Gallerie dell’Accamedia was alive with low chatter. A heavy buzz whispered across the air, but Liz was too caught up in the piece before her to notice, or care. Somewhere in the back of her head, she knew Hunter was watching. There was no way he wasn’t. He was hidden in some corner, disguised, keeping an eye on her, and the usual sliver of fear raced down her spine. Even so, she stayed rooted to the spot, hands tucked into her coat as she took in the painting.
Martinengo Pieta. An oil painting by the famous Venetian artist, Bellini. Liz always tried to take time to see the paintings when she was in a new city, and it never failed to marvel her. But, today, the artwork hit home harder than it ever had.
In the arms of a woman, laid a man who seemed dead. Liz knew there was more to the painting, that it couldn’t be taken at face value. But right now, all she could think about was Michael. She imagined Hunter had gotten to him and there he laid in her arms, dying when she could do nothing about it. It was irrational to think like that, she knew. Stupid. But all rationality was out the window when it came to that man.
She glanced over her shoulder, trying to spot Hunter in the crowd of people. No one stood out to her. Slowly, she faced the painting again. The power of the image hit her over and over and she had to clench her fist to stay calm.
“Ah, Bellini.” Alessandro came to a stop beside her. He had shed the layers of clothes, now dressed in a large coat, a sweater and a pair of dark jeans. “He was one of my greatest inspirations.”
“I’m not surprised,” Liz said, not facing him. His presence calmed her more than she thought possible. Discreetly, she released a slow breath, letting herself relax. “You have similar elements in your paintings.”
Alessandro huffed at that. “I’ve never managed to measure up to him.”
“Really? Coming from the same guy whose paintings nearly take up all the of the wall behind us? Right beside Titian’s paintings? How humble of you to say.” She walked away from the painting, and Alessandro followed behind her. “I’m surprised you agreed to meet with me.”
“I wanted to see how you would try and grovel this time.”
Liz paused before another piece. “I never grovel.”
“Right. You just pester and annoy until you get what you want.”
“If that’s what it takes.” She paused, giving him the chance to take that in. “You can’t expect to ever rise to the fame of Bellini or Titian if you keep your work to yourself, instead of sharing it with the world.”
“This painting is special to me, Liz. I’m not going to sell it.” He turned, fixing her with a curious glare. “But if I did, where would it go?”
She faced him, cocking her chin a bit higher. “To one of my clients.”
“So, it’s going to be put up in some rich guy’s house so he can show it off during his parties? There’s no way I’m saying yes to that. You must be out of your goddamn mind.”
The words didn’t deter her. If anything, it made her think that maybe she could begin to wear him down. “Is there a particular way you’d rather it be out there?” she probed gently.
“No particular way. I just want it to stay with me, as long as I’m alive. You can pry it from my cold, dead hands.”
God, he was persistent. So was she, but her patience was beginning to wear thin. She had been hoping to get this over and done with as quickly as possible, to make him see reason and secure this painting. But alas, she had already been out too long. A single line of sweat ran down the back of her neck. Was Hunter still watching? What was he thinking of her and Alessandro here like this?
Pulling her shoulders back, she went on, “My boss and I could arrange something for you, Alessandro. You will be receiving a lot of compensation if you make a deal with us.”
“Have you ever loved someone, Elizabeth?”
She tried not to react. He couldn’t have known, but it was much too recent for her to avoid flinching. “Everyone loves someone.”
“Not in the way I’m talking. I’m talking real love. The love where you would give everything to be with that person.”
“What are you trying to get at, Alessandro?”
“If you understood that kind of love, you would get why I don’t want to sell you the painting. You’ll get why I can’t.”
She understood more than he thought she did. “I’m sure we can work something out—”
Alessandro drew in a sharp breath, whirling on her. Anger sparked in his eyes, but Liz faced it as calmly as she could. He didn’t get the chance to say anything though when someone interrupted them.
“Long time no see, Alessandro.”
It was Michael. She recognized the voice before she spotted him, grinning from ear to ear. Gaping, she watched him make his way up to them.
“Michael?” The anger was gone from Alessandro’s face now, replaced with familiar surprise. “Is that really you? I heard you were in the country. I’ve been meaning to go to one of your shows.”
“It’s okay. I got your letter. How have you been, old friend?” Without waiting for a response, Michael pulled him into a hug. Liz stepped back, too shocked to say anything. “I’ve been looking for you, you know. I was told you were here so I thought he should try to find you.”
