[266]Secret Gallery 4
Bet Potter drank water in succession to soothe his bubbling stomach.
It was the first time Bette Porter actually met because the chairman of the Sunyang Art Foundation, a big hand in the art world, swept the auction house with an agent.
However, he didn’t even look at himself, and the eerie attitude of looking down was no different from how a white supremacist treats his own dark skin.
“I don’t think there will be any issues with the terms of the contract. However, we have added a more stringent clause, please check it out.”
If it wasn’t for the lawyer who came with the chairman, the board would have already been overturned. Fluent English and gentlemanly courtesy sustained her perseverance.
“If the contents of the transaction are disclosed and non-fulfillment is confirmed, and it is confirmed that the cause is the Wentworth Art Gallery, we must pay a triple penalty.”
Bet Potter did not forget Jin Do-jun’s request.
A handwritten signature on the contract!
It was a promise that it would be okay to give up everything if I could get that.
“great. But I think this clause should apply equally to both parties?”
At her answer, the lawyer’s eyes twinkled.
“Oh, yes. By the way… is the person who wants this work not a gallery, but an individual? Wentworth Art Gallery is just an agent…?”
“It’s not in the contract, so you don’t have to answer, right?”
She didn’t miss the twitching of the eyebrows of the old woman who was sitting there. That old woman must understand English.
“Oh, excuse me.”
The lawyer lightly bowed his head and took out the papers again.
“This is an insurance policy. It is a certificate that immediately pays three times the amount of the transaction, or $1.8 billion, when the contents of the contract are disclosed due to our problems and if any of the contents of the contract are breached. I want to avoid the hassle of standing in court and arguing over contract violations.”
I didn’t expect it to come this far. The lawyer raised the corner of his mouth as Bette Porter stared blankly at the insurance policy.
“Considering the financial situation of a small gallery in New York, isn’t this kind of safety device natural? We don’t think either you or the Wentworth Gallery can come close to asking for $1.8 billion. So, you need a solid safety device. Do you understand?”
“Ah yes.”
“Our foundation’s credit rating is world-class, so it didn’t cost a lot to get insurance. It was 5.4 million dollars…. It worked cheaply.”
When Bet Potter thought of her own gallery, her eyes widened. Even with the background of Sunyang Group, one of Korea’s leading conglomerates, if it is 5.4 million dollars, your insurance amount will easily exceed 10 million dollars.
She was equally ashamed of herself for laughing at Secretary Song. The appearance of an agent without decision power must be shown in front of them.
“Could you excuse me for a second? Call me…”
She took out her phone and Secretary Song, who was sitting with her, said with a smile.
“However much.”
Bette Potter hurriedly came out with a red face.
After she disappeared, Mrs. Lee Pil-ok opened her mouth.
“I don’t know who he’s calling right now, but that person is the water supply.”
“okay. It looks like we’ve got a great sponsor.”
“In the end, for a bitch with a smooth face, her body is more of a weapon than her head. shallow things.”
Convinced that she had already run the road to success using her body, Mrs. Lee clicked her tongue and moistened her lips with wine.
“I will buy insurance right away. I will tell you by tomorrow at the latest.”
“Your decision maker is quick to handle things.”
Bette Potter jumped up from her seat as Secretary Song’s grin caught in her ears.
“I apologize for my rudeness earlier. Mr. Song.”
When Secretary Song was taken aback by the polite apology, she turned to everyone and said:
“I’ll bring the insurance certificate tomorrow, so I sign the contract then. then.”
As Bet Porter was about to collect the contract, he heard a rough voice. in clear English.
“Wait a Second”
Mrs. Lee Pil-ok took the contract lying on the table in front of her and signed it without hesitation.
After she finished signing, she pushed off her chair and stood up.
“I won’t have to see you twice, will I?”
After speaking in clear English, Mrs. Lee Pil-ok ordered something to Secretary Song and immediately disappeared.
“We will go to the gallery tomorrow with the contract. Then you get the insurance certificate. Are you okay?”
“of course.”
Bet Potter shook hands with the two men and ran away.
* * *
Fraud of 600 billion won.
The definitive evidence of that fraud is now in my hands.
Of course, it will only take effect after receiving the painting and sending the money.
“When did the painting arrive?”
“They say it will arrive in 15 days.”
“Fortnight?”
“yes.”
If it is 15 days, there is no time to prepare forgery. I think it’s urgent. Besides, it means that it is brought in by plane, not by ship… When it comes to smuggling, ships usually come to mind.
How on earth can I use a flight to write?
“How long will painting appraisal take?”
“It will take two months. Of course, if it was genuine, it would be shorter.”
“Is it shorter if it’s genuine?”
“is it so. It is usually called Blink’s law…”
Blink means blinking. is this the rule?
“Experts get a feel for it as soon as they see it for the first time. No matter how sophisticated a forgery is, there is something objectionable about it. Instead, if it is genuine, no matter how old it is, you will naturally exclaim.”
“So you mean start a closer examination when you feel weird? If it’s genuine, you don’t even test it?”
Bette Potter gave a small smile.
