Net of Lies (11 page)

He’s
making sure he isn’t connected to Kate in a way that might put me off Kate,
Raoul thought cynically as he nodded.

‘
But she sure is a looker, isn’t she?’ Marc grinned again, his lecherous expression begging to be wiped off with a fist. ‘I have always thought that it was important to not only provide my customers with excellent service, but also make sure they are served in an agreeable and aesthetically pleasing environment.’

I’ve got
to get out of here,
Raoul thought grimly. Talking about Kate in such a way was degrading. Marc’s thinly veiled suggestion that she didn’t mean much to him was tearing Raoul apart. He was happy to find the other man just as opportunistic and cold as he had thought him to be, leaving no doubts about it. But he found himself unable to enjoy this victory as he pondered Kate’s feelings.

…………………….

He caught up with her without much effort. With dismay written all over her face, she inspected her small red Volkswagen Beetle, her expression darkening even more as he approached.

‘What happened?’ he asked matter
-of-factly, eyeing the small machine. ‘Do you need any help?’

‘No
, thank you.’

He wasn’t surprised, since he
hadn’t really expected her to say anything else, but he stepped closer.

‘I guess I must have
driven over a shard of glass or something. The front tire has lost its air pressure. I noticed because the warning light went on. I can’t imagine it being anything other than that, really.’

‘
Let’s see.’ He crouched next to the car, ignoring his clothes as he looked up and asked, ‘Do you have the measuring gauge, Kate?’

‘
Of course.’ She reached into her glove compartment, then handed it to him and watched him unscrew the cap protecting the valve.

He pressed the measuring tool against the opening and read the result,
then nodded. ‘You’re right, Kate. Are you sure you weren’t just losing air for a while, driving with low tire pressure? It doesn’t have to be a puncture right away, you know.’

‘You really don’t have to lecture me on that, Raoul
,’ she snapped angrily, her frustration taking over. ‘I would have noticed, and for your information, I do go for regular check-ups, as advised by the auto shop.’

‘I wasn’t implying anything
.’ He smiled at her heated face, marveling at her beautiful features, which tugged at his heart even when she looked so mad. ‘Just a thought, that’s all.’

‘
Well, no, I didn’t see the light turn on at all. It was all right.’ She calmed down, visibly embarrassed with her outburst. ‘I’m sorry, Raoul,’ she admitted grudgingly, her eyes reluctant as she looked into his face. ‘I shouldn’t have snapped at you like that, I know. After all, you’re being helpful. I just… I’m extremely out of sorts at this particular moment, and you had the bad fortune to catch up with me.’

‘Apology accepted, Kate
.’ He couldn’t help smiling as he read the signs of struggle in her face. Apologizing to him must have been difficult, especially when paired with her fresh disappointment in the man she had considered her boyfriend.

It was high time to make this horrid day better, he
decided, surprising himself with his level of sympathy for this woman he had vowed to punish. But that was before he had actually gotten to talk to her, before he had been confronted with not only her beauty, but also with the warmth that was present between them ever since he had spotted her on the beach.

‘I can still drive it home
.’ She shrugged, drawing his eyes to her slim, golden shoulders. Her skin had always had a sun-kissed tint that reminded him of honey and all things sweet.

‘
Not a good idea, Kate.’

She bit her lip in hesitation.

‘Your tire is in pretty bad shape,’ he explained patiently, his thoughts already galloping ahead as an expectant excitement unfurled deep inside him. ‘Yes, usually you can keep going even with low pressure, but this case here’—he eyed the flat tire with concern—‘is much more than that. It might cause an accident, and I’m sure you don’t want that to happen.’

‘It’s fine anyway
.’ She shrugged and searched her bag for her cellphone. ‘I’ll have to take it to the nearest shop to get it fixed, I guess. There is one not too far, and I’ll just make sure they have an opening.’

‘I will follow you there.’ He nodded, ignoring her decisive protest. ‘
Listen, it might take them half an hour, or if they don’t see you right away, a few hours. Why don’t we see how it goes, and if you have to wait a while, go have dinner. There are plenty of things we should be discussing before this trip.’

He knew she wanted
nothing more than to get rid of him for the rest of the day. But for whatever reason, he wanted her company, more than he had thought possible the day before. He wanted to see her eyes darken as she thought intently about solving problems and her mouth curve into her impish smile that he remembered having been rewarded with so many times.

‘
Only if it turns out I have some real wait time,’ she relented, her face determined and somber. ‘I wasn’t lying when I told Marc I have important things to do. It’s part of my job to do follow-ups on some of the tiny art galleries that we feature here in a rotation system. It helps us understand the impact our showings have and what can be improved to have more newly emerging artists actually selling the things they create.’

She cared about it, he could tell. Whatever else about the gallery didn’t fit the
bill; her enthusiasm and wish to make a positive impact were genuine and honest.

‘
Well, that is easy to fix, too. If it turns out your car has to stay in the workshop, I’ll be happy to drive you to your appointment. And no, it won’t be any hardship for me, either. We can talk while I take you there, Kate.’ There was no stopping him, not when an insistent voice was telling him to check out what kinds of artists she went to visit alone on a regular basis. It was preposterous, and he didn’t like it, but he was jealous of the unknown, mysterious men that were creative and fashionably artsy. He could see the studio, littered with paint tubes and unfinished canvas, and some half-dressed young man emerging to greet Kate and invite her deeper into his kingdom.
Well, he’ll be surprised today,
he mused, watching Kate get into her car, then slowly drive away.

He followed her, his own sleek machine purring quietly as they drove three streets left, where a small petrol station and a car workshop
were nestled between a supermarket and a chemist’s shop.

