Mr. Hephephobias
CHAPTER 171 - He is Lotus
"Rayn, do you also know if Lotus will be present?" asked Lucia innocently.
Rayn looked at Lucia with a meaningful look. A look that showed the simple happiness he felt."Do you really want to meet her?" ask him to Lucia.
Lucia sat back down, honestly saying that she also really wanted to meet with the famous author under the pen name Lotus. Meeting someone who is talented and famous is the most precious moment. Although only once in a lifetime at least Lucia could feel that luck.
Rayn then asked what Lucia would do when she met Lotus.
"I? Of course I will congratulate him, ask for his autograph and also get a photo together" Lucia replied.
"Alright, I'll look forward to it" Rayn said, extending her hand. "Let's meet him" continued Rayn standing up from her seat.
When Arka entered the room, he invited the two to go to the exhibition hall. With strict escort, Rayn and Lucia left the room.
Simultaneously in the exhibition hall, David asked the invited guests to refocus. He will read out the Foundation that will receive the proceeds of the auction. David opened the envelope in his hand, he frowned looking stunned for a moment when he saw the name of the Foundation written. David was silent for a moment and went back to being professional. David mentioned that the X Foundation based in Canada will receive the full sale of Lotus paintings.
The announcement was met with a standing ovation from guests. Even one of the guests felt more enthusiastic after knowing that the proceeds of the sale would be donated to a Foundation that shelters children. Unlike David who still does not believe, he knows very well if the Foundation is a Foundation founded by a famous painter named Dervilia. Dervilia is none other than Rayn's mother's pen name.
"Is it possible Rayn....?" david murmured in his heart.
David was again focused on continuing the event, it was time for the invited guests to get closer to knowing what the figure of Lotus was like before he was present with them. David drew closer to the mysterious painting covered in cloth beside him. David said that the painting was a work that Lotus was very fond of. Lotus dedicated the painting as a gift to a very special person in his life.
"Don't that mean Lotus is a romantic figure?" chirps David.
David receives a cue from the staff if Lotus is already with them. David looked around, his gaze instantly fixed on Rayn and Lucia who had just entered the room.
"Are you ready to welcome our painter, Lotus?" david asked the guests, but his gaze was still on Rayn. "If so we will open it together with the person who has made this painting with all his heart" continued David.
Lucia also wondered who the real figure of Lotus. Amidst his curiosity, Rayn suddenly clasped onto Lucia's hand even tighter. Lucia felt Rayn's hands being so cold all of a sudden.
"Rayn, are you okay?" ask Lucia worriedly.
Seeing the entire room filled with invited guests, Lucia felt that she should have realized Rayn's difficulties. It was definitely what made Rayn start to feel nervous and tense. "Rayn, don't push yourself, we better get back in the room. We can see the continuity of this event from there" asked Lusia.
Rayn held Lucia's hand. "I can do it, don't you really want to meet her" Rayn said.
Rayn signals Arka to let David open the mysterious painting. David slowly opened the cloth that covered the painting. The open cloth, looks a beautiful work of Lotus. A painting of a girl in a ponytail wearing a student uniform. A corner was taken from behind and the girl turned her head with such an innocent smile.
"This Rayn" said Lucia covered her mouth with her hand in disbelief, how the painting was there.
David looked astonished to see the painting, he knew very well who the girl in the painting was. David looked back at Rayn and Lucia.
"Lussia, are you ready? Let's show the world" Rayn said, taking Lusia to the podium. Lucia looked confused and could not understand the situation. With Arka's escort and other bodyguards on board, Rayn and Lucia walk towards the podium, right where the painting is on display.
Rayn and Lucia are standing on the podium with David. Although Rayn looked very calm, but Lucia felt her extremely cold hand. Lucia looked at the lekap of the husband who was standing right beside her while clasping his hand firmly. Lucia doesn't believe, maybe Rayn is Lotus. Rayn looked at Lucia with a smile.
