The Billionaire Came for the Famous Curator—But Couldn’t Take His Eyes Off Her Quiet Sister
Chapter 2
Lena led Adrian through the gallery without realizing half the room had begun watching them.
She wasn’t used to attention.
She preferred storage rooms, conservation reports, shipping manifests, old catalogs, and the quiet mathematics of preserving things other people considered beautiful.
She had spent years living beside Isabelle’s brilliance.
When Isabelle entered a room, people asked for photographs.
When Lena entered a room, people asked where the restroom was.
She had stopped being offended by it a long time ago.
It was easier that way.
“This frame was installed six months ago,” Lena explained.
Adrian followed closely.
“By whom?”
“A contractor hired by the gallery.”
“Was it inspected?”
“Yes.”
“Then what’s wrong?”
Lena touched the edge of the wooden molding without actually touching the canvas.
“The bracket was installed two millimeters too high.”
Adrian raised an eyebrow.
“Two millimeters?”
“Enough to create uneven pressure.”
She crouched.
“The lower left corner is carrying more weight than it should.”
“Could that damage the painting?”
“Eventually.”
“How eventually?”
“If nobody fixes it?”
She looked up.
“Maybe tonight.”
Adrian stared at her.
“You’re serious.”
“Very.”
He took out his phone.
“Who is the gallery director?”
Lena frowned.
“Why?”
“I’ll call him.”
“No.”
Adrian stopped.
“No?”
“You don’t need to call anyone.”
“Why not?”
“Because everyone will assume you’re overreacting because you’re a billionaire.”
He almost laughed.
“That’s never stopped anyone before.”
A reluctant smile appeared on her face.
It lasted less than a second.
Then she stood.
“Let me handle it.”
“You?”
“I’ve handled worse.”
Before Adrian could respond, Isabelle appeared.
“Lena.”
Her voice carried a warning.
Lena turned.
“Yes?”
“Can I speak with you?”
“Of course.”
Isabelle waited until they were several steps away.
“What are you doing?”
“Preventing damage.”
“You were supposed to stay in the office.”
“The frame—”
“I know.”
Isabelle lowered her voice.
“But you don’t understand what tonight means.”
Lena looked at her sister.
“I understand perfectly.”
“No, you don’t.”
Isabelle glanced toward Adrian.
“Do you know who that is?”
“Adrian Black.”
“And?”
“He’s a person.”
Isabelle stared at her.
“You really are impossible.”
Lena said nothing.
Isabelle’s expression softened slightly.
“Please. Just tonight. Let me handle this.”
Lena nodded.
“Fine.”
She walked away.
Adrian watched her leave.
“Your sister doesn’t like me.”
Isabelle smiled.
“My sister doesn’t like most people.”
“Why?”
“Because she notices things.”
Adrian looked toward Lena.
“Apparently.”
Isabelle slipped her hand around his arm.
“Come. There are investors waiting.”
Adrian didn’t move immediately.
“Isabelle.”
“Yes?”
“Why isn’t your sister working as a curator?”
Isabelle’s expression changed.
For the first time that evening, there was something guarded in her eyes.
“Because she isn’t interested.”
Adrian knew a lie when he heard one.
But he let it pass.
As the evening continued, Isabelle introduced him to museum directors, collectors, politicians, and executives.
Adrian listened.
He smiled.
He answered questions.
But every few minutes, his eyes searched the gallery.
And each time, they found Lena.
She was fixing a crooked label.
Helping an elderly guest with a wheelchair.
Correcting a lighting technician.
Quietly replacing a leaking flower arrangement before anyone noticed.
She never once looked toward Adrian.
That made him more curious.
Near midnight, Adrian finally found her alone in the service corridor.
“You’ve been avoiding me.”
Lena looked up from a clipboard.
“I’ve been working.”
“Same thing?”
“No.”
He smiled.
“Can I ask you something?”
“Sure.”
“Why do you hide?”
Her fingers tightened around the clipboard.
“I don’t.”
“You do.”
She looked directly at him.
“I don’t hide.”
“Then why does everyone in that gallery know your sister’s name while nobody knows yours?”
Lena was silent.
Finally, she said:
“Because Isabelle worked very hard to be seen.”
“And you?”
“I worked very hard to make sure other people could be seen.”
Adrian had no answer.
For the first time that night, he understood that Lena wasn’t standing in Isabelle’s shadow.
She had chosen to stand somewhere else.
And somehow, that was far more interesting.
