Chapter thirty eight

" Okay you can come and see it now, " a smiling Crystal said as she finished up with the painting. Nick was relieved. She had made him sit still and simply pose for God knew how long.
He didn't mind though, it was time spent with her therefore it was worth it.
Standing up from the seat next to her bedroom window, he walked over to the middle of the room where she was and stood behind her to study her creation. And it was brilliant. A perfect work of literal art.
" Sooo what do you think? " She looked up at him with that look of mixed anticipation and expectation.
He pretended to be thinking, tilting his head from side to side as he judged it. Then he hissed and shrugged.
" It's not bad, "
Crystal frowned. Turning to her painting then to him. She bad expected a little more than that.
" Not bad?....you don't think it's good, do you? "
He gently started massaging her shoulders. Noticing just how great her lack of confidence was.
" I didn't say that, I just think I'm better when it comes to art, "
" But you don't even know the first thing about art! " She was having a hard time judging whether he was being serious or not.
" You only say that because you haven't seen my work yet.... I just completed a classic matchstick figure. "
She laughed as she turned around to face him, her hands around his neck.
" Nick Hilton! Did you just make a joke? "
" And now you're making fun of my work. " he said, his own arms going around her waist. He liked hearing her laugh. Turning back to the painting, he looked at it with pure admiration. And she saw it in his eyes.
" I love it, you should hang it somewhere so that you'll be able to admire me all day, "
" It's good to see that your ego is still intact. "
Taking a step back he crossed his arms and narrowed his eyes. Then he looked at her with a curious look.
" Why are you a lawyer? " It was a serious question. One he'd been meaning to ask for quite some time now. And he wanted nothing more than to find out why she did something that she clearly didn't have a passion for.
He'd seen her with those law books and documents. It was nothing compared to how she looked when she painted. Because the second she picked up that paintbrush her face lit up in the most beautiful way imaginable.
" I don't know, maybe because I went to law school. "
That was one topic she didn't want to discuss. And it was better if they left it at that. She was a lawyer, and that's how it would always be.
" That's not what I asked. "
Crystal started putting her materials back in the kit. The action done with hastiness so that she would escape the conversation he was clearly not willing to let go.
" Yes it is. I'm a lawyer because I studied law. It's as easy as that, "
" But you don't like it. " He said matter of factly. She shook her head and ignored him. It was good to know that he was still as persistent as ever.
" Are you ignoring me? "
Crystal stood, then she huffed out a breath and turned to him, one hand on her waist and the other massaging her nape.
" Of course I am, it's what people do when they don't want to talk about something. "
" Not all people, just the ones that are too scared to admit the truth. "
She hated it when he went all factual police on her. Though it was kind of hot.
" Okay then, I don't like my job. Actually, that's an understatement, I HATE my job !! But either way, I still have to do it because - "
" Because your dad wants you to.... right? "
She went back to picking her things up. Then she took the kit to her closet and placed it back to its usual spot. All the while feeling Nick's eyes on her every move.
" Quit. " he said and she stopped what she was doing, her brows knit together and lines now creasing her forehead. And she wondered whether she had heard him right.
" What? " she asked as she looked at him. He looked as composed as he usually did.
" I said quit your job. you can open an art studio, do what you really want to do. "
She parted her lips to speak but wondered exactly what to say. Had it been another person telling her to do that she would have assumed it was a joke and just laughed it out. But Nick looked as serious as he could be.
He truly did care about her happiness. She was honestly touched by the gesture and what he was preposition sounded really tempting. But it just wasn't possible.
" I can't. "
" Can you walk? " he asked and she wondered what that had to do with anything.
" Yeah? "
" And can you talk? "
" Yeah? "
" Then I don't get why you're saying you can't do it. "
Her happiness was his primary concern. And she wasn't happy doing what she currently was, so he didn't see the point of her doing it anymore. Especially if the only reason she was doing it was to please someone who clearly cared more about his career that he cared for her.
" It's more complicated than that. "
" That's only because you want it to be. While in truth it's actually pretty simple. "
" Can we stop talking about this now? "
" Why? does it make you uncomfortable to listen to the truth? "
She put he hands up in a gesture of peace and asked him to cut it out. Saying she didn't need a therapy session but he didn't feel like letting it go until he made his point. And that would happen when she promised him that she would quit her job.
" One week. " he said and she asked him what he was talking about. Walking to where she was with his arms still crossed he gave her a reprimanding look.
" I'm giving you one week to quit the job, otherwise I'll do it for you, "
" Wh... what are you talking about? You can't just do - " with a finger to her lips, he shushed her. Then he leaned down and kissed her.
" One week, " he repeated afterwards. Then he went and grabbed her kit again and handed it over to her.
" Now why don't you paint a picture of yourself and gift it to me. "
The fact that he just basically blackmailed her with a straight face did stun her a bit. But the reason behind it was undeniably touching. And for a guy who clearly had trouble portraying his emotions, he was doing a pretty good job.
And she found herself actually considering what he wanted her to do. Just how hard could it be? And it was her life afterall. She had the right to make her own decisions, to do what she really wanted to do. Even if her father would be against it.
But each time she thought about it, she got chills. The bad kind. Just what would be her dad's reaction?
" Don't worry about what your father will say, this has nothing to do with him. And he has no right to make you do something you don't want to. "
He made it sound so easy. And when she listened to him, she believed that it actually was. So maybe she would be quitting her job afterall.