The Twelve Vitali Ch. 01

Authors note: Hello everyone. This story is a spinoff of the Twelve Tables series I wrote a while ago. While there will be cameo appearances of some of the Donati's, this series is based on and around a different family and table. I hope you enjoy this series despite its differences to the original story. Thank you once again to Paul who continues to be my second set of eyes. ~ellie.

Chapter 1- Cat.

Cat put down her brush and stepped back to look at the large canvas she had just completed. Her heart broke all over again as she looked at her version of the young men, her brother included, who had narrowly lost the grand final this year. The reserve grade team competition was never as prestigious as the A-league, but it was a good stepping stone to the big leagues for men with aspirations. Her brother had hung up his boots and vowed that he wouldn't play again except for fun and finally accepted the internship at Vitali Developments he had been offered.

This moment was burned into her brain, the heartbreak and pure exhaustion of young men who had given their all and come up short. No matter what was said to them over the days that followed the men could not be consoled. They had carried the hopes of their club members on their shoulders and felt the loss more keenly because of it, Cat thought. She'd wanted to paint this for those men, and, finally, she had the time and energy thanks to her brother and his coach. She smiled and picked up her brush again, approaching the image of the coach who hovered in the background of the painting.

"Fuck me," David said walking into the room. "No wonder you haven't wanted me to see what you were working on for the auction." He stared at the canvas his sister had created and the almost perfect likenesses of his teammates on that horrible day. "I mean, it's awesome, as usual, but the theme's a bit off. Why can't you paint something happy to bring you out of your funk?"

"This was just something I had to get out of my head before starting on the happy. I promised your coach I'd do a big canvas for the fundraiser. He bought all the materials for it, so I felt like I owed him a moment in time like this. I promise you can commission the next one, anything you want," she laughed.

"Great, I want..." he seemed to consider her with a smirk. "Unicorns farting rainbows," he chuckled. "Seriously, though, I want to see you doing something for you, not that god-awful ex-boyfriend of yours, and not for me. I talked to an interior designer today, you know if you did a few standard pieces and created a website you could sell your work to corporations for their buildings. There's a lot of money in corporate art."

"I don't know. I have my job at Eckersley's, and I am still working part-time for Sonatas," she sighed. "I just don't have time, even though you have offered me space here to paint and do my thing uninterrupted by Ned." She instantly regretted mentioning her ex-boyfriend who was still stalking her movements.

"So, move in," he said not for the first time. "Kick Neddy Numbskull to the curb once and for all and find time for you. I'll help, and you know Mick will do anything you ask." He grinned. He knew his friend was totally in love with his sister, just as she knew he was the furthest thing from her type possible. "You have looked after me my whole life, maybe it's time to accept my help for a while. I'm doing really well at work; I think things are starting to work out for us now."

Cat could hear the hope in his voice as he tried to shed the horrible stigma of their youth. She didn't answer as a lump formed in her throat and tears stung the backs of her eyes. He was her best friend, and she loved him dearly, there was no need for him to know she felt indebted to Ned for being there for her when she really needed someone and felt she couldn't let David down. She had never shown any weakness or insecurity in front of David, and she wasn't about to start now by letting him look after her. True, Ned had done nothing but cheat on her and treat her badly over the course of their dysfunctional relationship, but she had felt indebted to him for taking them in and looking after both her and her brother when her mother had overdosed. If she was honest, though, she worried about how he would react when she finally left that little apartment he had once shared with her for good.

"Look," David said, wrapping an arm around her shoulder and staring at the large canvas with her. "I know I was a shit of a kid back then, but look at me now," he stepped back so she could literally look at him. "I have a normal job that I wear a suit to every day, I have a chance at a great career, and it's all because of you, no one else, just you. Let me help you, let me help you find a better life too. You don't owe that guy anything. He's an idiot, Cat, and if he hurts you again that fucker better not come anywhere near me." He allowed his contempt to colour his voice.

"Maybe you're right. I'll think about it, okay?" Cat said to mollify her brother. "Hey, how's that project going that you were working on?" she asked. "The one in our old neighbourhood." Cat almost cringed thinking about the old welfare units where their mother had practically ignored their existence and her responsibilities.

