Chapter 20%
「
“Hmm?”
I slowly leaned over and gently rested my head on Julian’s shoulder) His body instantly stiffened and I could feel his breath catch momentarily. “Thank you for picking me up,” I said
Julian’s hand hovered in the air before finally landing carefully on my shoulder. Hooked up at him and sow that his face had flushed to the base of his neck.)
“Y–You’re welcome, he stammered:
I suddenly smiled and the dull ache in my heart miraculously eased a lot.
The next day, I accepted a job interview invitation from a studio.
“Ms. Lancaster, we really admire the style of your work,71
Claire, the studio director, said as she adjusted her gold rimmed glasses and slid the contract across the table towards me. “Especially the genuine emotional expression, which is rare in commercial comics.”
I picked up the contract, my fingers trembling slightly.
I didn’t know how long it had been since I last worked. After getting married, I had actually thought about working
However, Jonathan felt it wasn’t necessary because the Zanders were rich enough for me to live the life of a pampered, wealthy wife.
Yet, he never took me to banquets or introduced me to the other wives in his social circle.
He said those people were vulgar and had temble tempers and he didn’t want me to be bullied.
I knew what he really meant. He thought I was embarrassing
After the miscarriage and being unable to get pregnant again, I became even more depressed every day. I didn’t like going anywhere except home and my social circle shrank too almost nothing
I had no idea how long it had been since I fell this sense of recognition
“Thank you for your appreciation,” I said, steadying my voice. “I’m really looking forward to this collaboration.”
After signing the contract, Claire suggested giving me a studio tour!!
The walls along the corridor were covered with original artwork of famous pieces and my footsteps involuntanly slowed down.
“The coffee break area is over there” Claire painted around the corner. “You can rest first and we’ll have a project meeting in half an hour.“}}
The whirring sound of the coffee grinder filled the air in the break room.ll
I was waiting in line to order when I suddenly heard a hushed French conversation behind me.
“Is that her? The woman who became famous because of her divorce story?”
“I heard she was just a housewife before. She doesn’t even have formal art training
“Look at how she’s dressed, like an old nun. What good stuff could someone so unfashionable possibly draw?”
My back instantly tensed up.
Today, I specifically wore my most formal black suit and white shirt for the interview and I neatly tied my hair back in a ponytail.
In their eyes, this had actually become an ‘old nun’s” outfit?H
My fingers unconsciously tightened around my purse, holding the note Julian had slipped me this morning. “Don’t be nervous, you’re
amazing
Taking a deep breath, I turned around and said in fluent French, “Ladies, shouldn’t you at least make sure the person you’re talking about doesn’t understand French?
The two female artists froze instantly, their coffee cups nearly a
slipping from their grasp..
“I was indeed a housewife, I took a step forward, my voice clear. “But that doesn’t mean my work has
“Are you questioning Director Claire’s judgmen 17%
The coffee break area suddenly fell silent.
Several people around us looked up.X
“Ms Lancaster? Claire’s voice came from the doorway. “The meeting is about to stort.”
no
value.
She looked at the tense scene and suddenly smiled. “Ms. Lancaster is an artist I specifically hired. If anyone has any objections, there’s no need for gossip. You can come and talk to me directly,”
The blonde woman’s voice died in her throat, mumbling incoherently.