Chapter 16: Lazy Bale and Visiting in the Hospital

                                    

                                          
A few days had gone by since the party that Gianna had invited Christian to. Gianna was in an art studio drawing. Christian walked in without her noticing. He walked behind her and tapped her nose. 


                          
"I don't want to see you, Christian," Gianna said as she continued sketching a landscape. 
"Oh, Gia. Please let me apologize. I'm so sorry for how I acted. Please? Forgive me," he asked while sitting in a chair in front of her.
"Have you been drinking again," she asked. 
"Only a little, and it's 4:00 pm. You can't be too hard on me," Christian answered. 
"Someone has to do it," Gianna said. 
"So when do you begin your great work of art, Raphaella," Christian asked. 


                          
Gianna hesitated for a moment. 


                          
"Never," Gianna replied bluntly. 
"What? Why," Christian asked. 
"I'm a failure. Vic is in New York being a writer, and I'm a failure," Gianna answered.
"That's quite a statement to make at twenty one," Christian said. 
"Rome took all the vanity out of me. Paris made me realize I'd never be a genius. I'm giving up all my childish artistic hopes," Gianna said. 
"Why should you? You have so much talent and energy, Gia," Christian said. 
"Talent isn't genius, and no amount of energy can make it so, Christian. I want to be successful, or nothing. I won't be a simpleton painter, so I don't want to try anymore," the blonde said. 
"What women are allowed into the club of geniuses, anyway," the twenty four year old asked. 
"I don't know. Ruth Bader Ginsburg? Margaret Thatcher? Sandra Day O'Connor," Gianna asked. 
"That's it," Christian asked. 
"I think so," Gianna replied. 
"And who always declares geniuses," Christian asked.
"Shut up. I see the point you're trying to make to make me feel better somehow," Gianna answered. 
"Do you though? Feel better," Christian asked. 
"I do think for a man or a woman, I'm a middling talent," Gianna replied. 
"Middling talent? Then, can your last sketch be of me," Christian asked. 


                          
Gianna let out a small laugh, which brought a smile to Christian's face. 


                          
"Okay. I'll sketch you," Gianna said. 
"Now that you've given up all your childish artistic hopes, what are you going to do with your life," Christian asked curiously. 
"Focus on my other talents and become a housewife," Gianna answered. 
"I think this is where Ryan Sanders comes in," Christian told her. 
"Don't make fun of him and me," Gianna said. 
"I'm not. I said his name," Christian said with a laugh. 


                          
Gianna smiled as Christian laughed. She genuinely missed hearing him laugh. Then, there was a brief silence between them. 


                          
"You're not engaged, are you, Gia," Christian asked. 
"No," she replied. 
"But you will be, if he goes down on one knee," Christian said. 
"Most likely, yes. He's rich. Richer than you, even," Gianna said. 
"Well, I understand queens of the world can't get on without money. But it does sound strange coming from one of your mum's girls," Christian said. 
"I've always known I would marry rich. Why should I be ashamed of that, Christian," Gianna asked. 
"There's nothing to be ashamed of, as long as you love him," he answered. 
"I do love him," Gianna said as someone knocked on the door. "That should be Ryan now. How do I look? Do I look okay?"


                          
Christian was silent for a moment. He looked at Gianna in a way he never looked at her before. He looked at her with love. 


                          
"You look beautiful. I-I mean, you are beautiful," Christian said with a smile as Gianna hugged him and left. 


                          
Christian now began realizing that he had feelings for Gianna as well when he had feelings for Victoria, but he now was infatuated with Gianna. His old feelings for Victoria had died.