❝Grow old with me
Let us share what we see
And oh the best it could be
Just you and I❞

One year later...

"This is quite the turn out. And on Thanksgiving, no less."

I turned at the sound of Jasper's voice, a welcoming and grateful smile at the ready for our sponsor and Aiden's esteemed agent. Technically now, he was mine too.

"Mr. Smith! So glad you could make it."

"Harper. How many times have I told you to call me Jasper?" he admonished me, shaking his head.

"Old habits die hard."

I stepped forward to give him a grateful hug, because with Jasper, just a handshake would not do.

"Thank you so much for making it to opening night. It means a lot to both Aiden and I."

As I pulled back from the hug, I couldn't help but feel a swell of emotion toward Jasper. It was his guidance that had lent a huge part of success that Aiden's first gallery had won.

Upon seeing Aiden's portfolio, Jasper had responded almost instantly over the last year's Thanksgiving weekend, praising Aiden's potential and challenging him to blend what Aiden had always seen as disparate skills into something revolutionary.

In the months that followed, Jasper together with Ellie Park mentored and pushed Aiden to experiment and blend the textures and techniques of both worlds, refusing to let him confine his talents within the boundaries of convention.

He had often joined me on my trips to DC to work with Tris on Innovus's foray into finance. While he was off championing his art, I was off consulting the championed COO herself.

It soon became clear to the both of us: Tris and Jasper were not merely content with success. They both aimed for innovation.

Nevertheless, Aiden's collaboration with Jasper birthed his first digital art and paint fusion gallery-an exhibition that made its mark in the art world among indie artists and established, sponsored ones both. It wasn't just a collection of paintings but an immersive experience where pixels danced seamlessly with strokes of paint, each piece a testament to Aiden's genius.

Their collaboration was just the beginning, setting the foundation for what was to come: Inks and Pixels.

Following the triumph of the Forbidden Lilies webtoon which was released episodically online, side by side with a print book version of my novel, Aiden and I were practically living in artistic heaven.

It was after another movie-infused pizza night at our place that he turned to me, eyes brimming with the look I now identified as the 'eureka-Mitchell face.'

It was Aiden's idea to create "Inks and Pixels: Tales in Frames."

The concept was simple yet intricate: we would interview individuals from various walks of life, capturing their essence through Aiden's stunning paintings while I would weave their stories into tangible narratives distributed alongside the artwork in the form of short stories.

I later pitched the idea to Artistry Publishing, adding in a layer of audiobooks recorded for each short story we covered plus Aiden re-adapting his paintings in digital webtoons to spread access and awareness for the people whose lives we covered. Not everyone could make it to the gallery after all.

The notion had initially met Jasper and Rosalie Edmund's skepticism. But it was Ellie Park, with her unwavering support and belief in our vision, who convinced both sides of the deal to take the leap.

With her endorsement, our project gained momentum, and now, here we were, hosting our second grand opening in DC after the resounding success of our inaugural chapter in New York.

The journey had been exhilarating, seeing the joy come to life on canvas and across print. It was more than just art. It was a celebration of the human spirit-a fusion of visual and literary expression that resonated deeply with everyone that had showed up for our Thanksgiving release.

As I glanced around the gallery, taking in the vibrant paintings and the brochures filled with stories waiting to be discovered, I couldn't help but feel a surge of pride and excitement.

Tonight was not just about the art hanging on these walls. It was about the stories pulsating within them-tales waiting to be told and shared with the world.

"I love you both but I had a bet going with Ellie that you wouldn't hit the projected numbers for the opening," Jasper admitted to which I released a shocked gasp.

"Gee. That's a great pep talk if I've ever heard one."

He shot me a Colgate-worthy grin.

"Trust me, I've never been gladder about owing Ellie money than I am now."

Jasper gestured at the flocks of people going around the gallery. We'd set up little bean bags for those who wanted to sit next to a portrait and read the short stories as well. For those that were visually impaired, we had the audio chapters set up with headphones allotted for each piece as well.

Suffice to say - everyone loved it.

"Where's the husband, by the way?"

I turned and gave Jasper a scathing glare, one that should have halted his teasing remarks in their tracks. But Jasper, perpetually grinning like a fool, seemed impervious to my silent warnings.

