Private exhibition

Adolf woke up the next morning in Dreufey's bed, invigorated, even if still tired. Rolling over to his side, he saw her next to him in bed. She was facing away from him, but not in a dismissive way. When he lay an arm around her, she held onto it. He pushed up against her so that he could feel her soft but firm skin. Her warmth was soothing. So much so that he fell back into a pleasant sleep.

He woke up again a little later from a sudden burst of light coming into the room. He opened his eyes and saw Dreufey standing by her bedroom window, dressed in a green satin robe. She had pulled the blue velvet curtains to the sides, to let the sun shine in through the white sheer curtains underneath.

"Good morning. How are you feeling?" she asked.
"A little tired," he replied.

Adolf followed her with his eyes. "I have no idea what you're after."
"Really?"

Dreufey went over to his side of her bed. She gave him a kiss on his lips.

"But isn't it obvious?" she asked. "I want you to finish that painting."

Adolf shook his head. "You're one crazy vixen."
"Maybe I am. But it's time for you to get out of bed, don't you think? Why don't you freshen up and join me for breakfast in the kitchen? I'll have a soft-boiled egg and some toast ready for you in fifteen minutes."

After a quick shower, Adolf put on a burgundy robe that Dreufey had bought for him. He walked into the kitchen where he found Dreufey at a table by the window. She looked stunning, and he couldn't believe his luck. But there was something strange about the situation. Something wasn't quite right, and as much as he liked Dreufey, he felt uncomfortable.

"I'll finish that painting today," he said on sitting down to eat. "Then I'll go back to my flat."
"But it's such a dreary place. Why don't you stay here with me?"
"With the money I get from you, I can find a better place for myself. You're going to pay me, aren't you?"
"Yes, of course."
"And you're going to let me out of your apartment."
"I can't very well force you to stay, can I?"
"No, you can't."

"However, there's one thing I'd like to do before completing the painting," Adolf continued.
"And that is?"
"I'd like to draw some sketches of you. I want something to remember you by."
"But aren't we going to stay in contact?"
"Maybe. But you're suffocating me. Micromanaging my social life. That's no way to treat a boyfriend."

Adolf was right. Dreufey had been rash with him. She had good reasons for what she did, but she couldn't very well tell him the true reason for her involvement with him. She had no choice but to let him go. However, Dreufey knew from the start that this was likely to happen, so she had already made plans for this eventuality.

"I'd love to leave you with some sketches of me," she said. "It will be an honor."
"Good. I was thinking of your bedroom. I want to have you pose for me in your bed."
"Naked?"
"No. You can keep your robe on. It's beautiful. You look great in it."

Adolf picked up a sketchbook from his bag in the living room. It was in a standard letter-size format with a blue canvas back. Then he told Dreufey to come with him to her bedroom.

He directed her into her bed and told her where and how to sit. Then he drew a sketch of her, after which he directed her into another position for another sketch. After about an hour, he had made a total of seven sketches with Dreufey in various poses and positions.

"That'll be it," he declared. "These will remind me of you."
"May I have a look?" she asked.
"Sure."

He handed his sketchbook to Dreufey.

"They're rather suggestive, don't you think?"
"Don't you like them?"
"I love them. You've done them with the kind of passion I've been looking for. I knew you got it in you."

Adolf agreed. "I'll finish your portrait now, if you don't mind."

Less than two hours later, the painting was completed. Adolf's final touches brought it to life. The luster of Dreufey's skin was rendered expertly onto the canvas. Her blond hair was given volume and shine.

"That's it!" Dreufey said with no small amount of pride, because she knew that Adolf would never have managed to produce such a fine piece had it not been for her.
"This is my best piece ever," he said. "I think I've earned my commission."
"You certainly have."

Dreufey went over to her purse, pulled out several bank notes, and handed them to Adolf.

"I'm holding a party here at my place this Saturday," she said. "I'm going to show this painting to friends, and I want you to be here. You're the artist after all. I want you at my side when I exhibit the piece."
"Exhibit?"
"Isn't that the right word?"
"It sounds awfully formal."
"I'm planning a black-tie event."
"Centred around my painting?"
"Exactly."
"But Saturday is two days from now. Do you have time to send out invitations?"
"I sent them out last week. Ten couples have already signalled their interest."
"But how did you know?"
"It's called foresight. Or Seidr as we call it... in Iceland."
"You knew a week ago that I would finish your portrait today?"
"It wasn't hard to see from the progress you were making."
"Evidently not."

Dreufey handed Adolf an envelope. " Here's your invitation. The party starts at nine in the evening, and remember, it's a black-tie event. Spend some of that money I gave you on a tuxedo if you don't already have one."
"Okay."
"Now... Hurry up and get dressed. Pack your things and get out of here. You deserve some fresh air after so many days locked up here with me."

Adolf did as he was told. He was eager to leave. However, he didn't take any of his paining things with him. He left them with Dreufey.

