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I joined hiot a free moment, however, I made the point to move closer and eavesdrop on Rafiq and the art lovers he was currently entertaining

Over the conversational buzz of the gallery, I stood behind him as he spoke to a lovely pair of ladies who had been contery, red piece called Under Luna The swirling, circular patterns of the red faded darker toward the center, beco a sort of vortex that pulled the viewer in like drowning in a current

“You have to i, his hands ani the canvas “Rage is a circular emotion; it traps you in a constant, helpless whirlpool froer doesn’t do it justice, and sadness isn’t strong enough Rage motivates, where despair only numbs That’s the importance of the red here It demands action”

My heart ached, listening to the way he spoke about s I created, and he was so excellent at sharing his passion with others I over the work as they hadn’t before

Sure, his incredible looks and charht up the roo it Maybe the woree with this handsoe of art

It didn’t seem to matter what the reason hen they shuffled up to the counter half an hour later I couldn’t help but be stunned as I rang up their purchase of Under Luna Rafiq was like ato his ideas Hell, he had talkedpeople into buying art seemed like small potatoes after that

It was the first of seven paintings Rafiq sold that day, helping er that had risen in me as a result of his little scheme seeht

Counting up the day’s totals, I s the hardwood floor another sweep from all the day’s traffic

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bsp; “That’s two records broken today,” I said “Most single paintings sold, and le day!”

“Wait a second,” said Rafiq with a frown “Wasn’t le day?”

“Well, yes, technically, but that one doesn’t count”

“Doesn’t count?” He put on a dramatic, pouty face and clutched at his chest playfully “Ouch! Is h for you?”

I laughed “I just meant that your purchase didn’t exactly count as a ‘typical day’s work’”

He chuckled and nodded “I suppose you have a point there, my dear”

The closing tasks wentfor us in the town car by the tiht The car rolled up to the penthouse just as the su up the skyline of the city, turning the re yellows, reds and pinks streaked across the sky