[264] Secret gallery 2
“Ah, when contacting Sunyang Gallery, you can buy a few works from other places as well, so as not to give the impression that you only buy works from that gallery. You don’t have to worry about the cost.”
“Could you excuse me for a minute?”
Bette Potter hurriedly took Rachel’s hand and went outside. The two reappeared after talking for about ten minutes.
“I’m sorry, Howard. I was a bit rude.”
“no. it’s okay. I said something that embarrasses everyone.”
“I will ask you one thing. If I cannot purchase Sunyang Gallery’s work, will the Wentworth Art Gallery’s support be lost?”
“You must have already told me? I’m no stranger to art. It will be something that never happened.”
Bette Potter bit her lip.
It is clear that it is an uncomfortable condition to bite into.
“Finally… this will be a personal question, is that okay?”
“Tell me. If it’s a question that’s difficult to answer, I won’t comment.”
“I heard that Howard is the family of the owner of the Sunyang Group. Sunyang Gallery is also a foundation run by the group. But why are you making things so complicated?”
“It’s a complex family matter, so no comment. Hehe.”
She saw my smile and shrugged.
“okay. Let’s try it.”
“Not enough.”
“yes?”
“Try it? Then, if you approach Sunyang Gallery with your heart, you won’t even get a decent answer. Sunyang Gallery will be unlocked only when it is approached with a perfect plan without a single needle hole. All the things that sit behind the name Sunyang are monsters.”
I raised my finger and pointed at me.
“Look at me, do I look like a guy with common sense?”
* * *
“What did the two of you talk about outside?”
“They asked what your identity was.”
“So what did you say?”
“I told you not to question it and to do what you want. Then he sneakily informed me that life would change.”
“Do you think you will listen to Rachel?”
“Maybe… no, hardly.”
“Why are you so sure?”
“Bet Porter has skills and ambition at the bottom. Just haven’t had any luck yet. The art side is a bit conservative, but she tends to be a bit radical.”
“It’s like I’m covering that peculiarity with money.”
“It’s not like I care too much anyway. No matter how successful the gallery is, it will leave you with a profit equivalent to your pocket money.”
“My allowance is not much. I don’t have time to spend money.”
What Rachel said was true. Bet Porter did not hesitate in devising a meticulous plan for his own ambitions and put it into action immediately.
The first was just rumors.
It was rumored that the Wentworth Art Gallery met a huge number of patrons, and even though it fell far short of the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York, it was not a dream to grow into one of three private galleries.
As if to back up the rumors, galleries all over the world as well as the United States received an e-mail from the Wentworth Art Gallery.
A list of works you would like to purchase from each gallery’s collection is also included.
You can’t joke around with this. It is common sense that Wentworth Art Gallery as well as Bet Porter are buried in this industry if you just poke and check the price.
Of course, Sunyang Gallery also received the same email.
* * *
The managers of Sunyang Gallery did not worry too much about the e-mail. This is because the New York subsidiary of Sunyang Group investigated and confirmed the authenticity.
“This can be seen as the meaning of a new transformation.”
“That’s right. It is safe to say that it is an official proposal if it is said that rumors have already spread all over New York.”
“By the way, will the chairman sell the painting? Doesn’t anyone stop the greed for art?”
“I still have to see. Didn’t you always say it like a habit? Be sure to report the offer to buy the painting. Only then can we know the actual present value of the work.”
“Then let’s see. Director Elizabeth Porter is said to have a good reputation in New York. It wouldn’t hurt to take this opportunity to build a relationship with our gallery.”
They uploaded the investigation materials and e-mails of the New York corporation to Mrs. Lee Pil-ok, the chairman of the foundation.
Mrs. Lee Pil-ok looked closely at the report posted by the head of the gallery’s operations department and opened her mouth.
“Are you sure? You want to buy our painting? Do you have the ability to live?”
“It seems so. It is a fact confirmed by the New York corporation.”
“okay? Okay, let’s go.”
“yes. Chairman.”
As soon as the head of the operation headquarters lowered her head and left, Mrs. Lee Pil-ok pressed the intercom.
“Tell Secretary Song to come in.”
Within a minute, a man in his forties entered and bowed.
“Did you find it?”
“Look at this.”
She handed out the report.
Secretary Song checked her e-mail carefully and then raised her head.
“how is it? Aren’t you okay?”
“Chairman. Anything on this list that I have already secretly sold…”
Secretary Song calmed down.
“know. So let’s re-list what we have. Choose something worthwhile.”
“yes.”
Secretary Song tried to leave, but Mrs. Lee Pil-ok’s instructions did not end.
“Are you going to New York? Meet the kid who sent the mail there, whether it’s the porter or the truck. Also to see if they accept our terms or not.”
“yes. Chairman.”
When Secretary Song left, her face turned red. I wanted to make good use of this opportunity because the right watering can appeared when I had to pour it generously.
* * *
“I was waiting. Mr Song. How was your flight?”
“It was good. Thank you for being so welcoming.”
Bet Porter did not expect such a quick response at Sunyang Gallery.
