Chapter Eighty-Nine
* The Anonymous Artist*
Regina Lax did not visit casual friends. Every meeting was strategic, a move on a chessboard only she could see. Today, the board led her to a sleek, modern coffee shop downtown. She was meeting two people: her own niece, Chloe, and Lyra’s financial analyst friend.
Chloe arrived first, giving her aunt a quick, nervous hug. “Aunt Regina, this is a surprise.”
“Sit, Chloe,” Regina said, not looking up from the menu. “We are waiting for one more.”
Moments later, Lyra’s friend arrived. She looked professional and alert, her eyes taking in Regina with cool assessment. She’d been warned this wasn’t a social call.
“Mrs. Lax,” she said, sitting down. “You asked for a meeting.”
“I did,” Regina replied, placing the menu aside. “Thank you for coming.
