She knocked on Montgomery’s door.
“Come in.”
Penelope stepped inside. The office was as composed as its occupant: clean lines, a polished oak desk, not a single paper out of place. A faint citrus scent from a reed diffuser hung in the air. Light from a tall window flooded the room, cold and impersonal.
Montgomery glanced up from her monitor, removing her thin-framed glasses and setting them precisely beside a stack of neatly aligned folders.
“Dr.Blackwell.” She gestured to the chair opposite her.
Penelope sat. Her own desk was half this tidy, and the sight made something between admiration and irritation stir in her chest.
“Thank you for dropping by.” Montgomery folded her hands atop the desk. “I wanted to discuss an idea for the Luminary Ball. The board suggested a more…immersive theme.”
“Like a costume ball?”
Montgomery’s lips twitched slightly. “Perhaps. They’re worried the current setup might not draw enough of the audience we need.”
“I’m sure the more affluent art aficionados of Atlanta won’t miss the opportunity for such a festivity either way.”
“Let’s hope so.” Montgomery reached for her glasses again, polishing the lenses with a cloth as she spoke. “I sent you an email for review. You’re still more familiar with the Meridian and its guests.”
Penelope nodded, resisting the urge to check her watch. The gala already ate more hours than she could afford. “I’ll take a look.”
“That said…” Montgomery slid the glasses back on and studied her. “The Bellini piece. That’s an unusual find, and it didn’t come through our usual channels, correct?”
“Yes. A bit of luck.”
Montgomery regarded her for a beat, eyes unreadable behind the lenses. “How is the authentication looking so far?”
“Promising but not concluded.” She wouldn’t voice her suspicions. It might pass all their tests. After all, it was incredibly well-crafted. “The donor is willing to loan it to us.”
“That’s excellent. If it proves authentic, of course. And the source?”
“Innocuous so far. An art restorer-slash-consultant whose client discovered the piece at the estate of his late uncle.”
“Some board members are nervous,” Montgomery said. “There’s been quite a few questionable acquisitions going around lately. I’d like you to make sure none of that smoke blows our way with the Bellini—especially since it’s a loan.”
“Understood.”
“One more thing, Valentina Varnelli’s office sent something about renegotiating theMadonnaloan.” Montgomery reached for her tablet, scrolling. “Nothing urgent, but review the correspondence, will you? I don’t want any surprises.”
Penelope’s left hand tightened into a fist. “Yes. Just forward it to me.”
“Good. Keep an eye on all this, Dr.Blackwell. Not everyone who smiles at you means well.”
Penelope stiffened. What was going on with people today? Montgomery couldn’t know about her extracurricular dealings, or her thoughts about Lucia. Still…
“I will. Is there anything else?”
“No, that’s it.” Montgomery’s smile returned, polite but practiced. “And do let me know about the ball. We don’t have much time left for significant changes.”
Penelope nodded, stood, and smoothed her skirt. “Of course.”
As she left, the door clicked shut behind her, and she exhaled slowly. Another mask, another performance. Professional cordiality was starting to feel like its own art form.
Chapter 5
Whiplash
