Chapter 59: Friends
Things often unfold in the most unexpected
ways.
I stared at the golden invitation on Bradley’s passenger seat and blurted out, “Are you going to Starlight Art Gallery?”
Bradley blinked in surprise, casting a curious glance at me. “Charlene, are you going too?”
I suddenly had the feeling that this was some kind of lucky coincidence. Taking a chance, I asked, “Would it be okay if I join you?”
Bradley sighed, shaking his head. “So, the urgent matter you had is attending an art exhibition? Honestly, the taste of the event organizers is pretty average. You’ll probably
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be disappointed, so I think I’ll just take you to the hospital first.”
I shook my head in refusal, speaking earnestly, “This exhibition is very important
to me.”
Bradley paused, studying my serious
expression. His charming eyes held a flicker of doubt as he gazed at me for a moment longer.
We weren’t exactly close, and considering that I was the one asking for help, it was only right that I didn’t hide anything.
I spoke frankly, “Since you’re going to the exhibition, do you know that Free Spirit will also be there this afternoon?”
Bradley hesitated, immediately avoiding my gaze. After a brief pause, he stammered,
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“Are you going to the exhibition just to meet him?”
I nodded. “I mentioned it before, that we have a project. I really need to secure his support.”
Bradley didn’t respond right away, likely pondering my request.
I understood. After all, we barely knew each other, and now it was me asking him for help, so he was right to consider it carefully.
“If it’s not convenient…”
“There’s a community hospital nearby,” Bradley said, glancing at my wrist. “Let’s check it out first.”
He really wasn’t the type to back down easily.
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“Alright, Charlene. After the check–up, let’s go to the exhibition together. Is that okay?”
I finally breathed a sigh of relief.
To be honest, I did feel a bit guilty about this whole situation. After all, the rear–end collision was an accident, and now I was sort of using my injury as leverage, which didn’t feel right.
At the community hospital, the doctor examined my wrist, advising, “You should take off the wristband.”
It was the hand with the scarred injury.
I hesitated, glancing over at Bradley before offering, “Could you get me a bottle of
water?”
Bradley didn’t hesitate, swiftly stepping out
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of the consultation room.
Luckily, it turned out my wrist was just sprained. After the doctor gave us a spray for the pain, the visit was over.
Once back in the car, Bradley reminded me to spray the medicine. His gaze lingered on my wristband, and he commented, “This embroidered style is quite rare.”
I hadn’t expected him to notice the craftsmanship and design of the wristband. I explained, “It’s handmade.”
“Truly a skilled pair of hands,” he said with a smile.
I glanced at my watch and shifted the topic. “Are we going to be late?”
“We should be fine. The organizer is known
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for his severe procrastination.”
However, when the driver dropped us off at the front entrance of Starlight Art Gallery, was completely stunned.
Not long ago, I had driven past the back entrance a couple of times.
The security guard looked at the invitation in Bradley’s hand and said, “Sorry, Mr. Chavez, the invitation is only for you.”
Bradley furrowed his brow. “Don’t you recognize me?”
The guard looked irritated. “Mr. Chavez, I’m just following the rules.”
There were three layers of security here, and I hadn’t expected the last one to be so strict.
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I wasn’t sure whether I should feel relieved or frustrated.
I thought to myself that if Kaitlyn and I had just shown up uninvited, we probably would’ve been escorted to the security office before even seeing Free Spirit.
Seeing the situation, Bradley impatiently pulled out his phone. After a moment, I heard him speaking into the receiver, “I’m bringing a friend. Your people say we can’t get in?”
The next second, he put the call on speakerphone in front of me.
“How could I dare? Hand the phone to the guard, and I’ll talk to him.”
It was like we had a VIP pass. I followed behind Bradley, smoothly sneaking into the exhibition.
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But things didn’t go as I expected.
As soon as we entered the venue, a group of four or five people, about the same age as Bradley, rushed over and began sizing me
- up.
“Wow, Bradley, I thought I was seeing things for a moment,” one well–dressed man said, scrutinizing me from head to toe. “I gotta say, your taste is pretty good.”
I cleared my throat, suddenly at a loss for words.
“Stop it,” Bradley snapped, his voice sharp. “This is Charlene Grande. Show some
respect.
“Harvey,” the man who had spoken earlier extended his hand. “Bradley’s childhood
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friend, and the person in charge of Starlight Art Gallery. Nice to meet you”
At the mention of his role as the gallery’s head, I couldn’t help but study him more closely.
Since he was in charge, did that mean he knew who Free Spirit really was?
“Charlene.”
Bradley’s voice snapped me out of my thoughts. I looked up slightly and realized he had somehow leaned in next to my ear. With a playful tone, he asked, “Is he really that good–looking?”
He was tall, at least 6‘ 07“, and when he leaned in like that, it was hard to not feel a little overwhelmed.
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subtly shifted my body, replying, “I just think he looks a bit familiar”
As soon as I finished speaking, the man named Harvey broke into a grin, laughing as he said, “Bradley, your friend’s got a great sense of humor”
I immediately dismissed the idea of asking this so–called ‘head‘ for help. He just didn’t seem reliable,
Bradley seemed to sense my thoughts. and chuckled, “This guy’s always like this. Charlene, don’t take him too seriously.”
Harvey smirked. “So, you favor beauty over friendship, huh?”
I was about to explain myself when, from the distance, I felt a piercing gaze directed straight at me. When I met it, I locked eyes
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my peside him was Davina, dressed in a lovely Audrey Hepburn–style dress, her hair tied up in an adorable bun. She looked both cute and beautiful.
Yet, despite the stunning outfit, Davina didn’t seem to adjust well to the social scene. After exchanging a few words with some guests, she turned to Fletcher, her large, sympathetic eyes looking at him for help.
It was a silent plea.
But Fletcher didn’t notice, his face still impassive as he continued staring at me.
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I didn’t want to make things awkward, so I silently looked away.
After all, we were rivals now.
From their expressions, it seemed they hadn’t met Free Spirit yet.
I took a deep breath to steady myself, but the next moment, I heard Davina’s soft voice, “Letch, isn’t that Charlene? I’m not mistaken, am I?”
Well, there was no escaping this.
Bradley, standing beside me, had also heard. He glanced from me to Fletcher and Davina, his curiosity piqued. “Charlene, are they your friends?”
Friends.
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I chewed on the word, feeling like there was a bitter layer of gall on my heart, a faint, lingering taste of bitterness.
When I looked up again, Fletcher and Davina were already walking toward us. Davina’s eyes immediately fell on Bradley without any attempt to hide her interest. She smiled brightly and said, “Charlene, who’s this gentleman? Aren’t you going to introduce us?”
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