Page 70 of Painted in Love

Clay stared Adrian down. “He’ll just call Saskia a liar.”

Gareth stepped in. “We have to look at the legal ramifications of taking him on that way. Hugo could sue her for defamation.”

But Adrian was already shaking her head. “It’s not defamation if it’s true.”

Clay leaned forward, his elbows on his knees. “But how do we prove it?”

Adrian felt like doing a happy dance. Her idea was brilliant. “The fleur-de-lis.”

They all looked at Saskia. Clay asked, “Were you hiding the fleur-de-lis in your work even then?”

Saskia had signed Lynx on every mural and canvas. Just as she put a small SH on her San Holo work once that name became known. Those initials and the fleur-de-lis were hidden in the artwork itself, which made it a great boon for anyone finding them.

Adrian smiled at Saskia. “Why don’t you tell them, friend?”

“In addition to signing Lynx on each piece, I also hid a small lynx somewhere, like I do now with the fleur-de-lis. The Eurasian lynx had become extinct in England, and they were talking about reintroducing it. I felt it was a fitting image.”

Adrian detected the gleam in Clay’s gaze. More than admiration for Saskia’s intelligence and her art, it was pure love.

For a moment, Adrian ached for what she didn’t have. But she couldn’t think about that now. Especially not with handsome Gareth Tate sitting next to her.

Clay said, “Hugo doesn’t know about the lynx?”

Saskia shook her head, her smile growing. “I never told anyone.” She turned that smile on Adrian. “Except my best friend.”

Adrian grinned. “Who was forever sworn to secrecy.”

“With San Holo, I used the fleur-de-lis as a gimmick, hiding it along with my initials, but letting people know it was there somewhere. It got them to really look at each piece.”

Clay gazed at the woman Adrian was absolutely sure he loved. “Smart move. Can you remember where the lynxes are in the existing murals and canvases that he claimed from you?”

Saskia rolled her eyes. “Of course.”

Adrian could almost see the elation jumping out of Clay. “Then we’ll challenge him. If he were the true artist, he’d be able to find them all. When he can’t, you’ll show that you can. Which makes you the artist and not him.”

Gareth got into the scheme too. “He probably thinks she was using the fleur-de-lis even then. He’ll search the art for that and never even see the lynx.”

Adrian had to agree. “That would be just like him,” she said, a snide note in her tone. “He always did take the easy route. He’s too cocky by far.” She speared her best friend with a look. “And he never valued your ingenuity.”

Clay sat back, a half-smile crooking his mouth. “Then that’s the plan.”

Adrian had to say it. “It means you can’t hide anymore.”

After a quick breath, Saskia said, “I know.”

Clay drew her in, his fingers caressing her cheek. “We’ll only do it this way if you’re totally okay with it. I’m one hundred percent behind whatever you decide.”

Adrian almost loved him herself for giving Saskia that option.

But her friend didn’t back away. “Challenging Hugo forces me to speak out instead of letting him speak for me.” This time when she swallowed, it didn’t seem hard at all. “I’ve been hiding for five years, all because of Hugo and my parents.” She sat straighter against the love of her life. “I’m not going to hide anymore.” She put her hand on Clay’s arm. “I’m going to walk the walk.” To Gareth, she added, “I told you and Dylan that you both need to accept criticism. Not only survive it, but also learn from it if there’s anything valid. I need to let people throw it all at me too. Being anonymous, I could ignore reviews because nobody ever said anything to my face.” She took a deep breath that seemed to fill her with confidence as much as Clay’s arm around her did. “I will own my art in front of everyone.”

Clay kissed her soundly. Adrian wanted to clap. Gareth actually did.

Then Adrian had to be the bearer of potentially bad news. “There is a downside. If you come out of seclusion, you have to be prepared for the possibility your art might drop in value. Or even become worthless.”

Clay started to speak, but Saskia stopped him. “Go on,” she said.

“A big part of what people pay for is the allure of your anonymity.” With their eyes on her, Adrian pursed her lips. Thought for a moment. “Even as I’m saying that, I’m realizing you’re not anonymous right now because Hugo has already outed you. I know it’s only been a day, but your work’s value hasn’t dropped at all. Honestly, I don’t think you’ve needed to be anonymous for a long time. Your name is big. You keep on producing. You’re not like Hugo, who stole someone else’s art only to find his own couldn’t live up to what he’d claimed. You’re one of the best in the world, and it’s long past time for you to claim your crown.”

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