Then, the items clicked into place. Emma had lied about her identification and obscured particulars from her previous. Now she was gone, and a forgery had changed Aurora. As a lot as Patrick’s thoughts fought towards the apparent conclusion, he knew what had occurred. Emma had infiltrated LWC Capital and gotten near him in order that she might steal Aurora.

The conclusion was heartbreaking, a lot in order that Patrick stumbled backward till the sofa met his knees and he fell again. Emma had lied to him, tricked him, deceived him. He considered how her eyes had at all times lit up on the point out of his personal assortment and felt his abdomen twist. She hadn’t been excited to spend time with him, probably not. She’d solely wanted entry to this portray.

He searched for one more rationalization, some other rationalization, however there was nothing. It needed to have been Emma who stole the portray. She’d been the one one in his home in the previous few days, and she or he’d mysteriously disappeared this morning. It merely couldn’t be anybody else.

The extra he considered it, the heavier Patrick’s coronary heart turned. Emma had lied to him. The one query that remained was whether or not all the things had been a lie. Had each story, each flirtation, each kiss been nothing greater than a ruse to win his belief? He considered Emma’s lovely brown eyes as she’d checked out him, her gaze so stuffed with affection. It couldn’t all have been a lie. It couldn’t have.

Patrick spent the remainder of the night on the sofa. He stared unseeingly on the forgery of Aurora and puzzled the place Emma was now. What she was doing. Possibly she was already planning the place to promote Aurora on the black market. Possibly she was already planning her subsequent job. In any case, she’d been so easy and ready. This couldn’t have been the primary time she’d performed one thing like this.

Lastly, after midnight, Patrick walked to his room and fell into mattress, his garments nonetheless on. He laid awake for a very long time, then was pulled right into a whirlpool of desires of Emma. Regardless that he knew that they hadn’t recognized one another for lengthy, she was all he might take into consideration.

When he woke the subsequent morning, although, he had a brand new resolve. Emma had lied to him, infiltrated his firm, and stolen a treasured piece of paintings. He actually had emotions for her, however he couldn’t think about that she returned them. Not after this. No, Patrick needed to do what was proper. He needed to flip the thief over to the police.

He nonetheless ached for Emma, however at the very least he knew what he needed to do now.

He took a refreshing bathe, dressed, and headed for the door. The very first thing he wanted to do was alert Owen in order that he’d be looking out for the Aurora. Then Patrick would go to the police and share each element he knew about Emma, which he realized was nearly nothing.

On the best way to the door, he handed the forgery. This time, one thing new caught his eye. One part of the portray was in a really acquainted darkish pink coloration, a coloration he was certain he’d seen on Emma’s slim hand just a few weeks earlier than. Just a few extra items of the puzzle clicked into place and he paused in entrance of the portray. Emma had talked about how she hadn’t painted in a very long time, and Patrick had inspired her to color once more. This couldn’t be…

However it was. The extra he thought-about the concept, the extra certain he was that Emma herself had painted this forgery. One thing in regards to the high quality and freedom within the traces reminded him of her, together with that acquainted paint coloration. It shouldn’t change something that Emma was the artist, however for some inexplicable purpose, it did.

Then Patrick noticed one thing else. Within the prime nook of the portray, a small a part of the sky was painted ever so barely darker than the encompassing colours. It was within the form of a coronary heart.

That undoubtedly hadn’t been within the authentic portray.

Patrick checked out it for a protracted whereas to ensure that he wasn’t imagining issues. Then he went to work.

As quickly as he arrived on the workplace, he hurried to Owen’s desk.

“Do you’ve gotten a second?”

Owen appeared up from his laptop. “After all. Now?”

“Sure, please.”

Patrick led Owen to his workplace. Each males entered, and Patrick closed the door behind them and gestured for Owen to sit down.

“Is that this about our short-time colleague and her abrupt resignation?” Owen’s voice was mild and pleasant.

“Not precisely.” Patrick sat behind the desk. “Though we should always focus on that. Please be at liberty to fill the function every time you’re prepared.”

“Thanks. So, what did you need to discuss?”

Patrick sighed. “There’s been a theft from my private assortment.” Owen’s eyes widened, however Patrick held up a hand. “It’s nothing to fret about. I doubt the thief will hassle me once more. However I need you to be looking out for the portray that was stolen.”

“Sure, after all.” Owen composed himself rapidly. “Which portray was it?”

“Aurora.”

“Oh. Wow. How did… how did this occur?”

“I’m undecided of the main points.” That was technically true, however Patrick didn’t add that he had a reasonably good thought.

“I… wow. Are you upgrading your safety system?”

Patrick sighed once more. “You realize, that may not be such a foul thought. However as I stated, I additionally don’t suppose the thief will hassle me once more.”

He nearly needed Emma to show up in order that he might ask her what had occurred. He’d nearly be keen to sacrifice one other of his work simply to see her. However he saved his mouth shut.

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