“I have three point five from the back,” the auctioneer called out. “Do I hear four million?”
Eve frowned. She glanced back at Tony who had an arrogant smile as he brought the price up. Why was he bidding?
Nodding, she brought the painting up to four million.
“Four million. Do I hear four point five?” The war was now between Eve and Tony, and it was more than just a bidding war. She knew what he was trying to do now, so she would play his game. And, she would win.
“Now five. Five million?” The auctioneer looked at Eve for confirmation. When he received it, he looked back at Tony. “Five point five?”
Furious, Tony brought the painting up to five point five million. The bitch was not going to spend his money on this overrated piece of canvas with paint strewn everywhere.
“Thank you. Five point five. Do I hear six million?”
Eve raised an eyebrow. Tony was underestimating her if he didn’t think she knew what he was doing. She nodded again and brought the painting up to six million.
“Six million.” Murmurs filled the room. Can you believe it’s getting that high? Eve Sumptor really wants that painting. Who’s bidding against her? “Do I have six point five?” the auctioneer demanded.
“Bitch,” Tony muttered, and bid six point five million.
“We’re at six point five. Will we go to seven? Seven million?”
The auctioneer glanced at Eve. He couldn’t say why, but he could have sworn he saw her smile before shaking her head. He was surprised, and a bit disappointed that Eve bowed out of the bidding.
“Six point five going once. Going twice. Sold to...your number sir? Sir, I need your number.”
Tony just waved off the question without concern. He would stay until he was sure Eve wouldn’t bid on anything else, then he would leave. It would be easy. Revenge and rage blinded him to the fact that this was a flawed plan.
“Sir, if you do not have a number, you cannot bid. Do you have a number?” The auctioneer, becoming more annoyed by the minute, made eye contact with security. “You’ll have to leave if you are not registered, sir, and your bids will become void. Ms. Sumptor? Before this man’s bid of three point five million, you had the highest bid at three million. Would you still like this piece?”
Eve smiled and nodded. It was a small victory, but a victory nonetheless.
“Very good. Lot number nine-six-two, sold for three million to number seven-four-one-three.”
Eve turned and locked eyes with Tony, who was in the process of being escorted out. She could see that her smile and mocking wink incensed him as he stormed out.
Seven-four-one-three. It took a moment for the numbers to register in Lainey’s mind. “Oh my God!” she exclaimed. “It was you who bid on the Buddha!”
“Shh,” Eve whispered. There would be time to talk about the Buddha later.
Later, as they walked side by side out to the reception area, Eve could feel the tension as tight as a guitar string in Lainey. Throughout the rest of the auctions, Lainey had fidgeted in her seat, torn at the edges of her program and kept looking over at Eve with a look that was a cross between being infuriated and incredulous. It had taken all of Eve’s control just to stay composed.
Her triumph over Tony was only the frosting on the cake. Pleasing Lainey was, she found, far more important.
“Did you enjoy yourself, Ms. Sumptor?” the receptionist asked as she took Eve’s number.
“Absolutely.”
“Do you want all of your acquisitions to be delivered to your gallery?”
“Yes, please. Except the Buddha. I’ll take that with me.”
“Yes, ma’am.” The woman picked up her two way radio and called back to have Eve’s little statue brought to the front.
“Ms. Sumptor.”
Eve turned and smiled at the man. “Hello, Don. Wonderful auction today.”
“I’m always glad to see you at one of our auctions. You make them, shall I say, very interesting.”
“You just like how much I spend here,” Eve teased. She turned to Lainey. “Lainey, this is Don Ferrill, auctioneer extraordinaire. Don, this is Lainey Stanton.”
“Ahh, yes. Ms. Stanton, it’s very nice to meet you. I admired your display at the gallery on opening night. It was quite beautiful.”
“Thank you so much, Mr. Ferrill. You’ve made my first auction a wonderful experience.”
“I’m glad you enjoyed it. I think the man in the back was trying to get your attention,” he said to Eve with a grin.
