The gallery's door opened again and another couple, two richly dressed men entered. They nodded at Ingrid and Zephyr as they walked past them.
"We're going to draw attention if we stay here," Zephyr said after they had gone by. "Let's walk through some of the displays before they close for the show and we can talk this out."
They decided on the left wing of the section of the gallery they were in and Ingrid lifted her dress, following Zephyr up the polished steps to their far left. At the top, he offered her his hand again.
"For decorum."
She took it and they led a leisurely pace through the open rooms. The space was relatively empty of other people but the place echoed so they had to keep their voices down.
"Why are you snooping into my life?" she said, voice low, as they moved past a portrait of a mid-17th century woman.
"I like to keep tabs on my employees."
"I don't work for you anymore. I work with you. There's a difference."
Zephyr stopped them by the display of a miniature wooden statue. His other arm was held behind his back and he maintained an outer composure of mild interest in the art, but she sense the irritation growing underneath. Power trip that he was.
She could care less.
"Did you send Kafi to my apartment to search through my things?"
"Depends."
She yanked her arm from his. "You're unbelievable."
"Okay Ingrid," he turned, giving her his full attention. "If you want to talk about this, we can talk about how you stole from me and broke my trust."
She was truly taken aback by his audacity. "Broke your trust? Really? Okay, let's just stay on that topic for the moment, and go through our history. "
She listed them off her fingers. "The Tuesday heist. The job at the gambling place. The one at the wine shop. The one as the tourist couple. Should I keep going?"
She could feel her voice rising. "Hmm. I wonder what they all have in common?"
She tapped her temple as if forgetting something. "Oh, that's right! You and your bullshit promises and excuses about making some bullshit 'investments' and paying off debts. Like I give a fuck about any of that!"
"You know if it had been anyone else, they'd have been dead by now."
From the side of her eye, she saw a guard start to head their way.
"You're the world's biggest fucking hypocrite," She said through gritted teeth before they prepared their composure for the approaching guard.
They both knew that if they moved to avoid him, it would make them look more suspicious.
"Excuse madam? Sir? Is there a problem?" The guard said when he reached them.
He was dressed in a starched maroon uniform with tassels hanging from his shoulders and a velvet black cap on his head. The buttons on the uniform shone, as if freshly polished.
"No. None at all. Why? Is there something wrong?" Ingrid said, speaking for both of them.
"It just that you were raising your voices and—"
"Oh, sorry. It's just, we get so passionate. The two of us, you know?" She laughed and touched Zephyr's shoulder.
"Yes, she drives me very mad, as you can see," Zephyr said.
Inside herself, she rolled her eyes.
The guard looked from one to the other as he wasn't quite sure what to think.
Ingrid let out a sudden laugh. "Alright, you caught us. We're a little," she came closer so the guard had to lean his head in to hear her, "drunk." She wiggled her hand in a 'so and so' motion to indicate their level of tipsy then she made a face at him.
"But we'll try to behave from now on. We promise."
He nodded and his face relaxed. He looked satisfied to have caught them at something and "willing" to be in on it with them like they were naughty school children.
There was also the fact that staff usually loved drunk rich people because they tipped the best.
"Well then, I'll leave you to your business." He said. "Just a reminder, however, the art gallery will be closing in about thirty minutes for the ballet performance tonight." He lowered his voice as if sharing a secret. "Actually, if you like alcohol, they will be serving some at the show."
Then he smoothed his uniform and said in a normal tone, "And can I just say, madam, you look exquisite tonight."
"Thank you," Ingrid said.
He tipped his cap at them then continued his round around the gallery space.
"I'm going to the ladies' room," Ingrid said to Zephyr as soon as the guard was out of earshot.
She hiked up the extra fabric of the dress at her feet and followed painted signs to the closest bathroom.