Total pages in book: 88
Estimated words: 82698 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 413(@200wpm)___ 331(@250wpm)___ 276(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 82698 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 413(@200wpm)___ 331(@250wpm)___ 276(@300wpm)
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.”
Once again, Clay kissed Saskia as Gareth applauded. Adrian smiled. “Do what you love, and the money will come.”
Clay’s eyes glowed. “Everything could explode for you. Especially when we prove that all of Hugo’s art is derivative of yours.”
Adrian couldn’t help adding, “Since the initial buzz, I have to say the women of the art world are cheering you on. They’re starting up a whole debate about how unfair it is that they have to hide behind male pseudonyms.” She laughed. “Then there are the misogynistic art critics having a cow that the artist they’ve been praising all these years is actually a woman. So yeah, I take back what I said. This will make you even more valuable.”
Gareth chuckled. “The battle of the sexes.”
She wanted to cheer him for that.
But because he was a lawyer, he had to say, “Since all the art you painted as Lynx was purchased legitimately, with Hugo acting as your agent, it might not be possible to reclaim those canvases.”
Saskia shook her head. “I don’t want them back. Those people paid for them. I just want everyone to know I painted them, not Hugo.”
“It could turn out to be just like Taylor Swift,” Clay said.
Saskia looked at him while Adrian knew exactly what he referred to. She let him explain. “After she got big, she wanted to buy back the master recordings for her first albums, but the label wouldn’t sell them to her. Taking advantage of a loophole in her contract, she rerecorded all those songs and albums and put them out herself. Those rerecordings are even bigger than the old ones. Any old albums became virtually worthless.”
Gareth nodded, a wry smile on his sexy lips. “The value of your work could skyrocket. The patrons who bought it will love you.”
Ooh, he was good. Very good. And handsome. And sexy. Adrian’s temperature shot up so fast she almost had to fan herself.
But she had to maintain decorum. “Since we’re all in agreement,” she said, “I’ll call a press conference.”