Page 27 of Donovan Blake: Passion

“Right again, Alexi.”

“I usually am. You were saying, you don’t...?”

“I don’t have any intention of working with those two idiots. I’d like Ari to do the heavy lifting.”

For the first time Alexi didn’t immediately respond.

Donovan suppressed a smile.

“That’s an interesting suggestion,” Alexi finally remarked. “I’ll think about it for a moment”

“But besides that,” Donovan continued, “I don’t know where Lord Hawthorne hid the portrait. When I suggested we send you the empty frame he took care of everything himself. He even apologized for not sharing the painting’s whereabouts, but I understood. If only he knows where it is he doesn’t have to worry.”

“Donovan, that’s your problem, not mine. Actually, it’s yours and Phoebe’s. I need that portrait! You have two days. When you’re ready to deliver it call here,” he said tersely, handing Donovan a piece of paper with a number scribbled on it. “If you don’t get this done Phoebe will disappear, and she will not be sitting in a comfortable chair drinking expensive tea from fine china. She will be in a Russian brothel servicing friends of mine. I’ve decided you can work with Ari, but he will travel behind you in a separate car. You may not always see him, but he will be there. You’ll receive additional orders from him when you arrive. Goodbye, Donovan. And Phoebe, it was a pleasure to meet you. If I don’t get the portrait, next time we meet you and I will have a very different encounter.”

CHAPTER FIFTEEN

Without any prompting that Donovan could see, Ari moved to the elevator. It was a clear signal the meeting had been terminated, but Donovan remained where he was. He noticed Phoebe hadn’t moved either. She was still sitting down, and he wondered if she was too shaken by Alexi’s last comment to stand up, or if she just didn’t realize Ari had indicated it was time for them to leave.

“Ari will show you out.”

Alexi’s voice suddenly cut through the silence.

“You may be finished, but I’d like to speak with you in person, just the two of us,” Donovan declared. “I can assure you I have no sinister intentions.”

Donovan waited for the response.

Silent seconds ticked by.

“Very well, Donovan. You have me curious,” Alexi exclaimed. “Ari, take Miss Beaumont to the room off the foyer and make sure she’s comfortable,”

Though she didn’t speak, Donovan could see the trepidation in her eyes.

“It’s okay, Phoebe,” he said softly, stepping over to her. “Come on, I’ll walk you to the elevator.”

“Are you sure about this?”

“I’m sure.”

“Please don’t take too long.”

As she stepped in, Ari followed, and Donovan waited until the doors had closed, then ambled over to the couch and poured himself some tea.

“Aren’t you concerned? They could be poisoned,” Alexi said as he entered the room.

“You’re not a man who would cut off his nose to spite his face,” Donovan replied. “You need me.”

“True, at least for the moment. Now tell me, what is it you wish to discuss?”

“I’ll get right to the point. Why are you so determined to get your hands on this portrait? Do you have a buyer willing to pay a fortune for it, or is it for your own collection? And there’s something else. The last time our paths crossed you tried to steal a painting then as well. It was bulky and difficult to carry. Why did you grab it when there were other items you could have slipped into your pockets, or at least carried more easily? Do you have a passion for historical works of art?”

“Passion!” Alexi replied. “Passion is what drives us. It doesn’t matter if it’s a passion for cars, women, perhaps even exotic perfumes, or a sport. The greater a person’s passion the more interesting they are—at least they are to me—and the more likely they are to succeed. I have two passions and they walk hand-in-hand. Money and power. The more money I accumulate, the more power I can generate. The more power I have, the more money I can accrue.”

“What does money and power have to do with the portrait?”

“The portrait is greatly desired by a friend, and I have promised to acquire it. I know you’re a wealthy man, Donovan, very wealthy, but when I deliver it, I will be paid…how do you say it here in England…A King’s Ransom.”

“So this is just about money.”

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