Chapter 48

The gavel hung heavy in the air, an expectant pause stretching over the room. Gabriel nudged Elodie, his wallet bulging subtly. ‘If you want it, El, just say the word.’ ‘Thanks, Gabe. But it’s not about the money. This…’ she traced the painting with her gaze, ‘just doesn’t feel like a ten-million-dollar masterpiece.’ It was true. While undeniably beautiful, ‘Le Jardin Secret de Versailles’ was lesser-known, smaller in scale. Her father, a treasure hunter of brushstrokes, always said, ‘Pay for the art, not the hype, El. Don’t let the heat of the moment burn your wallet.’ The gavel tapped, once, twice, silence echoing deafeningly. The auctioneer waited. The audience waited. Dashiell, his paddle ready, also waited. Elodie held her ground and her silence. ‘Ten million... going, going… SOLD to the gentleman in the back!’ The auctioneer’s voice, once buzzing with excitement, now felt hollow. The rest of the auction was a dizzying kaleidoscope of paddles and champagne flutes. As the evening d