Chapter 15
532words
"Everything all right?" he asked as I took my seat.
"Fine," I lied. "Just freshening up."
His eyes narrowed slightly. "Vivienne followed you."
It wasn't a question. I raised an eyebrow, impressed by his awareness.
"She wanted to mark her territory," I said lightly. "Apparently, I'm trespassing."
Felix's jaw tightened. "Vivienne considers anything connected to the Blackwood name her domain. Including me."
"Are you two...?" I left the question hanging.
"No," he said firmly. "Never. Though not for lack of trying on her part."
The auctioneer called for attention as the next item appeared on stage—a triptych of Renaissance panels depicting the Fall of Icarus.
"Item twenty-three," he announced, "attributed to the workshop of Botticelli, recently restored. Starting bid one million dollars."
Felix leaned forward, suddenly alert. "That's from the same collection as Alexander's paintings."
I studied the triptych with professional interest. Even from a distance, I could see similarities to the works in Felix's gallery—the same luminous colors, the same too-perfect technique.
"Another forgery?" I whispered.
"Almost certainly," Felix murmured back. "Watch Alexander."
Across the room, Alexander was conferring urgently with Vivienne. She shook her head slightly, her expression tense.
"Do I hear one million one?" the auctioneer called.
To my surprise, Felix raised his paddle. "One million one."
Alexander's head snapped up, his eyes locking with Felix's across the room. A silent challenge passed between them.
"One million two," Alexander called, his voice carrying across the hall.
Felix's mouth curved into a smile that didn't reach his eyes. "One million five."
The room hushed as the cousins faced off. Vivienne whispered something in Alexander's ear, her hand gripping his arm.
"Two million," Alexander announced, defiance in his tone.
Felix didn't hesitate. "Three million."
A murmur rippled through the crowd. This wasn't just a bidding war—it was a public power struggle between Blackwood heirs.
Alexander's face flushed. He started to raise his paddle again, but Vivienne's hand clamped down on his wrist. After a tense moment, he lowered it.
"Sold to Felix Blackwood for three million dollars," the auctioneer declared, bringing down his gavel with a decisive crack.
Felix sat back, his expression unreadable. I stared at him, bewildered.
"You just spent three million dollars on a forgery," I whispered.
"No," he replied quietly. "I just bought evidence."
As the auction continued, I watched Alexander and Vivienne make a hasty exit. Felix's bold move had clearly rattled them.
"They're running scared," Felix observed, satisfaction evident in his voice.
"What exactly are you playing at?" I asked.
He turned to me, his eyes intense. "The same thing you are, I suspect."
My blood ran cold. "I don't know what you mean."
"Don't you?" His voice dropped to ensure only I could hear. "You're not just here to authenticate paintings, Lyra. You want something from Alexander and Vivienne. Something personal."
I opened my mouth to deny it, but Felix raised a hand to stop me.
"I'm not your enemy," he said. "In fact, I think we might want the same thing."
"And what's that?" I managed to ask.
His smile was cold and determined. "Justice."
