Chapter 9 A Brush With Deception

• Lexi lay sprawled across her bed, nestled against a mountain of plush pillows, her gaze fixed on the portrait Julian had painted of her. She had been admiring it for what felt like hours, tracing the delicate lines and contours of her own face. It was breathtakingly accurate—almost as if Julian had captured more than just her features, but a piece of her soul as well.
• Meanwhile, across town, Julian was deep in thought, hatching a plan. He was struggling to make ends meet, and as much as he hated to admit it, Lexi seemed like a potential solution to his financial troubles. If he could gain her trust, maybe he could convince her to invest in his art or, at the very least, help him out financially. It wasn’t his proudest idea, but desperation had a way of dulling morality.
• Without overthinking it, Julian picked up his phone and dialed her number. When she answered, he put on his most charming tone.