The girl in the Louvre

Like the wings of a butterfly, it's edging fluttered as it landed on his hand creating a contrast between it's wet, dewy surface and the warmth of the coffee.

Without minding the new addition to his apparel, Julian took another sip of his coffee while looking at the teenager walking down the path towards him.

It was a warm summer day but there was a light wind gently blowing through the trees.

It was the wind of change.

Right now, it was just a gentle breeze. Picking up little leaves and giving them a chance to fly into the sky.

Although warm and friendly, Its gentle temperament would not last for long.

It will slowly pick up to become a storm.

At that point, whether or not the leaf is willing, it will still be carried wherever the wind blows.

'When the storm comes, will we be prepared? Or will we too, be thrown around by the winds whimsical spirit?'

Getting up, Julian put those thoughts behind him.

Like the many weather forecasters around the world, he too was unable to tell in which way the wind will blow.

Walking forward he reached out to hug Sebastian before reaching out his hand to shake to guest behind him.

"You must be Sebastian's friend Federico. It is a pleasure to meet you."

While not exactly interested, the man still reached out his arm to shake the outstretched hand.

"You are the new prince I am hearing about? And Sebastian says that this little stunt recently was your doing?"

"Yes, although I would not call it 'little.' My stunt was not really that big either. That is why I need your help. Sebastian and I have figured out most of the details, but we need your help to create our new line of clothes."

Raising an eyebrow, Federico could not help but question the sanity of the boy before him. He had already steered up such a huge mess at his age, but he still wants to make a bigger one?

"As far as I can see, you do not really need my help, do you? Why not ask your mother for a little funding, wouldn't that help solve all your problems?"

Federico feigned ignorance while laughing secretly inside. Who did not know of the tense relationship between the mother and son duo?

No one would openly go against Julian as that would be like directly slapping his mother's face. What happens in the dark, however, that should not be a problem as long as he never got hurt.

While calmly smiling, Julian swear on the inside. Blackmail was never his cup of tea, but if he did not nip it in the bud, Federico's desire would continue to grow.

Normally, he would have just let Federico have a little bigger cute. It did not really matter to him after all. But right now was an imperative moment, without that money his plans could go up in smoke.

"This was a task my mother left for me. It would be impossible for me to turn around and ask for funds without completing my mission first."

With a cold gleam at the corner of his eye, Julian stared the older man down.

Like a regal king who demanded that his subjects followed his rule, Julian raised his mouth the speak his decree.

"Federico, I address you like a friend because I do not like to do business by force, but you and I know that you need this chance. Without it, will you be able to pay off your debts? I do not think your hurried booking of a flight to the UK was for leisure or business. You are running, aren't you? But both you and I know that those Russians are not ones to forget a debt."

By the end of Julian's speech, sweat had started to show by Federico temple. Along with his pale face, he looked sickly.

"In fact, I can tell you this as a show of good faith. You never got away. The only reason you are not in a gunny sack right now is that I asked them to wait for one day."

Looking deeply into the eyes of the fool, Julian could not help but feel it was a pity.

He was blessed with such artistic talent but he had to waste it on debauchery.

The first thing that he did when he got famous was to splurge his money on drugs, women, and expensive thrills. Once he got a taste, he never stopped.

Now, he was in so much debt that he even owed the mob a bunch of money.

Taking a deep breath, Federico nodded.

"Okay, I will create a breathtaking spring a fall line for you, but you must promise me that you can make my problem go away."

With the first genuine smile since he hugged Sebastian at the beginning, Julian reached up to shake Federico hand once again. Although his personal habits were... Undeniably awful, he was a dedicated genius when it came to his work.

"I am happy to start working with you, but I have one simple rule. While under my employment you may not use any illegal substances as if you get caught it will badly reflect on me."

After some thought, Julian decided to add another rule.

"You also have to tone down your... Lifestyle. From the next year, you should try to keep calm."

Hearing that is behaviour was being restricted, Federico's face fell. After thinking it over he still decided to agree to Julian's terms.

'No matter how bad it is, at least it is better than being killed.'

Without a reason to stay any longer, Federico left at a pace that would have beaten Usain Bolt. As he sped away he could not help but think that Julian was a devil.

If he was not, how could he be so cunning?

'It is a good thing I left so fast, otherwise, there is no telling what he would have added onto the contract.'