Chapter 758 Did You Set the Fire?
Before Elliot could refute, Stephanie had gone on stage.
“Ladies and gentlemen, thank you for participating in SQ’s solo exhibition. SQ has today’s achievements because of your support. Therefore, this exhibition is SQ’s thank you gift for you. From now on, all the paintings on display will be priced at 500,000 per piece, and everyone can buy them. Also, you can place an order. SQ will complete and send the paintings within the next year.”
After she said that, the venue became chaotic.
“500,000? Is this for real? This is a steal!”
“Wow! What a bargain!”
“In the past, one could hardly glance at it. I heard SQ had an exhibition before, but it was all abroad. Today, she finally brings Cittadelians some benefits!”
“Only a fool wouldn’t buy it. After today, it’ll be priceless and one won’t be able to buy it anymore. We don’t have to worry about it being a flop. We can resell it to a foreigner and double the profit!”
Among these excited guests, Elliot and his friends were exceptionally calm.
After thinking about it, Elliot said in a daze, “If there are more exhibitions like this, wouldn’t SQ’s paintings be worthless soon?”
Hearing those words, Jamie and Narissa realized the truth. They looked at each other at the same time, their expressions similar.
Like those who sell fake paintings abroad, Stephanie does this not for money, but to destroy SQ’s reputation. She is sure Elise won’t expose her wrongdoings because Elise is abroad, so Stephanie daringly opened the exhibition in Tissote. This is disrespecting Dragonweiss outright!
“How many paintings are there? I will take them all!” Jamie blurted out.
It is worth protecting Boss’ value with tens of millions.
“I’m so sorry.” Stephanie then calmly announced the rules. “In this exhibition, each person is only allowed to purchase one of SQ’s works with identification.”
Jamie frowned. After thinking for a while, he spoke again. “Then, I will ask all employees from the Keller Group to come over. That should be alright, I presume?”
“Of course.” Stephanie still put on her calm expression. “However, it is on a first come first served basis. If you want to get more of the paintings, you’d better act quickly. Now, all of you can choose the work you like.”
As soon as she said that, the guests scattered and flocked to different sections of the exhibition, for fear that they would not be able to buy it if they were too slow.
When everyone left, Elliot took the initiative to come up and tell Stephanie his concerns. “Miss Stephanie, I think this will bring down SQ’s reputation. Should you tell her about it?”
“This is SQ’s choice. I can only respect it,” Stephanie said formally.
“Okay, then.” Elliot could not say anything.
Danny came with Ariel, and was not with Jamie. Seeing that everyone was rushing, Danny couldn’t help but be moved. “Should we buy some, put them in the office, and wait for their value to rise?”
“How do fake paintings rise in value?” Ariel asked.
“Fake paintings? How is that possible? An appraiser must have appraised such a large exhibition. Why would the organizer display them in public if they are fake?” Danny expressed his doubts.
“It means the appraiser is a fake too.” Ariel turned to look at him. “SQ’s name is a fig leaf for the organizer’s deceit. Everyone thinks the same way as you and that it couldn’t be a fake, so no one will check on the spot. However, they are falling right into the organizer’s trap.”
“That’s true.” Danny scratched his eyebrows. “Artwork is too unpredictable. It’s better not to take risks. We have just started a business, and we must save money.”
“Hmph! Boy, if I hadn’t stopped you, I’m afraid you’d have already spent half a million for a fake painting.” Ariel did not give Danny any respect.
Danny looked up at the ceiling, cradling his head with hands to pretend not to hear anything. In the end, he walked away silently.
Jamie went outside the venue with his cell phone. Just after finishing the call, the alarm suddenly rang in the venue.
Everyone swarmed out of the venue. Soon, thick smoke drifted into the corridor with the crowd.
Jamie stared at it for a while but couldn’t find Narissa, so he put away his phone and ran inside.
At this time, a hand patted his shoulder from behind.
Jamie turned his head and saw Narissa smiling heartlessly.
“Good job, Jamie. We have a tacit understanding.” Narissa folded her arms, her expression proud.
“You were the one who set the fire?” Jamie reacted immediately.
“Wasn’t it you?” Narissa changed her expression into a puzzled look. “I just rang the fire alarm. I thought it was you who set the fire.”
They looked at each other, thought for a moment, and blurted out simultaneously.
“It’s Boss!”
“Ellie!”
The woman wearing the white fox mask stood before the floor-to-ceiling windows while staring at the thick smoke rising from the center of the exhibition. Her gaze was calm as usual.
Jacob came downstairs and presented the exquisite box in his hand. “Master, the new skin is ready. Please try it out.”
As the woman took off the mask, her oval-shaped face was revealed, her fair skin delicate.
However, the scar on the left forehead was eye-catching when the entire face was exposed.
It was like a line entrenched on the forehead to the upper cheek, covering a quarter of her face.
Wearing faux skin, she turned into a brand-new woman who had never been seen before.
Looking at the unfamiliar face in the mirror, Elise took a long breath.
Three months ago, she was taken to Hagland by Elijah as his fiancée. Then, she went to different countries several times after that.
In a few months, they met with the top wealthy people worldwide. With her own eyes, she saw Elijah sign business contracts with those capitalists with different contents.
On the surface, Elise was just Elijah’s female companion, nothing more than a decoration.
It was not until later that Elise overheard that Elijah used the SK Group and her other identities to get the other party to agree to cooperate with the state. She became one of their interest chains without knowing it.
From the day the contract was signed, the name Elise Sinclair had become a means of making money for capital. She could only get rid of the responsibility with death.
So, she set the fire and escaped by feigning death.
However, Elise still burned her face due to a mistake. Although she was undergoing treatment, restoring her previous appearance was impossible.
Although she had prepared a fake corpse, she believed Elijah would come after her soon. The capitalists would not let her go either, so she could not continue to live as Elise Sinclair.
Fortunately, she rescued Jacob ahead of time, which was why she could finally walk in public without worrying.
Suddenly, the mirror showed Alexander’s figure during the masked ball.
Elise closed her eyes and dared not think about it.
