Chapter 126: SOFIA
"What’s it called?" Richard asked, walking away from the painting.
"You... you mean the name?" Alicia stuttered. Revealing the obvious truth, she didn’t recall the name of the painting.
"What else would I be asking of?" The billionaire chided, "every piece has a name, doesn’t it or is theirs a radical?" he pointed to the twins.
I watched Alicia swallow, and the twins edge closer to their mother.
"It’s called Garden, Sir" I said before any of them could disgrace themselves.
"Oh yes, that’s true" Alicia added, chuckling nervously, "Sofia dear, my late husband’s illegitimate child, helped name it. Her own way of contributing"
The illegitimate part was not necessary, but trust Alicia to always clarify things, even when you are saving her ungrateful ass.
"Is that so?" Richard mused, "Nice name, if not a bit literal, ’Spring’ could have been a better choice, hinting at the setting while maintaining the nostalgia theme figuratively"
"If ’Spring’ pleases you then perhaps we should call it that" Alicia agreed quickly. Ever eager to please, because she has met her better, it was pathetic.
"To hell with ’Spring’" I wanted to yell, but I couldn’t, not with the leash Alicia had on my neck.
But he was right, ’Spring’ sounded better, but coming from him, I didn’t want it. As if I had a choice in the matter not with Alicia eager as a puppy.
"Where’s the originality in that?" He said, staring at the fire, the blaze haloing his frame, "An artwork should never be renamed, it rids it of originality, like shredding a design of its brand, it puts its authenticity into question. Whatever name a piece was given at first should remain so till its death or the time it ceases to exist."