They got out simultaneously, his eyes getting an appreciated view of her long, slim legs
when her red dress slid up indecently.

...........................

‘You’ll have to wait an hour at least,’ the mechanic inside explained, pointing to three other cars lined up for a tune-up. ‘You can wait in the waiting room.’ He gestured to a miniscule room squeezed between the staff room and the main work area. Chairs and a coffee table littered with glossy magazines and children’s books lurked there, along with a tired-looking coffee machine offering a brown sludge meant to pass as coffee. A tray with sugar, a carton of milk, and plastic cups sat nearby, and the cheerful pattern on the walls and cupboards finished the dismal picture.

At first, Kate declined the offer.

‘We can sit here and have a chat, if you really insist.’ Raoul leaned close enough to be able to smell her delicate perfume. Roses and irises mingled in an irresistible combination. ‘But it sure would be more fun to leave and come back once it’s done.’

‘I can’t expect you to act as my chauffeur, Raoul.’
He could see her struggle with the temptation. ‘What more can there be for us to discuss?’

‘I think you should get a crash course regarding my aunt.’ He smiled, leading her to his car
. ‘You’ll be there in two days, and it is important to go over the details one more time.’

Opening the door for her, he felt a sense of satisfaction as
she slipped in. His low, sporty machine didn’t leave a lot of personal space. He took his place, his eyes going over her buckle and smiling slightly at the visible relief in her posture. She might have acted tough, but she sure looked tired.

They talked on the way to the tiny indie gallery
where she was supposed to be meeting the artist. Raoul dominated the conversation, explaining to her his plan for the operation he’d nicknamed ‘Saving Rosa.’ Kate would be present at the negotiations and maybe even meet the old lady alone. He wanted her to tape the conversations to accompany the video of the hidden camera installed at his aunt’s place. Without hard proof, it would be just his aunt’s word against the gallery, and he had a strong suspicion that it wouldn’t lead anywhere. The camera would take care of the picture, and taping should provide the narrative, giving him the required proof. He realized that the agents working for Marc were particularly careful and reluctant to speak straightforwardly in the best of cases. This was exactly the point where Kate’s help became crucial. If she managed to tape some of her conversations with Josh behind closed doors, where his white gloves would come off, he might reveal his true goals. The worry about doing something not exactly a hundred percent legal was a true concern, but Raoul had decided to worry about it later, once the evidence was in.

The indie gallery was small enough to fit in just one medium
-sized room, but an abundance of framed and stretched canvas pictures adorned the walls. He studied the watercolors, the acrylics, and even a few sculptures, all cramped together in one corner.

‘Kate, wow!’ A tall, slim man in a mandarin
-style shirt and baggy black pants appeared from behind a beaded curtain that divided the showroom from the microscopic office in the back. His hair was beaded and sparkled like black gold in the light of the fixture overhead. He came closer and kissed her affectionately on both cheeks, his dark eyes going to the man at her side. ‘I’m so glad to see you.’ His smile wide, he shrugged his slim, droopy shoulders and sighed delicately.

‘
And I’m so grateful you made it all possible, Kate. I have sold at least five pieces, more than I ever have. You were right about the exposure, absolutely.’

‘Glad it worked
.’ Warmth emanated from her as she looked at the other man, ignoring Raoul completely. ‘Rasmus, your work was absolutely fantastic, and you know it. We’ve had plenty of further inquiries about your work, too. I thought I would mention it in person, instead of in an email,’ she added, her eyes sparkling.

‘
We were thinking about a follow-up exhibition for you, if you were interested. I hope you are—’

T
he other man grabbed her in his arms with a speed that seemed more feline than human. Twirling her around, he hugged her tightly to him until she gasped for air. Carefully putting her down on her own two feet, he grinned at Raoul, his dark eyes full of laughter. ‘Hope you don’t mind me, but this is extremely good news.’

For the next half an hour
, Raoul found himself barely noticed as he walked around the room and eyed the art on the walls. Left to his own devices, he listened to Kate, marveling at the clarity and self-confidence of her voice. It was a new experience for him to see her so professional and business oriented. She was explaining to Rasmus the steps to opening a second exhibition, guiding him each step of the way. It made him recall her desire to have her own gallery. It was one of the very first things she had told him, as he’d driven her to the local doctor on that memorable day on the beach two years ago. She had also confessed her absolute love for her studies and her exchange town, Grenada. Listening to her talk to Rasmus, he found himself thinking about how right she was for the job. Her obvious ease working with artists, her commitment, and her ethics made her perfect for the role.

He was
n’t planning anything, of course. He hurriedly abandoned any thought about getting involved in Kate’s life. He couldn’t ignore her evident aversion to him and anything he was involved with.

…………………………………….

‘I warned you it would be boring.’ She was looking at him with a mix of wariness and challenge. They had left the ecstatic Rasmus and walked toward Raoul’s car, which had already attracted the attention of a few teenagers hanging around on the street. At the sight of Raoul, they dispersed quickly, and Kate was relieved that nothing had happened to the car. After all, it was a rough neighborhood.

As they rolled down the road, she noted that he
was an excellent driver, recalling her never-wavering pleasure of the drives they had taken along the Spanish coast. Patient, calm, and confident, his consideration for his fellow drivers was always present. Granted, the little car they were using back then didn’t compare to the quality machine he’d taken up driving since.

‘Tired?’
He looked over at her, his dark eyes enigmatic.

She was still reeling from
the surprise of having him come with her to see Rasmus. She wouldn’t admit it for anything in the world, but it felt good to have him with her. He was calm, friendly, and professional, never once crossing over the line the finality of their break-up had created.