Page 8 of Caught Stealing Your Heart
“That’s an answer I’ll have to inbox you.”
“Mm-hmm. Your silence speaks volumes,Boss.”
“Didn’t I tell you to call me Banks, Leilani?”
“Well, it seems like you’re giving me Boss right now, so I find that more suitable.”
“You got jokes. I already told you I like that. You better stop playing with me.”
“Who said I was playing?”
Leilani snickered and started back drawing. I intently watched her, taking in the way she held the pencil almost at the very tip and how her brows were lowered toward her nose as she took her time drawing. She was free handing whatever it was, and I couldn’t wait to see the outcome.
My attention went to the comment section. Viewers were eating our banter up, saying we were the interaction they never knew they needed. Many were asking questions about how we met, while others were commenting on how good I looked with my shirt off. Her numbers were rising with each second. It wasrare that I was on live, especially with someone else, so they were eating it up.
“Leilani?” I called out and rose to my feet.
“Hmm?”
“Where should I hang this up?”
I turned my camera around, and Leilani’s mouth was agape. She opened and closed it several times before speaking. “Soyouwere the anonymous buyer for that sketch. Thank you. That’s one of my favorites right there.”
“What were you feeling when you drew it?”
Leilani briefly closed her eyes, lips forming a circle as she slowly blew through them. “Uncertainty.”
“Why?”
“It was a day I couldn’t get anything to speak to me. I trashed everything I started, and I grew frustrated with myself. That frustration turned to uncertainty, so before I could allow it to turn to doubt, I picked up my pencil and let my heart talk. It was then I realized all the projects I started before came from my mind and not my heart. It looks like a jumbled mess of lines, but it’s nothing but pure emotions.”
A bunch of hearts flooded the screen once Leilani was done talking. Viewers were giving her the praise she deserved. Her answer was deep. I’d been in that place before.
I turned the camera back to me and expressed, “I feel it. It’s hard when your mind tries taking over your heart. I go to the cages by myself when I get like that, so I think it’s dope as fuck you were able to let it out through your creativity.”
“Thank you, Banks.”
“Oh, I’m Banks now?”
She bobbed her head and gave me a closed-lip smile. “Yes. I can tell that came from your heart.”
“It did. Now, are you going to tell me where to hang it?”
“Are you going to answer my question first? Answer for an answer.”
“Give me your number so I can give you that answer.”
Once again, hearts flooded the screen. There was something about Leilani I desired, and it wasn’t sexual either. She was feeding my soul in ways I didn’t know I was hungry for. Her aura was attractive. With the industry I was in, that was hard to come by in women.
I could see the conflict behind Leilani’s eyes as she pondered on my demand. Before she had a chance to answer, women started filling the comment section, talking down on me. I had a feeling it was coming. They were warning Leilani to stay away from me, saying I wasn’t trying to do anything but add her to my roster while also posting links to blogs about me. All I could do was shake my head. There was no need to try to defend myself when people had already formed their opinions of me long ago.
Out of nowhere, Leilani ended the live. I went to inbox her when an incoming call from Paisley came through.
“What’s up, Pai?”
“What was that all about?”
I pinched the bridge of my nose. “I don’t know what you’re talking about.”
