But still, he couldn''t remember where he might have seen such a ce before.


    After carefully putting the paintings away, Leonard called his assistant.


    "Have you found Summer''s whereabouts?"


    "Not yet," the assistant replied. "Lauretta was extremely cautious when she delivered the paintings, as if she was intentionally trying to cover her tracks." The assistant paused, then added, "Perhaps... I could investigate who Lauretta has been in contact with recently?"


    "No," Leonard said firmly. "Lauretta is Ms. Chapman. If you investigate her, she''ll find out. Besides, Summer probably only agreed to send the paintings as a favor to her. Thest thing I want to do is something that would anger the artist."


    The assistant acknowledged his orders. Just as he was about to hang up, Leonard spoke again. "Contact Lauretta and ask if she''d be willing to provide Summer''s contact information. Tell her that if Summer has any new pieces, I will buy them directly. Price is no object."


    The assistant agreed.


    ...


    The next day, Ste received a call from Lauretta, who informed her that the paintings had been delivered. "Star, the buyer is asking for your contact information," she said, sounding a bit weary.


    "Anything else?" Ste asked.


    "No, that''s it for now."


    Ste thought for a moment before giving Lauretta her private email address.


    Lauretta hesitated. "Do you think he''ll make other requests?"


    "Giving him my email should send the right message," Ste exined. Of all the ways tomunicate, a phone number was the most direct, followed by an instant messaging app. Email was the most distant. By offering her email, she was making it clear that she wanted to keep their interactions professional and at arm''s length.


    "I get it," Lauretta said.


    After hanging up, Ste had breakfast and left for the office with Joshua. In the car, she brought up the Dawnlight project.


    Joshua said, "Didn''t you say Leonard has been acting strangely? Why don''t you schedule a meeting with him? I''d like to see what kind of game he''s ying."


    Ste''s brow furrowed. "You don''t think he''s trying to lure us into a trap, do you?"


    "He mighte at me," Joshua reasoned, "but he wouldn''t have the guts with you there. You''ve built up enough power and influence now that he can''t touch you easily. Leonard may be ruthless, bathe''s not an idiot. He didn''t be the head of his family through sheer brute force. Violence is just one of his tools, and he favors it because it''s simple and effective. But now that it''s backfired on him, he won''t be so quick to resort to the same old tricks. I doubt he''ll try anything physical again."


    "Alright," Ste agreed. "I''ll call himter and set something up."


    Not long after she arrived at her office, she opened herptop and found an email from an unknown sender. She clicked it open.


    "Hello, Summer. I received your work and I absolutely love it. If you have any


    more paintings you''d like to sell in the future, please contact me anytime. I''m prepared to offer a price that will satisfy you."


    The sender was simply signed "L."


    "L? Could it be a woman?" Ste wondered.


    Even though this person was actively seeking her out, Ste didn''t feel any aversion toward L. Not only had they purchased her art when she desperately needed the money, but their genuine appreciation for her work suggested a shared sensibility.