I found myself grinning at my phone before glancing out the window to see a familiar face smiling back at me.
I quickly stashed my phone in my purse and returned the smile through the car window as Kingsley approached.
Before he could even reach the door, I was out of my seat and rushing to meet him.
“Oh my god, you’ve grown so much since I last saw you!” I exclaimed, pulling him into a tight hug.
“It hasn’t been that long, Sage,” Kingsley chuckled.
“To me, it feels like forever,” I sighed, grabbing his bag and tossing it into the backseat.
“Ready to go?” I asked, gesturing towards the car. “We’re meeting Rosa.”
Kingsley glanced around the bustling airport parking lot, his eyes wide at the sight of the endless stream of cars weaving in and out of the pick-up lane.
“Let’s do this,” Kingsley said, hopping into the car.
As we drove, Kingsley’s face lit up at the sights. He pointed and gasped at the towering skyscrapers and historic buildings, clearly in awe of the architecture.
“Quite a change from home, huh?” I asked, grinning at his reaction.
“You could say that,” he chuckled as we pulled into a parking garage.
Rosa had warmed up to me considerably since I stopped working for her. She no longer saw me as a naive little bird, but as an equal, someone who could hold her own.
She recognized that I had a knack for spotting talent, and that artistic ability ran in my family. So, she’d taken an interest in helping me support Kingsley.
Rosa was no longer my boss; she was a colleague and, dare I say, a friend.
She was the one who insisted Kingsley come to visit. She even treated us to a lavish lunch at the city’s most upscale bistro.
Kingsley’s eyes nearly bulged out of his head when we walked into the restaurant. From the sparkling chandeliers to the elegant wallpaper and gold cutlery, he’d never seen anything like it.
He fiddled with the array of forks, cups, and plates on the table, looking both curious and a bit overwhelmed.
“So, Kingsley,” Rosa began, taking a sip of her wine. “What do you think of America so far?”
“It’s amazing, but different,” he replied with a grin.
“Hmm,” she mused, “one could say the same about your sculptures.”
Kingsley blushed and mumbled a bashful thank you, clearly embarrassed by the compliment. I couldn’t help but smile at his reaction; I never thought I’d hear anyone call Rosa kind.
Rosa’s icy exterior was melting away, and I could see that she genuinely wanted to help him.
“I’m not just being nice, Kingsley. I’m stating a fact,” she said, picking at her salad while her gaze remained fixed on him. “I want to feature you in an upcoming issue of Abstract.”
Kingsley choked on his sandwich, reaching for his water glass. After a few gulps, he wiped his mouth with his napkin and managed to croak out, “I-I-I don’t know what to say.”
“Say you’ll do it,” Rosa said, grinning.
“Do it!” I urged, grabbing his arm. He smirked at me.
“Okay, let’s do this,” he laughed, raising his glass for a toast.
Rosa lifted her glass, and we clinked our glasses together before finishing our lunch with light-hearted conversation.
After lunch, I took Kingsley on a tour of the city. We visited art galleries and shops, and Kingsley was fascinated by the street artists creating vibrant murals with spray paint.
Street musicians shook coin jars at passersby while singing catchy tunes.
“It’s like a different world,” Kingsley laughed, dropping a few bills into a musician’s jar.
“Thanks, man,” the musician said, continuing his song.
We ended up at an afternoon exhibit at a local art studio. Kingsley’s eyes widened as he took in the black and white photographs of abandoned buildings and rundown structures.
“These are incredible,” he said, clearly impressed.
“They’re hauntingly beautiful,” I agreed, pointing to a photo of a dilapidated house. “I love this one.”
“Good eye,” Kingsley murmured. “The lighting is amazing.”
“You know, this could be you one day,” I said, gesturing around the studio. “Your sculptures could be on display, with people admiring them.”
Kingsley shrugged. “That’s hard to believe.”
“Even after lunch with Rosa?” I asked, raising an eyebrow.
“I guess it’s just so new. I’m not used to sharing my art, let alone people liking it,” he said, glancing at his watch.
“I get it,” I said, patting his back. “But your talent deserves to be seen. Ready to head home? You mentioned wanting to nap before dinner.”
“Sounds good,” he said, and we headed back to the penthouse.
When we arrived, I noticed an envelope on the floor. I picked it up and turned to Kingsley. “The guest room is at the end of the hall. There’s a bathroom across from it if you want to shower.”
“Thanks, Sage.” Kingsley carried his bags down the hall, and I turned my attention back to the envelope.
It was sealed, but there was no name on it. I wondered if it was meant for Roman, but if it was, it should have his name on it.
“Why was it under the door?” I muttered to myself, sliding my finger under the flap and tearing the envelope open.
Inside was a neatly folded piece of paper. I pulled it out and unfolded it. “I’m watching you, kleines Kätzchen.”
My heart skipped a beat as I read the words over and over. Was this some kind of joke?
I stared at the typed words. Why would someone send me a note like this? It wasn’t meant for Roman; it used his pet name for me.
Who could have done this, and why?
I didn’t have any enemies, at least not anymore. They were all in prison. So who would have a reason to threaten me?
I swallowed hard, pushing the note back into its envelope.
My mind was a whirlwind. There was too much happening for me to dwell on it any longer.
But one thing was clear as day: someone was trying to intimidate me. But I wasn’t about to let fear rule my life.
