The gallery was bustling with people. Jess had a hard time wading through the sea of guests who've come to the art extravaganza that opened that night. The atmosphere of excitement was unmistakable. Wow, Conrad must be in cloud nine with the turnout, she thought as jostled her way to the office. Two days ago, the owner of the gallery frantically called for her help as most of the paintings to be shown had gotten mixed up during transit and wouldn't be able to arrive in time for the much-publicized opening. Her connections with the handlers, being an important long-time client of theirs, ensured overtime work, which fortunately resulted to the timely arrival of the goods but with a few hours to spare for installation.
Alone in the empty office, Jess sat down on Conrad's table, opened a black box and began to sort the slides inside. Two weeks from now, it would be her show that's to open. A knock on the door broke the silence. Jess went to open the door and found herself staring eye to eye with a beautiful tall brunette. The woman took a slight step back, as if in surprise. Short cropped hair, big brown eyes, stylish white suit, strong chin, a mouth that seemed to hint a smirk. Jess was transfixed.
The silence between them was electrifying. Neither moved. "You're not Conrad," she finally said, and before Jess could reply, the woman turned around and left. Jess was stunned as she watched the woman walk down the aisle. What the hell was that? Better yet, who the hell was that? On one hand she felt annoyed with this stranger's rudeness, on the other, she was intrigued.
Okay, first things first, she reminded herself as she returned to the desk. She could hear the chatter outside slowly becoming subdued as the program was starting. After leaving her slides and a note on top of Conrad's table, she hastily went outside to listen to the talk.
Entering the lobby area, she immediately spotted the woman she met earlier, standing at the back of the room with her arms folded. As all the seats were taken, Jess was forced to stand at the back as well, making a bit of an effort to keep her distance from the stranger. The woman slightly turned her head, then stared for a bit, which made Jess slightly unnerved at this woman's inexplicable hostility. She tried to concentrate on what Conrad was saying up in front, introducing the Brazilian artist group, but she was all too conscious of the other woman, as if the ten meters between them didn't exist. Every shift of weight, every clearing of throat the woman made did not escape Jess. Whenever she'd steal a glance, the woman would instantly look back, as if reading her mind, and give her a scowl.
After a few more minutes, the solemnity of the talk took a break as a musical performance began. As the happy Brazilian tune raised some appreciative buzz from the audience, Jess decided it was time to go home and get rush some work to completion. Jess readjusted her bag, picked up the black box resting on the floor. As she turned to leave, she felt a hand take hold of her arm. She turned around and saw it was the woman, unsmiling and with a look that was both intimidating and annoyingly intimidating. Seeing her for the second time up close, Jess noticed the woman was pretty, if not handsome. You're not leaving, she stated in a gently but firm tone. As if it were a command not to be questioned.
Jess was instantly furious at being told what to do, and by a rude stranger at that! She's had enough. With a scathing look, her eyes squarely bored at the woman's. She tried to shake off the hand, first discreetly then jerkily, but failed as the hold was gently but very firm. Just try and make a scene, the woman's eyes dared her, the corner of her lips curling into a smirk.
