Page 30 of The Art of Being a Psychopath

“But you had red under your fingernails on Friday after the performance,” I added, like I was fucking Poirot.

“I’ll admit, I was involved in setting up the staging, putting the buckets in place, and some of the contents might have spilled. But I didn’t stand on that wall and perform.” He took a step back and gestured to himself. “S.K.A.M. is over six foot, Emma. I wouldn’t make that height even in built up heels.” He laughed at himself, and I couldn’t help but smile too, because he was right. Lloyd didn’t match the build.

“Maybe there’s two of you,” I countered. “I know you probably wouldn’t admit it, even if you were involved. You’d want to keep the mystery going.”

A mischievous twinkle sparkled in his eyes, and he folded his arms over his chest before tapping his finger on his chin in thought.

“I know a way I can prove I’m not S.K.A.M. Have dinner with me next Thursday. S.K.A.M. is due to perform at a gala in Paris that night. If you have dinner with me, and he’s over there, then you’ll know it isn’t me.” He held his arms out. “I can’t be in two places at once, now, can I?”

I opened and closed my mouth way more times than was necessary, trying to find the right words to respond. Dinner with Lloyd was the last thing I wanted to do. Was this going to be a deal breaker for paying off my debt, too?

“I don’t think that’d be appropriate, under the circumstances,” I replied.

“What circumstances? I’m sure the scandal of the article will die down in a day or two.”

“But I owe the gallery money. And I need to discuss the possibility of paying in instalments if I can, because five thousand pounds is a lot of money, and I don’t know...”

Lloyd held his hand up to stop me, then shook his head.

“There is no debt, Emma. It’s all been sorted.”

The sweetest relief washed over me as he said that.

“Thank God,” I gasped. “Did the gallery waive the charges? I’m sure it was all insured, and I did think...”

“No,” he cut in. “It was paid in full on the night.” He tilted his head in question. “Did you not know that?” He frowned harder, then added, “I thought it was weird, when you said just now about settling a debt.”

“I had no idea,” I replied, my relief short-lived as I tried to guess which one of the trio had shown mercy on me and paid the bill I couldn’t afford. “Who paid it off?”

“It was me,” a deep voice announced from behind, and I spun around, coming face to face with Alex Kingston.

My breath caught in my throat as I stared into his hypnotic green eyes. He stood there, smiling back at me in his designer suit, his hands in his pockets as the air around us turned electric.

“Emma.” His warm expression softened as he said my name. “I tried to find you after the performance on Friday, but you left before I could say a proper goodbye.” He glanced at Lloyd, then added, “Tobey and Ethan filled me in on what happened before you left, though, and I thought it was only right to do what I could to make things right. I didn’t want you to worry.”

“You didn’t have to do that,” I said, my words coming out all breathy.

“He didn’t have to charge five thousand for an accident that the insurance company could easily cover, but I’m in the process of getting that dealt with,” he announced, and I could feel the embarrassment emanating from Lloyd as he seemed to shrink into himself.

“We’re looking into that,” Lloyd stated.

“I’m sure you are,” Alex replied with a haughty air, sounding unconvinced. Then his face softened again as he turned to me.

“I’ll pay you back,” I said, but Alex shook his head.

“There’s no need. It’s done. Forget about it. I have.”

“Five thousand pounds isn’t something I can easily forget about.”

“It’s in the hands of my insurers now. Please, don’t give it a second thought,” Alex stated, and just like that, he’d made one of my troubles vanish. If only he could work his magic on the other one.

“I’m sorry I didn’t get to say goodbye to you on Friday evening,” I said, feeling at a loss for words.

Five thousand pounds.

He’d dropped five thousand pounds to make me feel better.

No one had ever done anything like that for me before.