Chapter 5 Who are you

Camille POV

After Remi left me all alone, I roamed around admiring every artwork exhibited. I wish I had bought Alina with me but it's was based on an invitation and coming to an Art Gallery as big as AX requires a lot of money which Alina and I don't have.

When I was done looking around, I Went back to my paintings but then I saw a man staring at them. The man must be a fan of wolves or something for him to stare at my paintings for so long.

"Who painted this wolf?" He asked the lady beside him and I recognized her as the rude lady from the entrance of the gallery.

"They must be a couple," I thought as I watched both of them.

"I have no idea, sir. Remi and Isabella picked the artist. Is there a problem sir?" The lady asked yet again.

If she is using Sir then it means they were not a couple but the man was her boss or one of the rich snobs that had come to see the Arts exhibited in the Gallery.

"Go get them. I need to know who painted the wolf." The man ordered.

Why was he searching effortlessly for the painter? Does he admire my work that much? I needed to know why so I drew closer to them and made my presence known.

"I did," I answered.

The man turned around and for a moment, I thought we were the only ones left in the hall. His eyes were beautiful obsidian eyes like mine but his were darker and bigger. His face was an oval-shaped face with a sharp jawline and pointed nose which made him look perfect. He was a blonde and his beautiful hair was perfectly styled giving him the perfect bad boy look. Compare to my height, he was a few inches taller and muscular like he had been working out his whole life. I've seen the man somewhere but I had no idea where.

"Where have you been all my life?" I wanted to say that but instead, I said, "Is there any problem with my painting sir?"

"You painted the wolf?" He questioned and bites his lower lips.

Oh, God. His lips look pink and plump. I wondered how it would feel if I could kiss those lips. I pinched myself and wondered why I Fantasied about a man who was in front of me staring at me with his beautiful obsidian eyes.

"Yes, they are all mine." I smiled at him.

The man didn't say anything but instead, he grabbed my hand and dragged me out of the hall.

What if he was a killer sent to kill me?

The last time I checked, I don't have someone out there who wanted to kill me. Why was he dragging me as if I owe him money?

"What are you doing?" I questioned as he dragged me down the hallways into the elevator.

This is it. I was about to be murdered in an elevator just like in the movies. I was going to die but I wasn't ready to die yet so I screamed out loud as the elevator doors were closing.

"Help me! A man is trying to kill me!" As if God heard my prayer, a hand shot out in between the doors and I heaved a sigh of relief.

"Sir, is something wrong?" It's was the rude redhead girl.

Why?

"Use the second elevator Penelope," The man ordered and the woman came out without arguing.

He must be the boss since he had authority over the rude girl.

"Who are you? Where are you taking me to?" I tried to free my hand from his but instead, he tightened his grip on my hand.

"I need you," he confessed or maybe it's wasn't a confession but a way of saying that he needed me to kill me.

"Let's me go!" I shouted. "Please let me go," I begged.

"You don't know who I am? Do you?"

That's question was tricky. In movies, it's could be a way to kill their victim. They questioned their preys and if their victims failed to answer, they'll murder them. I wasn't ready to die yet.

"I am right. You don't even know me," he said with a hint of sadness laced in his tone.

"Erm," I Cleared my throat and looked into his eyes.

Surprisingly, he was staring back at me. "Since you don't know me, little girl, I'll introduce myself to you." He grinned wickedly.

I gulped and averted my eyes from his. He must be a drug lord because he had succeeded in inserting fear into my head. "I am....." He tried to say something but I interrupted him by pointing at the elevator door.

"It's opened," I announced and rushed to leave the elevator but he pulled me back.

"Why are you trying to run away?" He questioned.

"Because......" I scratched my head with my free hand. "Because," I cleared my throat and tried all I could to avoid eye contact with him.

Why was he even asking me that question? He was the one who had kidnapped me in front of everyone.

"Why are you asking me that?" I summoned the courage to talk back at him. "You kidnapped me in front of everyone and..."

"Kidnapped you?" He chuckled.

Why was he laughing? I didn't find what I just said funny. "Why are you laughing? If you hate my painting so much, you should have just told me to remove them rather than dragging me up here."

The man didn't say anything and walked out of the elevator with my hand still in his. He pulled me down a long hallway. "Why ain't you saying anything? If you want my painting, I'll give them all to you." I promised.

I could always paint some other time. He continued to give the silent treatment. Maybe I have done something to get him mad. "Sir," I called. "Sir, I....." Still, he didn't even turn to look at me.

