The day Grace meets Marcel, her life turns upside down. She leaves Manchester, the only city she has ever known, to risk everything to live in London, to work with a man she despises to make her dream come true. Never had she imagined that this ma...
"Is that enough for you, little thing?" She mocks me and closes the manuscript to throw it back on the table in between us.
She takes this opportunity to get up, the sleeves of her robe slowly flowing behind her as she straightens herself. She looks at me completely defeated, the motive of my visit forgotten, and lets out a laugh. My vision is blurred by tears, and I find joy in not seeing her right now. I wouldn't bear the sight of her satisfaction as a last memory.
"Then I trust you can see yourself out. I had too much fun for one night."
And just like that, I find myself alone in her big massive pride-stealing, confidence-taking living room. I came here somewhat prepared for a confrontation, and got stolen my heart, my chest cut open and my body dripping of blood, my soul leaving me by the second.
It's like my nightmare. She's killed me. She stabbed me as I was foolishly trying to salvage Marcel from her grip. It has never occurred to me that he might not want to be saved. That I made all these efforts for somebody that found comfort in forgetting his self for the sake of her instead of fighting his own demons in order to thrive.
I'm left alone in this room, air leaking out of my lungs. My breath is getting shorter, and I soon can't keep any air in. On the verge of a panic attack, I call Sophie. I try to get up to straighten my core and store more air in my lungs, but my legs find no strength. By the time she answers, I'm laid on the couch forcing myself to take deep breaths.
"Grace? Where the fuck are you? It's almost ten and I've had no news. Are you OK?" She blurs out in panic the second she picks up. "I'm worried sick."
"I... can't... breath." I try to articulate, but realise that it doesn't help her state of mind. I'm surely making her panic more. "Panic attack."
"Stay on the line. Text me what's going on."
The first thing I do is texting her the address of the house. I need her to come pick me up, I can't take the tubes back home. I can't even stand up straight.
"Alright, I'm leaving right away. Count in your head. Sing a song. It helps. I'm coming my friend. Calm down. Keep your phone close. I love you." She hangs up and I decide to follow her advice.
I put my phone on my chest, and stare directly at the ceiling. I count to twenty. Very slowly. It helps a bit. Then, I sing a song, and I see Ashley in my mind. It works, it calms me down, but tears keep falling from my eyes. I can't believe how we've ended things. Ashley really deserved more. He deserves the world, and I gave it all to Marcel.
I was such a fool. I should have seen it. He was always so sweet and caring until his phone rang. He always picked up like Pavlov's dog. Kate conditioned him in doing exactly what she wanted to get rewarded. I wonder if he was sleeping with her as a reward or if they were working on his story.
What am I saying?! I'm so corrupted, I keep thinking they weren't seeing each other when we were. They obviously were fucking while he was playing his game with me! Who am I kidding!?
I sigh and realise I can now take a breath without feeling like I'm losing half of it. I keep on breathing, but very slowly, and deeply. I test what my body can accept. And I finally feel some control over myself. Without going too fast, I straighten myself on the couch. I look up straight. I can hear a door closing in the house and I hear footsteps from upstairs. I take this as my only chance. After tonight, I'll never put a foot in this house.
It's driven by hate and revenge that I stand up and walk to the door. I open the door from which I came into the house and slam it closed. I stay inside and silently make my way back to the living room. I look for the three old wooden books and pull them. The secret door opens. It's my time to look for proofs. Maybe I'll find a contract of her dominant partnership with either Marcel or Paul. Maybe I'll find a plan with Kate's agenda to take over Wright Books.
I open every drawer, every document I find. Nothing is sealed or locked, this room being secret. I see Kate's name nowhere and begin to lose hope. I get a text a text from Sophie saying she's almost here. So, I hurry. I need to find something. But nothing...
I sigh deeply, getting desperate to find something, but clearly failing. I give a good last look around the small room and see a Modigliani on the wall behind the chair of the desk. I see it right away, I recognise the style of painting. It's the profile of a red-haired woman. Her eyes are blank, as if she is possessed. I've seen this before. In one of my classes, my Professor was a Modigliani fan, and he made us analyse some of his pieces. What is the name of this one? Her neck is elongated and her eyes are empty. I remember how much it spoke to me at the time. I guess it does more now.
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Lunia Czechovska.
I get closer, trying to see any quick sign that it might be a replica. Instead, I find a mark on the wall, meaning the frame as been slid upwards a lot of times. I decide to slide it up, being very careful with the piece of art in case it's an original because I can't remember if it's exposed somewhere in a museum or a part of a personal collection.
Under this masterpiece, I see a safe. It's number coded and I sigh of relief. I don't even question myself and try to unlock it. I look at the numbers quickly and see clearly that five of them are more faded than the other five. It gives me immediately the fives numbers of the password. But I have no clue of the order.
2 - 4 - 5 - 6 - 8
The combinaisons are infinite and I can't think this through, I don't have the mindset and I don't have the time to work this out. So, I take back the frame between both hands and slide it back to its place. I'm about to leave and forfeit, but I give a last look to the piece of art in front of me.
Goodbye Lunia.
I turn back, noticing the pictures of Kate on the desk. This isn't her desk, so I feel less sad to not have found anything. I walk to the secret door when it hits me. Not knowing what this painting is, I would never have figured it out. It's a long shot, but if it works, then the odds are with me.
I slide the frame back up and press the numbers in order.
5 - 8 - 6 - 4 - 2
Lunia!
A beep is heard and the mechanism unlocks the door. I know I shouldn't be doing this, but I need to try everything in my power to find something incriminating towards Kate. And the moment I reach for the first thing I see, I realise that I've just hit the jackpot.
I touch two small booklets. It doesn't take long to understand that they're passports. I open the first one and see Kate's picture with a false name. I've got you already! Forgery of a federal document is a crime.
I keep the passports and slide them into my purse hanging on my hip. I look at the folded document I also find in the safe. Yet again, bingo! It's her prenup. I read it quickly and take a quick picture, because the content is juicy. If she ever leaves her husband, she won't have a dime of his money. There is even an adultery clause. She made it so easy for me to prove, she has such an exhaustive list of lovers.
I think her husband is of the jealous type!
Thinking that almost makes me laugh, because the wind will quickly turn her way. But I regret it as soon as I take the last item in the safe. I wasn't in a million years expecting this discovery. It proves just how jealous her husband really was, even before they were married. All the blood in my veins freezes, and I have to contain everything in me not to scream to death at the sight of the name I find in this wallet.
