Starving Artist by Selena Kitt

Author:Selena Kitt [Kitt, Selena]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: iwantmoney, forum.mobilism.org
Published: 0101-01-01T00:00:00+00:00

* * * *

Ellie grabbed a glass of wine on her way back from the bathroom, hoping it might calm her nerves.

There were a lot more people here tonight than she'd ever expected. They were all milling around the paintings, murmuring. It was funny—she loved being an artist, but she hated art galleries.

Her fellow students’ work was on display as well, and most of them were here hoping to find a patron, or at least make a small sale. They were mingling and making small talk. Ellie just stood near her little exhibit, sipping and watching.

“I'm telling you, this artist is beyond belief!” Ellie turned toward the voice and saw a woman with short blonde hair talking into a cell phone. “There are three I'm buying today for sure.” The blonde laughed.

“Well, you don't have to know, darling, you just have to listen to me gush. Isn't that what I have you for?”

Ellie's cheeks flushed with two rosy spots as she turned and looked at her own paintings, feigning great interest. A fellow classmate was going to have a great night. Her chest burned with jealousy.

“Excuse me, are you Eleanor Knight?” The blonde flipped her phone closed behind her.

Ellie turned, still sipping her wine. “Yes?”

“I just want to tell you,” the blonde rushed on, clutching Ellie's arm and nearly making her wine tip right out of the glass. “I'm so impressed with your work! I've never seen anything like this!”

“Th-thank you.” Ellie stumbled over her words, taking a step back.

“I was just telling my husband,” the blonde continued, reaching out to touch the edge of the canvas.

“I'm buying three of them today. This one, and those two over there.”

“This one isn't for sale,” Ellie said, her eyes tracing the colors—purples, oranges, yellows. She'd been forced to enter this one at the last minute after she finally admitted the other really was beyond repair.

“I'll give you a thousand each.”

Ellie choked on her wine, her eyes starting to water. “A ... thousand—?”

“You know,” the blonde went on, still studying the painting. “This one is particularly fantastic. Do you have any more like these?”

“I—” Ellie frowned, not wanting to share her secret. The woman glanced at her and smiled, her eyes warm. “Actually, yes. I have quite a few.”

“You do?” The blonde's eyes lit up. “Oh, honey, we have to talk! I'd like to bring you to New York. I own a gallery there. I'd love to show your work.”

Ellie blinked. “Oh.” Her heart was beating so fast she couldn't keep up with it.

“Here, let me write you a check.” The blonde took a slim leather checkbook out of her purse and began writing. She ripped it off and handed it to Ellie with a smile. “Don't look so surprised, dear. You really are very good.”

Ellie felt her eyes burning with tears. She looked at the check in her hand through prisms. Three thousand dollars.

Three. Thousand. Dollars.

“Thank you.” Ellie was too stunned to say anything else. She was about put the check into her purse when she glanced at the name at the top.

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