Chapter 2 2

And it was then that Charlotte also burst into laughter, my best friend knew she was a confident woman, and knowing that, she chose the highest bidder. Roman Batista was the one who predominantly controlled the entire monopoly in town, followed by Guevara and Loto companies. They both met him once when he went to the history museum to borrow a sculpture, obviously on loan, but everything comes with a cost, as they requested an insurance fee in case the sculpture got damaged during transportation. It was quite a high fee due to the artwork's history.

Everything went perfectly, and Charlotte was in charge of overseeing everything. They met and soon after, they formalized their relationship, and they haven't been apart since.

Alcohol gradually rose like foam, and everyone was so intoxicated that the teasing didn't stop because some were already asleep and lying drunk on the floor. But to relax a bit, Evangeline decided to sit down and grab her purse. She took out her cellphone, intending to call her ex and tell him how stupid he was for leaving her for a temporary fling. But the first thing she saw on her phone's wallpaper was the painting of Darien of Macedonia. She was so obsessed with the painting that she had it on her phone. But what she would love even more is to have the painting live and in person in her room.

"What's up, boss?" Drew sits next to her.

"Nothing, I just wanted to check the time."

"Are you planning to leave already?" he exclaims.

"Of course not, I was just checking the time."

"I hope so because otherwise, I'll tell everyone not to let you go."

"Don't be a pest, Drew. When I decide to leave, they won't even notice."

"You're a mean boss."

"I'm not mean, I'm fair," she winks at him.

"Thank God for your blessings," he clasps his hands as if he were about to pray. "I'll keep partying, you can rest your feet if you want. Those heels seem to be killing you."

Drew walks away, but soon Charlotte approaches with narrowed eyes.

"I know you're terrible at noticing flirting, but it's obvious that Drew is flirting with you from miles away."

"No, Charlotte, not everyone who approaches me is flirting with me. Besides, Drew is gay."

"Right, I forgot," she teases.

"Why are you so insistent on me being with someone?"

"Because I don't want to see you sad, staring at a painting all the time."

"But I like looking at Darien's painting."

Then something clicked in Charlotte's mischievous mind, a wicked smile forming on her face, almost unrecognizable to Evangeline.

"What if we borrow Darien's painting?"

"What!"

"Yes, we borrow it for one night, so you can have it at home, and then we'll return it to the museum."

"Do you want me to remind you how much it cost Roman Batista to get that sculpture?"

"You're still reasoning even when you're drunk."

"Of course, I'm reasoning because Darien's painting is literally the only thing that keeps me afloat on Earth."

"But think about it this way, you can have it in your room for one night and think all the dirty thoughts you want while looking at his face."

"Char..."

"Come on," Charlotte takes Evangeline's hand.

"Where to?"

"We'll see."

As they leave Pink, they take the first available taxi.

"Near the history museum, please," Charlotte tells the driver, and he starts driving.

"What are we going to do there?" she whispers for only her friend to hear.

"We'll see."

"Charlotte, whatever we're going

to do, we should consider that our jobs will be at risk."

"They won't be, calm down."

"This is going to end badly."

During the entire ride, neither of them said a word. Evangeline bit her nails while feeling a bit nauseous from the alcohol swirling in her stomach. In just a few minutes, they found themselves on a street below the museum.

"Can you wait for us here?" she asks the taxi driver.

"Will it take long?"

"No, it will only be about 5 minutes."

"Alright."

Charlotte and Evangeline get out of the car and walk the remaining street to climb up. They enter through the alley next to the museum. Clearly, Evangeline had keys to enter through any entrance of the museum, so they easily went in without raising any suspicion. They tiptoed towards the large painting of Darien of Macedonia.

"You take one side, and I'll take the other," Charlotte whispers.

"We shouldn't..."

Her words were cut off when they realized that the painting wasn't as heavy as expected. It was also a bit smaller than they thought.

"Wow, it's lightweight..."

"And small," Charlotte finishes. "Now, let's run."

They somehow managed to take Darien out through the alley door and squeezed into the car.

"To Spring Avenue," Eva informs the driver, and the car starts moving.

There was no turning back for what they had done. It was likely that their jobs were at risk. Neither of them said anything; silence accompanied them. The alcohol they had consumed had left their systems, leaving them sober.

Upon arrival, they helped each other carry the painting.

"Here you go," Charlotte pays. "Keep the rest."

Likewise, when they enter the elevator, silence prevails. Now that they have the painting, what are they going to do with it? What they had planned was simply impulsive, but what role will it play in the apartment? They enter the apartment and turn on the light.

"Char... What are we going to do now?"

"I don't know, maybe if we say his name three times, he'll come out of the painting," she laughs.

"Sure." I follow along. "Darien of Macedonia, Darien of Macedonia, Darien of Macedonia."

"I hope your beloved shows up soon."

"I'm crossing my fingers," she raises her hands with crossed fingers. "What if you stay the night? It's too late to go in a taxi."

"Yes, I agree with you."

"Okay, let's go. Tomorrow we'll have to solve this little problem."