"Come get a beer with me and I'll tell you all about it. It's an awesome project and will erase the last trace of her," David said, unwilling to call the woman who had given birth to him 'Mother'. She had worked in a series of jobs as a barmaid to feed her own addictions and had forgotten completely that she had children to look after. His sister had brought him up by scrounging through her mother's work clothes for money to buy a few groceries and had taught herself to cook so that they wouldn't starve after their grandmother had died. He had done very little for his sister in return except complain, but he was determined to make it up to her now that he was in a position to make a difference in her life, now that he had finally realised just how hard she had worked to make sure he got the life he had now.

"A beer sounds good," she smiled and pushed the strands of hair that had escaped her ponytail and followed him from the garage space she was using as a studio.

*****

"Catriona Leone?" The receptionist asked in a pleasant voice.

"Yes," Cat tried to smile, despite her nervousness, and came to her feet.

"Miss Vitali will see you now," she stepped from the desk and led the way down a small corridor.

"Cat, it's so good to finally meet you," Vanessa Vitali came from her desk to welcome Cat into her office. "I was hoping my cousin, Maryanne, would be here today to meet you too, but she's been held up, unfortunately," she laughed lightly.

"I'm sure she couldn't help it," Cat responded, willing herself to relax.

"Please, make yourself at home," Vanessa indicated the small suite of comfortable furniture behind her. "Can I get you something? Tea, coffee?" she offered.

"No, thank you," Cat declined the offer believing there had been a huge mistake after seeing the plush offices. "I'm not exactly sure why I am here," Cat said nervously. "You said you saw one of my pieces and wanted to talk to me about a commission?" she asked cautiously. "May I ask where and which piece?" As far as Cat could recall she hadn't done any art for anyone that a woman as obviously wealthy as this woman would be friends with. This had to be a mistake, she told herself again.

"One of my Uncles has this amazing canvas he bought from a charity auction. It's of a defeated football team," Vanessa enlightened her. "It was so emotive, and my cousin, Maryanne, who usually advises me on the artwork for our installations, suggested I find out who the artist was and put them under contract for the new corporate headquarters we are designing the interior for."

"Oh," Cat said, feeling stunned, she had wondered what had happened to the painting after it had reached record amounts at the auction. It was far more than she could have ever hoped to gain for the annual auction used to sustain the underfunded football club's junior divisions.

"I think Maryanne wanted to talk to you as well about curating a collection for you at a gallery she has ties to in Brisbane." Vanessa went on, "But first let's get to know each other a little, shall we?"

Cat cringed through the casual conversation as she admitted she had grown up in welfare alley but had recently moved to a much nicer place that she shared with her brother and his friend. It was a small lie, and she could live with it and use her brother's address for any work here. She knew he wouldn't mind. She discovered that the engineering and construction company that her brother worked for and was developing some affordable low-income housing where welfare alley stood belonged to Vanessa's brother.

"In fact," Vanessa added enthusiastically, "It is the same company that is building our new headquarters here in the city. Funny that you could be both working for the same company, in a roundabout way."

"About the work, what are you looking for exactly?" Cat asked. "From me?" she added.

"Once I discovered your name from the football club I wasn't able to find a website or any other known works that you have completed, and I wondered if you had a portfolio of some kind," Vanessa explained. "I and my sister-in-law, Maryanne, would like to see more of your work, if possible."

"I'm afraid I haven't been successful in promoting my art. Mostly I do it as a hobby or for friends, so there isn't much of a portfolio to show," Cat admitted, knowing it was as she had thought and that coming here had been a big mistake. She wasn't sure how she had let David talk her into accepting the invitation. "I'm not a professional artist, I'm afraid, I'm not even sure I could be described as an amateur. The coach of that football team asked if I would do a painting for the auction and I agreed. He'd been so good to my brother and me over the years that I couldn't say no when he asked for something in return."

