Ellen Parrish, being a new employee of the artist guild, attended the annual event at Matthews and Associates. Ellen arrived late, was introduced to the employees of the company while Charles Emery was on the street saying goodbye to one of his clients. They had a brief encounter, not really knowing who each other was. After that he couldn't get Ellen out of his mind. They were to work together. He wasn't sure he could work with a woman or even wanted to.
They had lunch the very next day and their relationship developed and lasted over a span of twenty years. Then in Venice, while they were chaperoning art students, their love for each other grew into something more. A bond that would never be broken.