YOUR PAINTING SHOULD NOT HAVE BEEN PAINTED

And after half an hour, they arrived at LEONARD's house. He, as if he knew everything, was already waiting at the door. When LIANA walked in, he smiled in satisfaction and said:

—Beautiful and lovely is this woman, and her scent… enchanting. And if she's like this, I can only imagine her friends.

LIANA, with an innocent and flirtatious smile, replied:

—Thank you, but I don't have any friends… there's no loyalty among women —she said as she wrapped her arms around LEONARD's neck.

Those words drove LEONARD mad. It was as if she had told him, "desire me, I'm yours, I belong to you."

—Come on, let's talk —he said.

As LIANA walked, LUCAS stayed close to her side, which irritated LEONARD:

—I'm not going to eat her —he said sarcastically.

LUCAS replied:

—Then it shouldn't bother you if I stay, right? —he said with a mocking smile.

LEONARD retorted:

—Do you really distrust me that much?

LIANA replied:

—He works by his own choice. Meaning he does as he pleases, even though I'm the one paying him. But of course… I could intervene a little.

LUCAS added:

—I'll follow her to a certain point. Then, you two can be alone.

LIANA agreed with an innocent smile, and they continued to LEONARD's study, where he offered her a seat.

With a smile, he asked:

—Hmm… so you expected me?

She, with a clever smile, knowing full well he'd be waiting, said:

—Of course I did. I was looking forward to your congratulations for the gift.

LIANA, with a corrupted smile, continued:

—I don't want anything. They're expensive, and yes, worthy of me… but in my eyes, unpleasant.

LEONARD, with a desperate smile, said:

—You're one of the most difficult women I've ever tried to please.

LIANA replied:

—You have the woman you "love," yet you want and crave me in your bed. How shameless… and you agree, knowing there's a price to pay. But if that's what you want… so be it.

LEONARD responded:

—At first, you charmed me. But then I set my sights elsewhere. Besides, I'm a gentleman. I don't force a lady. Even now, I won't force you. But when I was with AURORA, she used to talk about you… about your good and beautiful traits. But I know she's blind to your true nature...

LIANA said coldly:

—Are those paintings still there?

LEONARD, playfully, replied:

—Those paintings are still there.

LIANA, growing impatient, said:

—Give them to me, and I'll consider that the most valuable gift.

LEONARD answered:

—They're not worth as much as flesh.

LIANA shot back:

—As you wish. But I can buy them—if they're still there.

LEONARD gave in:

—Alright.

LIANA said:

—Before I go, I'll leave you your gifts.

LEONARD replied:

—I don't accept returns anymore. If you leave them, I'll send them back tomorrow.

LIANA, with a smirk, said:

—Then I'll be expecting them tomorrow.

LEONARD replied:

—Okay —while checking on the paintings.

LIANA thought as she walked:

"I have to take that painting showing AURORA's nudity. That painting is not harmless. Many will say it's not important, but to me, it is. She's innocent. And even if that man doesn't say it, he threatens me silently with that painting. If it weren't true, he never would've shown it to me. But now… I'll see just how deep his obsession with me goes."

She smiled—wickedly, with bitter honey.

After a few minutes, they arrived. Inside the room, surrounded by art, LIANA said with an innocent smile:

—Darling, I adore you. You've become what I want most —she said, caressing LEONARD's skin with elegance and grace.

LIANA said:

—If you love me that much, give me something you truly desire. If you want me, give me something that's worth it.

LEONARD replied:

—How about jewels? Though not as beautiful as you… Or maybe ownership of one of my two biggest company branches?

LIANA replied:

—It's not much, but I still like it… though I feel I'm worth far more —she said while hiding her cunning smile full of selfish desires.

Then she added:

—Why don't you paint my skin with sweetness? Tell me, why don't you try to possess what doesn't belong to you?

LEONARD, aroused, said:

—You drive me crazy… only to give me hopes that may never come true.

