I held up the case. “Could this be it?”
Damian came over, took the golden bracelet from me, and examined it closely.
“Where’s the collection from?” I asked.
“Long story. Too much blood and very rich men. But yes, this is it.” He turned back to the shelves. “Now we just need the statue. It has to be here somewhere.”
We kept searching until he pulled out a small box and compared the number on the lid with his notes.
“This is it.”
“Perfect.”
“Now let’s hope Mason keeps his word.”
My stomach tightened at the sound of that name. Damian noticed.
“What is it?”
“Nothing. Just Mason. I hate you doing business with a man like him.”
“I know he’s sleazy, but—”
“He hit on me, Damian.”
His expression hardened. “He did what?”
I exhaled. “First, he directly asked me if you fuck me.”
“That’s exactly what he said?”
“Word for word.”
“Then he’s already owed a debt.” Damian closed the distance between us. “Why didn’t you tell me?”
“Because he’s important to you. He’s got leverage over you.”
“That’s true, to an extent. But I still wouldn’t have let him get anywhere near you. Thomas Mason could destroy me if he wanted, but he has no reason to.”
“I just find him disgusting, and I don’t like how close you let him stand to you—to your company.”
“I know what I’m doing, Daisy. But thank you for worrying. Did he say anything else?”
“He made more passes. Said he couldn’t understand why I’d waste myself on someone like you, that he could give me more.”
“That bastard,” Damian muttered, his voice low with fury. “If he weren’t so dangerous, I’d tear him apart for that.” He wrapped me in his arms, pressing a kiss to my forehead. “Next time, you come straight to me.”
“Why is Mason so dangerous? Why let him hold that kind of power over you? You have your own company—you don’t need to dance to his tune.”
Damian stepped back. “It’s not that simple. Mason isn’t just another rich businessman. His reach goes deeper than you realize.”
“But you’re successful on your own. What could he possibly do to you?”
“Mason controls more than money. He has ties everywhere—museums, auction houses, lawyers, even regulators. If he wanted to, he could dismantle me and my company piece by piece. He could even have me thrown in prison.”
A chill slid down my spine. “Prison? What did you do?”
“What didn’t I do would be the better question.”
