Page 46 of Taming the Elusive Billionaire

I looked to where Mom was pointing, and my breath caught. It felt like I was looking at an actual image of Mom, the eyes, the nose, every detail was captured so much, I had to blink to make sure it was real.

“It’s beautiful right?” Mom asked.

Beautiful was an understatement for such mastery little art could compare to such brilliance.

“Holy shit, Mom,” I said absolutely stunned. I could not believe my eyes, and just stood there staring at the portrait with my mouth wide open. Not a single detail was missed, right down to the strands of her hair. Her clothing was drawn to perfection as if the actual articles of clothing were directly on the drawing.

“I know, I can hardly believe it myself. It’s stunning,” mom said admiring all the intricate details. “You know, I showed it to some of my friends, and they wanted her to draw them too.” Mom added, “Have not told her yet, but will soon, since Ella is already talking about leaving.”

“Yeah, wow, this is amazing,” I said, utterly shocked. “I didn’t know she could draw like that.”

Ella asked as she moved to the bed and folded her arms, “Just amazing?”

Facing Mom, I shrugged, unable to find a better word to describe it, “She really drew this?”

“With pencils, right before our very own eyes, I still don’t like that you weren’t here to see me in that dress.”

“Business, Mom,” I whispered, finally turning my gaze from the captivating portrait. “I couldn’t help it.”

“Well, you are home now, and I couldn’t be happier.”

“I still have more business to take care of,” I turned away, “I think it’s time I finally see the artist and congratulate her for a job well done, don’t you think?”

“Of course, please, my dear, lead the way,” Mom said excitedly while turning to Ella, who stood reluctantly and began to head to the door.

“This would be a breach of privacy she specifically said she didn’t want any disturbance.”

“From me too?” Mom asked, bewildered, as we made our way out of her room toward Lucy’s.

“No, of course not, Mom.” Ella said pointing her finger at me. “No disturbances from you.”

“Surely there’s no reason for her to request that of him, or is there something bad you might have done to her, son?”

“You have asked that already, Mom, and I told you your daughter and her friend were in the right position to answer that.”

“Is it true?” Mom asked, turning toward Ella.

“How do I begin? Visiting our home, continuously running a background check on her, accusing her of having an ulterior motive coming into our home, co—”

“That’s enough!”

“The guilty feels threatened.”

“Surely, son, do tell me, you didn’t do all she accused you of?”

“That’s the seen only. We don’t know about the unseen.”

I stopped in my tracks and turned toward them. “Mom, we talked about some of this already. Can we stop talking and focus on where we are going?”

Ella glared at me while Mom shrugged and kept walking.

Ella increased her pace, walked down the hall, made a left, and paused at the front of her door.

I sank my hands in my pockets, waiting for her to open the door, but she just kept staring at me. “Open it.”

“Promise me first that you won’t give her any trouble.”

“Why on Earth would I give her any trouble?”

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