Chapter 9 - THE MAN WHO NEVER LIED
Lorenzo Costa had spent nineteen years being the man Dominic trusted most.
He knew where the bodies were buried.
He knew which contracts were legitimate and which were not.
He knew who had betrayed whom, which judges had accepted favors, and which old promises had never been kept.
Most dangerously, he knew Dominic's habits.
The way he checked his watch before difficult conversations.
The way he went quiet when he was angry.
The way he protected the people he loved.
And Lorenzo understood that Vivien Cole had become the center of those protections.
That was why his next move was so simple.
He attacked her reputation.
On Monday morning, Vivien received a formal complaint from a prominent auction association alleging professional misconduct.
The complaint claimed she'd knowingly falsified the appraisal of the six Renaissance sketches to manipulate their sale price.
Attached were documents bearing her signature.
Vivien stared at them.
"These aren't mine."
Ada leaned over her shoulder.
"The signature looks identical."
"It was copied."
"Can you prove it?"
Vivien opened her original report.
Every page carried a digital audit trail, reference photographs, and laboratory notes.
The alleged replacement report contained none of those technical records.
"It isn't enough to copy a signature," Vivien said.
"You also have to understand the work."
But the accusation spread quickly.
Two clients canceled appointments.
An auction house suspended her accreditation pending review.
A newspaper published a story questioning her relationship with Dominic.
By lunchtime, strangers were standing outside the gallery taking photographs.
Ada closed the blinds.
Vivien remained at her desk.
Her hands were steady.
But her face was pale.
Dominic arrived at two.
He looked furious.
"Who did this?"
Vivien glanced up.
"Lorenzo."
"How do you know?"
"Because someone accessed the archived report through a company connected to him."
Dominic reached for his phone.
Vivien stopped him.
"Don't."
He stared.
"Vivien—"
"No threats. No men sent to scare anyone. No private retaliation."
His jaw tightened.
"He's trying to destroy your career."
"I know."
"And you want me to do nothing?"
She stood.
"I want you to let me defend the career I built."
The words landed hard.
Dominic looked at her.
She continued.
"Art authentication is my work. My name. My reputation. I won't become a woman who needs her boyfriend's armed employees to win an argument."
For several seconds, he said nothing.
Then he put his phone away.
"You're right."
Vivien exhaled.
"Thank you."
He looked toward the documents.
"What can I do?"
She considered the question.
"Bring coffee."
Dominic blinked.
"Coffee?"
"And perhaps pastries."
He laughed once.
"You're serious."
"Completely."
He reached for his coat.
"How many?"
"Enough for everyone."
Dominic smiled.
"That I can do."
The hearing before the professional association lasted nearly six hours.
Vivien presented her original records.
Her laboratory methodology.
The provenance inconsistencies.
Correspondence showing attempts to pressure her into changing the valuation.
An independent expert confirmed that the six sketches were modern forgeries.
The alleged revised report contained copied material and fabricated conclusions.
By the end of the hearing, the accusations against Vivien had collapsed.
The association dismissed the complaint.
It also referred the questionable documents for further investigation.
Vivien left the building exhausted.
Dominic waited outside beside his car.
He didn't ask whether she needed rescuing.
He simply smiled.
"Congratulations."
Vivien looked at him.
"You weren't inside?"
"I thought you deserved the room to yourself."
Her eyes filled.
She stepped closer.
"That was the right choice."
He smiled.
"I'm learning."
She kissed his cheek.
Dominic went completely still.
Then slowly turned toward her.
"Was that a professional thank-you?"
Vivien laughed.
"Don't ruin it."
His smile widened.
That evening, Lorenzo requested a meeting with Dominic.
He claimed he wanted to resolve the conflict peacefully.
Dominic declined a private meeting and forwarded the communication to his attorney and investigators.
Lorenzo called again.
This time, Dominic answered with counsel present.
"You're making a mistake," Lorenzo said.
Dominic stood beside the window of his office.
"Possibly."
"Mateo is manipulating you."
"No."
