Trust: Betrayed by Cristiane Serruya Page A

their finances and give my opinion whenever a new young artist proposed something - How can I put it? - Extremely contemporary. We’ve been working closely and it has been a huge success.”
    “I’ve never seen such a huge profit for such a small investment, in such a short period of time.”
    “I turned the idea into an investment fund and I want you to supervise it. We are going to relaunch the gallery on June first.”
    Tavish’s brows shot to the middle of his forehead, in alarm. “Me? I don’t know anything about investment funds. I have some connections and I can get clients for the bank, but supervise an investment fund? I know how to buy art, but I don’t know the first thing about selling it. Alistair Connor, I’m going to mess things up.”
    But Alistair was already expecting this reaction and had prepared his answer, “But that’s exactly what I need you to do. Get new clients to invest in the fund. I’m planning a big opening party for the gallery. A charity cocktail evening with an exhibit of ten new artists who are finishing their masters at Goldsmith’s. And part of the profit will be reverted to some foundation. I’ve set a meeting with the guys for tomorrow morning. They are going to explain everything to you. I want you to spend a few hours per day in the gallery to study the collection and-” Alistair gasped for air as it disappeared from his lungs.
    Tavish turned his head to see Sophia enter the restaurant, smiling, totally at ease, on Ethan’s arm. In a flash, he put a heavy hand on Alistair’s shoulder, stopping him from raising from his chair, “Don’t.”
    “She told me she couldn’t have lunch with me,” his breath wheezed from his mouth and he rubbed a hand over his heart, as if in pain, “because she had a lot of work to do.”
    “And who said this isn’t work?”
    “With Ashford? What could she possibly have to discuss with him? He produces steel, she deals with oil.”
    Alistair’s face darkened and he tried to raise again, but Tavish shoved him down.
    “He is her ex-lover,” Alistair hissed at Tavish.
    “Easy, Brother. Don’t make hasty judgements. She’s-”
    “Can’t you see with your own eyes?”
    “All I can see is two people having lunch together. Don’t jump to conclusions. They won’t see us from where we are. Calm down. You’ll see there’s no reason to be suspicious.”
    “Very well.” He picked up the bottle of whisky and poured himself a good dram. Drinking it in a gulp, he raised his empty glass. “Let’s drink to-”
Another betrayal.
    “Stop it, Alistair Connor. Stop it right now.” Tavish breathed deep and stared at his brother. “I have to tell you something.”
    The way Tavish said this made Alistair stiffen on his chair. He put his glass with a thump on the table, his fingers narrowing around it. “What?”
Oh, please, don’t let it be what I’m thinking.
    “I have a confession to make.” Tavish’s lips quirked up when Alistair relaxed on the chair. “Remember the day you, Alice and Leo walked in on the two of us at the pool, at Craigdale?”
    “Aye,” Alistair clenched his teeth so tight that he thought he might break them.
    Tavish pushed his artichoke salad around his plate, before saying, “I confronted Sophia. I thought she was another Heather.”
    “She slapped you.”
    “Aye. With reason.”
    “She never mentioned it again. She accepted whatever lame apologies you gave. And I... I let it go. You and I had already had too many... differences to work out, so... You know.” He waved his hand in the air. “What happened?”
    “Alistair Connor,” Tavish exhaled loudly. “To be brief, first I said she was like... your other women. Then I said that even if she didn’t need your money, she wanted your status. Continuing to fuck things up, I stated that she wanted you just to substitute Gabriela’s father. And to top it off, I told her that she was a coward, and that she was ogling me, trying to get me in her bed with