Page 96 of Scarlett and the Big Bad Billionaire
“I messaged him on Instagram.”
Victoria’s smile was confident. “I’m sure he likes a good party. People are saying he might live around here. And I posted on my Insta feed that his paintingConfluencewould be part of the auction next week. There’s been a lot of interest. I’m hoping I’ll be able to persuade him to donate a few more pieces for the auction.”
“I thought you weren’t going to sell that one,” I said, trying to hide the hurt in my voice.
Victoria gave me an understanding smile. “I love it. It’s my favorite in my whole collection, but as they say, ‘you can’t take it with you.’ Even if I live ten more years, I’ll be living in a much smaller place. The painting is quite large, and it really should be displayed in a gallery space with proper lighting and security. I doubt the dining hall at Shady Acres will be the right place for it.”
“Vivi, you don’t really want to go live in a retirement home, do you?” Scarlett asked.
“Why not? It’s like a college dorm, but for old biddies like me. Everyone’s around your own age and has similar interests and concerns. I’ll have company every day and all the cards and Bingo I can play. Indigo Point is a big house for a big family. You’re planning to go back to Minnesota, Scarlett, so you won’t be here to share the space with me much longer. Stephanie has been wanting to retire for years, but I know she feels guilty about leaving me alone. I want to go—and I appreciate you helping me downsize with the house sale and the auction.”
“Well, I wouldn’t get my hopes set on Inksy showing up,” I warned Victoria. “He’s been protecting his identity for years—there must be a good reason.”
“I can tell by his art that he has a good heart. If he thinks it’s the right thing to do, he’ll come.”
Great.One more reason to be nervous about the party. Since my phone had gone missing, I hadn’t checked my Instagram messages for several days or seen Victoria’s post.
But the art world had.
Which meant there was likely to be a mob scene outside the gates tomorrow night.
* * *
On Saturday night, I arrived for the party a couple hours early to help with last minute preparations. Already, a crowd had formed outside the gates.
Finally giving up on finding my lost phone, I’d gotten a replacement, and when I checked Instagram, the reason for the siege became clear.
Vivi’s post had more than six thousand comments and more than forty thousand likes. In it, she’d not only announcedConfluencewould be going up on the auction block, she’d hinted that its creator, Inksy himself, might make an appearance here tonight.
What is that old broad up to?
I hadn’t seen her or Scarlett since arriving at the mansion. Both ladies were upstairs behind closed doors, presumably getting ready for the party.
The elevator rattled down, and I went to help Victoria maneuver the wheelchair out of it. She was dressed in a sparkling long dress, a light pink that matched her lipstick and made her skin look radiant. With it she wore a dramatic diamond necklace and drop earrings. Her hair was swept up into a regal rolled chignon.
“You look amazing,” I told her honestly. “Prettiest I’ve ever seen you.”
“This is thehappiestyou’ve ever seen me—and it’s all because of you and Scarlett. When are you going to give it to her?” she asked.
I put my finger over my mouth in the time-honored signal forhush. “Later. When the moment is right. Don’t spoil the surprise.”
“Oh goodness, not another surprise. My heart can’t take it.”
We both looked up to see Scarlett standing at the top of the staircase. I literally went breathless at the sight of her.
She wore a form-fitting hot pink cocktail dress and strappy nude-colored high-heeled sandals that made her legs look spectacular. Reaching the bottom of the stairs, she walked over to us.
“What are you two whispering about?’
Before I could say anything, Vivi provided a cover story.
“Now that you caught us, we might as well tell you. Jade is going to sing a song for us tonight—or rather for you two lovebirds. She’s a personal friend of mine,” Vivi bragged.
“You are kidding me,” Scarlett squealed and ran to her grandmother, hugging her.
It worked like a charm. She was thrown completely off the trail. Victoria might have made a good SEAL herself back in the day—she had nerves of steel.
Now if I could get through the night without losingmynerve.
