Chapter 4 Four

Nica arrived home, thinking about that offer and questioning why he would make such an offer. Was he pulling my leg? she wondered. What could I possibly offer him, and what would he gain from that contract?

She eventually let go of the thought and began listening to music through her headphones while drawing the natural beauty that surrounded her. After she was done, she got bored and decided to go to the mall to get a few things for herself.

While shopping, Chris and Ella spotted her and approached her. Chris said, "You just got lucky," then grabbed the pencil she was holding and mocked her.

"It's not like you even know how to draw a straight line or understand what this is used for. Just give it to your friend Ella, the real artist who actually knows her craft."

Ella, though nervous inside, pretended to act tough. "Nica, I know how much you admire my portraits and wish you could draw like me..."

Before she could finish, Nica cut her off with laughter. "So you mean the opposite?"

Chris immediately defended Ella. "Ella is the real artist, so stop saying nonsense."

Nica laughed again. "You really think she is the artist?"

Ella grew uneasy and quickly thought of a way to distract them so she could leave with Chris. She held her stomach and said, "Chris, please take me to the hospital. I'm not feeling too well."

Chris immediately carried her out of the mall. As they left, Ella turned back and gave Nica a smug smirk.

Nica shook her head. Just as I thought. Pretending again. She's always pretending.

She continued shopping peacefully until she bent down to pick up the pencil that had fallen. A man rushed forward and picked it up for her.

"Jordan? What are you doing here?" she asked in surprise.

Instead of answering directly, he asked, "Are you an artist?"

"Yes," she replied.

Jordan smiled. He loved purchasing portraits from a particular artist known as Color Muse-not realizing that the artist was standing right in front of him.

He began speaking excitedly. "I love portraits. I own collections like Divine Faces, Silent Strokes, Dream Frame, and Grace in..."

They both said at the same time, "Color."

They looked at each other and smiled. Those were some of the collections he had at home, and Nica was speechless because they were all her works.

Then Jordan asked, "How do you know about those portraits?"

Nica quickly replied, "I love portraits too, and I draw, remember?" she said, raising her pencil to make her point. "I also do my research."

Nica felt truly happy hearing someone speak of her work with such admiration-especially someone like Jordan, the same man who had offered her a contract. She found herself helplessly drawn to him as he spoke, yet she could not bring herself to reveal that she was Color Muse.

The more they talked, the more they realized they had so much in common.

Suddenly, Jordan's phone rang. He excused himself to answer the call.

While he was away, Nica quietly left without saying goodbye.

When she got home, she was shocked to see her bags outside and her door locked. A note was attached to the handle:

I have given you enough time to pay your rent. Someone has already paid for it.

With nowhere to go, she whispered, "I have to find Jordan."

Having no contact information or address for him, she hurried back to the mall. She was devastated to discover he had already left.

Then a hand tapped her shoulder.

"Are you okay?" a voice asked.

"Not at all," she replied as she turned around.

The moment she saw him, she screamed, "Jordan! I've been looking everywhere for you. I've accepted your offer... if it's still available."

Jordan looked at her calmly and said,

"No... the offer is no longer available."