EPISODE NINE
Calvin flipped Coran’s note around his hand with an inquisitive look about him. “So Coran wanted to see you? Belle?”
“Yeah,” Marabel fired back then snatched the paper from Calvin’s hand. After she balled it up, she tossed the note into her purse and decided to continue on with schedule of the day. “Business venture you say?”
“Yes. After you, Ms. LaRue.”
They made their way to his car. The driver held the door for them to enter. Just as before, Marabel scooted in close to Calvin. Her body was attracted to him like a magnet. It reminded her of the hugging bears you see in greeting card novelty stores.
“So what can you tell me about this venture?”
“It’s an amazing location in the University City area. It’s around some other indie shops with high traffic volumes.”
“What are you trying to bring to that area?”
“An art gallery. That’s where you come in. You deal in art so I figured you would hop right in. My company would rehab the building of course and you would run it.”
“Wait. Hold on. You want me to run your art gallery?” she asked, glaring at him with an air of confusion.
“Not necessarily. I am buying the building but the gallery is yours.”
“Well Calvin, I’m not really in the position to buy a space from you considering I just bought my loft from you,” she chuckled, letting out a little more nervous tension than she wanted to show.
Calvin rubbed her knee. “Honey, you’re not getting it. I, Calvin Laramie, bought the building. I am giving you the space after the rehab.”
Most men start with flowers, chocolates, even the occasional diamond but after one date an art gallery? What is he thinking?
“Calvin don’t you think that’s a bit much?”
“Not really. We both get something out of the deal. I get to redo the entire building which is great for my business and you get something you’ve always wanted.”
“How did you know that?” Marabel paused then continued, “Let me guess, the file.”
“The file, Marabel,” he chimed. “Files hold a lot of valuable information.”
“I’ve noticed but manning a gallery solo is a massive undertaking which is why I have yet to open one.”
“You’re a pretty resourceful business woman, Ms. LaRue, I’m pretty sure you will be successful in pulling it off.”
That’s what you think.
When they pulled up to a small brick building that was standing apart from the rest of the buildings on the block, Marabel instantly fell in love. It was next door to a small bookstore and café and directly across the street from a busy sandwich shop. Marabel had always loved the central area of Saint Louis that held a booming art district. It was a perfect location for a gallery.
Once they got out of the car, the driver unlocked the doors of the space then Calvin linked Marabel’s arm with his and they entered. The walls and floors needed repair but she could see the future in the space. Featured local artwork would be presented when a visitor would first enter. She would even pick out a special artist each month to be placed in the large picture window near the front entrance. Exhibits of the national and international caliber would be housed as further in. Then she would put an open space in the back for specialized events. Events? Her mind traveled back to the conversation she had with Coran. He wanted them to partner into an art gallery and event space combination.
She immediately felt guilty for thinking of including Coran, a man who had made her call on the heavens with every lap of his tongue against her wetness the previous night. It would be wrong. The gallery was to be a gift from the one who wanted her badly. He was willing to go to extreme lengths to give her the dream of her life.
“So what do you think, Marabel?”
“Um, it’s amazing. After the rehab it would make a perfect gallery. I can see the local and international art intertwined.”
“So you want to have a mixture of both huh? I figured you would only use local artists only and maybe poets or things of that nature.”
“Well that sounds great and all but I love the arts of every corner of the world. Don’t get me wrong, I will designate the front area for local artists but I want to educate the local area of the world.”
Calvin gave her an incredulous glare. Marabel stepped in closer to him and smiled. “Remember, you rehab then it’s mine to do what I want with. Not Calvin Laramie. Not Laramie Development but mine. I do appreciate your gift but let’s remember our roles in this.”
Calvin placed his knuckle underneath her chin. “You are one tough little cookie, Ms. LaRue.”
You’re damn right and don’t you forget it.
“Well it appears that you are just as excited about this next step as I am.”
“Maybe,” Marabel said with a flirtatious tone.
“I’ll take that as a yes. So I will get the paperwork started.”
“Sounds good to me.”
“How about some dinner?”
Marabel thought about her night out with Coran. Mixing back and forth with both men was becoming exhausting.
“How about a rain check? I’ve been out all day and I would love to just veg out at home.”
“That’s understandable. I actually have some out of state business to attend to this weekend so I need some rest for my early start.”
“Next week then?”
“You got it,” Calvin suavely stated.
Calvin decided to stay at the building and take some photos with his crew manager who was arriving. He had his driver take Marabel back to her apartment. When she got home, she shook her head. Her world had been running crazy since she’d moved back. She always said that St. Louis held all her demons and between Coran and Calvin, her statement was fast becoming truth.