LIANA replied:

—Many have wanted me, but they're not on my level. And you… you're not on their level, but neither are you on mine. Still, here I am… in your hands —she thought: I only sell illusions and false realities that you all believe… that you all need. Because I know this is nothing more than a cruel chess game.

LEONARD responded:

—You know I'm going to marry AURORA.

LIANA replied:

—I'm not seducing you. You're just surrendering to your own desires —she said while revealing her shoulders.

LEONARD, now nosebleeding, said:

—Your skin is so beautiful and seductive… That painting doesn't even come close. If only I could touch it…

LIANA replied:

—Didn't your parents teach you that just because you see something… doesn't mean you can touch it? —she said with a seductive smile as LEONARD grabbed her and kissed her.

But LIANA didn't resist. On the contrary, she returned the cruel kiss—without regret, without pain, without melancholy.

Because in the end, let's not forget: she always has been, and always will be, LIANA… the poisonous ivy, whose caresses are insults and whose words are the sweetest poison. Like artificial honey: sweet and delightful, but filled with inner thoughts and selfish desires.

After a few seconds, LIANA pulled back gently and said with a flirty smile:

—You like me.

And LEONARD replied with a satisfied grin:

—I didn't know your lips were as sweet as honey.

LIANA replied:

—Too bad they're not sweet… they're selfish. And this will be the first and last time you taste them, since you haven't given me anything worth my price.

LEONARD, serious now, said:

—How about the painting of you that never should've been painted? That one doesn't do justice to your true beauty.

LIANA, with an innocent smile, said:

—I want the other one too.

LEONARD replied with a smug smile:

—Not yet. I still want to admire it… because of its beauty.

LIANA, hiding her anger behind a smile, said:

—As you wish. But keep in mind—I expect the gifts tomorrow, along with the painting. And accepting them… depends on my mood.

LEONARD replied:

—Okay. But I'll keep sending gifts until I earn your approval.

LIANA replied:

—I'm not sure you'll ever reach it —she said, leaving with a killer look and a flirtatious smile.

Lucas walked her back, and LIANA, emotionless, said:

—Tell me, what do you think? I know you'll think I'm easy… or that I'm too wicked, but…

Lucas cut her off:

—I don't care why. And I know you're not looking for my approval, but I won't judge you either. I'm just a simple employee by your side.

LIANA replied with a nearly vanished smile:

—It doesn't matter. Still, I consider you important. And thank you for being so loyal, despite how little time we've known each other. But you know… —she added with a sadistic smile—, I trust no one. Not even myself. And since you've become my most loyal ally… I feel like swearing death at your side. But that's something I'd only do with my lover… and I can't even do it with him.

A pleasant silence filled the air, and Lucas, opening the car door, said:

—If that's what you want, then I don't mind. I don't fear death—I didn't even fear it when I was a beggar on the streets, facing danger.

LIANA, getting into the car, said:

—I'm so angry… I want to destroy everything.

And as Lucas drove, he asked:

—What's made you so angry?

LIANA replied:

—Angry? You want to rub salt in the wound? Just thinking about it pisses me off.

But what's happening is that this man… —LIANA said, frowning and clenching her fists— has two paintings: one semi-nude of me, and he gave me one only after seducing him and letting him kiss my body. And sure… I risk him doing it again. But he won't.

—He has one of AURORA. I don't know what she was thinking when she let herself be painted by him. It'd be one thing if she'd slept with him—but he painted her like a trophy, with the intent of using her to control me. Because she's blind to reality. Just a puppet under the illusion of freedom.

Lucas replied:

—Mmm… I want to see that painting. That girl looks nice when dressed. I wonder how she looks naked.

LIANA replied:

—Well, I don't mind if it's you.

And Lucas said:

—Well, thank you. After all, it's not a bother.

LIANA replied, laughing heartily:

—Only one person has ever clipped my wings… and made me his puppet. But no man has done it yet. And he won't be the first.