54. Conflict To The End

"Mr. Eston, I have been notified by the painting experts. From the results of the brainstorming, they all say that the painting is indeed a fake." Eston's gaze shifted from looking out the window of his private office to the source of the voice. His right-hand man, whom he had given the task of calling back the other five painting experts, was standing by the door with a panicked expression. Eston turned his body to stare at his right-hand man. For a few seconds, Eston looked both shocked and disbelieving. Actually, even though his confidence that the painting was genuine had already diminished, Eston had hoped to hear the news that the painting was not a fake. Now, the news that the man with the right hand gave him was far from what he expected. Eston could not move at all. "What?" Eston almost sounded like he was whimpering. "So it's true that the painting is a fake?" Eston's right-hand man nodded his head. He also looked upset at having to deliver this news. "How could the painting be a fake?" asked Eston who then sighed heavily at the end of his sentence. Eston put both hands on his waist, instantly dazed. He still remembered clearly that Matteo had convinced him about the painting. Then, why did Matteo lie? How could the smuggled painting almost resemble the original? All kinds of conjectures came to mind in a matter of seconds. They all predicted how the fake painting could be smuggled in. But Eston was too unfocused after getting the news about the painting. "How, Mr. Eston? What should we do?" asked Eston's right-hand man. Eston, on the other hand, immediately raised one hand low to his chest. "Wait a minute, let me think. I didn't expect this to happen." Eston's right-hand man showed concern as he watched his boss become flustered. Hesitantly, he walked over to the desk as Eston had also thrown his limp body onto the chair. Eston, with a very agitated look in his eyes, looked up and stared at his right-hand man. "If five painting experts have already said the same thing, I can't hold on to my faith anymore..." Then Eston stopped speaking for a moment, thinking about things. Eston tried to clear his mind by lightly massaging his temples. "We have no idea how the fake painting was smuggled in, Big Boss Eston. Do I need to find out who smuggled the fake painting?" The man on Eston's right hand offered, his manner very gentle as if he did not want to offend. Once again Eston raised his left palm, giving an obstructive gesture. "Wait. Not yet. I actually already know who the possible culprit is." The man on Eston's right hand looked puzzled. His eyebrows drew together. "Boss guessed?" Eston nodded. "Yes, I don't know if it's true or not, but I have a strong feeling for Matteo." Instantly, the look on the face of the man on Eston's right hand turned to surprise. The man had not expected that Eston would mention Matteo's name as the alleged perpetrator. "Mr. Matteo? Is the big boss sure?" Eston's right-hand man asked, looking incredulous. While Eston was also not completely sure when he said Matteo's name. Because there is still another possibility that the perpetrator is the curator of the painting. But on the other hand, he could not deny that his hunch about Matteo was just as strong. Eston nodded briefly. "I am sure, but not completely. Only Matteo or the curator of the painting have the most potential." Eston's right hand man was silent, he could not answer anything because he felt indecisive. He knew that Matteo was Eston's nephew, his boss. Now Eston was mentioning his own nephew's name. "If the curator of the painting is the culprit, then he cheated me," Eston said. His tone sounded furious. "But if it was Matteo, he cheated me, too," Eston continued with emphasis. His sharp eyes conveyed anger. "If it is true, they are very brave to deceive you, Big Boss Eston." "Yes. That's what I thought. When the painting was first examined by the painting appraiser named Finnigan, Diego told me that the curator of the painting was indeed selling a fake painting," Eston replied explaining. His brain was now really forced to think to find the correct possibility. "Boss, it seems like you can't force yourself to think," replied Eston's right-hand man. He tried to calm things down. "What if we find out directly?" Eston was speechless. The question from his right-hand man should have been answered easily. But Eston was plagued with doubts, what if he really found out that Matteo was the perpetrator? Eston let out a long sigh. Since he could not help being confused, Eston finally nodded in agreement. "Alright, call Matteo before me right now. I will ask him." ----- As Eston had ordered a few hours ago, Matteo finally arrived at the summons of the right-hand man. Matteo's arrival was not at all welcomed by Eston. As Matteo moved slowly into Eston's private study in the mansion, Eston only looked at him sharply. Matteo had already noticed the aura of anger on Eston's face at that moment. But Matteo still did not understand why, because he felt that he had not done anything wrong. "Mr. Eston, why did you call me?" Matteo asked when he was two steps away from Eston's desk. After Matteo arrived nearby, Eston suddenly gave him a friendly smile. Eston extended his hand to the chair with a brief nod. "Please sit down, Matteo, I just need to talk to you about something that has been on my mind," Eston said. Matteo became even more confused as he saw Eston's face change in an instant. In Eston's presence, Matteo remained silent for a moment as he sensed something strange. "Why are you silent?" Eston once again pointed to the chair in front of him with one palm. "Please sit down, I have already invited you. I should not have repeated the order." After Matteo had begun to neutralize his strange feelings, he pulled out a chair and sat opposite Eston. His gesture was somewhat awkward at the time. "Is there a problem, Mr. Eston?" Matteo asked