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I took a deep breath, trying not to think about what the guys had done to me the night before. All three of them at once. It shouldn't have been possible, and yet, it was. Deliciously so.
But now I was with Hubert, getting him to the auction like we needed him to be. I couldn't mess this up because I was too busy thinking about what would happen after I went to bed tonight.
"Are you excited about your first auction?" Hubert asked, his hand slipping a little lower than was polite.
I wanted to swat it away, but knew I couldn't. Up until the moment I said goodbye to Hubert after the auction, I had to act like I was the gold digger he thought I was, or the whole thing could be destroyed.
"Oh yes. I can't wait to see what they've got. Are you?" It seemed better to turn things around on him.
"I am. But I'm more excited about the fact this is our fourth date." He flashed me a smarmy smile, and it was all I could do not to let my disgust show in my expression. "You hadn't forgotten, had you?" he asked me.
I laughed, and slipped a hand onto his chest, picturing he was one of the guys instead of an old man who should know better. "Of course not. I'm looking forward to it."
"Good." His hand slipped lower still, coming dangerously close to touching my ass. I hated it, but I was going to have to get used to it if it was part of the cons we were pulling.
The auction hall was busier than when we'd gone the other day, which was probably a good thing. This way, there was less chance of me being recognised and called out in front of Hubert.
He didn't ask me if there was anything I wanted to see, instead, he moved me around the room, making banal comments about this and that. What was worth it, and what was nothing more than over-inflated rubbish. I had no idea if he was right or wrong, so kept making non-committal noises.
"That's beautiful," I said when I spied the bracelet I'd seen with Carl.
"It's tat, my dear," Hubert said dismissively.
I bit my lip, disagreeing with him internally, but knowing I couldn't say anything out loud. The bracelet was beautiful though. Twisted silver vines with small emeralds set into them. I supposed he was right on one front. It wasn't worth much, but that didn't stop it being beautiful. And there was the true value.
Hubert didn't linger on any of the items for more than a moment. I didn't understand how he could be surrounded by so much beauty and not interested in it at all.
A moment later, I get a sort of answer for that when he gestures for the auctioneer.
My heart pounds in my chest as the man walks towards me. He'd been interacting with Samuel, and not me, but I'd been stood in front of him. What if he mentioned something about that encounter to Hubert? My cover would be blown and we'd lose the money we'd put up on the painting in the first place.
"Is there anything of interest in the art section?" Hubert asked.
"Did you not see the catalogue we sent out, sir?" the auctioneer asked.
Hubert shook his head. "That's why I'm asking."
The auctioneer pursed his lips. "There's one painting of note, by a rather famous artist," he whispered. "You might want to take a look, it's over there." He pointed to where I knew the fake Monet was hanging.
"Thank you, good man," Hubert said, nodding to the auctioneer before drawing me over to the painting.
It was just as breathtaking as the last time I saw it. The colours, the vibrancy. It was perfect. I suspected that at first glance, most people would be fooled by the work in front of them.
Hubert frowned. "It can't be."
"What is it?" I asked. "It looks like a Monet."
"It is," he responded. "But that makes no sense. How does a masterpiece like this end up in a backwater auction house like this?"
I bit my lip. That was one of the reservations I'd been having, but there was no way of getting a fake like this in front of anyone else.
"Maybe the person selling it doesn't realise what they have?" I suggested. "It's beautiful."
"It is." He tapped a finger against his chin. "I have to inform the Earl about this. Would you give me a moment." A part of him doesn't seem too sure about the painting. That can't be good.
"Of course." I smiled coyly at him. Hopefully, the Earl would tell him that it was worth the risk. At least, that was what we were banking on.
I watched as he pulled out his phone and made the call.
"How warm is he?" Samuel asked, coming to stand beside me, dressed back in his art consultant disguise. I wanted to reach out and touch him. Or better yet, to kiss him, but I knew I couldn't do that.
"Hard to tell," I responded softly. "But he's doubting a Monet being here."
"Hmm."
"I could tell him you're a consultant who is after the painting?" I suggested quickly.
Samuel nodded ever so slightly. "But don't push it too hard. If he doesn't buy into it, then we'll just have to accept that and move on."
"How..." My question is cut off by Hubert walking back towards us and Samuel disappearing.
"Who was that, dear?" Hubert asked, his eyes narrowed in the direction Samuel had gone.
"Some art consultant," I lied. "He was trying to find out how much you were willing to pay for the painting. Rather intrusive, if you ask me." I folded my arms, as if annoyed by the way Samuel had fake treated me.
"Hmm." He pulled a pocket watch from his jacket and looked down at the face. "We'd better take our seats, or we'll miss it completely."
I nodded, and followed him as he led us into the auction room itself. The danger of being in a room I couldn't easily escape from wasn't lost on me. If this all went pear-shaped, I was going to be in the thick of it, and there was nothing I could do about it.