After walking for a while, we took a turn by the left and arrived in front of us was a large glass door and on the door was an inscription That says 'CEO'. I looked from the door to the man who I thought was a kidnapper. I gasped and quickly covered my mouth when I noticed him staring at me.

"Oh, God!" I exclaimed. I have called Axel Banks a kidnapper. How could I have not recognized him?

Axel Banks chuckled and placed his hand on the handprint scanner leading to his office. The door opened and we both entered. "I am sorry," I blurted out.

Axel Banks withdrew his hand from mine and stared at me with Confusion. "You are sorry for?" He questioned.

"I am sorry for calling you a kidnapper."

"Hmmmmm," he walked further into his office and I trailed behind him. His office was larger than my two-room apartment. On the left side of the room were a round chair and a glass table probably for his meeting and behind the chairs was a large shelf with books neatly arranged in three rows while on the right side was his desk which has his name imprinted on a glass. It reads Axel banks. There were other things on his desk like a Hp laptop and a few books neatly arranged. Behind him was the window showing the view of Langose. It's was a beautiful view. The office was filled up with different artworks and On his walls were different paintings with different stories behind them.

"Have a seat," he pointed to the leather chair opposite his desk. "Do you know why I dragged you down here?" He questioned.

How was I supposed to know that?

"Because of......" I paused and played with my fingers while still standing refusing to seat on the chair.

"Won't you seat down before you answer me?" He pointed to the chair opposite me but I shook my head.

How could I seat in front of the popular Axel Banks? My hand shakes terribly and I bite my lower lips. "I......" Why was I stuttering like a fool? "I..... I "

Axel stood up and walked closer to me but I took a step backward causing me to lose my balance. I shouted as I was about to fall to the ground but Axel grabbed my tiny waist and helped me up. "You okay?" He asked.

I nodded in response feeling the heat of his breath on my face. His cologne was too strong that's caused me to choke and I started coughing. "You don't seem to be okay," Axel pulled my hand towards the leather chair and help me sit down.

"Why am I here again? I've told you already, if it's about my paintings, I'll take them down," I told him.

"No, I am not asking you to take them down."

"Then why I'm I here?" I shouted at him. I didn't even mean to but he was too close and his presence caused a Familiar feeling to my body. I wanted him to touch him so I'll feel his hands over my body.

"You are here because....." Axel hesitated for a while and looked into my eyes.

"Please kiss me!" I thought and closed my eyes. I wondered how it will feel to have his lips on mine. A feeling of ecstasy.

Axel cleared his throat and I opened my eyes. "Your paintings are amazing miss...... I didn't get your name."

"It's because you never asked."

"My bad," he placed a hand on his chest. "What's your name?"

"Camille Banks," I responded with a smile on my face.

"Great name."

"So why do you drag me up here?" I asked.

Just as he was about to answer, his office door burst open and the annoying redhead lady walked into the office. She looked from me to Axel and I could see her shooting glares at me.

"Sir is there something I should know?" She questioned.

I folded my hand and looked at Axel who had his eyes on me. "I have decided to make her one of our exclusive artists," Axel announced.

"What?" I and the annoying redhead lady said at the same time. I was shocked that he could say that. He doesn't even know me and last time I checked, I am not a popular painter.

"What are you doing, Axel?" The lady questioned. I thought she called him sir earlier now they are on a first name based. "She is not a popular artist. No one knows her so why are you trying to make her an exclusive artist."

This was my chance at becoming a popular artist but the redhead want to spoil everything for me. Seriously, what was her problem? I wasn't trying to steal her man but I could if I wanted to.

"This is my decision, Penelope. Once the exhibition is over, bring all her paintings to my office." He ordered.

Oh my! Is this how fast one goes from being a struggling artist to a popular one? What a great chance.

"Axel, I hope you are not making a mistake?" The lady inquired.

"No, I am not. Lead her outside Penelope so that she can attend the rest of the event."

Wait, what? I still have questions I needed to ask him. "I have a question, Mr. Axel," I said to him.

"I'll answer all your questions later Camille," he smiled at me. "I need to have word with my assistant and you need to attend the rest of the exhibition."

"Yeah," I looked from Axel to Penelope and sensed huge love chemistry.

"They must be a couple," I thought as I was led outside Axel's office.

"Take the elevator to the fifth floor, it's where......." Penelope tried to explain where I should take but I already know that.

"I know," I told her and began to walk away.

As I walked away, I thought of Axel and why he would want to offer me an exclusive in his gallery when we just met.