I only guessed that the reason for the quick reply to the e-mail and the rush to the point of wanting to meet and discuss it was because of the complicated circumstances, as Jin Do-jun said.
“You are quite aggressive in purchasing art. Is this the gallery’s policy?”
“Rather than a policy, it would be more accurate to say that it is being reborn. Because a full-fledged supporter appeared.”
Secretary Song’s eyes sparkled at her explanation.
“Could you please tell me who the sponsor is?”
Bet Potter’s eyebrows went up as soon as he first saw this man who spoke as if he were interrogating him.
“Unfortunately, I cannot tell you that. That’s strange. It is our gallery, not the sponsor, who purchases the painting.”
“Oh, excuse me. In fact, it is because our Sunyang Gallery sells works only to individuals.”
“Isn’t it a well-known fact that the gallery’s main customers are individuals? Are you thinking of doing business with the sponsor through us?”
“It’s presumptuous, but it is. Is it possible?”
Bet Porter was difficult to understand. Anyway, the purchase price of the painting comes through the sponsor. Even if you deal directly with the sponsor, isn’t it the same result if the sponsor donates the painting to the gallery?
This man, who flew far away from Korea, is just talking nonsense.
The only difference between a gallery and a private transaction is whether the painting is hung in a public space or a private space.
Bet Porter finally noticed the deal this man wanted.
“Perhaps… the public disclosure of the painting is not allowed and the fact of the transaction is also to be carried out in secret?”
Secretary Song’s expression brightened.
“Exactly. That’s the deal we want.”
“It’s also a common condition in peer-to-peer transactions.”
Many works of art disappear in this way.
If so, does that mean that even if our gallery buys it, there will be no problem as long as the conditions are met?”
“Yes, but can a gallery not be open to the public?”
“It will have to be discussed at the board, but it is not impossible. The works owned by Sunyang Gallery are masterpieces. It might be possible if you think about preservation…”
After she responded positively, Secretary Song advanced the conversation a bit.
“Would you like to take a look at this?”
He took out a thick file folder from his bag.
“Some of the works you have requested are not available for sale. This is a list of works available for sale. Please review.”
When Bet Porter received the list, Secretary Song slightly bowed her head.
“Then, please contact me as soon as you have a conclusion. How long will it take?”
“I will let you know by the day after tomorrow at the latest. Would it be okay?”
“of course. then.”
When Secretary Song left, Bette Porter let out a short sigh.
I was really curious about what was going on at a Korean company famous for mobile phones.
* * *
“As expected, that’s the condition.”
The terms of the transaction that Bet Porter informed proved that the report by Woo Byung-joon was true.
How many artworks are stored in the storage of Sunyang Gallery? I think I can assure you that all of the works costing hundreds of millions of won, which take a while for a special exhibition, are all.
“Let’s look at the list you got from them.”
I compared the list of artworks at Sunyang Gallery that managing director Byung-Jun Woo had researched, sorted out the missing pieces, and handed them over to Bet Porter.
“I don’t think Sunyang Gallery will sell it. How much is it worth?”
As she flicked her fingers through the list, she couldn’t keep her mouth shut. When her fingers stopped moving, she shook her head.
“No one can predict the winning price for these works if they are auctioned off at Christie’s right now. If the auction were to be held at the same time, the world-class riches would be so competitive that they would jump to the ceiling?”
“I didn’t ask for an exact price. Give me a rough guess.”
After thinking about it again, the number finally came out of her mouth.
“At least $2 billion.”
There must have been a lot of things already sold a long time ago, so even if you catch half, the grandmother has more than 1 trillion won in stocks. Now I have to uncover all of my grandmother’s hidden wealth.
“Then, how much would it take to purchase all the works from Sunyang Gallery?”
She looked at me strangely, who didn’t even blink at the word 2 billion dollars, and was surprised again.
“entire?”
“yes. Of course, the other side will offer a price, but you can’t accept it unconditionally, right? So you have to think of the most optimal amount that will not break the deal.”
“$600 million.”
I answered without hesitation, as if I had already completed the calculation.
“Let’s buy them all.”
I didn’t hesitate either.
Bette Potter looked surprised and delighted, but I immediately applied the brakes.
“Wait a minute Bet. This is not a donation. The purchaser of the painting will either be Miracle or me. It is simply rented to the Wentworth Art Gallery free of charge. It has to be done correctly.”
Disappointment crossed her face, but since this was also a common way of giving, she nodded.
But he soon frowned.
“Oh… what does all this mean if our gallery can’t exhibit the works even if they accept them?”
Her sad heart was conveyed.
Aren’t you the kind of person who thinks that just wrapping up a masterpiece and keeping it deep underground is an insult to the work?
I smiled quietly at her.
“At least one year is the longest. After a year, I will make it so that the works can be revealed to the world.”
“really?”
“of course. But before that, we have to close the deal, right?”
“If you agree to that condition, the deal is no different from having already been concluded.”
“Is this your first time trading?… Now that you’ve heard the terms on the other side, now you have to present the terms on this side as well.”
Her confused feeling was revealed in my smiling face.
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