Chapter 28

Mel

I tried to come up with something to say as we drove off, but my mind stayed empty, and my mouth wouldn’t move. I should have told her about the limo. Stupid shit, what had I done? I glanced at her. She sat staring down at her lap. I turned to watch out the window. What was I doing?

It didn’t take long before I felt the car slowing down, and we came to a halt by the entrance. I could just make out the hounds behind the tinted windows, cameras ready to hook onto their prey. Stupid shit. I turned to Nina.

“Just ignore them, okay?”

She glanced out the window and nodded. I heard the driver get out and walk over to my side. Here we go. Shitstorm coming up.

The door opened, and it was upon us. I stepped out, trying not to squint in the bright light of the flashes. Idiots. Nina came out behind me, and they all attacked.

“Mel, is that your new girlfriend?”

“How long have you been dating?”

Stupid shit. I smiled and waved, and when Nina came up to my side, we walked up the stairs.

“Just ignore them”, I whispered to her.

“Hey, Mel, give us a comment on Simba’s new exhibition”

“What do you say about—”

The door closed behind us. Only the buzz from the gallery on the other side of the doorway could be heard.

“Hey, you okay?”, I asked her.

She stood staring at the ground.

“You okay?”, I asked again.

This time, she nodded quietly. Man, this had been a mistake. I should have told her how it would be.

“Just stay close to me, okay?”

I took her arm and led her inside. There were no hounds here, only one invited magazine that had been told there would be no second chance if they screwed up. At least that was enough to keep them in check.

“Mel, how lovely to see you”

The first bastard stepped up. I couldn’t remember his name, but I smiled as he approached.

“How lovely you’ve organised this”

“I’m happy you like it”

He glanced at Nina, standing next to me.

“And this is…”

“A friend”

I smiled and excused us.

“Just smile at them, okay? You don’t need to say anything.”,I whispered.

She just nodded next to me.

The shitstorm went on and on, with one person after another fawning over the painting and the exhibition. I smiled and exchanged a few words with each until the director pinged his glass and the hall fell silent.

“Welcome, dear ladies, gentlemen and all in between”

I’d heard it countless times, and I soon zoned out. I stared around the room. What was I doing here? Was this my life, painting shitty paintings for bastards who only wanted to show off to their friends? It did pay for the rehab centre, and that was the only reason I did it, but even so…

It took me a moment to realise the speech was finished, and I was free again to roam around with the idiots. Dammit, what was I doing?