Page 42 of Love’s Strongest Soldier

“The real ones are coming in, but someone is replacing them with fakes when they go out.”

“Who?”

“We haven’t figured that out just yet. That’s why it’s so hard to track down the real painting. I understand that the painting cost hella money, but we need to find out why they’re willing to kill to get it back. I’ll keep digging to find out; your job is to find out who’s switching the items.”

“That shouldn’t be too hard.”

“Get on it.”

Nodding, I got up from the chair and left out the room.

I made it over to Luxury Acquisitions, and Luxe was chilling in her office on a phone call. Whenever she finished, I’d go in there and let her know what Savion had just told me. The shit was probably gon’ crush her because she took pride in her work, and now someone was playing with her name and brand. It was a whole organization working underneath her nose, and she had to figure out who exactly was running it. Maybe if she did that, then she could find out why her life was in danger.

I stood there, watching her through the glass when I heard, “You like her, don’t you?”

My eyes cut to Brielle, who sat at her desk with the tip of her pen in between her teeth. She was nosy as fuck.

“I don’t know what you’re talking about.” I lied and returned my attention back to Luxe. My feelings were growing for her. I think it was past like at this point, but I wasn’t about to tell her ass that.

“You don’t have to lie to me. I see it all over your face. You know she’s not going to go for it, right? You’re too young. A woman like Luxe needs an older man. Maybe a silver fox.”

My eyes cut back to her, and she was grinning hard as hell. “Now, me on the other hand, I’ll take you through there.”

“I’ll pass.”

“You just don’t know what you’re missing.”

Absolutely nothing.

Luxe rested her phone against the desk, letting me know that she was done with whatever call she’d been on ever since I got back. I rushed toward her office and knocked on the door before entering.

“You’re back.” Her eyes lit up. I shut the door behind me and pulled down the blinds. “What’s wrong?”

“Savion just told me that someone is using you to move fakes.”

Luxe’s eyes expanded as she stared back at me. “What!”

“You’ve been getting the real in, and when they go out, somehow, they’re fakes.”

“I know you’re fucking lying!”

She pushed back from her desk and lifted to her feet. Luxe stormed past me out of the office and didn’t stop until she made it to Brielle’s desk. Her hand connected to Brielle’s face faster than I could blink.

Brielle gasped. “What was that for?”

“You’ve been trading my stuff for fakes!”

“Wha-what are you talking about? I wouldn’t dare do anything like that.”

Luxe turned to me as her chest heaved. I wasn’t expecting her to react like this once she got the news. Turning back to Brielle, she said, “Pack your stuff and leave for the day. Don’t return until I figure this shit out.”

Brielle wasted no time packing up all her belongings and then scurried to the elevator.

A couple days later

My mind has been so fucked up ever since I found out that people had been using me to move fakes. I thrived off my authenticity, and now people were threatening it. People were playing with my reputation.

Tonight, my parents invited me over for dinner. It’d been a while since we’d had family dinner. I couldn’t wait to see everyone and catch up on things.