CHAPTER NINETEEN – LAST WARNING

Jasmine remained impassive, willing her expression to become as unreadable and marmoreal as the Renaissance sculptors she so admired. "I think you know exactly what it means, Ms. Stone." For a suspended beat, the older woman seemed to ignore her, lips pursing as her pale eyes darted back and forth over the visual condemnation playing in an unending loop. Finally, with a shuddering exhale, Lucinda met Jasmine's frigid stare and unleashed a hollow, chiding laugh. "Well, well. I see the esteemed Bergström's security protocols weren't quite worthy of 'the greatest collection' after all, hmm? Letting any old riffraff with a penchant for spectacle slip through their gilded hallows." She glanced away dismissively, reaching for her wine flute and swirling the rich liquid as though Jasmine were an annoying gnat to be brushed away. "What am I meant to gather from this, dear girl? That you plan to run crying to the 'authorities' with whatever petty circumstantial evidence somehow scraped fro