“no. Even if you believe it’s genuine, you should test it. Instead, it feels like a forgery, but there are times when even with all the tests, the result is genuine. That kind of thing takes a lot of time. I have to trace back to the sales path of the painting.”
“Are you saying you don’t believe the test results even though they’re genuine?”
“There are still many times when the human aesthetic eye is more accurate than physical chemistry.”
It will take three months for the contract in my hand to become a solid weapon.
“okay. Then the job is done. You worked hard. I hope that the gallery will be reborn as a good gallery as I will support the donation from this month.”
Even though he was involved in strange things, the result was good, so Bet Porter’s expression was bright as if he had forgotten everything.
After she went back, I called Korea.
“Mr. Wu. Come to New York with smart friends who won’t get lost even in unfamiliar places. Let’s enjoy a few days of vacation and start working after the fortnight.”
* * *
“Yes? Mrs. Lee Pil-ok herself?”
“yes. The manager investigated and what I had only guessed turned out to be a reality.”
Managing Director Woo Byeong-jun was at a loss for words for a while. It is far beyond the scale he thought, and the amount would have been difficult to even imagine.
“Then, is it smuggling worth 600 billion won this time?”
“yes.”
Woo’s expression darkened as he checked the amount.
“Chief. 600 billion won is too much no matter how much it is to catch Mrs. Lee’s weakness. No matter how much slush funds the president left behind, the bleeding is too great.”
I thought it would be rude to attack a grandmother, but it wasn’t. I was worried about my money.
“Sir.”
“yes.”
Even when I say it with a smile, his expression still doesn’t look good.
“If a few drops of blood form from a needle prick, is that called bleeding?”
“yes? what is that…?”
“600 billion is only that much to me. And it’s not the money my grandfather left for me to spend on these things. I will use that money only to solidify my position in Korea.”
Director Woo, who finally caught on, opened his mouth wide.
“That’s a lot of money. If it had flowed into a fight over money, the position of chairman of the Sunyang Group would have already been mine. There are many stocks that cannot be bought with money, so we are struggling.”
I enjoyed this expression of Woo, who was still speechless with his mouth open for a while.
“Anyway, boss.”
“Ah yes.”
“In a few days, the painting will come into the gallery. Director, please follow the staff and the picture delivery man.”
“A smuggling transporter?”
“yes. What the heck I can’t understand is the flight. I am smuggling, but how can I bring it by plane…”
“You don’t know the flight, right?”
“yes. It might be JFK or NEWARK. So we have no choice but to track the courier.”
“All right. I’ll get the kids ready. But what about overseas accounts?”
“All I know is that it is a Virgin Islands account. We cannot find this on our own. I have no choice but to figure it out through my grandmother.”
“No matter what, this lady will not be able to escape the manager’s grip.”
“Let’s be a little more greedy. Wouldn’t you find something more if you dig up the carrier book? I’m going to take this opportunity to go through my grandmother’s property list. Hehe.”
* * *
The desire to run to the gallery and look at the painting was like a chimney, but I had no choice but to wait at the hotel.
Now, in the gallery, the painting appraisal begins. Of course, the people from my grandmother’s side would also join the party and stay there until the end, and if there was anyone who knew my face, things might go wrong.
I waited impatiently for the call.
The first person to call was none other than Bet Porter.
He said, even making her cry.
— Howard. I don’t know how to thank you for giving me the opportunity to see such a masterpiece in person.
“Is it real?”
– yes. This is the common opinion of all the experts who attended. It’s definitely authentic.
I couldn’t hear anything more.
I hung up on Bet Porter and immediately called Korea.
“Chief Kim. Get the official list of works of Sunyang Art Foundation now and send it by e-mail.”
I also checked the website of Sunyang Gallery. I searched all notices and notices, but there is no article about selling paintings.
I wanted to deposit the money right away and finish the illegal transaction, but I can’t create a suspicious situation, so I have to wait two months. But this situation is unlikely to change.
Managing Director Byung-Jun Woo returned to the hotel late at night.
His expression was completely frozen.
“Chief. It seems that they used the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.”
“The Ministry of Foreign Affairs?”
“yes. The carriers were two teams. These are the employees of Sunyang New York Corporation and the New York Consulate General. It’s a little late to check their house.”
It was absurd, but this was the first thought I had.
my grandma is so amazing
“It is said that there is a person among the grandmother’s family who can reach the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, but if we know who that person is, this fight will end.”
“Maybe. A person like that would be your closest friend… and you would know where your money is hidden.”
Director Woo glanced at me and said.
“Let’s meet the consulate staff. Wouldn’t it be a little easier to figure out how far they know and how good the person in charge here is?”
Officials are pretty easy. This is because they apply stricter rules than civilians, so if you threaten them a little, they will blow up. If you add money equivalent to your retirement pension to it, you will always choose betrayal.
“I will prepare the carrots for you, but the manager will use the whip.”
“A whip is enough for these guys. It’s enough to be a carrot just with the hair attached. Hehe.”
A really strong person.
I know how to do a good job and save money.
I need to give this person a very generous severance pay.
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