"Sir, why did you fire the manager?" Paulo asked and his tone held amusement.

"What is so amusing Paulo?" Devian asked in annoyance.

"Nothing Sir." He said and Devian dropped the matter because he knew that he will be digging his own grave.

"You wanted Ms. Miller to work overtime," He said and Devian glared at him.

"I am just reminding you, Sir."

"Yes I wanted that but I don't want to kill her with overwork." Devian gave another excuse.

"She wouldn't have died."

"Paulo, that's enough. Have you seen her? She was having a nose bleed." And Devian realized he made a mistake.

She was supposed to suffer and he wasn't supposed to care. But not only he exposed himself to two college boys, but he also fired the manager.

"I need you to be in charge of that exhibition now. I can't hire anyone on such short notice. With just two days left for the exhibition."

"Ms. Miller is doing quite well herself. Have you seen the gallery, it looks exquisite."

Devian tried not to react or feel even tiny bit proud on the statement like that when he did if Queen made a perfect shot from her arrow or when she rode the horse for the first time. In the end, he will be the only one left with his heart ripped out of his chest and a curse to carry.

"Oh, she is doing fine now till the robbery happens." He said with a small smile.

"And you are going to give one of your amazing artworks and play the knight in shining armor." Paulo deducted in a tired tone seeing the obvious conflict Devian was facing.

He was old enough to see that deep, deep down Devian was still the soft-hearted bodyguard who was trying very hard to go against his nature because he was betrayed in love and life.

"Does she not trust you enough Sir?" He said and for a moment he could see the pain on Devian's face.

"It's not about just making her fall in love Paulo, it's about making her go through some trouble. It's just a little this and that, not that I am filling her with darkness to contain which will gradually change who she is from inside or give her abrupt desire to kill or do evil things." He snapped.

"I understand Sir."

And Paulo left knowing too well that he was not the cure Devian's deep etched scar, only Delia was.

~*~

"Can I help?" Melaney came and sat down on the floor in front of Delia who was making a list of painting being displayed with their printouts spread on the floor beside her.

"No, no. You are already doing too much for me." Delia said and looked up at her friend.

"Fine, then at least have this." She handed Delia a sandwich and a juice bottle.

"You are a lifesaver."

Melaney shrugged casually. 

While Melaney told her about gossip going at school, Delia updated her on the art exhibition. The time went by fast as they talked about random things and Delia felt much less tired than she did usually working alone. It was Friday night so Melaney was being kind enough to accompany her.

And just when Melaney was about to leave, the studio door opened and Wendy walked in. They greeted each other with a smile and a formal greeting.

"Who is she?" Wendy asked like a jealous boyfriend that made Delia laugh out loud.

"Friend from class."

"Don't eat that, I got you much better stuff."

"Wendy, I love you too." At which Wendy stuck out her tongue.

"So, tell me more," Wendy asked as if there was more to story still left.

"I told you million times now and it happened four days ago." Delia shook her head with a small smile on her face.

"You make him sound like a swoon-worthy lead of a dark romance novel."

"Minus the dark, he is too unreal. He is just aloof but very kind." She said shyly smiling.

"Girl, you are whipped."

"No, no I am just grateful." She said hurriedly and this time Wendy laughed.

"So where is your art project for him?"

"Oh, yes come on I need to show you something." Delia got up excited to show her the painting she was doing for assessment and as a gift to Devian.

Wendy followed and in the store where the artworks not to be displayed this exhibition was kept wrapped up, there stood a canvas half painted. Even though Wendy had no sense of artwork whatsoever, it was beautiful.

The whole background was the shade of rose pink and orange usually that felt like dawn, flower petals were falling from the sky. It was not the morning and yet it was not the night but among that pink and orange hue was a subtle hint of the dark sky and no light except a hope of rising sun.

And then there was a whole field of unpainted grass and among that field was only one flower, still withered.

"It's beautiful," Wendy whispered in awe.

Delia looked at her with elation, "It is?"

