Chapter 27- Boston's Art.

New York was just as she remembered. Except it was a lot warmer since it was spring. Amelia had arrived at New York in the morning taking Xavier's private jet. Their goodbye had been romantic and Amelia almost didn't want to leave but she promised her curator Myra Banks that she was going to attend.

After arriving at New York, the first thing she did was to hang out with her friends. They had managed to hit the bar and had a couple of drinks before she decided it was time she headed back home. Although Xavier had told her she could stay at the penthouse, Amelia didn't want to be in the large penthouse all alone. She preferred the comfort of her studio apartment regardless of the fact that it was smaller.

It was finally the day of the art exhibit at the museum. She was going to be having lunch at a restaurant with her brother Griffin who had a short study break. Then she would head to the exhibit alone. She was excited to see Griffin, she hadn't seen him since New Year and that was already about five months. A lot had happened between that time frame and she could imagine that he had a lot of questions about a lot of things.

Especially about her marriage to Xavier.

She spotted her brother easily in the cafe, tall and lanky, Griffin Joey Johnston was the male version of Amelia. They both had the same glossy black hair and violet eyes. Even their colouring was the same. But their personalities made people question wonder if they were from the same parents.

Griffin was cool and reserved, he was the smart one in school, the child prodigy, the teacher's favourite and the parents' favourite. He was amusing and he loved flaunting his skills. Whether it was spewing medical jargons like he did frequently to impress people or stealing the show by playing Mozart at a gathering or speaking about five different languages at the same time, Griffin Johnston did it all. And Amelia was the complete opposite.

"Baby brother!!!"

Amelia called out as she stretched her arms out to give him a hug. Griffin cringed slightly as he hugged his sister.

"I really wish you'd stop calling me that Amelia. You're just two years older than me."

"Yea! I am! Doesn't mean you're not my baby brother."

She said as she settled in the seat across to him and took a long look at him and gagged.

"Griffin, you're only twenty two and you already dress like a fifty year old professor. What is with that sweater?!"

Griffin looked down at his sweater and shrugged.

"It's cashmere. The fancy kind."

He said with a smile and Amelia rolled her eyes.

"Makes you look very snobbish."

"You don't look different at all."

Griffin commented as he studied his sister while Amelia stopped a waiter.

"Oh! What were you expecting me to look like?"

Griffin shrugged.

"Well, you don't look married..."

"Really? How do married women look like Griffin?"

Griffin rolled his violet eyes as she shrugged.

"I don't know. They look married. You look like you just shopped at Forever 21."

"Oh shut up and let's order."

After they made their orders Griffin glanced at the ring on Amelia's finger.

"Mum and Dad told me what happened. I'm not sure I believe that you willingly married some strange Silicon Valley billionaire."

"Correction, he lives at Atherton. Not Silicon Valley. But I didn't willingly do it."

"I was fooled by our deceptive parents to believe that we had no choice."

"I thought we were going bankrupt and I thought I was doing the right thing. I thought I was finally being a good daughter."

Amelia said as she shrugged. Griffin held her hand.

"Well, never sacrifice your happiness for anyone. Not even our parents."

"Does he at least treat you right?"

Griffin asked with concern and a smile crept on Amelia's face.

"He's actually not so bad. It's not what I was expecting. It's even better."

"Hmmmm. Is there something you're not telling me Mia?"

Amelia shrugged as a blush bloomed on her cheeks.

"What?"

"Well, sounds like you've fallen in love with him. The Amelia that I know would have run away or something by now."

"Well.... He's actually a perfect gentleman. Things are going really well between us."

She answered as she tucked in her hair behind her ears. Their lunch arrived. She ordered the roast chicken with shaved veggies like fennel, arugula and the Salsa Verde while her brother ordered a burger.

After a long time just talking and catching up, Amelia and her brother left the restaurant and Amelia went home to prepare for her art exhibit. The invitation said dressy casual so Amelia picked out a cobalt blue off the shoulder dress with a high slit. After she was done with her hair and makeup she sent Xavier a message. She wanted to call him but sometimes their calls could go on and on for hours and she didn't want to be delayed. She was already a few minutes behind schedule.




The Gladstone art gallery was beautiful. It was so aesthetic, peaceful and calming that Amelia almost did not feel too overwhelmed with a lot people being in there. It was a pristine spacious space with white walls and white marble floors.

And the art. Oh! The art was magnificent. Amelia was supposed to be looking for Myra her curator but she couldn't help herself. She was simply overwhelmed.

