Chapter 206 Princess Charlie
Hearing his angry and embarrassed complaints, Natalie just smiled and relaxed. "That piece of land was becoming a hot potato. He wanted it, so I let him have it."
"But I got a good beating for nothing!" Charlie groaned in pain over the phone, feeling extremely aggrieved.
His voice softened. "You didn't even come to see me?"
Natalie smirked, "It wouldn't help if I came to see you, Princess Charlie."
There was a moment of silence on the line.
Charlie sharply inhaled, his face flushing with anger. Gritting his teeth, he snapped, "How can you mock me?"
Natalie chuckled, "You drama queen, just stay home and own up to your mistake. Otherwise, next time you might not even have the energy to pick up the phone!"
Charlie didn't say a word and hung up in anger. He felt like he could live a few years less!
As night fell, Natalie dealt with some documents for a while and then went to rest, having a sound sleep all night.
In the morning, as light streamed in, Natalie stretched and got out of bed. Aaron came with a driver to pick her up for the opening ceremony of an international convention center.
In the car, Natalie reviewed materials along the way, and soon they arrived.
Inside the exhibition hall of the international convention center, the opening ceremony was simple yet grand, attended by high society individuals.
Natalie declined the personal reception from the convention center's president. As soon as she got out of the car, she took Aaron to the art exhibition area.
Different styles, like Romantic Realism and Abstract Century, were displayed in the same area, separated by semi-open walls. Most of the exhibited artworks were rare collections, making them even more precious.
She stopped to seriously appreciate almost every painting. Seeing her engrossed, Aaron went off to look at what he liked.
Natalie's gaze fell upon the final painting, shrouded in a black cloth that concealed its contents. She hesitated, briefly considering if it was a mistake by the staff.
Picking up a tool from a nearby table, she delicately lifted the black cloth, unveiling a portion of the expansive painting, gradually revealing its hidden beauty.
What lay before her was a scene of profound darkness, dominated by a grand door adorned with gold and precious jewels at its center. The door stood slightly ajar, allowing a beam of sunlight to stream in like a sharp sword, cutting through the darkness. In the doorway stood the silhouette of a young girl, dressed in a flowing crimson gown that accentuated her graceful figure. Her long, slightly curled hair cascaded over her shoulders, blending with the shadows of the night.
The suffocating and anticipatory feeling intertwined complexly in this painting. The heavy and the glamorous intertwined, creating a very mysterious vibe.
Her hand tensed slightly, her gaze fixed in place. The scene unfolding before her felt eerily familiar.
"Natalie?" A gentle voice called her name from behind.
Natalie turned around instinctively, breaking into a smile as she recognized the person standing there. "Aunt Aaliyah?"
Charlie's mother, Aaliyah. She had been vacationing in Eldoria, and it seemed she had returned in high spirits.
"It really is you. I recognized you from your back," said Aaliyah.
Natalie took a step forward, embracing Aaliyah warmly, only to notice Lillian standing beside her. Her smile widened as she greeted her, "Ms. Garcia? What a surprise."
Lillian responded with a polite smile, still carrying the weight of their previous tense exchange in her mind. Despite the lingering tension, she chose to maintain a civil demeanor in Aaliyah's presence, aiming to keep the atmosphere amicable.
"Ms. Clark, I didn't realize you had an interest in art exhibitions as well," Lillian remarked.
Natalie returned the smile, detecting the underlying sarcasm in Lillian's words. "Could it be that in Ms. Garcia's eyes, my interests are solely driven by financial gain?"
Aaliyah was slightly taken aback, sensing the tension between the two. Just as she was about to speak, the exhibition hall's president, Bob, came running over.
"Mrs. Walker, Ms. Clark, I apologize for any shortcomings in my hospitality. Is there any painting you fancy?"
Lillian immediately spoke up, "This painting is quite nice. Aunt Aaliyah likes it too. How about I buy it for you?"
Aaliyah paused, a satisfied smile appearing on her face. "You don't have to go to such expense. You are the guest," said Aaliyah.
Lillian, being generous and wanting to please Aaliyah, wouldn't miss this good opportunity. She immediately turned to the exhibition hall's president, Bob. "This one, please wrap it up."
Bob decisively shook his head and refused, "Sorry..."
