Chapter 171 Re-examination
Mindy's words hit me right in the feels. I realized that it ain't just love and family that can warm my heart, but good ol' friendship too.
So, ten days after the car crash, which was also my second day outta the hospital, Larry hit me up saying he had something big to talk about and asked if I could swing by his office.
My hand was busted, not my legs, so duh, I could go.
Plus, Larry sounded kinda hyped, like he had some good news, so I was definitely down to go.
Clutching my left hand, still wrapped up after getting the cast off, with my right hand, I strolled through campus. Got a bunch of looks from teachers and students, but whatever, I made my way to Larry's office.
Larry hit me with two pieces of news.
First, the results from that competition I entered were out, and guess what? I snagged second place and bagged $150,000 after taxes. He hyped me up to finish my current project even better.
Second, some company was digging my competition entry. They were working on a real estate project and had hit up a bunch of famous painters and designers for wall murals, but none of them cut it.
But my entry, as a newbie, caught their eye. They tracked Larry down through some connections and wanted me to design the murals for each floor of their buildings.
"Larry, I've never really studied design, I just know how to paint. If I screw up such a big project, I can't afford to pay them back. The job sounds awesome, but I don't think I can handle it, so I better pass," I said, scratching my head, feeling all kinds of unsure.
Larry, looking all disappointed and annoyed, rolled up the papers in his hand like he was gonna whack me. I quickly raised my injured hand, and he backed off. "They're not asking you to design the building. They'll give you all the details on each floor's style and what needs to be painted. You just gotta create the artwork based on their ideas. And you won't be painting directly on the walls; you'll scale it down, and they'll use tech to transfer it to the walls. Don't tell me you ain't confident in your painting skills. I'm not forcing you, but don't go around saying you're my student if you refuse; I can't handle that embarrassment."
"Larry, I know you're trying to push my buttons. I'm thinking about your rep, so I don't dare take the job. If it goes south, people won't know who Jane is, but they'll definitely know Larry, right?"
I tried to reason with him, but Larry was stubborn as a mule.
"Cut it out. If you're scared, just say so, and I'll turn them down. But it's a shame, $4 million, such a shame."
$4 million?
"Wait, how much, Larry? How much did you say?" I perked up instantly, not even feeling the pain in my injured hand.
That number was insane.
With that kind of cash, I could basically kiss financial worries goodbye.
Larry gave me a sly grin, pointing at me. "Nothing I say works, but mention money and your eyes light up. Little money-grubber. $4 million, you in?"
"Of course, I'm in. You recommended it yourself. As your top student, I can't say no, right?"
Who in their right mind would turn down that kind of cash? Not me, that's for sure.
I practically floated back home.
'But hey, I'm not all about the money. I wouldn't sell out my principles for it; otherwise, I would've said yes to Louis ages ago. Money I earn with my own skills? That's guilt-free spending.' I reassured myself.
Back at the apartment, I bumped into the delivery guy at the door and grabbed my food.
With one arm out of commission, I fumbled to unlock the door without dropping lunch all over the place.
Just as I set everything down and hadn't even washed my hands, Brad's video call popped up.
Brad's handsome face, even on a screen, made my heart skip a beat.
"What do you need?" I couldn't help but grin.
"You look so happy. What's the good news?"
I couldn't wait to brag to Brad about the $4 million. "I've never done that kind of painting before, but $4 million? Totally worth it. Now I'm kinda freaking out. What if I mess it up? Will they make me pay it back?"
"No way, there's no painting you can't handle. The project won't start right away. When Daniel's better, I can help you out. If you hit a snag, ask Larry. Plus, I have a couple of college buddies at Regalia who are into this kind of design. You can hit them up for advice too. Don't sweat it; the beginning's always the hardest. You'll crush it."
"$4 million, that's a ton of money. Could it be a scam?"
Brad chuckled, his eyes twinkling. "No chance. I've heard of that real estate project. It's a multi-billion dollar deal. Your $4 million is just a drop in the bucket. If you nail it, there could be even more in store."
"That must be some fancy digs for the super-rich. Now I'm freaking out again. What if I mess up?" I flopped onto the bed, yelling.
I was worried about not being up to the task, but not that worried. I just wanted Brad to hype me up.
"My darling, you got this."
With Brad's pep talk, my confidence shot back up. After chatting for a bit, Brad mentioned that Daniel had a full check-up in the afternoon, so he might not have time to video call me.
I told Brad not to stress about me and to keep me posted on the check-up results.
That evening, Brad didn't call. I wanted to check in but didn't want to bug them, so I decided to wait. Brad would let me know if there was any news.
I slept like a baby and got up early the next morning, ready for class.
With my hand messed up, I couldn't carry books like usual, so I found a bag to sling over my shoulder.
As I was heading to the cafeteria, Brad called. I answered, all excited to show off my new look, but Brad's face was serious, his eyes filled with deep sadness.
A wave of anxiety hit me, and I instantly thought of Daniel's check-up results. Could it be bad news?
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