AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“The paintings?”
She nodded.
“They’re in the warehouse.”
“I’d like them back.”
“You can’t have them.”
“Why not?”
“Because they belong to me. And so do you, Magdalena. Never forget that.”
His phone flared.
“Not another one.”
“No. It’s only Lindsay.”
Magdalena smiled. “Do give her my best.”
After speaking briefly to his wife and bidding farewell to his business partner and mistress, Phillip Somerset returned to his office and rang Ellis Gray, head of art-based lending at JPMorgan Chase. Phillip and Ellis had bumped into one another in Sag Harbor over the weekend, rendering foreplay unnecessary. Phillip said he needed a bit of cash. Ellis, who had made millions dealing with Masterpiece Art Ventures, merely asked for the number Phillip had in mind and a description of the painting he intended to use as collateral.
“The number is forty million.”
“And the painting?”
Phillip answered.
“AGentileschiGentileschi?” asked Ellis.
“It’s newly discovered. I’m planning to keep it under wraps for a year or two before putting it on the market.”
“How’s the attribution?”
“Bulletproof.”
“And the provenance?”
“On the thin side.”
“Where did you purchase it?”
“A Spanish dealer. That’s all I can say.”
Ellis Gray, who made his living lending money against paintings, was well acquainted with the opacity of the art world. Nevertheless, he was not prepared to fork over $40 million of JPMorgan Chase’s money on a picture without a past, even for a client as important and reliable as Phillip Somerset.
“Not without a full scientific evaluation,” added Ellis. “Send it to Aiden Gallagher up in Westport. If Aiden says it’s kosher, I’ll expedite the loan.”
Phillip killed the connection. Then he video-called Kenny Vaughan and told him that no emergency infusion of cash was in the offing.
“We might have to consider suspending redemptions.”
“We can’t. You have to make it work.”
“I’ll light a few candles and see what I can do.”
Phillip dumped Kenny and accepted another call.
It was Allegra Hughes.
Allegra wanted out.
