Chapter 359 Antique
I knew that every Tuesday afternoon, Nicholas would hit up an art gallery to check out the paintings and catch up with his buddies. I also knew that while he claimed to be an antique expert, he was actually knee-deep in smuggling artifacts.
A few days later, I picked out a classy antique and headed to the gallery Nicholas liked to visit.
The gallery was decked out with sculptures and plants, with soft lighting giving the place a calm, artsy vibe. The paintings were stunning.
I quickly spotted Nicholas; he was standing in front of an abstract painting, his head tilted slightly as he studied it, a glass of red wine in hand.
"Hey, Godfather, it's been a while! How have you been?" I approached him with a carefully crafted smile. Nicholas turned, a flicker of surprise in his eyes, followed by a warm smile. He asked, "Diana, what brings you here today?"
I carefully placed the box with the antique on a nearby display table. I replied, "I came across something special and thought of you. I know you've got an eye for these things, so I brought it for you to check out and to catch up."
Nicholas's eyes lit up instantly, his gaze locked on the box. He set down his wine glass, rubbed his hands together, and leaned in a bit. "Really? You always had great taste. If you think it's worth my time, it must be something special."
I gently opened the box, revealing the antique. Nicholas's eyes widened, and he reached out with both hands, then stopped, like he was afraid to mess it up.
After a moment, he carefully picked up the antique, squinting as he examined it inch by inch under the gallery's soft lighting, occasionally exclaiming in awe. He exclaimed, "The craftsmanship, the material—this is truly a rare gem!"
Soon, Nicholas's gaze shifted from warm to intensely greedy. He swallowed hard, his voice tightening. "Diana, where did you get this treasure?"
Sensing his greed, I kept my cool smile and replied calmly, "A friend gave it to me. I don't know much about antiques, but I knew you'd appreciate it, so I brought it to you."
Nicholas's eyes never left the antique as he gently caressed its edges, muttering, "Your friend must be quite something to have such a valuable item."
He looked up sharply and asked, "Diana, are you really willing to give this to me?"
I smiled generously. "Godfather, I just hope you like it. It deserves a good home with you."
Nicholas nodded, still admiring the antique, muttering to himself, "This is a real treasure."
After a while, he reluctantly returned the antique to the box and handed it to his assistant. He picked up his wine glass, took a slow sip, and then spoke. "Diana, how's that tech project you promised to help Lucas with coming along?"
Nicholas had taken that project from me, so I knew it inside and out. Knowing I carried David's expectations, I had to humble myself.I immediately perked up and started my report. "Godfather, don't worry; the project's going great. We've finished the initial market research and nailed down the key needs for data processing efficiency and information security."
"Did you do all this for Lucas?" Nicholas seemed surprised.
I replied, "The project isn't too tough. We just hit a snag with a core patent. It took a lot of time and effort, but I finally got in touch with the patent holder."
Nicholas, intrigued by the mention of a key patent, asked, "Who is this person? They must be quite capable."
"A programmer," I replied honestly. "Godfather, don't worry. After negotiations, we secured the authorization and favorable terms, removing the biggest obstacle. The project is now steadily advancing."
Nicholas nodded, a smile forming on his face. He said, "Diana, those technical terms are beyond me. I'm only interested in how much profit this project will bring."
Hearing this, I quickly shifted the conversation. "Godfather, from a profit standpoint, the outlook is very promising. Thanks to our cost-control measures, we conservatively estimate a net profit of $50 million in the first year, with a market share of 15%. As we update the product and expand the market, profits will continue to grow significantly."
The project was indeed lucrative, which was why Nicholas had taken it from me. After I finished, Nicholas nodded, satisfied.
Seizing the moment, I hesitated briefly before speaking softly. "Godfather, besides the antique and the project update, there's something else I need to discuss with you."
Nicholas raised an eyebrow, curious. He said, "Go on."
I took a deep breath and remarked, "Recently, the Wilson family has encountered some issues."
I deliberately left it at that. Nicholas's previously smiling face froze, a flicker of caution appearing in his eyes.
After a brief pause, he spoke slowly, his voice measured and inquisitive. "The Wilson family? You bring this antique and then mention the Wilson family. Did someone from the Wilson family give you this?"
He picked up the antique again, this time with a scrutinizing look.
"David asked me to bring it to you," I admitted, knowing there was no point in lying to Nicholas.
"Diana, don't try to deceive me. Speak plainly," Nicholas said sternly, his eyes fixed on me.
I looked worried. "Godfather, you know that after Lanny's incident, the Wilson Group's partners have been pulling out. If this continues, the Wilson Group might not survive," I said.
Nicholas's expression grew tense, his eyes brimming with unmasked disdain. He slammed his wine glass down on the table, the sharp sound ringing out as the wine splattered onto the nearby carpet.
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