“I think he got more attention than he wanted,” Eve answered. “But, it worked out well for me.”
Spending this time with Lainey had been bittersweet for her. She had gotten what she had come for, and acquired something special for Lainey in the process. But she knew that she had not heard the last from Tony.
“Why did you do that?” Lainey couldn’t hold the question in a minute longer. They were standing on the sidewalk waiting for valet to bring Eve’s car around, and Lainey just couldn’t stay quiet anymore. “Why did you get this for me?”
“Because you wanted it,” Eve said simply.
“Eve, it cost sixty-thousand dollars! You can’t just buy me something that costs sixty-thousand dollars!”
“Why not?”
“Why not?” Lainey threw her hands in the air. “What do you mean, why not? That is too much money...”
“You wanted it. I bought. It’s yours now. It’s a simple as that.”
Eve’s matter-of-fact, blasé attitude only served to infuriate Lainey more. “It’s not as simple as that. I can’t accept that. I can’t take that home with me.”
“Why not?”
“You’re not listening to me!”
“Honey, I am listening to you,” Eve interrupted. Lainey’s display of anger was amusing, but soon they would be creating a scene and that’s not what Eve wanted. “I just don’t agree with you. You can accept it. It is my gift to you. Take it home. Put it on your desk at the gallery. Do whatever you want to do with it. It’s yours.”
A block from the auction house, Eve brought the car to an abrupt stop.
“You don’t want to take the damn thing because it cost sixty-thousand,” she told Lainey, her own temper was rising. “Money doesn’t mean anything to me. Don’t you understand that? I have a lot of it, I spend it. What the hell else am I supposed to do with it? Why can’t you take it home? Because of Jack? No offense, honey, but I don’t think he’d have a damn clue what something like that is worth.”
“And if he asks?”
“Lie! That shouldn’t be that hard for you.” Eve closed her eyes and swore. Had she really said that? “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to say that.”
“Yes. You did.” Lainey took off her seatbelt and reached for the door handle. “I think I’ll walk back to the gallery.”
“No,” Eve said softly, gently placing her hand over Lainey’s. “Please, don’t. I am sorry, and I didn’t mean to say that. Look at me. Please.” She took Lainey’s chin in her fingers and turned her face towards her. “I wanted to get it for you because I...” Why couldn’t she say the words? It should be so simple and yet she couldn’t force herself to do it. “You’ve done so much for me,” she said softly. “You’ve given me more than any amount of money could buy, and I wanted to do this as some small way to tell you ‘thank you’. Is it so wrong of me to want to do something for you?”
She touched Lainey briefly, knowing she wanted so much more right now. “I’m sorry if this makes you uncomfortable, that’s not what I wanted. I just want to make you happy.”
Lainey did know what Eve was trying to say to her and it touched her more than any jade statue ever could. “You do make me happy. I don’t need gifts for that. I only need you.”
Eve wanted to kiss Lainey. The urge to do so was very strong, but she resisted. “Take it home with you tonight,” Eve said softly. “I doubt Jack will ask you about it and if he does, just tell him that I gave it to you as a thank
you for all of the hard work you’ve done at the gallery. That’s not a lie. Not the whole truth, but not a lie. I want you to put it on the nightstand next to your bed. Think of me while you’re lying there.”
“Eve...”
“Lainey. Jack gets you. Let me have this. Please?”
“I’ll take it home with me,” Lainey told her. “But I don’t need it to think about you, because you’re in my head, my heart, every second. I’ll take it with me because you want me to.”
Eve knew it was because of her that Lainey felt guilt and unhappiness at lying to her family every day. How long was she going to continue to be selfish?
The rest of the day went by quickly for Eve, and time with Lainey had been minimal. Either Eve was busy with paperwork, having just spent millions of dollars on new art, or Lainey was busy with clients. When they walked past each other, they would touch. Whether it was involuntarily, or if they both were conscious of doing it, Eve didn’t know. What she did know is that it was driving her insane. Lainey wouldn’t be going home with her tonight, and Eve didn’t know when or if they would be together again.
