Claimed by the Devil in a Suit

pte

about Lucien Vale was not his

the s

tle scrape of ambition. Yet when Lucien sat at the head of a twelve-meter Itali

sti

rting the city into liquid silver. The Thames glimmered like a blade. Inside,

did

e to do the first

ra, dabbed at his forehead with a handkerchief. The man had built a career under Lucien's f

assumed

rcoal Brioni suit. His movements we

funds," Lucie

ce wasn

't need

was a temporary allocation. A s

nds," Lucien repe

ray. Un

he looked at people. As though he were exam

It was within discr

ot," Luci

No raised voice. No dramatic gestures. J

y million pounds in

d through the r

an K

but something behind his ribs tighten

composure. "A str

rrupted, "is under federal in

ence re

en s

When he did, it meant something

iscretion with betra

face pale

re compliance with the non-compete clause you signed si

the executives seat

shout. He did

y ended

cracked. "Your fa

tightened b

y, "is precisely the reaso

n't el

n't ne

slowly, humiliation burning in his eyes

met h

seat before Whitmor

said to the remaining board members. "Va

pau

tolerate divi

ed as though noth

Lucien Vale,

ater, the board

. Lucien stood alone now, hands resting behind his back,

vil in

journalist had meant it as a critic

re what they

s they fe

one vi

ced down. P

ee peopl

ed withou

es

naldi, head of private security. Calm.

n't blink.

e Rossi Atelier in Mayfair. A piece registered to a shel

gaze sh

holdings were

" Matteo sai

d slowly fro

noffic

y fifteen years ago. It was never logg

the offic

hidden assets the wa

e issue?" L

the varnish layer. Something embedded in the under

's jaw

d of irre

mbol,

pa

few things unse

were one

the file,

s later. Lucien opened

Child, delicate and luminous, attributed to

storation overlay

in the backgro

cr

reli

arti

anc

stomach w

ized it i

va

idn't just inv

anded

servator?" Luci

itizenship. Educated at the Courtauld Institute. N

mall profile image a

k. No makeup. Focused eyes.

't look

oked..

the symbol externa

vanced imaging. Discr

mind move

ation within that painting-and Lucien suspec

s lev

erage w

believe in

tion," Lucien said.

pa

ly?" Matt

s eyes

cour

ssi leaned back from the

lvent despite the gloves. The atelier was quiet

erred it

The varnish had yellowed unevenly. There were inconsistencies in the

there

old s

s one w

d the canvas slightly. The faint marking

of the origin

inten

dd

d against the w

wn nu

gnore

later, it

eeled off her gl

es

lled. "You're working on a privately owned Re

tiffened. "

requested spec

s standard

und som

't a qu

"If this is a

ot about

e unsettled her. Not agg

cer

from the canvas

ief

h

ien

ed like a shi

avoided busine

"What does Vale Industries wan

ting belo

ade he

e private

es

ckly. Billionaires col

because?" she

to discuss w

k to the faint crest

finalized

kno

hill slid t

h did h

liminary report,"

r a conv

l for clients,

iet

have to," L

the line

ared at

as...u

nt, ce

aded through the exchan

elf she was o

were accustom

il

gered as she retur

l seemed

ar

atching

his Knightsbridge residence a

lve himself personall

was not

a vulne

ach had be

cted patienc

t calcu

hed quietly. "

toned his

clean,"

way

g black Bentley, Lucien allow

ting codes within that painting, an

o longer just

as ex

re require

the curb, disappearing

city lights blur

t feel ex

not fee

inevit

ieved powe

was

as q

ibe

en nec

ed what

ara Rossi adjusted her lamp once more

just above it wit

ething beneat

rs, p

ordin

eed imaging

tley slowed to a sto

e first ti

something shift

de

t

awar

l had no

nored what caug