She wanted to convey how she had been always lived as a withered flower among the weeds and he is the sun that is helping her grow. It was a little intense but her thoughts on canvas were true.

"You are going to get an A+ for this Delia," Wendy said truly happy for her.

"The centerpiece for the art is even more beautiful, Devian painted it." Delia bragged about it.

"Ok fangirl, let's see that."

"No, I can't. It's locked behind that iron door at the end of the gallery." She said giving her an apologetic smile.

"But if you want to see you can come and see on the day of the exhibition."

"I am coming, either way, you worked so damn hard for this." 

"This is the last day I have to stay here at night and then it will be the normal time job. And since I have to look after everything after the manager was fired, I am freaking out. No one trusted me with something so big." She said close to hitting a hyper panic mode.

"Calm down, everything will be great." Wendy looked at the freaking out girl and pulled her for a hug.

"I have to go now, I have to write two assignments I missed because of a damn party." She said looking at the time on her phone.

"It's late Wendy, will you be fine alone?" Delia asked worried for her friend.

It was past eleven at night and Delia and three other people were left at the gallery.

One was a woman that came from the interior designing team and two men working on the instructions given by Delia and the other woman named Erin.

"We can drop you if you want Ma'am," One of the helpers said who was packing up to leave.

Wendy nodded happily and left with him giving Delia coffee cans and chocolates.

At around two everyone started to leave but Delia decided to stay back, because firstly she was too scared to walk back alone at this time and secondly because she had very little time to complete her painting so she decided to lock up and sit inside the store to complete her work which she brought here due to amount of time she spent here.

Locking everything carefully, she sat down in the storage area which was pleasantly warm and started painting immediately feeling relaxed. When she was done with almost everything, it was four, so she laid down on the old couch in the storage room and tried to sleep a little relieved that it was weekend.

The loud banging on the door woke her up and surprised that she slept so well, she opened the door her eyes groggy with sleep.

"What have you done?" Erin, the woman from interior designing team yelled at her.

She looked at the time on her phone and it was eleven, she slept for so long.

"What happened?" She asked dread filling her, realizing that something must be screwed up since everything just can't go this smoothly for someone like her.

"The painting, the centerpiece is gone."

Delia's heart dropped at those words.

~*~

Paulo was the one holding the key to the iron door as she came outside, tears filled in her eyes. She has screwed it up. Devian would be disappointed in her, he was the first person to trust her with this and she messed it up bad.

There were two police officers, Paulo, the labor guys, and Erin. In anyone's mind, it made sense that she was the suspect.

"Last person here was you Ms. Miller, Anyone else?" Police confirmed.

She nodded.

"You can check the CCTV camera, I didn't even go near the door." She said her lips trembling as she tried not to cry like a fool in front of police officers.

"CCTV footage has been tampered with."

It was getting harder for Delia to breath now. How can things suddenly get this bad?

They asked her about who came beside here and who left last. At what time did she go inside the storage room and why didn't she go back home instead. She could sense from their questions that she not just the suspect, she was guilty.

And she remembered that last time Devian said that she could call her if she was in trouble but right now she felt so guilty that one of the Devian's masterpiece was gone under her supervision and that too a day before the seasonal exhibition.

"You have a motive." One of the police officers said who just got off the phone, "We have to check your dorm room just in case."

"Motive?" Delia looked confused.

"You do have to pay your remaining fees, we confirmed it with the administrative team and you have a week left to do so."

Her heart constricted with pain and she tried not to panic. If the police went to her room, she will be known as a thief for the rest of her time at university. She was blamed for something she didn't even do but this was nothing new. This happened before in school but what hurt her most was failing the first person that trusted her.

"I didn't steal it." She said not knowing what else she could say in her defense.

"You have any evidence that could prove that?"

"Do you have any evidence that I did it?" She said in a small voice as she wiped her tears.

"You are a suspect Ms. Miller and it doesn't look good for you. You were here last, your fingerprints are on the door handle."

"Because I was the one that was in their last when I kept the painting and after that, I gave the key to Paulo here." She said and noticed that Paulo was busy on a call.