"I am very grateful to Gelery Psithurism Art and the invited guests who have attended. Maybe everyone is wondering why this guy is standing here. I'll introduce myself. I am a painter who uses the name Lotus" Rayn said, bowing her head in salute to all the guests who came.
Lucia suddenly looked at Rayn, she was very surprised to hear the confession of her husband who said that he was the famous writer behind the pen name Lotus. Lucia is still hard to believe, how could she never realize it all this time.
Rayn looked towards Lucia. "This painting is a work I made for the woman I love so much. Only for the woman currently present with me, she is my wife. The girl in this painting was always there and teased my mind, so much filling my head that I could make this painting just from that memory. This girl was my wife when we first met" Rayn said.
All the invited guests were surprised, they did not expect that the professional painter with such outstanding works was still very young. Not only that, Lotus also turned out to be a romantic man. All of them now started whispering to each other admiring the beautiful and charming face of Lotus. Not only Lotus, they also praised Lucia's beauty. A very beautiful and beautiful wife.
Rayn explained that the remaining two paintings to be auctioned were chosen directly by his wife. Lusia was given two gold ribbons to put on the two paintings she chose to auction. Lucia looked at Rayn, she naturally did not expect this. Rayn nodded, allowing his wife to place the ribbon..
Lucia walked slowly towards the painting that had already stolen her heart when it arrived earlier. A painting of the dim light of a similarly fog-covered house. Lucia put the gold ribbon there. Lucia then walked towards the blueble flower painting with the path, she also placed a gold ribbon there.
Lucia said the reason why she chose the two paintings was because they had stolen her heart without knowing if it was an omnipresent scratch. Lucia saw the sincerity she wanted to convey as well as the hidden feeling she wanted to pour on the painting.
Upon returning, Lucia paused to talk to Arka who was standing not far from Rayn. "What do you think about all this? What about Rayn? What should we do if the invited guest wants to greet him directly?" ask Lucia worried.
"You don't have to worry Madam, everything is arranged by Mr. Mickey. Mr. Mickey will finish the show" replied Arka.
"Mickey? Aaa. I should have guessed it. Is that why Mickey's back?" ask Lucia.
Arka does not answer, he codes for Lucia for Mickey's arrival. "You can entrust everything to Mr. Mickey" said Arka lowered his head.
Like a ghost, Mickey actually appeared right when he was being talked about. Mickey came over and greeted David. After having a short conversation with David, Mickey then took the podium. He introduced himself as Lotus' assistant and also the person who will represent Lotus in today's event. Deeply sorry, Mickey expressed his apology that Lotus could not attend with them until the end of the show.
Mickey explained if Lotus exactly today, Lotus has a travel schedule abroad that can not be delayed. Even so, Lotus still wanted and tried to take the time despite this very short time to greet all invited guests. As an apology to this matter, Lotus had prepared a small gift of an eye sign for all the invited guests that would later be given at the end of the event.
Rayn also beckoned Mickey if there was anything he wanted to convey before leaving the show, Mickey also invited Rayn. "I'm very grateful for all your support. To whoever wins today's auction, I congratulate you. Although I cannot accompany you until the event is over, I promise that we will all meet again soon at another event. Again, I am very grateful" Rayn said, bowing her head in greeting.
The invited guests appreciated that by giving an applause to Lotus. Rayn and Lucia then leave the show. Mickey has really prepared everything, of course he won't let Rayn stay there long because it could trigger Rayn's phobia. Although Rayn has revealed her identity as Lotus, the world still cannot know if Lotus has Hephephobia.
On the way back to the car, Lucia feels that Mickey is really good at making amazing scenarios. "Why should he make a story abroad" murmured Lucia.
"This is not just a scenario, we are going to travel to Canada in 6 hours" said Rayn while looking at the clock in his hand.
"Canada...? 6 More hours??" asked Lucia as if she could not believe it. I don't know what other surprises Rayn will show him.
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*** to Be Continued ***
