Painting the Moon by Traci Borum

Author:Traci Borum
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Red Adept Publishing
Published: 2015-07-21T00:00:00+00:00

Chapter Seventeen

Use the darkness inside you—take something you long for, something out of reach, and look for it inside your painting, knowing you might not ever find it. Because that quest, that hunger, will translate into something raw and real.

“When we get inside, you’ll see a floor of display, sort of like a museum. This is where pieces that go up for auction are usually located, so people have a chance to browse and make decisions. And then inside the auction room…”

Frank had talked nonstop ever since they first drove off in his car nearly an hour ago. He figured Noelle needed an education on every little facet of what she was about to experience during her first time at Sotheby’s. She let him drone on, feeding him an occasional cursory, “Mm-hmm” or “That’s interesting,” happy she didn’t have to do any of the talking. She needed to be inside her thoughts right now.

Earlier, getting ready for this Valentine’s Auction, Noelle came close to backing out. To calling up Frank and making up some sort of excuse that would fall under “legitimate enough” to miss her aunt’s auction. Perhaps she’d inherited a bit of her aunt’s hermit gene and simply didn’t want to surround herself with mobs of hungry bidders, competing and clamoring to make a purchase. She pictured piranhas in a river, fighting over the same piece of food. But calmer and slower, and with British accents.

Frank deftly maneuvered through London’s West End, turning sharp corners, dodging fast-moving taxis and tour buses, until finally they reached their destination with only a few minutes to spare. He found a parking spot a block away, the closest he could get. They were supposed to meet the General Chairman outside the auction room twenty minutes before it began.

The Sotheby’s building stood multiple stories high, with a clean white façade and the navy flag stamped with “Sotheby’s” flying overhead. As Frank opened the front door, Noelle caught a quick glimpse of the poster in the window announcing Joy’s art collection. She caught the words “Exclusive!” and “Never-Before-Seen!” before Frank rushed her through.

As they swept past marbled floors, cafes, and exhibit rooms, she made a mental note to slow down later and do some browsing. An elevator took them to the auction room where Mr. Felspar, the General Chairman, was waiting.

“I’m so sorry we’re late,” Frank gushed.

“No trouble at all. Glad you could make it.” Mr. Felspar, nearly bald except for trimmed tufts of hair above both ears, extended a hand to Noelle. “Lovely to finally meet you.”

“You as well,” she replied.

The time for courtesy had expired. The auction was about to begin. As Mr. Felspar led them through the side doors to their special seating up front, Noelle tried to take it all in. Hundreds of people seated on the main floor, the wall of people to the side who chatted on phones and stared at computer screens, and the podium and display stage up front where the auction would take place.

Finally, the excitement had started to set in.

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