Vanessa was surprised, but she didn't show it. The woman in front of her had obviously had a tough life as a child and seemed to expect and accept that this interview would come to nothing. Yet she had come despite her misgivings. Vanessa considered her for long silent moments before making a decision based more on the vibe she got from the young woman more than anything she had seen or heard from her Uncle Frankie.

"I am curious enough about your talent to make you an offer. I will put you on a four-week contract, I will supply all of the resources you need and you will produce a series of paintings within a set colour scheme and theme. It would be challenging, perhaps, to get the paintings done in that time frame, but you don't strike me as a woman who shies away from a challenge," Vanessa said, as if daring Cat to grab the brass ring she was showing her. "Would you need a studio, or would you like to work from your own space where you are comfortable?" she asked as if Cat saying yes was a foregone conclusion.

"I don't think I can afford to take that long off work," Cat began to decline the offer.

"This would be work, I would pay you a staff salary as well as a reasonable price for each of your works, if I keep them," Vanessa knew she was being overly generous, but there was something about this girl that pulled at her. Cat was uncertain and confused in these plush surroundings, but Vanessa imagined that she was tough and could hold her own in her everyday surroundings. She would have had to be tough to grow up in welfare alley.

"You'd pay me? To paint?" Cat asked incredulously. "For four weeks?"

"Perhaps longer, depending on how well you do in that four weeks," Vanessa agreed. "Give me a moment to call HR and I can give you a weekly salary figure if you like."

"Yes, please," Cat said, still incredulous. If it was enough to live on during that time, Cat knew she would be crazy to turn down this incredible offer and take a break from the slave drivers at Eckersley's, as well as the handsy patrons at the bistro where she did the evening shift.

The amount boggled her mind when Vanessa showed her the pad she had written the amount on, and she readily agreed. She wasn't sure she wanted to share this opportunity with her deadbeat boyfriend, so agreed to look at a studio in the building that the interior styling business was housed. She became excited as Vanessa gave her a folio containing pictures of mood boards and fabric swatches that would be used in one set of offices in the new construction.

"Thank you, Vanessa," Cat said, finally letting her enthusiasm show through her tough outer shell. "I will be here Monday with some sketches and a list of materials. It is all very usual stuff that your art department probably has already," she smiled.

"I can't wait to get started, I just know we are going to do great things together," Vanessa said happily, feeling good about taking a chance on an unknown artist to fill her needs. Her Uncle had been right when he'd asked her to come and appraise his new picture. It was good. Better than good, and, considering the amount they usually paid for artwork, having a corporate artist on staff was going to give her a large return on her investment.

*****

"I got a job!" Cat announced as she walked into the house late that afternoon.

"I thought you had a job, two jobs actually? You're not taking on a third job, are you? We aren't strapped for cash now, you realise," David looked up from watching the news.

"No, I got a job as an artist!" Cat explained. "It's a four-week trial, but it will pay enough that I can give up Eckersley and take leave from the bistro for a few weeks to see what comes out of this!"

"That's awesome!" David got up and hugged her tightly. "I knew you could do it!"

She went on to tell him about the painting and that coach Frankie had bought it at the auction, and how the lady, Vanessa, had seen it and tracked her down. She laughed as she explained that she would be almost working for the same company as her brother for a few weeks.

"Why don't we drive over and see the old club, I bet coach is there," David suggested. He'd been slack about catching up with the man who had done so much for him and his sister as they grew into adulthood. He was generous and kind and had somehow managed to still be influencing the good things in their lives.

"You bet," Cat slung her bag with the small portfolio onto a chair. "I'll drive so you can grab a beer with him if he's there," she offered.

They drove down to the football club, chatting about the changes in their lives since they had last been there. It had been too long, they had agreed, since they had been to a game or supported them at all. They both agreed that that needed to change.

"Hey, Uncle Frankie," David called out to his old coach, and the man smiled and trotted over to the boundary of the oval.

"Hey, Dave," Frankie said. "You're looking good. Coming back to volunteer for a coaching job?"

"Nah, just came to see if we can buy you a beer or two. Looks like you're busy, as usual," David nodded towards the gaggle of high-spirited boys going through some training drills. Frank looked from David to where Cat stood on the patio of the small clubhouse.

