"Little Hayden…" Hayden called the puppy before throwing the ball towards it.


    Little Hayden jumped up and caught the ball in between his teeth. Before running around happily with the ball still in his mouth. He seems very happy. I hoped that Hayden would enjoy ying with Little Hayden more too. The two didn’t have much time to spend together and their rtionship resembled more of a rivalry instead ofpanionship and they sometimes fought like dogs and cats.


    It was funny but a smoother rtionship might be a little better.


    The two ran around on the grass together while I nted myself down on a bench to watch under the shade. Hayden lifted Little Hayden up and began hugging him tightly. Was that a hug or a headlock? I wasn’t exactly sure. Was Little Hayden having fun or was he panicking? I couldn’t really tell.


    Well, as long as no one ends up getting seriously hurt…


    The weather was perfect for spending some time outside. If only I had some tea and some sweets like cake or something, life would be quite perfect indeed. I breathed in deeply, smelling the mix fragrance of the grass and flowers. It was a very peaceful moment, except…


    "Get back here! Don’t just ignore the ball!" Hayden yelled loudly as he chased Little Hayden around the field.


    Little Hayden ran faster before stopping to change directions and then he began to bark. Overall, it was a very hectic and loud scene. A stark contrast the peace that I had imagined but not an unpleasant sight. After a while, Little Hayden was panting so hard that I started wondering if he would get a heart attack. The little puppyy t on the grass with his tongue hanging out of its mouth.


    It was such a cute but very pitiful sight.


    "That puppy is so loud…" Hayden muttered aint.


    The bench shifted under his weight as he sat down next to me. Although heined, it looked like he had some fun ying around with Little Hayden just now judging from how loud they both were.


    "He’s a very cheerful one, isn’t he?" I asked before smiling at Hayden.


    "He’s annoying…" Hayden muttered but I could tell that he wasn’t serious.


    I nced over at Hayden and smiled. Spending time leisurely with him and Little Hayden was very fun, and it made me feel warm and tingly inside. I enjoyed myself and we seemed very at peace. Everything was so perfect that I began to wonder if it was too good to be true. From my experience, if something seemed too good to be true, then it probably was. Just how long will our happinessst, I wondered.


    Just how long can we spend time together leisurely in the sun like this?


    "Have you started on yourmissions?" Hayden asked.


    "I’ve contacted some clients for more details. Then I’ll have to send them a price quote and if they’re fine with it, then I’ll start right away," I replied.


    "Sounds good. Show me the price quote before you send them out," Hayden instructed quite sternly.


    "Umm…sure," I replied, feeling a little confused.


    "Knowing you, you’ll probably put some low figure as if your efforts aren’t worth anything. So, I’ll be making sure that you’re charging them enough," Hayden exined without me needing to ask.


    I was quite certain that his idea of ’enough’ wasn’t the same as mine. More money wasn’t a bad thing. I could use some more financial independence. Right now, I’m basically living off of Hayden. Living in his ce and all. If I could make more money, I can be more independent.


    "Ok…but please don’t charge them something crazy. I’m still an amateur at this too…" I said hesitantly.


    "Don’t underestimate yourself and your skills," Hayden replied firmly.


    I didn’t know what else to say to that, so I just nodded my head a little. Soon, I would be quite surprised at the price that the clients were willing to pay to get their portraits sketched and painted. I decided to enjoy the restful weekend with Hayden and our puppy before worrying about work.


    …


    **A few dayster**


    Checking emails early in the morning now became mandatory as customer requests and responses to my emails came pouring in. Surprisingly, the clients were very open to the idea of getting their portrait done based on a photograph or via video call. The second was a little moreplicated but I decided to give it a try anyways just to see how it would turn out.


    After studying the specific details of the tenmissions that I have prioritized, it was now time to submit a price quote to get the client’s approval before starting on the work itself.


    I spent half of the day trying toe up with some standard ranges for the rate that I would like to charge separated based on the technique used for the work. The other half of the day, I spent polishing up my techniques especially in pencil sketches and water painting. Little Hayden yed around at the floor by my side and sometimes he would fall asleep.


    After spending hours trying out some new techniques to better capture shadows and depth using watercolor, I looked up from the canvas and stretched my arms and back. Looking around, Little Hayden was no where to be found. Did he sneak out to run around in the hallway again?


    Lately, Little Hayden had started bing more mischievous. He would sneak out to run around in the hallway whenever I wasn’t paying attention which was often now that I had to focus on my work. Usually, I would find himter ying with a maid or just randomly walking around in the hallway outside. Since there were many people in the mansion, it didn’t seem like a problem for him to roam about.


    I wonder where he went this time?


    "Little Hayden!" I called for him after poking my head through the opened door into the hallway.


    Looking up and down the hallway, I couldn’t see Little Hayden or anyone for that matter. He should be somewhere around here just running and ying around. As if on cue, a maid turned a corner and was heading my way.


    "Hi there. Have you seen Little Hayden? I think he sneaked off somewhere again," I asked the maid.


    "Oh. I think he’s with Auntie in the living room downstairs," the maid replied with a smallugh.


    Well, that’s a relief.


    "Thank you. I’ll go get himte then…" I replied.


    "Sure, or do you want me to tell Auntie to bring him up?" the maid suggested helpfully.


    "No need. I’ll leave him with Auntie…" I replied before thanking her.


    Hayden would be back soon anyways, and Auntie woulde to set up the dining table. She can bring Little Hayden then. I still had somest-minute price quotes to do to show Hayden so some time alone would be good.


    …


    "Too cheap. You can charge this guy more. Increase the rate for this one too…and this one…same for this one…" Hayden said as he flipped through the price quotes that I have printed for him to check based on his earlier request.


    I stood by his side as Hayden sat on a chair and went through my price quotes. He had just arrived back home and that was the first thing that he asked me about.


    --To be continued…