It has to end sooner or later. The thought was in Eve’s head constantly, no matter how hard she tried to ignore it. You’d better prepare for it now, Eve, she told herself, picking up the photo taken in Florida. And yet, looking at Lainey and the boys, she didn’t know if she would ever be able to prepare herself for that.
The phone beside her shrilled and Eve jumped. Nerves, she thought disgustedly. That was one thing she had to get over, now. It certainly wouldn’t do for her to lose it now when there was so much at stake. “Sumptor Gallery. This is Eve.”
“You keep pissing him off.”
“What the hell was he doing there? How did he know I’d be there?”
“A woman, posing as a society reporter, went to the gallery and asked Mikey to speak to you. He told her where you were.”
“Is this woman someone we need to worry about?”
“No, ma’am. She was just someone off the street that he paid for a favor. She’s not an issue. But, ma’am, he’s more determined than ever to destroy you after today. He’s pissed that you keep spending his money. His words, not mine, ma’am.”
“Aww, my heart breaks for him,” Eve answered with dripping sarcasm.
“I don’t think you understand...”
“I understand perfectly. He’s called a meeting hasn’t he?”
“How did you know that?” It was exactly what he had called her about. For her to know about it already, spooked him. The woman knew more, saw more than anyone he had come across. The thought was almost frightening.
“He’s my father, God help me. He’s predictable, angry and out for revenge. People like that tend to make more mistakes. He wants to do this now, doesn’t he?”
“Yes. He’s making arrangements to win this game very soon.”
“Did you tell him that going after Lainey would be a mistake?” Because it would, Eve continued silently. Try to hurt her, Daddy, and I swear to God you’ll wish you were back in prison.
“I did my best. I don’t know if I did any good, but at the moment, he’s focused on you and you alone.”
“Well, as much as I’d love to end this silly game, he’ll have to wait. I’m going out of town for a couple of days.”
“He’s really not going to like that, ma’am.”
Eve heard the humor in the man’s voice and smiled. No. Tony wasn’t going to like it, and it put her at even more of an advantage. The more rage he has, the more errors he’ll make.
“What a shame. I take it there’s no word on Meredith.”
“There may be. But, it’s not good.” He took a breath. “He has someone on the outside, someone not in the organization working for him. I don’t know who it is, yet, but I’m trying to find out. From the one-sided conversations I’ve heard, I have reason to suspect that Meredith has been ‘taken care of.’“
“Damn it! You don’t know this for sure?”
“He never mentioned her name, so no, I don’t know that it’s Meredith for sure. But, ma’am, there’s really no one else he could be speaking about.”
“Do what you can to find out more information on your end. About Meredith and this other person he has working for him. We can’t afford any surprises in this stage of the game.”
Eve had a very good idea who this ‘other person’ was, but she needed the proof. However confident she was with Billy, she was unquestionably not looking forward to having a wired session with Detective Carter. The thought of pretending to be interested in him was enough to make her nauseous.
“As I said before, I will be out of town for the next couple of days. You know how to get a hold of me. Is there anything else?”
“No, ma’am. I’ll get working on finding out more information for you.”
“Be careful. There have been too many deaths already. I’ll be in touch.”
Eve replaced the receiver and sat back in her chair. “There’s only one other death to come out of this game,” she said to herself. “And that’s yours, Daddy. That’s yours.”
Lainey was trying her best to concentrate on the client in front of her, but it was becoming increasingly difficult. Her mind, involuntarily, kept wandering back to Eve. The talk they had the night before, their love making, the feelings between them, everything that was happening with Eve’s father, and now the statue. Everything came to Lainey all at one time and overwhelmed her. You have to figure this out, Lainey, before you go insane. She smiled and nodded as the woman in front of her kept talking and talking. Why won’t she just shut up, Lainey thought, annoyed at herself and the customer at the same time. This was part of her job, she should be able to listen to anyone and be pleasant and polite. Just when she thought she couldn’t stand anymore, she felt a tap on her shoulder.