Time to prepare for my night of mystery…
“Yeah,” Marabel fired back then snatched the paper from Calvin’s hand. After she balled it up, she tossed the note into her purse and decided to continue on with schedule of the day. “Business venture you say?”
“Yes. After you, Ms. LaRue.”
They made their way to his car. The driver held the door for them to enter. Just as before, Marabel scooted in close to Calvin. Her body was attracted to him like a magnet. It reminded her of the hugging bears you see in greeting card novelty stores.
“So what can you tell me about this venture?”
“It’s an amazing location in the University City area. It’s around some other indie shops with high traffic volumes.”
“What are you trying to bring to that area?”
“An art gallery. That’s where you come in. You deal in art so I figured you would hop right in. My company would rehab the building of course and you would run it.”
“Wait. Hold on. You want me to run your art gallery?” she asked, glaring at him with an air of confusion.
“Not necessarily. I am buying the building but the gallery is yours.”
“Well Calvin, I’m not really in the position to buy a space from you considering I just bought my loft from you,” she chuckled, letting out a little more nervous tension than she wanted to show.
Calvin rubbed her knee. “Honey, you’re not getting it. I, Calvin Laramie, bought the building. I am giving you the space after the rehab.”
Most men start with flowers, chocolates, even the occasional diamond but after one date an art gallery? What is he thinking?
“Calvin don’t you think that’s a bit much?”
“Not really. We both get something out of the deal. I get to redo the entire building which is great for my business and you get something you’ve always wanted.”
“How did you know that?” Marabel paused then continued, “Let me guess, the file.”
“The file, Marabel,” he chimed. “Files hold a lot of valuable information.”
“I’ve noticed but manning a gallery solo is a massive undertaking which is why I have yet to open one.”
“You’re a pretty resourceful business woman, Ms. LaRue, I’m pretty sure you will be successful in pulling it off.”
That’s what you think.
When they pulled up to a small brick building that was standing apart from the rest of the buildings on the block, Marabel instantly fell in love. It was next door to a small bookstore and café and directly across the street from a busy sandwich shop. Marabel had always loved the central area of Saint Louis that held a booming art district. It was a perfect location for a gallery.
Once they got out of the car, the driver unlocked the doors of the space then Calvin linked Marabel’s arm with his and they entered. The walls and floors needed repair but she could see the future in the space. Featured local artwork would be presented when a visitor would first enter. She would even pick out a special artist each month to be placed in the large picture window near the front entrance. Exhibits of the national and international caliber would be housed as further in. Then she would put an open space in the back for specialized events. Events? Her mind traveled back to the conversation she had with Coran. He wanted them to partner into an art gallery and event space combination.
She immediately felt guilty for thinking of including Coran, a man who had made her call on the heavens with every lap of his tongue against her wetness the previous night. It would be wrong. The gallery was to be a gift from the one who wanted her badly. He was willing to go to extreme lengths to give her the dream of her life.
“So what do you think, Marabel?”
“Um, it’s amazing. After the rehab it would make a perfect gallery. I can see the local and international art intertwined.”
“So you want to have a mixture of both huh? I figured you would only use local artists only and maybe poets or things of that nature.”
“Well that sounds great and all but I love the arts of every corner of the world. Don’t get me wrong, I will designate the front area for local artists but I want to educate the local area of the world.”
Calvin gave her an incredulous glare. Marabel stepped in closer to him and smiled. “Remember, you rehab then it’s mine to do what I want with. Not Calvin Laramie. Not Laramie Development but mine. I do appreciate your gift but let’s remember our roles in this.”
Calvin placed his knuckle underneath her chin. “You are one tough little cookie, Ms. LaRue.”
You’re damn right and don’t you forget it.
“Well it appears that you are just as excited about this next step as I am.”
“Maybe,” Marabel said with a flirtatious tone.
“I’ll take that as a yes. So I will get the paperwork started.”
“Sounds good to me.”
“How about some dinner?”
Marabel thought about her night out with Coran. Mixing back and forth with both men was becoming exhausting.
“How about a rain check? I’ve been out all day and I would love to just veg out at home.”
“That’s understandable. I actually have some out of state business to attend to this weekend so I need some rest for my early start.”
“Next week then?”
“You got it,” Calvin suavely stated.
Calvin decided to stay at the building and take some photos with his crew manager who was arriving. He had his driver take Marabel back to her apartment. When she got home, she shook her head. Her world had been running crazy since she’d moved back. She always said that St. Louis held all her demons and between Coran and Calvin, her statement was fast becoming truth.
Time to prepare for my night of mystery…