Rihanna and Chris Brown may still insist they're 'just good friends'.
But Now can reveal there is more to their friendship than meets the eye as he's secretly commissioned a sexy portrait of Ri-Ri as a surprise gift to her.
Chris, 23, employed hot graffiti artist Bambi - whose customers include Brad Pitt and Adele - to create a fierce image of Rihanna, 24.
Sources say it was to likely to be to commemorate the five-year anniversary of when they first got together - which will no doubt go down like a lead balloon with Chris's current girlfriend Karrueche Tran, 24.
The picture's being shipped to Barbados, where Ri-Ri has a family home.
Bambi's agent Lenny Villa says he wasn't able to confirm who'd commissioned the painting, but strongly hints that it could be her abusive ex Chris.
He tells Now: 'It's a romantic surprise for her from a very controversial figure.
'Was it a former lover? You could be right!
'It's being sent to Barbados.'
The gift - costing 'five figures' - comes as Rihanna indicated there's still hope for her and Chris.
Read more about Rihanna's and Chris Brown's relationship in Now dated 3 September 2012 - out now!
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