“Wouldn’t be possible,” Alessandro said with a shake of his head. “I didn’t want to be found.”
Michael frowned at that, but his eyes shifted over to Liz. “Oh, hey!” he exclaimed. “It’s nice to see you, Liz. You two know each other?”
Alessandro scowled at her, as if Michael had just reminded him that she was still standing there. “Ah, yes. But our business here is already done.”
“Business?” Michael inquired.
“I’m trying to get Mr. Ricci to sell me his most recent painting,” Liz spoke up before Alessandro could attempt to dismiss her again.
Michael nodded, giving nothing away. He looked at Alessandro in surprise. “You’ve started painting again? I thought you said you quit?”
“I did. The painting was just for my own pleasure. Ms. Harley doesn’t seem to understand that.”
“So, you don’t want to sell it then?”
“Its sale is not an option.”
Liz started to protest but Michael didn’t give her the chance. “I get it. I get it. Hey, why don’t we go grab something to eat? Catch up on old times? I’ll be in Venice a few days longer before it’s off to Milan, so we should make wise use of the time.”
“Good idea.” Stiffly, Alessandro faced Liz again. “I hope you won’t be trying to contact me again, Ms. Harley. I’ve had enough of your attempts to convince me. I won’t budge on this.”
“Have a good day, Mr. Ricci.” She wouldn’t give him the satisfaction of surrendering. She decided when this was over.
Alessandro nodded curtly and faced his friend again. “Shall we?”
“Just give me a moment, will you?” Michael said apologetically. “I need to run to the restroom. You go catch a cab. I’ll be right out.”
“Alright.” Alessandro didn’t spare her another glance as he made his way out the gallery.
As soon as he was out of earshot, Liz punched Michael in his arm.
Michael yelped. “What was that for?”
“You’re interfering with my job!”
“No, I’m helping you with your job. You were tanking hard just a moment ago, Liz. There’s no way he’s going to sell you his painting. Not with the method you’re using.”
“So, what, you think you can be better at it than I am? This is what I do for a living, Michael.”
“He knows me. He trusts me. And I know him more than you do. If you had let me help you from the start, you would have already had the painting.”
“I don’t need your help.”
“Yeah? Doesn’t look like it to me. Another second and he would have taken your head clean off.”
Liz scoffed. “So, you followed me here?”
Michael shoved his hands into his pockets, shrugging. “I was curious about where you were going. I thought…”
“You thought what?”
He looked away. “Nothing.”
“Michael.”
“Look, it doesn’t matter, does it? We lead two separate lives, remember?”
Liz didn’t say anything to that. The chatter around them seeped back into their space, but neither of them broke eye contact. Finally, she said, “Are you going to tell me if your plan works?”
“I’ll make sure Alessandro is the one who calls you.”
“Thank you.” It pained her to give this over him, but he was right. He might fare a better chance at convincing Alessandro than he did. She stepped away from him, uncomfortable now. Hunter had to be somewhere around them. “You should go. He’s waiting for you.”
To his credit, Michael didn’t react outwardly to that. He only nodded, then turned to walk away. Liz watched him go. It felt like a lifetime ago, she had been watching him leave another gallery on the day they first met. Even now, she was struck by how handsome he was, by the swagger in his walk. Before, it hadn’t been difficult to look away. Now, even when he was out the door and out of sight, Liz still stared at the door he went through.
“Excuse me, miss?”
Liz blinked, coming back to the present. A woman stood before her. “Yes?”
“That man asked me to give you this.” Eagerly, the woman shoved an envelope into her hand.
Liz stared at it. Suddenly, it was hard to breathe. “What man?”
The woman pointed behind her. “That man over… oh, he’s gone. He was just there a moment ago.” Smiling she turned back to Liz. “I don’t mean to pry, but do you think he might be asking you out? I think he’s been watching you for a while.”
“I don’t know.” It was a struggle to sound normal, to act normal, to keep her trembling to a minimum. She opened the envelope and withdrew a card.
You know I’m better than him, Elizabeth. You know it.
Liz had to resist the urge to crumple the card. The woman still hovered over her, trying to peep at her card. “Ooh, this is so cute. Did he ask you out?”
Liz managed a fleeting smile. She nodded. “If you’ll excuse me…”
“Go get him, girl!” the woman shouted as Liz hurried away. “You two would make an awesome couple!”
God. Don’t let Hunter hear that.