The hush inside Blackwood Auctions was the kind that felt sacred. It wasn’t silence for silence’s sake, but the kind bought by money, by prestige, by reverence for the priceless. Lily Chen’s heels echoed faintly against the marble as she moved with the ease of someone used to navigating places like this, rooms built to intimidate and impress.

She took her time, eyes scanning the curated arrangement of relics and rarities. Gilded frames, ancient bronze, delicate brushstrokes sealed beneath glass. Everything was immaculate. Too immaculate. She was trained to see what didn’t belong, what had been altered, concealed, forged. But tonight, everything was in its place.

Except for one thing.

At the far end of the gallery, tucked beneath a dramatic sweep of red velvet, something pulsed with quiet importance. The drape wasn’t just for style, it demanded attention. And it had hers.

She stepped toward it, fingers twitching with the urge to peel back the cover herself when a voice drifted behind her, smooth and unhurried.

“Curious, Ms. Chen?”

Lily turned sharply. The man standing behind her wore his presence like a tailored suit, measured, intentional, impossible to ignore. Which made sense. She recognized him instantly.

Victor Blackwood.

The man behind the name etched into the brass plate outside. Elusive. Infamous. A collector of things people said no one could find. There were rumors, always—about the art he acquired, the lengths he went to, and the secrets that followed him like shadows.

“Mr. Blackwood,” she said, offering a nod that was polite, but not warm. “The presentation is… bold. The velvet’s a dramatic choice.”

He stepped closer, hands in his pockets. She caught the faintest whiff of his cologne, woods and leather and something she couldn’t name but immediately liked.

“The drama suits the piece,” he said simply. “Would you like to see it?”

Before she could respond, he gestured to a nearby attendant, who approached with the kind of speed that said this was routine. The velvet began to rise, inch by inch, revealing a painting Lily had only ever heard about in passing mentions and half-believed theories.

Her breath caught.

It was beautiful. Haunting. Real.

A Caravaggio.

Or at least a damn good imitation.

She stepped closer, drawn despite herself. “It’s…”

“Authentic,” Victor said, his gaze locked not on the painting, but on her. “But I want your opinion. That’s why I asked for you specifically.”

Lily dragged her eyes away from the canvas and met his. His stare didn’t waver. There was something unnerving about it—not aggressive, just too focused, too quiet.

“I’ll need better light,” she said, adjusting her tone to something more clinical. “And privacy.”

Victor’s mouth curved slightly, not quite a smile but close enough to stir something in her chest.

“Of course,” he said. “Follow me.”

And without waiting to see if she would, he turned and walked away.