Chapter 62: You Protect Her Now?
Kate exclaimed that every woman here was so gorgeous, but this one was even more stunning. A red, tight dress outlined her perfect shape. She was tall, bright brown eyes, and sleek brown hair reached her shoulder.
She looked both graceful and capable and a little familiar.
Jessie’s eyes fixed on her and said, “This is?”
Tristan introduced “Kate White. Kate, this is Jessie Harderson, the famous hostess of the Finance Channel.”
Kate was reminded. She appeared on the finance channel Tristan always watched. She had seen the program she hosted.
Jessie obviously was more interested in Kate than she was in her. She scanned her intangibly and said, “Miss White is still a student?”
“No.”
“Then where are you working?”
“I do not work.”
Her candidness made Jessie speechless.
Tristan asked, “Which piece have you picked?”
Kate pointed to one casually, “This one.”
Jessie showed some contempt in her eyes. The shop assistant seemed awkward. He went to bring his boss.
Monica showed some weird expression and explained to Tristan, “This one is not for sale. It belongs to one of my friends.”
And then she turned to Kate and said, “Can I ask why you only pick this one?”
Kate said, “I only understand this one.”
Someone laughed in a low voice. Kate added, “It shows the emotion of the artist.”
“What emotion?”
“Love of life.”
Kate looked at the painting and said earnestly, “They just went through a storm and endured the attack, but they survived and bloomed. They are lively and…” she added, “tough.”
She looked around and found a dozen people around her, staring, especially the hostess Jessie, with a pair of eyes like torches.
Luckily Tristan was standing beside her. She cried inside that now she had too much sense of her existence.
Tristan said half-jokingly to Monica, “So you won’t sell even to a good old friend?”
Monica laughed and spread her hands.”OK. I guess my friend would be happy that somebody appreciates his work.” And she gave instructions to her staff.
Kate asked, “How much is it?”
The staff told her the number, and Kate opened her eyes wide. She looked to Tristan awkwardly and apologetically. Tristan smiled and said nothing.
Monica said, “It is almost the most expensive work in this exhibition. But trust me, it deserves this price.”
As they finished the mission there, Tristan held Kate’s hand and said goodbye to Monica.
When they reached their car, they heard a hasty clattering of heels on the floor. “Tristan!”
He turned back and saw Jessie. She looked pale.”Can we talk?”
Tristan opened the car door and let Kate wait for him inside.
They stood a few yards away. “So this is the reason you refused me,” Jessie asked straightforwardly.
Tristan hesitated a while and nodded.
“Because she is younger?”
Jessie seemed to feel the contempt of the question herself but seeing him stay silent, she asked again, “You are serious about her?”
Tristan didn’t rely upon but watched Jessie. His reaction irritated and hurt her.
She blurted out, “I know you have had some painful experiences, and I have been waiting for you patiently. I thought even if you could never forget the past, I would accept you anyway. But, you suddenly showed up with a…”
She couldn’t find the right adjective after searching her brain for a long time.”An unknown woman. I cannot accept it, Tristan. I cannot accept this.”
Tristan said, “I will try to make it up to you.”
Jessie walked back and forth, “I know what you are going to say. I don’t want to hear, and I don’t accept it. I never lack money. And I never want money from you. I can lose you, but I cannot lose you to her.”
Jessie raised her hand, which carried her purse to her forehead, “I am not giving up.”
Tristan showed no surprise as if he was expecting this. He rubbed his eyes and said, “You can do whatever you want to me, but don’t bother her.”
Jessie raised her eyebrows, “You protect her now?”This content © Nôv/elDr(a)m/a.Org.
Tristan smiled, “She is not your rival. She doesn’t deserve your competition.”