

He ran his fingers through his hair and let out a deep sigh. It's been so long. His heart ached for her every day for the past five years. There was not a day when he did not blame himself for losing her.

After staying outside the gallery for an unknown amount of time, Justin was about to ask the driver to drive off.

Serene had been waiting in watching the parked car on a dark corner of the building. She initially did not bother with it but after receiving a call from Vivienne and Mary, she had a hunch that Justin was inside the parked vehicle. Vivienne informed her of a man who asked his questions about the cat painting which she found off. Mary's call came right after Viv's to inform her that Dylan was in the event and had been pestering her.

It had been five years. She thought he did not have an effect on her. However, from the time she received the calls to the time the parked car left, her heart had been racing in her chest. She couldn't fathom if it were from fear or excitement. All she knew was it meant trouble. She and her children had been living a peaceful life, but Justin's appearance did not guarantee that she could keep that peace. She paced back and forth her office, racking her mind on how to deal with the situation.

Vivienne had been effective in being the face of Felicity Pax. this was the only time she slipped and it had to be with Justin. She did not blame her. Justin was naturally perceptive. He did not ask Viv questions about the painting because he's curious but he laid a trap for her. She turned off the lights and went down to the basement parking.

The following day, she sat quietly in her Ellis Inc.'s office as she watched the live footage of her gallery's CCT camera. True to her hunch, Justin walked in the gallery. He stood confidently as his eyes scanned the place. Hands clasped behind him, he walked frame to frame to look at the display in detail.

"Mr. Rain, good morning." Vivienne greeted, taking confident strides towards Justin, her hands extended before her for a customary handshake.

"Ms. Pax," he said, giving her a firm handshake. Justin scanned the person before her. She's tall and slender. She's clad in white from her crisp blouse which was tucked in her high-waist wide-legged slacks. The only spark of color she has was the bright red lipstick she wore. Her blonde hair pulled at the back of her neck on a low and tight ponytail. She looked confident and sure of herself.

"I didn't expect to see you in our gallery this early," she said, her red lips stretching to a polite smile.

"Hmmm. I've recently opened a hotel and am considering having your pieces."

"I see. I'll leave you to explore then. Please call me if you need anything."

"Thank you."

Vivienne turned around and entered the tiny glass office on the gallery's side.

"Hello, Ms. Shen, Mr. Rain is here," she reported to Serene. Vivienne had been with her since she was pregnant and was starting to build her collection and connection. More than an assistant, she's a family to her.

When she arrived at Coast City after the exhibit, Serene immediately told her of her hunch. Vivienne was aware of Serene's back story, especially about her twin's father.

"Yes, I'm watching the security footage. Just play it by ear," she told her.

Serene gazed at the computer screen before her. Her eyes misting at the sight of him. It had been so long yet he hardly aged. His arrogant aura still exudes in the way he carried himself. She felt her hand automatically reach out to the monitor to touch his image only to freeze in mid-air when she recalled how she pitifully waited for him to listen to her. However, more than the physical discomfort she felt that night, it was the feeling of being abandoned and rejected that shattered her heart. He easily cast him aside like she did not matter to him at all. Moreover, she almost lost her twins because of the stress that night brought her.

She closed the window displaying the security footage then diverted her attention to the work she had before her. She put all her focus to the contracts she had to review and buried Justin to the depths of her subconscious.☐☐☐☐☐☐☐☐