"Vivien is using you."
Dominic's expression hardened.
"Don't mention her."
Lorenzo laughed softly.
"There he is. The jealous boy."
Dominic said nothing.
Lorenzo continued.
"I made you powerful."
"You helped me inherit a broken organization."
"I kept you alive."
"You kept me dependent."
Silence.
Then Lorenzo's voice became colder.
"You think your brother is innocent?"
Dominic looked toward his attorney.
"What are you suggesting?"
"Ask Mateo about the night Eleanor Cole died."
Dominic went still.
Lorenzo continued.
"Ask him why she was at that building."
Then the call ended.
Dominic confronted Mateo the following morning.
Not with accusations.
With questions.
They met in a quiet office at the legitimate shipping company.
Vivien remained at the gallery.
Dominic didn't want her blindsided by rumors.
"Was Eleanor alone the night of the fire?" he asked.
Mateo's expression changed.
"No."
Dominic stared.
"Who was there?"
Mateo looked down.
"I was."
Silence.
Dominic felt something cold move through him.
"You were at the building?"
"Yes."
"Why?"
"She called me. She said someone had found the duplicate records."
Dominic's jaw tightened.
"What happened?"
Mateo took a long breath.
"I arrived after the fire started."
"Did you call emergency services?"
"Yes."
"Did you go inside?"
Mateo closed his eyes.
"I tried."
Dominic stared.
"Why didn't you tell Vivien?"
"Because I didn't want her believing I could have saved Eleanor."
Dominic shook his head.
"That's not your decision to make."
Mateo flinched.
Dominic continued.
"She's spent eleven years living with a story other people chose for her."
He leaned forward.
"Don't give her another one."
Mateo lowered his eyes.
"You're right."
That afternoon, Mateo went to the gallery.
Vivien listened as he told her everything.
He'd tried to reach the upper office through a rear staircase.
The smoke had been too thick.
Firefighters arrived and pulled him away.
He spent three days in the hospital with smoke inhalation.
He had blamed himself ever since.
Vivien listened without interruption.
When he finished, she asked, "Did you see my mother?"
Mateo shook his head.
"No."
"Did you know whether she was still inside?"
"No."
Tears filled her eyes.
Mateo looked down.
"I'm sorry."
Vivien sat quietly.
Then said, "Thank you for telling me."
He swallowed.
"You're not angry?"
"I am."
His face fell.
"But not because you failed to rescue her."
He looked up.
"I'm angry that everyone keeps deciding what truth I can survive."
Mateo closed his eyes.
"You're right."
Vivien leaned forward.
"My mother made a choice to protect evidence. You made a choice to help her. Lorenzo made choices that may have placed her in danger."
She took a breath.
"Those aren't the same."
Mateo nodded slowly.
For the first time, he seemed able to believe her.
That night, Dominic found Vivien sitting alone in the gallery.
The lights were dim.
Eleanor's photograph rested on the desk.
Dominic sat opposite her.
"Mateo told you?"
She nodded.
"How are you?"
Vivien considered the question.
"Sad."
He waited.
"And relieved."
He nodded.
She looked at him.
"Do you know what's strange?"
"What?"
"I spent years imagining that if I could discover exactly what happened to my mother, the grief would disappear."
Dominic's expression softened.
"And?"
"It doesn't."
He nodded.
"No."
"But it changes."
Vivien smiled sadly.
"Now I can miss her without wondering whether I failed her."
Dominic reached for her hand.
She took it.
They sat quietly.
Then he said, "I love you."
Vivien looked up.
He continued.
"I don't expect you to say it back."
Her eyes filled.
"But I wanted you to know."
She smiled through tears.
"Dominic."
He waited.
"I love you too."
For a moment, he looked genuinely stunned.
Then he laughed softly.
"You're sure?"
Vivien leaned toward him.
"Very."
She kissed him.
And for the first time, there was no threat, no accusation, and no hidden meaning between them.
May you like
Just two people who knew how much the truth could cost.
And chose each other anyway.
