Page 82 of Better Luck Next Time

Adalia’s brow lifted. “That’s actually a great idea. Is he doing it under the Buchanan umbrella? It could be a huge draw.”

Georgie nibbled on her lower lip. “We haven’t talked logistics. He only mentioned it last night, but he said he’s been thinking about it since he was still at Big Catch.”

“Maybe we should tell Lee about it. He’d probably be interested, being that he’s one-fourth owner and all,” Adalia said. Georgie gave her an odd look, as if she’d just spoken complete nonsense, and she supposed her sister had a point. Lee had made it clear he had zero personal interest in the brewery. “Or maybe we can talk about that later. Either way, Lee wants to have a video call with us. Is this a good time?”

Georgie’s mouth dropped open. “Why does he want to talk to us?”

Adalia steeled herself with a deep breath. “Georgie. Alan’s been sending me more texts.”

Before her sister could respond, she told her about the threatening messages and then Alan’s attempt to extort Lee by threatening Buchanan Luxury.

Georgie’s face lost color. “What?”

“Lee said things weren’t adding up, so he was going to call the gallery to get more information. Now he wants to video chat with us both.”

Georgie gaped at her for a second before shaking off the surprise and shifting into efficient big sister mode. She turned to her computer and tapped on her keyboard, and within seconds, the call was going through. After shifting the monitor to face the visitor chairs, Georgie got up and shut the door.

“Hey, Lee,” Adalia said when he answered, her stomach twisting with nerves.

“Is Georgie there?” He was wearing a dress shirt and tie and didn’t look nearly as relaxed as he had the day before. Was it the environment he was currently in, or did he have really bad news?

“Present,” Georgie said, taking a seat in the chair next to Adalia’s. “I hear I’ve missed a few things.”

“As have I,” he said curtly, “which is why a group chat seemed prudent.”

“Maybe we should bring Jack in,” Adalia said dryly. “For the first time he can be on our side of one of these video chats.”

Lee’s brow lifted. “Jack knows?”

Adalia heard the accusation in his voice loud and clear. How could she tell Jack—a brother she’d only just met—before she told Lee? “Calm down. He doesn’t know.”

“Addy said you were calling the gallery,” Georgie said, moving the conversation along with her usual efficiency.

“Yeah. I spoke to the director this morning. Apparently there was some damage to the walls and flooring. They’re seeking reimbursement for the damages.”

“But that asshole stole her work!” Georgie protested, her face turning red.

“They don’t know the full story,” Lee said, “but they do know things aren’t adding up. One of the staff members was there that night, and she thought she heard Addy accuse Stansworth of stealing her work, but before she could intervene, Addy was trashing the pieces. Of course, the staff member called the police, and we know the rest. Stansworth assured them the sculptures were his work, and turns out we’re not the only one he’s pressing for money. He insisted their insurance reimburse him, claiming the crime was committed on their property, which makes them liable. I guess he came to them with this whole sob story about Adalia being a mentally disturbed former lover who did it out of revenge. That’s his story for why he dropped the criminal charges and asked them not to file any. He claimed he’d pay for their damages…afterhe was reimbursed by the insurance company.”

“They’re going to pay him for my work?” Adalia asked, feeling violated all over again. She’d destroyed her sculptures—pieces she loved—so he couldn’t profit off her work, but he’d found a way to get paid anyway. And she was furious too, enough to raze a mountain. How dare he act like she was mentally unstable when he was the one who’d driven her to the brink?

“No, not yet. They’ve been stalling the insurance company because of the discrepancies in his story. They’ve actually been trying to find Addy, but they had no idea how to reach her since she didn’t leave a forwarding address and Alan claimed he didn’t know how to get in touch with her. They didn’t realize she had ties to us.”

“So they do want to take action against me,” Adalia said.

“Maybe not,” Lee said, rubbing the back of his neck. “The gallery director wants to talk to you. She wants to hear your side of the story.”

“Is that really a good idea?” Adalia asked. “Don’t I need an attorney?” She turned to Georgie.

Georgie gave it a moment’s thought, then said, “If their attorney isn’t present, then I think it would be fine, but I would want to sit in on the call.” She nodded to the computer screen. “And Lee too, of course.”

“I can see if they’re amenable to a group video chat,” Lee said, “but I think it would send a better message if you go in person. The good news is the director genuinely seems interested in discovering the truth about what happened. I got the impression she thinks Stansworth is shady.”

“What if they don’t believe the pieces were mine?” Adalia asked.

“I already told them I have photographic proof,” Lee said. “I took photos in the studio when I dropped by for a visit a few months before you went to the gallery.”

“But it was Alan’s studio,” she said, feeling sick to her stomach. “He can just say I was posing with his art.”

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