She Was Never Just a Pretty Face novel Chapter 39

A week later, the private viewing for The Bibliophile took place at Aethelgard Hall.

As an exclusive, small-scale event, Jolie only invited about twenty prominent socialites and billionaires. Harrell was a given, as the artist's boss. Luther, Zane Ziegler, and Yorick Lynn all attended. Even first-generation tycoons like Colin Sutton were present. It was a pity that Soren was still out of the country and couldn't attend, or Jolie would have been eager to network with him.

Naomi Zeller's arrival was a pleasant surprise.

As the representative for the French perfumery Mokshalia, she was young and highly successful.

Jolie had a dual strategy: first, use Naomi to cozy up to the young elites; second, use the heirs to lure Naomi into a deep corporate partnership with Mokshalia.

One had to admit, the woman had a knack for maneuvering.

Naomi did indeed draw attention.

Several people in the circle repeatedly extended overtures.

Colin Sutton, swirling a glass of red wine, looked at Luther with unconcealed envy. "Ms. Lovell is remarkably capable. You're a lucky man to have such an incredible woman by your side, Luther."

Luther simply smiled.

His eyes were fixed on one of The Bibliophile's works.

—First Love

It wasn't a portrait, but a painting of the ocean. The profound, bottomless blue and bold use of color bore the distinct hallmarks of Zoltan Varga's style, yet the brushstrokes were far more delicate by comparison.

For some inexplicable reason, Luther fell in love with it.

He turned to Harrell. "Can't this be purchased in advance?"

Harrell chuckled softly. "Come on, Luther, you've got to be kidding me. Didn't we agree this was an exhibition-only preview? Trying to hog it all to yourself so you can admire it at home?"

Luther genuinely loved the piece.

He downed his wine in one gulp.

"Five million. Ask the artist."

Harrell actually made the call.

He assumed Hilda would decline, since this was strictly a viewing. To his surprise, she immediately agreed. "Sell it to him for ten million. But only this one. Save the rest for the gallery exhibition. Once the payment clears, have June draft a PR piece and push some traffic to it."

—Alright then.

Harrell was incredibly surprised.

Hilda was far sharper and more capable than he'd imagined.

She had a flawless grasp of commercial strategy.

Harrell ended the call and looked at Luther—

"The artist says ten million."

The others grew restless, eager to buy.

But Harrell shut it down. Luther's piece was the only exception. Everything else had to wait for the gallery opening and the artist's official reveal—whenever inspiration and the artist's mood permitted.

Jolie sat on the sofa.

A glass of wine in hand.

She surveyed the room, as if looking over her very own kingdom.

Tonight had been a massive success.

She had successfully courted Naomi.

Luther's faith in her abilities had only deepened.

At the height of the evening, Naomi's gaze fell on the signature of one of the paintings.

Coincidentally, this was a piece Hilda had finished recently.

It hadn't been stamped with a seal. It was signed by hand. The elegant script of The Bibliophile looked identical to one specific person's handwriting.

—Her guardian angel.

Naomi's breathing hitched. Her guardian angel was The Bibliophile, the artist who was about to take the world by storm!