[265] Covert Gallery 3
“Bets. How do you usually do clandestine trading in the black market?”
“If the work is appraised and confirmed to be genuine, the seller pays the way he wants. Cash if not wire transfer for large amounts.”
“The contract?”
She snorted at my stupid question.
“It’s literally a black market. There is no such thing as a contract.”
I thought of my grandmother’s way of trading.
She is an old woman who runs a forgery expert and even a smuggling ring. It is unknown whether the forgery will be made and stored this time, but smuggling will be unavoidable if the painting is to be brought here to New York.
Bette Potter’s eyes widened as she looked at me, lost in thought.
“Do you think Sunyang Gallery will trade like a black market?”
“yes. So, no matter what conditions you put on me, I will listen to you.”
“no way! Why would you do such a thing in a place like Sunyang Gallery? I can understand the non-disclosure and the secrecy of the agreement, but there is no reason to make the transaction itself illegal, right?”
How would a woman who has lived only thinking about art all her life understand my family without pandemonium?
“ABC. Even if you’re curious, don’t be curious about unnecessary places. Just think about what you get from this deal. $3 million in donations annually. And maybe masterpieces that can be displayed forever. You shouldn’t miss something like this out of curiosity, right?”
Bette Potter, who laughed and said this, realized that it was a serious warning, and kept her mouth shut with a hard face.
“Now, this is the condition we will present. I’ll make some concessions to make things easier for the other side. You can give up even the amount, but one thing you can never back down on is the contract.”
“But, from the current estimate, it seems impossible?”
“Without a contract, there is no deal. In addition, the contract must be accompanied by the handwritten signature of the actual owner of Sunyang Gallery, not the formal gallery director.”
“A real owner? Who is that?”
“The Chairman of the Sunyang Art Foundation.”
She must be in the mood to wrap her head around it. Requiring the handwritten signature of the president of the foundation for illegal transactions means not to do transactions.
I raised my hand to cover her mouth before she could say anything.
“do. One transaction brings in $600 million. The chairman of the Sunyang Foundation is not one to miss this opportunity.”
“Does anyone know? Oh family…?”
“I told you. Unnecessary curiosity is forbidden.”
She spoke carefully before closing her mouth again.
“If I could give you one tip, say it. Asian companies, especially Japanese and Korean companies, know very well that they do not have the authority of the person in charge. You can trust it only when you directly confirm that it is the decision of the chief executive. Of course, the contract will be kept strictly confidential and will never be disclosed. Non-disclosure provisions may be specified in the contract. If this is enough, the other side will accept it.”
“What if I refuse?”
“Nail me there is no deal. don’t be pushed Then you will be able to get the contract.”
Grandma, who is unaware of the fact that Vice Chairman Dong-Gi Dong and I promised joint voting rights, will pour all the money she has in order to accumulate even a little more stock in Soon-Yang.
However, it is hard to imagine that it will shake off a whopping 600 billion won. Reluctantly, I will pick up a pen and write my first and last name clearly on the contract.
* * *
“630 million.”
“$600 million. This is a sober assessment. For more than this, leave it to Christina Sotheby’s. You will definitely be able to receive more than 630 million. But considering the exorbitant fees the auction house would take, $600 million more would be more substantial, right?”
Looking at Bett Porter’s confident expression, Secretary Song could sense that her judgment was correct.
“Excuse me for a moment. It’s kind of hard for me to decide… It looks like something that needs to be approved.”
“However much.”
Bet Porter smiled bitterly when she saw Secretary Song hurriedly taking out her cell phone and going outside. Jin Do-jun’s words were not wrong at all. I flew all the way to the faraway United States, but I have no decision power.
It was difficult to understand with her common sense. Wouldn’t it be necessary to come all the way to a business trip if there was no right to decide? Even if you are not the decision maker, isn’t it common sense to hold meetings and negotiate when you are delegated the authority and responsible for everything?
While thinking about this, Secretary Song, who had gone outside, returned with a smile.
“great. Let’s do it for $600 million.”
The man’s patronizing manner as if it were his own decision made Bet Potter barely restrain himself from bursting into laughter.
“Thank you for the tough decision. Have you passed the hangobi now?”
“yes? What do you mean…?”
“well. I feel like I will have to go through a lot of really tough hurdles to get the deal done.”
Bette Potter took a deep breath and spoke to Secretary Song.
“Based on what Mr. Song said last time, it doesn’t seem like a normal transaction, so I’ll tell you the terms of the deal first. At least my career on this floor seems to be a lot longer.”
She said, recalling Jin Do-jun’s thoughts and words.
“The price of the work is transferred to an account of your choice from there. I would like to send the 10% down payment first and receive the work from the gallery storage here. Of course, we have to go through the experts’ opinions, right? After the appraisal is over and we confirm that it is genuine, we will send you the balance right away. It’s a secret deal, of course. How is it?”
Secretary Song’s face brightened.
“You are quick-witted. That’s how we want it.”
“Since you did what you wanted, I believe that you will listen to the very minor conditions I want.”
“Please speak.”
“Should we make a contract exactly as I just said? How to pay the price When to deliver the work…”
“The actual contract…?”
“I’m not done talking yet.”
At her firm voice, Secretary Song closed her mouth.