The paintings dominated the walls, every colour was bold and painted with such precise lines that it almost looked like a mosaic. They were curved yet sharply defined; every colour was bold and painted with such precise lines that it almost looked like a mosaic.

Interesting. Amelia thought as she decided to take a closer look at one of the artist's works. The only thing she knew about him was his name Boston McNamara.

That was a particular art that she was drawn to. It was strange because the painting was too small. Way too small. It was almost as if the artist didn't want people noticing it. She wondered why the artist did that. Were they short on canvas and oils or was there a point?

The scene was a small row boat on the sand, abandoned to rot in the abrasive and damp air of the beach front. As intriguing as the painting was, there were lots of things that were missing. Perhaps off the canvas there was a man with sanding paper and a fresh pot of poppy coloured paint, a man with skin more craggy than the rocks and hair whiter than the sea foam spray. But Amelia did not know what to make of the painting.

"You look intrigued."

A man said next to her and Amelia nodded her head.

"No, more like confused. I don't get it."

She said as she turned and found a tall hunky man. He was tall, at least 6'5 and he was built heavily. For some reason, he reminded her of the WWE wrestler Roman Reigns with his long hair in a ponytail and his brooding look.

"What's there to get? It's art."

"I know! But what does it mean? It looks incomplete."

Amelia complained as she took a tiny sip out of her champagne and watched the painting. The man next to her was still studying her, his large arms were folded and he was smiling.

"Art is part of our human soul. It is a way to communicate with the deeper self of both the artist and others. The same piece invokes different emotions depending on the person, their mood, their time of life. I believe the artist is trying to convey something that you wouldn't be able to see unless you were looking at it from his point of view."

Amelia shrugged.

"How will I do that? I don't know the artist. But so far, his work has been really interesting."

The man shrugged.

"The only way you'll know is if you check out more of his work. Shall we?"
The man offered and Amelia smiled a bit as she followed him to check out the other art pieces.

At some point she wanted to stop and look for Myra but she was enjoying walking with the stranger. It was nice how they mostly had conflicting views about what the artist was trying to portray. There was a great curiosity in Amelia to understand the reasons behind each stroke of paint.

Although she found Boston McNamara's art to be interesting, it was also quite complicated.
It was a polaroid of emotions, the sort of communication that could take volumes of the written word to convey... and even then, not nearly so well.

"So! Honest review. What do you think of Boston McNamara's art?"

The man asked and Amelia shrugged.

"It's beautiful and very intriguing really. But it's almost as if the artist is confused."

"Confused?" The man asked as he raised an eyebrow.

"Yes! How else would you explain that painting over there. The tiny one with just a washed up boat and nothing else?"

"Are you still on that?"

The man asked incredulously and Amelia nodded.

"Yes, yes. I am."

Amelia was about to keep on taking when she heard the cheery voice of Myra.

"Awwwn! I see you made it Amelia! And I see that you've met the artist. Mr Boston McNamara."

Amelia's eyes widened as she looked at the man who had a silly smile on his face.

"Wait!!! You're the artist?" She said in shock as she looked at Myra who nodded.

"Isn't he brilliant? Have you seen his Viscochi painting? So moving!"

Myra commented with her hand on her chest.

"Ms Banks. Can you give me a moment with her please?"

Boston asked and Myra nodded.

"Sure! But I'll be back soon to drag you up for a speech."

"I had no idea you were the artist..."

Amelia started and Boston shrugged.

"It doesn't matter. Your company was very refreshing. Amelia? Amelia right?"

He asked and Amelia nodded.

"Yes. It is."

"And I feel so embarrassed for all the things I said earlier about that tiny painting."

Boston chuckled.

"No need for that. I'm just glad you enjoy my work. I'll be leaving to give my speech soon and things can be pretty hectic after that. I hope you wouldn't mind us having a drink after this exhibit so we can talk much more freely?"

Boston asked with twinkling eyes. Amelia instantly felt bad for him. He probably had not noticed her ring or chose to ask her out regardless of it

"Boston, I had a great time with you tonight. But please don't take it the wrong way. I'm a married woman. Just in case you didn't notice the ring on my finger."

Boston briefly glanced at her hands and he's face looked crestfallen.

"I'm sorry. I had no idea."

"It's okay." Amelia murmured as she tucked her hair in her ear.

"I better get going now. It was really amazing meeting you."





I hope you're enjoying the story!!!! What do you think of Boston?