I smiled internally, I almost had her.
"You're divorced six months, clearly done mourning an asshole who didn't deserve you, and you're testing me because you're attracted but don't trust it." I smiled slightly. "I understand that completely. Trust is earned, not given. So here's me earning it – I'm a liar, Vivienne. A very good one. But I'm also honest about what I am when caught."
She was quiet for a long moment, magic still swirling but less aggressive. "What's your real name?"
"Cain."
"Like the biblical Cain?"
"Something like that."
"And what exactly are you interested in acquiring from my collection, Cain?"
This was the moment. If I tell her about the Crimson Tear, I blow the whole mission. So instead I could deflect, maintain some secrets while building on the partial truth.
"I don't know yet," I said honestly. "I came here to see what you had. But now..." I gestured around the cellar. "Now I'm more interested in the curator than the collection."
[Target Response: Analyzing...]
[Magic Dissipating]
[Hostility: Decreased]
[Attraction: +15%]
[She's intrigued despite herself]
Vivienne laughed – sharp and surprised. "You're the smoothest liar I've ever met, or you're telling the truth and you're insane."
"Can't it be both?"
"Apparently." She waved her hand, and the aggressive wards faded. "Okay, Cain. Here's what's going to happen. You and your fake wife are going to finish your wine upstairs, look at the rest of the collection, and then you're going to leave. And then you're going to call me – just you, not Rebecca – and we're going to have a real conversation about what you actually want."
"That's generous."
"That's curious. You've piqued my interest, and that doesn't happen often." She started up the stairs, then paused and looked back. "But if I find out you touched anything in my home without permission, I'll turn you into something small and unpleasant. We clear?"
"Crystal."
We returned upstairs to find Sarah examining a painting with perhaps more intensity than necessary. She looked up as we entered, reading the situation instantly.
"Everything okay?" she asked carefully.
"Perfect," Vivienne said smoothly. "We were just discussing wine selection. Cain has strong opinions."
"He usually does." Sarah fell back into character seamlessly.
The rest of the visit was surprisingly pleasant. Vivienne showed us the remaining pieces, answered questions, and was the perfect host. But there was a new awareness between us – a game where both players knew the rules had changed but weren't sure what the new ones were.
When we finally left, Sarah waited until we were in the car and blocks away before speaking.
"What the fuck happened in that cellar?"
"She made me."
"I figured. What did you tell her?"
"Partial truth. I'm kind of a theif, you're hired help, we were scoping the place. She bought it."
"She bought it, or she's playing you?"
"Both, probably." I checked my phone – no messages from Vivienne yet. "But she gave us a pass. And she wants to meet again."
"The job?"
"Still on. But we need to adjust the approach."
Back at the safehouse, Marco was less than thrilled with the development.
"She knows you're a thief, and you think we should still proceed?" He paced the planning room. "That's insane."
"She thinks I'm a freelance art thief. She doesn't know about the Jackals, doesn't know about the specific target, and most importantly, she's still interested in seeing me again." I pulled up the townhouse schematics. "That gives us an opportunity."
"What kind of opportunity?"
"A personal one. No Rebecca this time. Just Cain, interested in Vivienne, possibly interested in acquiring something from her collection through negotiation rather than theft." I pointed to the bedroom. "I get invited back, alone, and this time I have legitimate reason to be in more private areas of the house."
"You're going to seduce her," Sarah said flatly.
"I'm going to let her seduce me," I corrected. "She's the one who suggested a private meeting. I'm just... following her lead."
Marco looked between us. "This is getting complicated."
"It was always complicated. We're just being honest about it now."
He sighed. "Fine. But the timeline moves up. Victor is getting impatient, and the longer this drags out, the more chances she has to figure out what we're really after. You've got one more shot to get that necklace. Make it count."
That night, as promised, Vivienne texted.
Vivienne: So. Thief. That's a new one.
Me: I prefer "independent acquisition specialist."
Vivienne: Of course you do. Here's what I'm curious about – why tell me the truth?
Me: Because you would've figured it out anyway. And I'd rather be honest with someone interesting than waste both our time with lies.
Vivienne: Honest thief. The contradictions keep piling up.
Me: I'm full of surprises.
Vivienne: I'm beginning to see that. Dinner tomorrow night. Just you. I want to hear more about these "acquisitions" of yours.
Me: Are you sure you want a known thief in your home alone?
Vivienne: I'm a witch with twenty years of experience and a bad temper. I think I can handle one smooth-talking thief.
Me: Challenge accepted. What time?
Vivienne: 8 PM. And Cain? Dress nicely. I'm cooking.
I stared at the message, processing. She was inviting me to dinner. Alone. In her warded, protected home.
Either she was genuinely interested, or this was an elaborate trap.
[Quest Update: The Castellano Retrieval]
[New Approach: Solo infiltration via personal invitation]
[Risk Level: EXTREME]
[Reward Potential: EXTREME]
[Target Attraction: 35% and climbing]
[She's interested but cautious]
I texted back confirmation, then sat in my small room, thinking through every possible scenario.
Tomorrow night, I'd have dinner with Vivienne Thornwood. I'd charm her, gain her trust, and find a way to get that necklace.
And maybe, if the opportunity presented itself, I'd add a powerful witch to my list of corruptions.
The fragments from her alone could push me significantly higher. Combined with the payment from completing the job, I'd have resources and power.
But first, I had to survive dinner with a paranoid, powerful witch who was very aware I was dangerous.