"I am, but fortunately one of those boys belongs to that man there," he turned his head and made some vague hand gestures towards the man, who immediately jogged onto the field and took over from Frank in running the drills. "Now let's see about that beer."

*****

Cat had been working hard for two weeks, even working from her garage studio on the weekend to ensure she had enough to show Vanessa's cousin, Maryanne, when she arrived to look at the work Vanessa had commissioned for the new building. Vanessa had made no secret of the fact that Maryanne's opinion on art and the artworks she used in her installation mattered a great deal as to whether her contract would be lengthened to include other floors and offices of the building. Vanessa had made no promises beyond the four weeks, but she had hinted strongly at the possibility after coming down to view her progress.

"Oh my God, finally!" Maryanne announced as she breezed into the small studio that was dedicated to Cat and her creations. Cat looked up as the beautiful young woman breezed into her space with a smile and energy that seemed to make everything around her take on new life. "You must be the mysterious Cat," Maryanne approached her, holding out her hand. "It is an absolute pleasure to finally meet you."

"Hello," Cat said, trying to take in the force of nature that was Maryanne Vitali.

"I'm dying to see what you've done so far, show me, show me!" she grinned, clapping her hands and looking around.

"Vanessa gave me a colour palette to work with that lent itself to a general theme," Cat said, counselling herself to relax. If Maryanne didn't like what she had done, then there was little she could do about it now. She walked over to the wall where she had placed the two finished canvases and the easel with one she was currently working on. She had a sketchbook full of ideas for additional paintings along the same theme and colour palate.

"These are good and certainly fit the brief," Maryanne nodded. "They lack the same emotion that was so amazing in "Short"." She commented as if talking to herself about the painting of the football team.

"I knew all of the men on that football team, I had seen them struggle and triumph week after week to get to that final and had been devastated for them when they lost," Cat admitted. "It was an emotional moment that I captured there. My brother was part of that team; he hasn't played since that day."

"And these?" Maryanne asked.

"These are as I imagine them, I've never been out on the open sea or been fishing," she said of the marine-themed paintings, and felt the opportunity she had been given falling away from her.

"Never!" Maryanne was aghast. "We will have to remedy that then, because I think the theme is great with the colour palette, in fact, I couldn't think of better, but I am not feeling them in the way I know you can make me feel the images you create." She walked away pulling her phone from her bag and making a call.

"Do you have plans tonight?" Maryanne asked, pulling the phone away from her ear slightly. Cat shook her head in the negative. If this woman was offering her a chance to keep this job she was going to take it. "You do now," Maryanne said, and turned away again with a giggle.

"Okay, leave it all to me. I'll pick you up at three," Maryanne surveyed her for a long moment. "It will be a casual night, so don't worry about how you look or anything."

Cat was stunned to speechlessness. She knew the woman had meant it kindly, but it had come across as insulting and a reminder that she didn't belong in this world no matter how kind Vanessa had been to her. She started to feel those horrible old feelings of being made to feel like a charity case. She watched the two women leave and turned back to the canvases that leant against the wall. Had she taken on too much painting outside her comfort zone? She had no experience of the sea. She'd never been outside the city, unless St. Kilda beach counted as being to the sea. The beach was very different to the visions she had been creating though, and she took a breath.

She wasn't ready to throw this chance away. With the money she would receive from this four weeks alone, she wouldn't have to worry about paying her bills for a few months at least if she was careful with the money. So she steeled herself against the words that dredged up feelings of inadequacy and concentrated on why she was here, the art.

*****

Cat returned home late that night. She had surprised herself by having a great time and had been grateful when one of the Vitali drivers dropped her back at her car so she could get home safely. She had a sneaking suspicion that he may have followed her home as she slowed to pull into her street, so she drove further to David's house and caught a glimpse of the headlights of a slow-moving car behind her several more times on the quiet roads. The house was dark, but it was late, and David didn't exactly know she was coming, so she wasn't concerned as she got out of her car and headed for the door.