Betrothed To The Mafia Lord

Chapter 362

Sofia’s pov

“Can you draw a painting of me?”

Armani asked with a lazy smile around his lips. He was sitting on one of the stools here in my arts room

and keeping me company. We’ve been here for over thirty minutes since he arrived here, and he was a

really lively company to have around.

I glanced away from the drawing I was carefully shading to shoot him a look. His grin widened once he

had my attention. “And make me look way better than I currently do?”

“Are you fishing for compliments once again?” I demanded with a huff and Armani let out a little

crackle.

“Maybe I am.” He responded and I rolled my eyes playfully before returning back to my shading.

“I was serious about you painting me though. You paint so well and I’ve imagined how I’d turn out being

painted by you.

“Really?” I asked while carefully working on the drawing and making sure to keep my hand firm and

steady.

“Yeah, of course.”

“Hm,” I murmured after that.

“I can pay for it, you just name your price.”

I whirled around at that to shoot him a glare. “Why would you have to pay? Why would you even think

I’d collect money from you?”

Armani let out a small laugh at that.

“Hey, Sofia, relax. I didn’t mean it like that. I wanna be like, your first customer, okay? Something like

that.” He explained carefully and I slowly relaxed as his words sank into my head.

“Oh.” I mumbled and he hummed instantly.

“Yup.”

“I had no idea, I thought you really thought i wouldn’t agree to paint you for free.”

“I wouldn’t even mind if you charge me. It’s business, Sofia, and that’s how it works.” He reassured me

but I shook my head.

“Well, I’d never do that, because you’re family.”

He snickered a little after that. “I love hearing that we’re both family.”

I huffed as I turned away from him. One thing Armani was insanely good at, was teasing.

Whereas Luca was serious, straight to the point and direct, Armani was goofy, evasive as hell and

definitely not direct compared to Luca. Luca and Armani might be brothers, but they were so different

from each other, starting from personalities.

I guess it’s nice that both brothers have their own different lives which was working for them. The only

similarities they shared, was their looks.

“So, the painting?” Armani drawled out after a few moments has passed and I let out a low hum.

“Sure, of course. Let me just round up this one, I’m putting in the finishing touches.”

“Okay. What even is this? It looks so pretty and… unique.”

“Ok, it’s a drawing of five different things merged into one. You know, something that’s weird but

beautiful as well.” I explained as I touched up the edge of the flower with more color.

“Oh. That makes it beautifully weird, right?” Armani asked and I nodded instantly.

“Exactly.” I explained as I took a couple of steps backwards in order to admire the finished look of the

painting.

“So… would you allow me pay for my painting?” Armani asked once I moved away from the finished

painting to grab an empty canvas and set it up on the other side of the room.

“Absolutely not.” I informed him firmly as I glanced at him to send him a glare.

As expected, he was unfazed, and even as I made him sit in a particular spot and keep his face as Nôvel(D)ra/ma.Org exclusive © material.

relaxed as possible in order for me to find the best angle for him, he still wouldn’t stop pestering me

about accepting money from him.

“Ugh, fine! Pay me one million dollars for the painting then.” I said offhandly while setting my sketching

pad and pencil on the floor, a few feet away from him.

“Deal. I’ll have it transferred to you today.” He responded without missing a beat, a fulfilled expression

settling over his face, and my eyes widened horrifyingly.

I had kind of forgotten that Armani, just like Luca, was loaded with cash, and he had obviously taken

what I had said seriously.

“What? Are you insane?” I screeched in bewilderment.

“Maybe I am.”

“I was just joking so you’d drop the topic, I didn’t know you’d take it seriously. Why in heaven’s name

would I charge you one million dollars for a single painting?”

A pout formed on Armani’s face after that, and I resisted the urge to burst into laughter.

“But I wanna pay you for it.” He mumbled as I picked the sketch pad and set it over my knees.

“Oh, you can. In a different way that doesn’t involve money.” I informed him as I began to sketch.

He leaned forward at that, face brightening cutely, like a kid that’s about to be let in on a secret.

“Really? What’s that.”

“Don’t change your pose if you don’t want the painting to come out wonky, in fact, don’t move your face

around.”

Armani pouted at that but he nodded his head reluctantly.

“What means of payment were you referring to before?” He asked after a few moments.

“You can tell me about your yourself.“ I paused and chewed on the top of my pencil before continuing.

“You can tell me about your childhood, how growing up with Luca was, and how your life in Los

Angeles was.”

Armani blinked once I was done speaking, and telling by his silence, it was obvious that he hadn’t

anticipated what I had asked for as payment in the slightest way possible.

“Oh.” He finally mumbled, staring down at his folded legs for a few moments.

I nodded my head even though he couldn’t see me since he wasn’t staring at me right now.

“Yeah. That’s what I want.”

“But… are you sure?” He asked on glancing up at me and I nodded my head at him once again. I took

out the pencil from my mouth and spoke.

“Yeah, I am. I’ve always been curious about what your childhood and Luca’s had been like. I wanna

know how it had been like.”

Armani breathed out a long exhale after a few moments.

“Okay.”