"Please, Mr. Smith. We're far from engaged," I retorted, trying to douse Jasper's cheeky insinuations before they could gain momentum.

"I wouldn't be so sure, Mrs. Mitchell-to-Be, Jasper quipped, his grin widening as he leaned in slightly. "I wouldn't put it past Aiden to propose to you through some larger-than-life painting that transforms into some digital 3D ring that then transforms into him on his knees, holding up the world's biggest diamond for you to wear."

That sounded far too detailed to be a farce. Jasper laughed out loud, thoroughly enjoying my slightly scandalized expression.

"Relax. I'm just pulling your leg."

Before I could retort, I caught sight of Aiden walking toward us, his iPhone hovering in front of him as he continued his video call with my brother. The gallery opening would have been too much for Lukas to take in, what with the crowd, but he'd still wanted to see it through a call.

Aiden, in his usual composed demeanor, lifted his charcoal grey eyes to meet mine. Instantly, they lit up, a spark igniting between us.

It was a familiar feeling-my heart skipping a beat as it always did whenever I locked eyes with him. It was a now permanent, non-life-threatening, condition around him, a sensation that never dulled.

I let the moment linger, relishing in the silent exchange, before allowing a small smile to grace my lips.

"There he is, Jasper," I gestured at Aiden, "the man of the hour."

There was nothing quite like the sight of my tamed little demon cub, decked out in a cocktail dress so sinfully beautiful at the opening of our second joint-gallery initiative.

I'd almost forgotten I was on video call with Lukas who was frantically waving his hand in front of the camera to get my attention.

Snapping out of it, I looked at him and smiled.

"Here's your superwoman."

I handed the phone to her, not missing the way her cheeks lit aflame at the brief touch of our fingers.

"Hey Lukas," she started, moving off to a quieter corner of the gallery. My eyes followed her, burning invisible kisses into her backless dress.

"Careful. You might impregnate her with those eyes of yours if you look at her like that any longer."

I sighed and turned, facing my esteemed agent and sponsor with a pained smile.

"Jasper. Glad you could make it."

"You could sound a little more enthused to see me, you know," Jasper retorted, his trademark playful smirk dancing on his lips.

As I observed him with a wry smile, I couldn't help but reflect on how he had entered my life, turning it upside down in ways I hadn't anticipated. Our relationship was akin to a perpetual cat-and-mouse game-moments of camaraderie interspersed with banter that bordered on a verbal duel.

Jasper had an uncanny way of challenging me, often requiring the steadying hand of Ellie Park to maintain some semblance of stability between us.

With my art mentor yet to arrive, I found myself left to navigate Jasper's double-edged words solo. Eyeing him up and down, I decided to play along with our familiar banter.

"Nice drip," I remarked, a throwback to our first meeting.

He wore a suit that boasted vibrant hues, a fusion of electric blues and fiery reds, interlaced with daring geometric designs. I knew its designer; growing famous for his sartorial masterpiece and style of using a kaleidoscope of colors and patterns expertly woven together in a way only few could pull off.

"It's from your friend's newly launched line, The Aryan. Kid's got potential," Jasper remarked, his tone carrying a hint of admiration.

"I know. I travel in talented circles, you see," I countered, a subtle jest lacing my words as I acknowledged the vibrant tapestry of creativity that often surrounded me reflected in the fashion worn in front of me.

A pang of 'FOMO' hit me as my eyes wandered the room, missing the sight of our closest friends and supporters.

EJ had got sucked into Aryan's Thanksgiving-themed fashion networking party, which was understandable. Megan, the unfortunate victim of the flu, promised to drop in next week. I couldn't help but miss even her-our bond having gotten suprisingly stronger over the past year.

Harper soon returned from her Lukas interlude, much to my relief, offering Jasper a tour of the room, but he declined, playing the mysterious card.

"I'm waiting for someone," he said with a grin.

"What's the big surprise?" I asked, half expecting a punchline from the perennial joker.

"For your VVIP guests to arrive," Jasper answered cryptically, and before he'd even finished, a sudden influx of paparazzi and flashing photography unleashed a frenzy through the doors of the gallery.

