Chapter Seventeen
The warehouse couldn’t have been more perfect for the showcase.
Isabel stared up at the twinkle lights hanging from the wood and metal beams, feeling a bit out of body due to the beauty of it all.
The warehouse’s brick and metal structure highlighted the earthy tones she favored in her work, and with the addition of the many pieces she’d curated to accompany her art, she felt like she’d stepped into another world.
One side of the warehouse featured her coastal paintings—curtesy of Everett and his private jet that had also brought her parents and several of the Babes.
“Izzy?”
She turned at the sound of her name and gasped when her pseudo-cousin Devon stepped close for a hug.
Devon was the host ofWhat’s Hot, and she'd jumped on the uniqueness of the rave-type showcase. "Look at you! Girl, can you stop it with the gorgeousness?" Izzy said.
Devon laughed and shook her head, hugging her again. "Right back at you. This isamazing. I knew it would be great but…everything is perfect! The paintings, the design aspects. You walk into other worlds with each setup."
"It did turn out pretty great, yeah?"
"Her hard work has paid off," Everett said, joining them.
Izzy made the introductions and watched as her lifelong friend sized up the man at her side.
"It's nice to meet you, Mr. Drake."
"Everett, please. I've watched your show many times, Devon. I look forward to seeing Isabel's art featured soon."
Izzy watched as her cousin's eyes sparkled and a perfectly plucked eyebrow rose when Everett wrapped his arm around her shoulders and pulled her to his side.
"I look forward to showing it," Devon said, shooting Izzy a knowing glance.
"Leave it to my boy to be surrounded by beautiful women."
Izzy turned in unison with Everett to see a much older version of Everett watching them.
"Isabel, this is my father, James. Dad, Isabel Shipley and her cousin Devon."
Izzy smiled when the older man immediately flirted with both her and Devon, all the while eyeing an attractive woman nearby.
Okay, then. Now the many marriages were explained.
Everett had mentioned his father was now on divorce number eight, and she pitied the man. To marry that many times only to divorce... It made her sad to think about it. But given the man’s wandering eye, she instinctively knew he searched for something he’d lost when Everett’s mother had passed.
Why did some people find happiness while others didn't? Couldn't? She wasn’t one of those people who believed in soul mates, because the odds of finding one person in the entire world seemed ridiculous. But finding one of the many compatible people to make a life with seemed just as difficult as finding that one.
She still pondered the question of love in the wee hours of the morning when the warehouse cleared and the showcase ended.
The majority of the smaller items had been sold and taken home with their purchasers, and larger items awaiting delivery were marked as sold.
She took a slow tour through the warehouse, aghast at the sight of so many sold tags. Her hand trembled as she pressed her fingertips to her mouth. If she wasn’t mistaken, she stood at a good ninety to ninety-five percent. Unbelievable!
She'd done it. She'd actually done it! Even the watch had sold, with orders for two more. All because they'd staged it as a bedroom scene with the painting above a dresser, the watch displayed atop. "Unbelievable."
She'd get commissions on those sales, too.
"Isabel? Are you ready to head home?" Everett asked.
Home. She turned to face him and wound up running the two steps to plaster herself against him. "Thank you."