The next morning, as Cindy sipped her coffee, her phone buzzed with a notification. Her eyes scanned the headline, and she leaned back, the corner of her mouth curling upward. “Exclusive Auction: Rare Artifacts from the Winthrop Estate Up for Grabs.”
The Winthrop Estate. Peter’s family. Cindy nearly laughed aloud at the irony. The mighty Peter Winthrop, reduced to selling family heirlooms to stay afloat. It was delicious, almost poetic. She immediately dialed a number. “Jessica, I need a favor,” Cindy said, her tone brisk. Jessica, her old college roommate and now an art dealer with impeccable connections.