in a somewhat worried tone. Eston did not answer Matteo's question immediately. His hands were clenched and used to support his chin. For a split second, Eston only watched Matteo in detail and seriously. It was as if he was trying to read Matteo's gestures. "Ah, there really isn't any problem," Eston said in the end as he waved his hand. He was deliberately being casual. "I wanted to ask you about the smuggling process yesterday. Did you have any problems during the smuggling action?" Matteo frowned at Eston's question. He was both astonished and surprised. The question sounded natural, but in this strange situation, Matteo felt that Eston's question implied something. Matteo thought for a moment to remember what he had faced during the smuggling process. "Everything... went smoothly," Matteo replied, sounding somewhat awkward. "There were no very big obstacles, Mr. Eston. I handled it well." Eston raised both eyebrows, looking at Matteo unconvinced. His gaze and expression were immediately accusatory. Eston sighed heavily. "Is your answer correct? How was the process of shipping contraband from Bolivia to Vomero?" "Yes," Matteo replied with a confident nod. "There were also no problems during the delivery of the contraband." At that moment Eston did not immediately show that he believed Matteo's answer. Because Matteo kept answering with almost the same words, Eston began to feel annoyed. Why was it so difficult to confess? "There is no way you are not having problems, Matteo." Eston tried to urge Matteo to confess. His tone was a little more emphatic than before. "At least you can tell me if you find a problem," Eston continued to incite Matteo. Matteo kept shaking his head. He realized that Eston was trying to push him. Therefore, Matteo, who was already feeling very proud of his success in the smuggling process, straightened his seat. His gaze became fixed confidently on Eston. "Mr. Eston, I can handle everything in the smuggling process. Didn't you entrust the smuggling of goods to me because you know how I perform?" Eston let out a long sigh. He could not help himself after his insistence had no effect on Matteo. It was clear that Eston knew about the fake painting. But until now, Matteo had refused to admit it. Matteo's lies this time were clear in Eston's eyes. "Then, you also did not find any problems with the people involved in the smuggling?" Matteo was increasingly convinced that Eston was only testing him. To him, Eston's questions were asked because he wanted to see how he behaved. "Nothing, Mr. Eston. I made sure that everyone involved in the smuggling had no problems at all." Again it failed. Eston was exasperated when Matteo would not admit his guilt. Did Matteo not feel at all that Eston now needed his confession? "You really have no shame..." Eston could not help himself in the end. The look on his face, which had been calm, now gradually showed annoyance. Matteo instantly faded his proud smile. The nagging feeling that had disappeared earlier now returned. Seeing Eston already looking at him intimidatingly made him uneasy. "What? Sir. Why did you say that?" Matteo laughed awkwardly and very quietly at the end of his question. "I have been pestering you with questions, and you still do not want to admit?" Eston urged once again. The way he spoke sounded so harsh. The more Eston tried to push, the more Matteo felt intimidated. Matteo was unable to speak for a few moments. "Sir, what... what do I have to admit?" asked Matteo, beginning to sound nervous. Eston suddenly kicked the table and stood up from his chair. The forceful kick caused Matteo to jump in surprise. Eston, with his breath catching as his emotions rose, looked at Matteo through sharp eyes. "If there are no obstacles, why is the painting you brought a fake?!" Eston's tone rose, echoing in his private study. Matteo was dumbfounded and unable to move as Eston pounded on the desk. His eyes looked at Eston with some fear, and at that moment his whole body suddenly stiffened. Matteo did not know how to act. "You said that the painting was real. You convinced me, and now I know that you lied!" Eston snapped at Matteo without hesitation. "Do you take me for a fool, Matteo? Did you deliberately convince me not to know what you were doing?!" Once again, Eston lashed out at Matteo with his emotional words. Matteo remained rigid in his seat. As Eston spoke about the fake painting, he was struck. How could Eston know and say that the painting was a fake? "I... I don't know about fake paintings, sir," Matteo replied, forcing his lips to speak. He was nervous to death. "I did not realize it was a fake at all. I was told that the painting I brought was one hundred percent authentic." "Liar," Eston accused Matteo of answering. "Why are you still lying and evading, when I already know the facts?" Matteo frowned even more deeply. If Eston had pressed him like this, there was nothing he could do. Any answer would be useless because Eston would only believe his own thoughts. "No one else had contact with the painting other than you," Eston said directly. His index finger pointed at Matteo. Matteo was even more stunned and could not say anything. But shaking his head, he still did not want to admit. "Sir, I have told you the truth, there were no obstacles in the smuggling process." Matteo was still evading Eston's accusations. "I also did not know that the painting was a fake." Eston laughed sarcastically. "I could not believe it. Matteo, you have disappointed me because you lied and brought a fake painting! How could you be so careless with the painting?" When Matteo had not yet spoken to answer, Eston interrupted, "I don't want to know, you must find the real painting and solve this problem!" Matteo immediately nodded obediently. There was no chance for him to contradict Eston's order. "Very well, Mr. Eston, I will settle all matters concerning the painting!" "Leave my mansion now!"