"The paint won't be properly dry before Saturday," he explained. "And I need to give it a layer of varnish before you can frame it, so don't fiddle around with it. Just leave it on the easel for now."
"Okay!" Dreufey replied. "I won't touch it... And here's my advice for you before you go: Don't go drinking with that terrible Anton. I don't want you here looking like a mess on Saturday."

Adolf shook his head. "You really don't like him, do you?" Then he extended a hand for a handshake. On leaving Dreufey's apartment, Adolf made no attempt to kiss her. Instead, he walked out of the door with the air of someone who's just completed a profitable business affair.

Dreufey was a little taken aback by this, but she had a party coming up, and there was no time to ponder the significance of Adolf's evident relief at being free to leave.

There were several things that needed Dreufey's attention. First off, she ordered Champagne and canapés from a local catering firm. She also hired two manservants to take care of things on the day of the party so that she would be free to relax and mingle with her guests.

She made sure her apartment was spick and span for the occasion. Careful not to touch her portrait, she moved the easel with the painting into a corner of her living room. Then, she brought a folding screen-wall from her bedroom and put it in front of her painting. The screen's three black panels, with Chinese style decorations in gold, hid the painting perfectly.

Her plan was to have the painting hidden from view, and only have it uncovered once the party was in full swing. The idea being that this would have the greatest impact on her guests.

Dreufey's two manservants appeared an hour ahead of the party. They were dressed in black tuxedos with tailcoats, top hats, white shirts and white gloves. After some directions as to where everything should go, they proceeded to carry up two crates of Champagne and six trays of canapés.

Shortly afterwards, the guests started to arrive.

The party got off to a good start. There was a lively chatter among the guests. But when Adolf failed to appear some forty-five minutes into the party, Dreufey started to worry about him. However, her worries were soon laid to rest. He was only a little late due to heavy traffic. His taxi had gotten stuck on the way over from his place.

He appeared, smartly dressed in a fashionable black tuxedo and matching bow tie. Not used to this kind of parties, Adolf was reserved and a little ill at ease at first, but he soon loosened up. As the artist of honor, he received a good deal of attention from the guests, and pretty soon, he was in deep conversation with several of them.

Things were going splendidly, and it was time to uncover the painting, so Dreufey's called Adolf over to her side.

"Why don't you say a few words about it before we uncover it?" she asked.
"Like a speech?" he asked, suddenly nervous.
"Yes."
"I'm not much of an orator," he said, not at all happy with her suggestion.
"Come on! I'm sure you can do it. Everyone is here for the painting, and they would love to hear you say a few words about it. Why don't you give it a try?"
"Okay. Let's see what I can do."

Adolf used the Champagne glass in his hand as a bell. Hitting it lightly with a fork, he got the attention of everybody. Then he started what turned out to be a passionate and well delivered speech.

After having thanked everyone for coming, he explained his position as an artist.

"I believe that art should be beautiful," he said. "It should sooth the soul and stir the heart. Good art elevates us."

Dreufey started to worry that Adolf would go on to talk about degenerate art, and how it should be banned and burned, but he said nothing of the sort. He expressed no opinion on other styles except that he was confident that the romantic style would win the day as it is the finest of all styles.

Then he concluded: "Let me present to you Eva, the goddess of life."

The two manservants pulled Dreufey's screen-wall to the side. The lamp above the portrait was lit, and there was at once silence in the room as everyone gathered around the painting to admire it.

They all agreed that Adolf had done a fantastic job of rendering Eva's fine appearance onto the canvas. One of the guests went over to Adolf to personally congratulate him, not only on the fine style of the painting, but also on the subject matter.

The man was tall and bulky, in his mid-50s, balding, but with an impressive moustache with waxed tips that stood out to the sides.

"I'm a bit of Norse mythology buff myself, you see," he said. "It truly is the heart and soul of our people. Could you by any chance make a similar painting for me and my wife?"
"I'd be most honoured. What do you have in mind?"
"I've long been looking for a painting of Odin with a lady like Eva at his side, but I haven't come across anything sufficiently vivid to warrant my patronage. Why don't you draw me some sketches, and I'll let you know what I think. Here's my card."

The man passed a business card to Adolf. He gave Adolf a pat on his shoulder. Then he went across the room to talk to another guest.

Dreufey came over to Adolf. "That was Otto von Hoffingen. What did he say?"
"He wants me to make a painting for him. Something with you and Odin in it."
"Good for you. Herr Hoffingen is a very rich man. I'm sure you can ask at least the double of what I paid you."
"Really?"
"Trust me. He won't bat an eye. But he has no patience with half-baked stuff, so you have to come up with something good."

The party continued until deep in the night, and it was a great success with everyone. All the guests went home thoroughly satisfied and happy.

The manservants cleaned up after the guests. Then they packed their things and left, leaving Dreufey and Adolf alone in her apartment.

"It's late," she said. "Why don't you spend the night here at my place?"
"If I may."
"Yes, you may, and you can help me brush my hair if you please."

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