LOGINThe fifth lot began. Edward moved to speak to someone at the side of the room. I watched the auctioneer. She crossed the room toward him. He turned when she spoke. She laughed. It had worked before, that laugh. I scanned the sixth lot. Mixed media, authenticated 2019, provenance verified. Her h
Alicia's POV Volkov was already at the door when we came in. His eyes went to my dress and came back up. Lazily. He turned to Edward, and they shook hands. It ran a half-second longer than it needed. "You both came," he said. "You invited us," Edward said. "I invite many people. They don't alwa
Edward's POV He still thinks he came here for the meeting. The room absorbed it. Nobody spoke. Alicia studied the table. Volkov’s attention stayed on her, patient, certain of the space he occupied. I picked up my water glass. Drank. Set it down. He leaned forward. "What I bring isn't only cap
"Two weeks," he said. "Who handled it?" "Me." He looked at me steadily. "You built a structure to reduce dependence on any single person. And the first time it was tested." "I was there and it needed handling." "You're always there." His eyes moved to Edward and back. "That’s what I’m trying to
Alicia's POV The building was ten minutes from the hotel. We didn’t speak in the car. I ran through the framework. Ownership structure. Rotterdam timeline. Enforcement protocols. Edward sat to my left, close enough that our shoulders nearly touched, and not a word passed between us the entire driv
Dubai watched me. Martens did the same. The third one tilted his head, like he had heard something he could not place. "Are you her lawyer?" Dubai asked. "No." "Then why do you know about the paperwork?" "I just." I breathed. "I am familiar with the situation." "Familiar," the third one repeate
Alicia's POV Edward stood in the corridor. Just stood there. Hands loose at his sides. Expression I couldn't read. I stopped in the doorway. The door heavy against my palm. Behind me, the exhibition hall hummed. Voices layering over each other. Someone laughing. The sharp click of heels on concr
"And you saw it." "In London. Thursday morning. I was working and one of my team members had a news site open in the background. I saw the headline." His eyes didn't leave mine. "Saw your name." "And you came back." "I came back." I processed that. "You weren't supposed to be here." "No. I was
Edward's POV The estate driveway ran ahead, hedges trimmed to exact lines. I parked beside Lucy's black sedan. Three stories of stone and glass that had always felt too large, even full. I walked to the entrance. Marie opened the door before I reached it. "They're already at the table, Mr. Val
Alicia's POV "Daniel." Elena stared at me from across the couch. Wine glass frozen halfway to her mouth. "Daniel. The guy from London two years ago, right? That Daniel." "Yes." "He sent the email." "He sent the email." She set her glass down on the coffee table with a soft clink. "Oh… wow."







