The Collector's Apprentice by B. A. Shapiro

Author:B. A. Shapiro
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Algonquin Books
Published: 2017-12-31T16:00:00+00:00

Edwin comes into her office the following week. “Ada accused me of breaking our contract. She claims you and I were ‘together’ in Paris.” His voice is as unruffled as if they were discussing the day’s mail.

Vivienne lights two cigarettes, hands him one. “What did you tell her?”

“I told her no.” He raises an eyebrow. “Not that I don’t wish it were true.”

“She didn’t believe you?” Vivienne asks, ignoring his inference.

“She forgot all about it when I told her I changed my will and made you my beneficiary. Apparently this is more upsetting than being cheated on.”

“Why lie about that?”

“No lie. I signed the papers last week.”

Vivienne worries he can see her heart pounding through the thin cotton of her blouse. “You did?”

“I did.”

“But . . . but why now?”

He blows smoke at the ceiling, coughs a few times, hesitates as if he has something difficult to tell her, and then says, “I could have an accident. A heart attack. Quinton’s suit made me realize that I can’t take the chance of the collection ending up with anyone but you.”

“Thank you, Edwin,” she says. “Thank you so much. I promise I’ll live up to your expectations. But”—she smiles at him—“you’re so damn cantankerous, you’ll probably live to be a hundred. You’ll probably outlast me.”

“Cantankerous, am I?” he interrupts with mock indignation. “Take that back, woman!”

“I cannot tell a lie.”

“Not even a little one?”

When Vivienne shakes her head, Edwin knocks on her desk and walks down the hall, whistling. She tries to keep her expression neutral in case he returns. She made it happen, albeit with a little know-how acquired from George. She’s the beneficiary, the successor. The collection will be hers. She’ll be able to return her father’s paintings, focus the vision, open the Bradley and its multitude of masterpieces to the world community of art lovers. Of course, she’ll have to wait for Edwin to die. She wonders how long this could take and hates herself for the thought.

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