Chapter 507: Paintings
Jax led Mari towards the entrance. "You ready?" he asked with a grin.
Mari nodded. "I’ve been ready all week."
He smiled. "Let’s find out how ready you are."
He led her in, and the moment they walked inside, the first thing Mari noticed was the music.
Bruno Mars’ "Just the Way You Are" played softly through the speakers.
Her face brightened. "Have I told you how much I love this song? When you propose to me, make sure you play this song in the background."
Jax chuckled, "Are you supposed to tell me what song to use when proposing to you? Shouldn’t I use a song that better expresses my feelings?"
"So you don’t think I’m amazing just the way I am?" Mari asked with a raised brow.
"That’s not what I meant," Jax said immediately.
Mari scoffed at Jax, then began singing along as she walked.
Jax looked at her with a fond smile while Emily and Callan laughed softly behind them.
Mari was so happy that she did not notice that Emily was recording behind her.
She walked a few more steps, then she stopped, and her smile froze as she stared at the wall in front of her.
A large painting hung there.
It was a painting of her.
Mari looked at it for a moment, then she looked at Jax. "Why is that hanging there?"
Jax studied her face, trying to figure out if she was mad or just curious.
"Because I wanted everyone to see that I’m in love with the most beautiful woman in the world."
Mari’s face softened as she looked at the painting, and then she grinned at him.
"You’re so obsessed."
"Totally obsessed."
She laughed as they continued inside. She then paused when she saw the next painting. And then she looked around at the others.
They were all paintings of her.
Some showed her laughing. Some showed her looking away. Some were pictures Jax had taken without her knowing during their dates. Others were some of the ones she had seen in his gallery, which he painted during her stay in his play.
Her brows pulled together as she walked closer to one, and away from Jax.
Her mouth fell open as she slowly realised that all the paintings were of her. "Jax," she whispered as she turned to look at him.
"What are you doing?" She asked, pointing at the paintings. "Are you planning to sell paintings of me? I mean, I know I’m sinfully beautiful, but isn’t this too much?" She asked, looking at Jax.
Jax laughed as he joined her. "No. They’re not for sale."
Mari stared at him. "Then why are they here?"
He looked into her eyes. "They’re here because I wanted them here."
"Why?"
Jax smiled. "I told you already. I’m showing you off."
She shook her head. "Don’t tell me this exhibition is just to show me off?"
"Why can’t it be?" He asked.
She laughed. "You’re so crazy," she said, then finally turned to Emily when she recalled she wasn’t alone with Jax.
She raised a brow when she caught Emily making a video. "You’re making a video? Don’t tell me you knew about this."
Emily laughed. "It’s my first time seeing all of this. I thought to capture the moment for you."
Mari grinned. "You’re my bestie for a reason," she said, then turned to Callan. "You see my boyfriend’s romantic gesture? You’re not the only one who knows how to make wild gestures," she teased, making them laugh.
"I can see that. Your obsessed boyfriend," Callan said dryly, shaking his head.
"I’m equally obsessed with him, don’t worry," Mari said before turning back to grin at Jax.
"Come with me. I want to show you the masterpiece for tonight," Jax said, holding out his arm.
Mari slipped her arm around his, then paused when something suddenly occurred to her.
Her brows pulled together as she looked around them again. "Wait."
Jax looked at her. "What’s wrong?"
"Where is everyone?" She asked, realising that the gallery was strangely quiet.
There were no guests moving around apart from them. Just soft music and the sound of their footsteps.
Mari looked toward the other side of the room. "I thought my parents and Jamal arrived already?"
"They’re somewhere around the corner enjoying the refreshments," Jax assured her.
They had all agreed for the others not to be there when Mari walked in because of how easily she got distracted.
Mari giggled, "I guess they lost interest in the exhibition after realising you invited them here just to see paintings of me."
Jax chuckled. "I doubt that."
Mari leaned over and whispered to Jax, "I don’t see the nude painting hanging here."
Jax looked at her. "Did you expect me to put that up here? It’s for my eyes only."
She giggled. "I know. I’m just teasing," she said as he led her down to the room where the last painting was.
"I can’t believe you have been painting me all this time."
Jax smiled. "Why can’t you believe it? You’re my muse. I told you."
"Don’t tell me you were painting me the whole time and not a mural?"
He laughed. "I did paint a mural, but it didn’t take all my time. I paint you every time I can’t think straight, and your thoughts fill my head."
Mari grinned as she shook her head. "I can’t believe you."
"You better do."
She smiled as she looked at him. "I love the paintings. And I love you more. Hopefully, when we eventually get married, you will be able to think straight and focus on your painting."
"I doubt he can. Having you under the same roof is enough to make him go crazy," Callan said from behind them, not realising yet what was going on.
Jax chuckled when Mari turned to scowl at Callan playfully, "Why are you following us? Go admire the paintings and leave me alone with my man."
"What’s there to admire? They’re paintings of you. I only admire paintings of my baby," Callan said.
Emily laughed and then elbowed his side. "Shut up, Callan. You’re distracting her."
"Yes, ma’am," Callan said, pressing his lips together.
Emily shook her head, not sure whether she was more surprised by Callan’s cluelessness or Mari’s.
She was shocked that Mari was yet to figure out that this was her proposal.
Mari turned back to Jax as they approached a door. "Is it in there?"
Jax’s smile softened. "Yes."
"And my parents are here too?" she asked.
"Yes."
Mari looked at him. There was something in his eyes she could not understand.
She smiled. "Let’s go see the masterpiece then."