“Finally, please sign the contract with your hand. This kind of uncertain secret transaction requires confirmation from the owner of the work.”
“The owner of the work is Sunyang Gallery…”
“No. I’m talking about the real owner. The same Mr. Song called just a moment ago. Madam Lee, Chairman of the Sunyang Art Foundation.”
Secretary Song couldn’t think of anything to say, so he blinked.
“Of course, I will get the autograph myself. If Madame Lee is inconvenient to come to New York, someone from our side will go to Korea.”
“That seems difficult, no impossible.”
I managed to open my mouth, but Bette Potter said with a gentle smile.
“It’s about transferring $600 million to an untraceable account. Don’t you think I’m asking too much? And I accepted all of their tough demands. If I can’t even sign a basic contract like this, then what do I trust in trading?”
“Oh no… that’s what I mean…”
Bette Potter interrupted him with a short wave of his hand.
“I’m sorry, but doesn’t Mr. Song have the right to decide? Why don’t you call again now and get approved? Really, please tell me this. If you do not accept my terms, this deal will never have happened.”
Secretary Song, whose complexion had turned a pitch black earthy color, took out his cell phone again and went outside.
* * *
“Really? Are you crazy? You’re determined to catch Grandma!”
“What else are you talking about so harshly?”
“The moment you sign the contract, it’s a borrowed-name account that was smuggled out… no. If you receive 600 million dollars, you must have an overseas account, so it is a violation of the Foreign Exchange Management Act. The last time Foundation property was stolen, so it’s embezzlement. With this amount of money, it would be impossible to collect milk? Even the best lawyer is five years.”
Oh Se-hyun, who was enjoying another vacation in New York, stuck out her tongue after hearing all the circumstances.
“Wouldn’t you be forced to retire at that point?”
“Forced retirement…”
Oh Se-hyeon still had a doubtful look on his face.
“By the way, Do-joon.”
“yes.”
“If you have stocks in borrowed names, it would be difficult to find them, right? What if your grandma bites her teeth and ends up in prison? Borrowed-name shares can be moved even in prison.”
I laughed. Oh Se-hyun doesn’t know our family very well yet.
“uncle.”
“huh.”
“My grandmother can’t stand the interrogation room at the Prosecutor’s Office, let alone a prison cell. This is the one who has lived without lifting a finger for over thirty years. If it’s not a Barcelona chair that costs millions of won, would you sit on a chair in the interrogation room if you can’t put your butt on?”
“By the way… would you sign a real contract? You don’t sign anything other than personnel issues to avoid taking responsibility for your family.”
“It’s a whopping $600 million. For those in need of money, this amount would be a great temptation. Selling all 30 of those expensive paintings at once. It will take years to safely sell them one by one, but I never refuse.”
My guess won’t be wrong. If you don’t want to sign it yourself, you’ll have to use another method. Plan B is an unrefined rough way, but what about it? It would be fun to show the ignorant grandson to the grandma who pretends to be noble.
* * *
“You do the right thing.”
“There are rumors about her as a competent woman. The New York Art Center tried to scout him for a manager, but he did not like being bound by tradition and customs, so he took on a small gallery that he could run as he pleased.”
“Why do I have to listen to her proud story?”
“I’m sorry.”
The man reporting to Mrs. Lee Pil-ok hurriedly lowered his head.
“Even if I pretend to be proud, I’m a bitch who sells paintings anyway. The gallery is just a relay store. Are you pouring $600 million into a work that the gallery that exhibits is not even able to hang?”
Mrs. Lee Pil-ok was convinced. This is what American signs collect.
“All of our paintings are bought by individuals. That bitch is doing her best to earn a hefty brokerage fee through this deal. If you lose credit to a rich sponsor, your money-making ends. I kicked the New York Arts Center director position because I couldn’t make money like this.”
Mrs. Lee Pil-ok believed that the only reason a person who had skills and was recognized for their skills turned down an honorable position was because of money.
The man who had bowed his head carefully opened his mouth, examining her eyes.
“What shall I do? Shall I call the Insa-dong Wizard and give him instructions?”
“it’s okay. When do you work on something worth 30 points? I wouldn’t be able to finish it within this year. Contact Young-gi and tell him to prepare a chartered flight. It’s been a while since I’ve had some fresh air from New York.”
“Yes, Chairman. This time, too, the same way…?”
“okay. Tell Secretary Ah Song to prepare a table for dinner with the Consulate General in New York. I have to say sorry because they need help.”
“All right. I will prepare to tidy up my New York apartment.”
“no. You don’t have to. I want to stay at a hotel this time.”
“yes. Chairman.”
When the man left, Mrs. Lee Pil-ok put on reading glasses, opened her notebook, and looked at the details written in detail before picking up the receiver.
Hearing a polite voice over the receiver, he spoke in a fast voice uncharacteristic of an old man.
“Sunyang Electronics, Sunyang Heavy Industries, and Sunyang Life Insurance…”
After saying the names of Sunyang affiliates for a while, he closed his notebook and took off his glasses.
“Find out the fluctuations in stock prices and market volume. Also look for institutions that can be massively acquired.”
After the call, Mrs. Lee felt her heart race for the first time in a long time when she thought of the stocks she could buy with 600 million dollars.
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