Walking in, hand in hand, was none other than DC's most famous billionaire Hans Castellan and his pregnant-as-heck COO wife, Tris Henderson, looking like they owned the world and a couple of galaxies.

They posed for a couple photos at the entrance to the gallery, with Tris offering a couple favorable quotes that would no doubt shoot Inks and Pixels ratings up, before turning and spotting us.

Tris made a beeline for us, positively radiating and turning our casual gallery opening into a red-carpet affair.

"Ms. Henderson," I said, bowing without thinking and straightening to a very amused smirk from her husband. The first time Tris had introduced him to me at an Innovus event, he'd eyed me like a possessive hawk, only relaxing when Harper joined us and planted a kiss on my cheek.

"Aiden, please," Tris laughed. "Call me Tris."

I'd rather keep my head attached to my body, thanks.

I shot her a wary smile and gave Hans a nod who returned it, just as sinister. His eyes warmed a lot more when they landed on Harper who came forward and gave them both long hugs.

"I wasn't expecting you guys, being Thanksgiving and all, but thank you."

"We wouldn't miss it for the world," Hans said, his voice deep and laced with affection.

Ugh.

Her relationship with them was damn near family-like at this point. Hans, in particular, she had grown fond of. He ruffled her hair, earning a loud slap on his shoulder like it was from an annoyed little sister.

"We wanted to show our support in the best way we can," Tris added, giving us both a wink as she rubbed her belly with a diamond-clad ring. "And we figured we'd use the good karma from today to talk to you two about something."

Harper and I exchanged a curious glance.

"A business proposition?" Harper asked.

Tris and Hans shared a look before he said, "Yes, with a personal flavor."

What ever did that mean?

My eyes slid over to Jasper who watched the entire exchange with a knowing smile. He gave me an over the top wink and I groaned on the inside.

What in the world had Jasper conjured up for us this time?

"You see...Hans and I found this diary..."

Tris hooked her arm through mine and I held on to her, incredibly fearful of the six-inch heels she should absolutely not be wearing when this pregnant.

I tried to focus on her words as much as I could as we took a round about the gallery, ignoring the hushed whispers and curious stares of the onlookers.

"His mother's diary, to be precise," Tris added and paused in front of a portrait of an old couple Aiden had painted in Central Park. "That, together with his father's love letters to her, weaves quite the love story."

Her eyes met mine. And there it was again.

The same look she'd given me on our first meeting, the one I knew would undoubtedly change both her and my life forever.

"We want you to write it."

"Not bad."

I fidgeted next to Hans, watching him eye the painting of the lovelorn yacht-living adventurer I'd had the pleasure of painting. He was one of the few subjects who had only given me fragments of his story, his aged eyes carrying the rest in silence.

Hans stood there, all tall and proud, taking it in and radiating a vibe that screamed, 'I own this room, and maybe the building too.' It was almost impressive, but I squared up to him. These were my creations, damn it, and I wasn't about to let his billionaire ass make me feel small.

He turned to me, and we locked eyes in a standoff, each silently sizing the other up. Then, out of the blue, he hit me with a zinger.

"How much do you charge for a portrait, but you know, if you painted tehm from your imagination?" Hans inquired, his tone making me wonder if he was plotting to have a portrait painted of himself riding a unicorn or something.

"You mean, without a live subject?"

He nodded.

"Why?" I shot back, trying to match his serious tone while secretly wondering if this was a setup for a punchline.

Hans stared at me with the intensity of someone negotiating a peace treaty, holding his cards close to his chest. The silence hung in the air like a suspenseful movie scene until he dropped the bomb.

"I'd like you to paint my parents' story."

My eyes darted to Aiden, on the other side of the room with Hans.

I looked over at Harper who was across us with Tris.

By the look on his face, I knew Aiden had just received a similar kind of offer.

Harper's face glimmered with excitement. And hesitation. She'd gotten an offer she couldn't refuse.

Should we take it, Pixels?

Will it make you happy, Inks?

He smiled.

She grinned.

I met Tris's hopeful eyes.

I looked at Hans, squaring my shoulders.

"It would be an honor."

____

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Song: Grow Old with Me by Tom Odell