“Yes?” Lainey turned as she spoke, then nearly froze when she saw Adam standing there. “Adam. Hi.”
“I don’t mean to interrupt. Are you all right?”
“I’m sorry.” For thinking about the woman you love. For loving the woman you’re in love with. “Will you excuse me please?” Lainey told the customer. “I’ll be right back. Why don’t you go and look at the black and white photography on the back wall. I think you’ll find something that will compliment the modern look you desire for your apartment perfectly.” Well, hot damn, I was listening. Lainey turned back to Adam, anger rising inside of her. How dare he come into Eve’s gallery after taking some bimbo to Eve’s restaurant? “What can I do for you, Adam?” She kept her voice level and calm. It wasn’t her place to tell Adam to go to hell for Eve. Eve should do that for herself.
“Is Eve in? I need to speak with her.” Was that disdain he heard in Lainey’s voice? It couldn’t be, he thought. He must be imagining things.
“Eve is busy at the moment. You can leave a message with me, and I’ll be sure she gets it.” Maybe, she added silently. It was a petty thing to think, but sadly, or perhaps selfishly, she didn’t care.
“Have I done something to upset you, Lainey? Have I said something? Or, is what’s happening between me and Eve the reason for this hostility? Because honestly, I don’t know myself what is going on.”
The look he gave her, the fatigue she saw in his eyes, softened her. Clearly he was unhappy, uncertain, lost. “Eve is my friend, Adam. My best friend. I’m sorry if I’m a little partial.” Lainey hesitated for a moment and glanced up the stairs towards Eve’s office, remembering how miserable Eve had been when she had spoke of losing Adam the night before. “Open your eyes, Adam,” Lainey whispered. “See what she doesn’t want you to see.”
He had to strain to hear her, but the words deeply affected him for reasons he couldn’t explain. His eyes closed, his heart pounded inside his chest, his breathing quickened. Eve was near. He could feel her inside his soul.
Confused by Adam’s reaction, Lainey looked up just in time to catch Eve at the top of the stairs. She saw the intake of breath, the look of joy and sor
row combined.
Eve’s hand fluttered to her heart, dropping it instantly when she caught Lainey’s eye. She struggled to stay calm as she neared him. “Adam?”
He turned to her, using all of his will power not to take her in his arms and just hold her. He had thought he could forget her and move on. But, every night he dreamt of her, ached for her.
“Hi.” He dug his hands into his pockets to keep from touching her.
“Why are you here?”
Lainey took a step away from the couple. She didn’t know if she could stand there and watch the way they looked at each other, or listen to what they had to say to each other. “I’ll just go.”
“No, Lainey.” Eve stepped to Lainey’s side and laid a hand on her arm. “Please, stay.”
Lainey heard the silent desperate plea, and stayed.
“I need to speak with you, Eve,” Adam said, his heart sinking. She didn’t even want to be alone with him. “I was hoping we could do it privately.”
“I’m sorry, Adam, I simply don’t have the time today.”
“Tomorrow then?”
“I’m going out of town tomorrow, and I’ll be gone for a few days.” Eve felt Lainey tense beside her. This wasn’t the way she had intended to tell Lainey, but then she hadn’t expected to see Adam. “Shall I walk you to the elevator, Adam?”
“So that’s it?” He asked her when Lainey was out of earshot. “This is how it ends? You won’t even talk to me.”
“I told you, I’m busy,” Eve said. She wanted so much for him to take her in his arms and make everything right. But she knew he couldn’t. “You just caught me at a really bad time.”
“Is there a good time to talk about our relationship with you?”
“That’s not fair. You don’t call, you act as if you didn’t want to talk to me when I called you...”
“I was upset, Eve. Can you really blame me for that? Hell, you didn’t even remember what day it was.”
“I apologized for that,” Eve said softly. “There’s nothing more I can say. I can’t change what happened.”
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