Chapter 24
Steve was occupied the whole day, he got busy with the exhibit and made sure everything will go smoothly later at the event. When everything was set he found himself being dragged by the guys to Tony’s penthouse and got ready with everyone else.
Most of the guests were on time despite it being a last-minute announcement, the gallery was filled with businessmen, people coming from prominent families being it an event by Tony and some were a fan of Steve’s art who was waiting for his masterpieces.
As the night grew deeper other guests departed and only a few were left. Steve found himself wandering around the gallery and stopped at the centerpiece, it was a painting of Natasha holding up a camera trying to capture the ring he gave her when he proposed that day. It was such a wonderful day and he let that beautiful moment go down the drain he thought bitterly to himself.
“The one that got away,”
Steve heard someone say beside him, it was Shuri T’chala’s younger sister who was one of Tony’s business partners.
She read the title of the painting full of curiosity, and couldn’t help herself from inquiring her curiosity. “How could the artist say she’s the one that got away? I mean how would you know if you let her go right?” She said letting her curiosity known by the man beside her.
Steve looked at her full of amazement as if she just asked the most sensible question, “this kid is something else,” he thought to himself.
“Because she came back, I went back to her.” Steve answered mindlessly, “We had a second chance.”
Shuri looked at him with a lit face after realizing he was the artist of the art piece.
“We had our second chance,” Steve continued as if he just realized something important. “And now I am in love with her even more,” he said full of conviction and confidence. He was never sure of anything in his life more than how sure he was of how he felt for Natasha. It’s clear now that the reason he got her back again was for him to never let go of her ever again and he will make damn sure that he does just that.
“Wow, that’s a rare thing, so she didn’t get away after all,” Shuri told him giving him a genuine gentle smile.
“I’ll make sure she won’t get away this time,” Steve responded with a thankful smile and hurriedly took off with his car leaving everyone in a daze.
Shuri got back to the remaining crowd and was suddenly bombarded by questions coming from Tony and his friends.
She explained that it all started with the centerpiece art of the gallery and everyone knew exactly what painting it was. She told them that they talked about the painting and how he knew that she was the one that got away.
“Why did he take off like that then?” Tony asked her curiously.
“He said something about not letting her get away this time.” She responded excitedly, they all knew where he was heading after hearing that.
“Finally!” Thor exclaimed and they laughed at that.
They were glad that he finally decided to take back his happiness and stop punishing himself for the mistake he did in the past.
Meanwhile in the studio:
When Natasha heard the door chime, she immediately glanced at the door to check if it was him, when she realized it wasn’t she let out her frustration and stood up from her chair and grabbed her belongings. “I can’t take this anymore!” she exclaimed and started heading for the door, Wanda and Maria looked at her with pity and curiosity.
“Nat, where are you going,” they asked her.
“To Steve, to apologize.” She responded sounding defeated.
“What if he doesn’t want to see you?” Maria asked concernedly.
“I don’t care, I just wanna go to him and tell him how sorry I am.”
“What if he doesn’t accept your apology,” Wanda asked lowly.
Hearing all these possibilities killed her deep inside, but she has to face the music and accept all the consequences her actions caused her.
“I don’t care, I just want to go to him, apologize to him, and talk to him. I just really wanna see him and tell him how much I still love him. That I never stopped loving him after all these years.” She responded her eyes filled with tears and finally walked out that door.
All they could do was watch her walk away, they just hope that everything goes well, that they finally talk it out and fix things between them.