Yes

As they approached a small group, and voice rang out. “AH! There you are, my dear,” Kellner decreed in welcome, “I thought you might have gotten lost. It is a big house, and there are so many places to get into trouble.” Amanda feigned laughter and rejoined Kellner’s awaiting arm. “So, are we all here?” Kellner began naming off names of the group. “Mr. Duchov from the Hermitage in Moscow, Mr. Holt from the Deutsches Gallerie in Berlin, Mr. DeWitt from the Guggenheim in New York, Mr. Obaiye from the Johannesburg Gallerie, Mr. Barrios from Gallerie of Rio, Miss Stahl of the Stockholm Gallerie, and... are we missing anyone?” Kellner inquired. Delholme muttered something in his ear. “Oh yes,” Kellner recounted, “Mr. Marcus Caesar from Sotheby’s Auction House... now where is he?” Amanda suddenly remembered this first name being the same name as Claire’s date. Out of the corner of her eye, she saw Claire, fully dressed as if nothing had happened, walking towards the group with her date in tow. “I’m very sorry I am late, Mr. Kellner,” Caesar said, “I was getting a tour of your amazing estate. Claire was showing me everything.” Amanda found something familiar about the voice, and looked up to catch a glimpse of Mr. Caesar. It was John, her partner from the agency!!!! Amanda saw his eyes briefly meet her gaze, but maintaining his focus on Kellner.

‘Marcus Caesar,’ she thought to herself, ‘leave it to John to ditch the Egypt theme for a Roman one.’ But, it didn’t matter. John had infiltrated, and if things went well, Kellner could be going down very shortly, and, she could be going home. Amanda knew that if she gave herself away in the slightest, it could mean certain doom for her, as well as John, so she threw herself back into the part. “Now that we are all her, let us retire to a more private room where we can discuss business,” Kellner gestured out of the gallery room, and through the Mucha presentation room, to the antechamber where he had been days before, “I think we will all be more comfortable there, away from the crowd.” Upon entering the room, Amanda saw it was a longer room, with three large crystal chandeliers. The marble floor gleamed, obviously having just been buffed. The group settled around the bar at one end of the room; several of the men ordering drinks. Kellner released Amanda, and moved towards Miss Stahl. He spoke to her in Swedish, and she laughed, touching his shoulder. Amanda saw her flirt a bit with Kellner, and she actually, astonishingly, felt a bit jealous. The two spoke a bit more before Kellner announced, “Miss Stahl is interested in seeing more of my collection, so Mr. Delholme will take her on a tour, but she will be back before the negotiations begin.” Delholme, acting as a perfect gentleman, offered his arm to Miss Stahl and escorted her out of the room through a different door.

Duchov spoke up first and began talking straight business with Kellner, but there would be none of that. Kellner enjoyed the game, and wanted to prolong the negotiations. Claire hanging tightly on to him, Mr. Caesar spoke up, and said, “I’d be very interested in hearing the story of how you acquired the Mucha, Mr. Kellner.” “Actually,” Kellner replied, “I am tired of telling it. Needless to say it is absolutely authentic and one of a kind. Those should be good enough details for your auction house, no?” “Absolutely,” said Caesar, “but it is the practice of Sotheby’s to present the full life’s story of any piece we sell.” “Well,” Mr. Barrios, the Brazilian, spoke up, “we can talk about that later. Right now I am interested in knowing more about this charming woman.” Barrios took Amanda’s free hand gracefully, lifted it to his lips, and softly kissed it, before releasing it.

“Yes, well, Amanda certainly was an excellent ‘find’, so to speak,” Kellner segued, “I’ve certainly enjoyed ‘having’ her here...around the house.” Amanda took note of the double meaning; Kellner flaunting to his male friends about fucking her. Suddenly she could feel all eyes on her, sizing her up, undressing her with their minds. The African man spoke up and said, “I too would certainly enjoy being ‘entertained’ by her.” “As would I,” the pompous American said, “Maybe you and I can come to a financial agreement, Kellner?” Amanda was stunned as these men planned her fate right in front of her. Mr. Caesar piped in, “I’ll double any amount Dewitt throws at you. I want her for myself.” She saw John play the game, so as not to arouse suspicion, but also to save her from one of these other men. Claire whispered indecipherable flirtations into John’s ear, and he smiled at her. Whether Claire was just entertainment, or trying to expose John, was still yet to be seen.