AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“She won’t,” he says with a bit of bite.
The blonde walks away, leaving me stunned. I whirl on Roman. “That was rude.”
“How do you know she’s not a cop?”
My jaw drops, and I glance at where she’s pushing through the crowds toward the exit. Her business card said she worked for the Di Marco Law Group, but that’s easily faked.
“You’re right.” I place a hand on my chest. “She didn’t even stay for the main event.”
He wraps an arm around my shoulder, plucks a flute of champagne from a tray and brings it to my lips. “That’s why you need to stick with me. Cops come in all disguises.”
By the time the auction starts, my insides glow with giddy excitement, and not just because I’m tipsy. This is what I had hoped for when I signed over my paintings to Gerard Lafayette. An introduction to the art world. As we take our seats, Roman hands me his untouched glass.
I turn to him and frown. “You’re not drinking?”
“Alcohol and auctions don’t mix,” he mutters.
A giggle rises from my chest. Poverty is so ingrained in my consciousness that it would never occur to me to bid while drunk. I hand him my empty glass and take a sip of Roman’s champagne.
Mr. Lubelli strolls onstage with a beaming smile. “Ladies, gentlemen, and honored guests.” He nods in our direction. “Welcome to the MoCa art gallery’s two hundred and fiftieth auction.”
There’s a smattering of applause. I sit straighter in my seat, my heart thrumming. These events are exclusive, with tickets only given to verified patrons or artists whose work is up for auction.
“I’d like to start today’s show with the work of an unknown painter who will soon make waves in the art world.”
Excited chatter spreads across the room. I take a sip of champagne to wash down the pang of envy rising from my chest at the thought of Mr. Lubelli giving some lucky devil his seal of approval.
“May I introduce Blood Roses by Emberly Kay.”
A pair of assistants dressed in white, wearing gloves and face masks carry a familiar-looking painting onstage and place it on a stand.
Shit.
That’s the one I painted of the mansion’s rose garden. Mr. Lubelli mentioned wanting to sell my paintings in the future, but I never imagined it would be tonight. Auctions always take weeks to organize, if not months.
I turn to Roman. “Why am I being featured so soon?
He gives me a broad smile. “This is your time to shine.”
Whatever Mr. Lubelli says is muffled by the pounding of my heart and the blood roaring in my ears. I sit dazed as the auction starts and people raise their paddles. Tears prick my eyes, and my chest fills with a mix of terror and elation. Every dream I ever had about being a recognized artist is about to come true.
I can’t believe they’re actually bidding. Bidding for my work. Bidding higher and higher and higher until the gavel strikes with a resounding crack.
The gallery owner’s lips move, but I can barely hear it through my euphoria.
Applause fills the room, breaking me out of my shocked stupor.
Roman leans into me and murmurs, “Fifty-five grand. After paying the commission, you’re netting over forty-nine. Not bad for your first time.”
“Actually, it’s twenty-five,” I say.
“Why?”
“I sold it to him for a fixed fee.”
Roman’s features harden. “Oh yeah? We’ll see about that.”
My stomach drops.