Her heart dropped even further hoping it was not Devian. She couldn't face him in this situation.

"So like we said,  you are a suspect and not accused. You still have to come with us to the Police station for more questions."

"What the hell is wrong?" Wendy's voice came from behind and this was all that took her to break down in tears.

She hugged a crying Delia and glared fearlessly at police," Do you assume someone like her can lift a big painting and carry all the way to her room and no one will notice."

Delia relaxed a bit as the strong mouthed Wendy spoke in her defense. Apparently, this was who Paulo called and he has been kind enough to empty the gallery to minimize her humiliation.

"Listen, Miss, if the painting owner and art gallery owner want to sue her, we can't do much about it."

Wendy was arguing with them with zero law knowledge and yet she was not backing down as Delia almost hid behind her.

"I don't want to sue." Devian's voice made everyone turn around.

Delia felt terrible on seeing him and she wanted the earth to split open and pull her in. She didn't even dare look up at him after losing something so precious.

"Sir?" Police officers looked confused and yet wary of the man in the room.

Delia noticed Wendy was staring blatantly. His deep voice meant that whatever he said was not open for discussion. 

"I am the owner of both stolen painting and gallery. And I am not suing anyone. So just let the matter go officer" And this was not a request.

Both the officers nodded as if they lost the ability to speak and looked slightly scared of the man.

They left and Devian turned to look at Paulo. He quietly gave him some instructions and he nodded and left as well leaving Wendy and Delia behind.

"Devian Marcus Elainer." He introduced himself to Wendy who was apparently speechless now.

Delia realized in all her distress, he looked as gorgeous as ever in a crisp suit.

His hair was a disheveled beauty making him looking like a hair gel model and unlike his usual clean-shaven look he had stubble and if it was possible that made him look even sexier than he was. There were a deep frown and a stern look on his face. His wide shoulders making him look intimidating as he walked towards Delia.

She realized again that she was staring at him, into those grey eyes and something shocked her. He was not disappointed or angry. There was just concern in his eyes. Which made her feel even worse.

Wendy stepped aside as she saw Devian come closer to Delia.

More tears flowed down Delia's eyes and she hung her head in shame.

"Delia." He called her name in a way that made butterflies flutter inside her, softly yet possessively. 

She looked up unable to ignore his gaze on her.

"What did I say about calling me when in trouble?" He said in a hopeless tone.

"I couldn't. I messed up." She said sobbing lightly.

It annoyed Devian how she would not ask for his help herself even though she trusted him now. What would it take for her to open up?

"Don't worry about the painting I can put up something else." He said trying to make her feel better.

She nodded not looking truly convinced or guilt free.

Devian sighed at his jumbled thoughts and emotions. His fingers formed a fist stopping himself from wiping those tears off, he was successful in playing the knight in shining armor but he wanted in that crazy moment to pull her into a hug and console her. 

"It's just a painting Delia, why are you distraught?" He asked curiously as to why she was so miserable since she was not even the thief.

She should have been angry and not crying her heart out which made it worse for Devian.

"It's not about the painting, it's about your trust in  me." She said softly.

And Devian felt her heart break a million times not even sure why that happened. He thought it froze the time he saw his mother scared of him and his little sister perish in his arms because of him as he was cursed with the immortality of pain. But apparently, it can still hurt this much.

Breaking his resolve, he stepped closer and pulled the sobbing girl in for a hug.

Delia realized that maybe he was really her sun as warmth flowed through her engulfed in his embrace, maybe he was her fairy tale knight in shining armor.

~*~*~*

But did you guys notice? Chapters always end up 2000+ words! YAY!

I hope this works as a weekend treat. I have tried to show 2 different types of people who grew as a loner, one is kind enough to invite love and friendship in while the other is bitter in loneliness.

What kind of person is more relatable?

And even though Delia is fragile, she has her own mental strength that Devian is gradually seeing. 

Also, what kind of feels are you having during the story? For me, I am a sucker for conflicted Devian.

NEXT UPDATE: WEDNESDAY