Chapter 6: Chapter 6 - I Need You
I ran into the cafe, a bit flustered to see where Dean was. Out of the corner of my eye I spotted him sitting at the corner booth looking right at me. He waved his hands calling me over. He was wearing a large hoodie and a baseball cap on his head, wrangling his curls back and out of his face.
It was a weekend so he was dressed very casually. The times we have met before have either been related to work or events in our friend group. So it was odd seeing him outside of those. He pointed his hands towards the empty seat to usher me to sit.
He actually didn't order anything claiming it was rude to eat before your date arrives. I rolled my eyes at him despite his flirtatious behavior being something I was used to. Since high school he has called me princess in addition to my name.
When we had ordered and got our food and drinks we sat again but this felt more nerve racking. 'We need to actually get down to business. I can't think of any way to fix what we did.' No longer being able to hold back my anxiety I began to voice out my feelings but Dean stopped me and told me his plan.
I knew Dean was crafty, but in the time I spent getting here, I couldn't figure out how to wriggle my way out. But his plan was so simple yet exactly the perfect excuse. It was just enough business to have to meet with him regarding it but not directly intersect in any of our current respective holdings. Thus leaving our existing assets untouched. Since I couldn't think of a better plan, I had to trust him on it. "Lets do it."
Deans eyes flashed with shock but almost instantly his eyes brightened back to their usual mischief. Dean leaned back in his chair, seemingly fully proud of his plan. "Thankfully I do actually have an art exhibition coming up and the selection for artists has yet to be finalized. So this works out in our favor." He pushed a file he had hiding under his arms closer for me to read.
"This is the theme for the exhibition, 'To live in passion', the idea is showcasing passion in your select medium of art. And as for the definition of passion, it is up to you. I plan to hold the exhibition in the next quarter of the year. I want to give the artists I have already invited to have enough time to create anything if they are not submitting something they have already produced."
I nearly forgot about Dean being heavily interested in art. Since elementary school he was often praised for his drawings and from what he has told me about his tattoos, he was deeply involved in the artwork he commissioned. But a lot of the work he did was more for personal use, not commercial. The most he would contribute to the arts fell largely on him just sponsoring other art exhibitions.
This is the first one he has held personally. So the theme made sense, as it was a passion he had and from what I could see from the folder, he was including artists he greatly admired. The timing also was great, as an artist he understood it took time to create so this also helped me. It gives my design team enough time to come up with a design, my only rush would be procuring the necessary stones. I took a sip of my warm drink, more relaxed than this morning.
"Do you already have an idea of how you want to market the exhibition? My marketing team can take on the project if you would like." I wanted to contribute something since I did not like to be that one person on the group project trying to freeload. Even more so because it was something Dean personally cared about and I didn't want to half-ass something especially when he included me to help.
"Feel free, I was initially planning to announce the exhibition at my family's annual gala. Most of the investors I would 'need' would be there and the press would also be lingering around to share any upcoming news. So not much to actually plan."
"Ohhh then instead could we do it as a joint announcement? Essentially, we do what you were thinking but also stem it further from just that. My team can handle the marketing and invitation work for the initial viewing which usually includes the investors and the artists themselves. I assume you are also going to have time for the public to also come look? I can work on the advertising and engagement towards that end as well. "
"That works for me. But, I do have a slight stipulation if we are going to do it as a joint announcement." He pulled out from his jacket a large stack of papers and separated one stack from another. "In this stack is the artist contract. When you have the time, take a look and make any revision you need then send it back so I can notarize them." I frowned a bit in confusion, contracts are a standard business practice, how was that a stipulation?
Dean took a deep sigh and pointed to the other half. "That isn't the stipulation. This thing here is. You may or may not know this but my moms birthday is next week. Every year without fail my dad and I scramble to get my mom a gift she would like. It is hard to shop for a woman who owns everything. My father has been breathing down my neck asking what I have thought of because I am the better gift giver between us. "
I nodded along though confused as to what this was leading to. "My mom always comments about how she is very envious of your mom because you get her really nice well thought out gifts. I need you. Rather I need your mind to help me get a gift for her. So if you are free today please help me."
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jklena
jklena Next chapter! hope you enjoy!
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