Chapter 3 Speaking of the devil

Pim pim! Pimmmm!

The car honk went off. Sarah has been at the parking lot for more than fifteen minutes waiting for her best friend and her goddaughter.

"Omg, Emily, we're running late!" She yelled at the top of her voice, hoping that she would hear her. Then she relaxed back into her car seat, going through the Google map that would lead them to the art exhibition event center. She turned her attention to the distant giant door noticing Emily coming out with her artwork while struggling to keep Olivia on track.

Without delay, she dropped her phone and got out of the car to help her. "You could have just called me, you self-sufficient woman," Sarah teased.

Emily gazed at her and gave a weak smile which had her best friend thinking about what could be wrong. "Emily, are..."

"Aunt Sarah, I missed you!" Olivia whimpered, interrupting Sarah who was about to talk to her best friend. "I missed you too, my little princess," she cooed.

"I'll guide you to the car while I help your mommy carry some of her artwork, okay?" Sarah stated, smiling. Olivia nodded her head while smiling back at her. They got to the car and settled in.

Emily sat quietly in the car thinking critically about her life recently. How would she be able to cope with the sad news that her boss broke to her? How would she cope with life entirely? How would she be able to deal with seeing Daniel Hartman when she runs into him? As long as she was concerned, Daniel was never into arts. He was more like a freak in tech- a legendary tech mogul. She wondered how he happened to start fancying arts to the extent of sponsoring the event. Emily batted her eyes twice, sighing heavily. Everything was becoming overwhelming, she didn't know what to do but the only thing she knew was that she would be totally positive about her art. For so many years, she has been trying to get noticed and recognized for her art but all that seemed impossible and now that she has the opportunity, she wouldn't dare to let anything hinder it- not even her baby daddy.

"Are you okay, Emily?" Sarah asked. She had noticed her mood and how she was constantly zoning out, thus she was forced to ask. "I know you are worried that he might act rashly once he sees you or Olivia but trust me, I wouldn't let that happen," Sarah assured her best friend whom she believed was a hundred percent troubled because of the high chances she had at running into Daniel at the center.

"I'm fine. You worry too much," Emily responded, feigning a smile. Sarah nudged her and they let out a soft chuckle.

After a few hours' drive, they arrived at the center. Emily got out of the car to help her daughter out of the car just to figure out that she was in a deep sleep. She sighed lightly. She didn't want to wake her and at the same time leaving her in the car was a bad idea.

"Get your stuff and go in immediately, Emily. You need to secure a spot before they take everything. I will bring her in shortly," Sarah said. She has been standing behind Emily for some seconds, watching her next move. Emily nodded nervously and headed to the car trunk to pack her things then she went in shortly.

She stood in the art exhibition hall, feeling all sorts of emotions. She had worked so hard to get to the point she was at, and she was determined to make the most of the opportunity. What if her work wasn't good enough? What if they hated it? However, she felt serenity hit her as she saw Sarah and Olivia enter the hall, making her push those thoughts away.

"All set, huh?" Sarah teased, giggling at her best friend while admiring her beautiful works. Emily was about to respond when she heard someone call out Sarah's name.

"Sarah!" The young guy called, walking towards them.

"It's been a while, Greg," Sarah replied, walking away to meet him. She gazed at Emily as if to say "I'll be right back," and Emily acknowledged the gesture by waving at her in a friendly manner then she pulled Olivia close while she awaited the Godsent who would buy out her art. Even as she stood there waiting to be recognized, her mind kept drifting off to the words her boss had said to her. She suddenly caught a grip of herself and turned to check on Olivia but then she couldn't find her. Just as she was about to leave her spot and go in search of her daughter, a gentleman walked up to her with a smile and a glimmer of satisfaction in his eyes.

"I would like to get this. In fact, I want everything you displayed. They are so beautiful. I'm very sure he would like them," he said, gesturing at the beautiful piece of art displayed on the wall. He couldn't hide that he was wowed, that was why he didn't hesitate to compliment them.

Emily froze at a spot, she didn't know what to do. One of her prayers had been answered but she was about to lose it all because of her daughter. She didn't know if the young man would be patient enough to wait while she went in search of her daughter. "Should I stay back and make my first sales?" She asked herself inwardly but there was no reply to that. So, she closed her eyes and said a short safety prayer for her daughter.

Emily looked around her secured spot in the exhibition hall, still stunned to see that all of her paintings had been sold. She couldn't believe it. For the first time in her life, she sold out, and not just sold out, they loved everything. It was a moment of pure elation, but that feeling quickly faded as she realized that she had no way of finding her daughter, Olivia. She began to search frantically, calling out Olivia's name, and after what felt like an eternity, she spotted her at the other end of the hall. But her relief was quickly replaced by shock, anger, and fear as she saw who Olivia was with.

It was him. Her baby daddy, Daniel Hartman. The man who abandoned them years ago.

Daniel's eyes met hers, and she could see the surprise in them. Emily approached them, her heart racing. "What are you doing here?" She asked icily, yanking her daughter over to her side and hiding her behind her back.

"E-Emily," he stammered. He didn't know what to say. It was obvious that he was shocked and of course, he had always wished to run into her but he didn't know that it would be too soon. Ever since Emily left his life, the only thing that had kept him connected to her was the arts. He came to love it and appreciate it so he could always feel her presence and warmth.

"Mommy, who is he? Does he know us? I like him," Olivia said softly, peeping from her mother's back. Daniel's eyes widened in shock as he heard Olivia call Emily by the "mommy" title. His palms became sweaty instantly and he felt lumps of sweat forming on his forehead, making him loosen up his tie a bit.

"He's no one," she replied sternly, rubbing Olivia's back. Turning to Daniel, she said, "Stay away from us, please,"

Daniel tried to speak but his P. A appeared from nowhere, interrupting the moment. "Sir, I got..." Then he caught a glimpse of Emily, "The arts were from her. They're unique and beautiful,"

Emily gasped as she and Daniel stared at each other in shock. Then Sarah stumbled on them, "oh no, this isn't good," she gasped.