Chapter 19
“But Elizabeth! This guy is notoriously picky-he usually turns down collaboration invitations outright!”
Elizabeth paused, holding her phone as the streetlight’s shadows played across her face: “But he said yesterday he’d consider the contract.”
“That’s promising!” Zoe was practically screaming, “If he really wasn’t interested, he would have dismissed you on the spot. The fact that he said he’d consider it means he’s at least seventy percent interested! You need to follow up immediately, don’t let up!”
“Okay.”
After hanging up, Elizabeth hailed a taxi, and once she got in the back seat, the stifling heat immediately dissipated considerably.
The next day, Elizabeth was applying lipstick at her vanity when her phone rang abruptly.
Julian’s name appeared on the screen. She hesitated for two seconds before answering: “Mr. Rothschild?”
“Miss Skylar.” A light laugh came through the phone, with what sounded like traffic in the background. “Are you free today? I’m sending you an address that might interest you.”
Elizabeth was about to ask about the contract when the address message came through.
She reluctantly opened the text-it was the address of the downtown exhibition hall.
She stared at the words “Contemporary Architectural Art Exhibition.” She had been following this exhibition for a long time, and tickets had sold out ages ago.
Even Zoe couldn’t get tickets despite asking several friends.
She really couldn’t think of a reason to refuse.
Half an hour later, Elizabeth stood at the exhibition hall entrance, seeing Julian leaning against his car waiting for her from a distance.
He wasn’t wearing a suit today, instead dressed casually, which gave him a more relaxed air than when they first met.
“I heard Miss Skylar minored in architecture in college?”
Julian held open the glass door for her, the soft lighting from inside the exhibition hall falling across his profile.
“The curator of this exhibition happens to be a friend of mine.”
Elizabeth’s steps faltered.
She had never mentioned her minor to Julian, nor had she revealed her anticipation for this exhibition.
“Don’t tell me you investigated me too, Mr. Rothschild?” she asked half-jokingly.
“Know yourself and know your enemy, and you can fight a hundred battles without defeat.”
“Also, during dinner last time, I noticed you kept staring at the restaurant’s wall structure.”
This comment completely stunned Elizabeth.
She had indeed been attracted to the unique architectural design that day, but she hadn’t expected him to notice.
For the next two hours, they wandered through the exhibition hall with its interplay of light and shadow.
Julian was thoroughly familiar with every exhibit, always offering unique insights.
Ten minutes later, Elizabeth couldn’t help but say: “Mr. Rothschild is much more professional than an amateur enthusiast like me.”
“Call me Julian”
julian turned to look at her: “Actually, I’ve always felt that communication outside of work makes it easier to see the true nature of a potential
partner.”
Elizabeth looked at the twisted yet dynamic artwork before her, suddenly feeling that this man’s success wasn’t without reasc
Her phone buzzed in her bag-a message from Zoe: **[“How’s the contract follow-up going?”]**
Elizabeth stared at the screen, then glanced at Julian, who was earnestly explaining an exhibit.
She slowly typed back: “Everything’s going smoothly.”
IL
