The Secret Gallery 2
“Ah, when you approach Sunyang Gallery, make sure not to give the impression that you’re only interested in their pieces. You can buy a few works from other places as well. Don’t worry about the cost.”
“Excuse me for a moment?”
Beth Porter quickly grabbed Rachel’s hand and stepped outside. The two of them talked for over ten minutes before returning.
“Sorry, Howard. That was a bit rude of me.”
“No worries. I did say something that would catch anyone off guard.”
“Just one question. If I can’t purchase from Sunyang Gallery, does that mean Wentworth Art Gallery’s support falls through?”
“I thought I mentioned it? I’m no art expert. It would be off the table.”
Beth Porter bit her lip.
It was clear there was something unsettling about the conditions.
“One last thing… This might be a personal question, is that okay?”
“Go ahead. If it’s too difficult to answer, I’ll just say no comment.”
“I heard you’re part of the Sunyang Group’s owner family. Sunyang Gallery is run by that group too. So why all the complexity?”
“Family issues are complicated, no comment. Haha.”
She shrugged at my laughter.
“Okay. Let’s give it a shot.”
“That’s not enough.”
“What?”
“Just giving it a shot? If you approach Sunyang Gallery half-heartedly, you won’t even get a decent response. You need a flawless plan to unlock Sunyang Gallery’s doors. Everything behind the name Sunyang is a monster.”
I pointed a finger at myself.
“Look at me, do I seem like a reasonable guy?”
“What did you two talk about outside?”
“She asked what your deal was.”
“And what did you say?”
“I told her not to question it and just play along. I hinted that it could change her life.”
“Do you think she’ll follow Rachel’s advice?”
“Probably… almost certainly.”
“Why are you so sure?”
“Beth Porter is talented and ambitious in that field. She just hasn’t had the luck yet. The art world is quite conservative, and she’s a bit radical.”
“So I’m basically covering for her eccentricity with my money.”
“Not like you care much anyway. Even if the gallery hits it big, it’ll only be pocket change for you.”
“My pocket change isn’t much. I don’t have time to spend it.”
Rachel’s words were true. Beth Porter wasted no time in crafting a meticulous plan for her ambitions and set it into motion immediately.
The first step was rumors.
Word spread that Wentworth Art Gallery had found a tremendous patron, and while it might not rival the New York Metropolitan Museum, it was rumored to be growing into one of the top three private galleries.
To back up the rumors, galleries from the U.S. and around the world received emails from Wentworth Art Gallery.
The emails included a list of artworks they were interested in purchasing.
This wasn’t something you could do as a joke. If it were just a casual inquiry, both Wentworth Art Gallery and Beth Porter would be blacklisted in the industry.
Of course, Sunyang Gallery received the same email.
The management at Sunyang Gallery didn’t fret much over the email. The New York branch of Sunyang Group had already investigated and confirmed its authenticity.
“This could be seen as a sign of transformation.”
“Indeed. If the rumors are widespread in New York, it can be considered a formal proposal.”
“But will the chairman sell the paintings? No one can curb their passion for art, can they?”
“Still, we should report it. Didn’t she always say to report any offers to buy paintings? It’s the only way to know the current market value of the works.”
“Let’s report it then. Elizabeth Porter is well-regarded in New York. It wouldn’t hurt to establish a relationship with her gallery.”
They submitted the investigation report and email from the New York branch to Chairwoman Lee Pil-ok.
Chairwoman Lee Pil-ok carefully reviewed the report submitted by the gallery’s operations director before speaking.
“Are you sure? They want to buy our paintings? Do they have the means?”
“It seems so. The New York branch confirmed it.”
“Alright, you can go.”
“Yes, Chairwoman.”
As soon as the operations director bowed and left, Chairwoman Lee Pil-ok pressed the intercom.
“Send Secretary Song in.”
Within a minute, a man who appeared to be in his forties entered and bowed.
“You called for me?”
“Take a look at this.”
She handed over the report.
Secretary Song meticulously reviewed the email before looking up.
“What do you think? Not bad, right?”
“Chairwoman, some of the items on this list have already been discreetly sold…”
Secretary Song lowered his voice.
“I know. So, make a new list with what we still have. Pick the valuable ones.”
“Yes.”
As Secretary Song was about to leave, Chairwoman Lee Pil-ok’s instructions continued.
“You’ll need to go to New York, right? Meet with that Porter or whoever sent the email and see if they’ll accept our terms.”
“Yes, Chairwoman.”
After Secretary Song left, a smile spread across her face. A perfect patron had appeared at just the right time, and she wanted to make the most of this opportunity.
“I’ve been expecting you, Mr. Song. How was your flight?”
“It was pleasant. Thank you for the warm welcome.”
Beth Porter hadn’t anticipated such a swift response from Sunyang Gallery.
The quick reply to her email, and their eagerness to meet in person, suggested that the complex circumstances Jin Do-jun had mentioned were indeed at play.
“You seem quite aggressive in acquiring art. Is that the gallery’s policy?”
“Rather than a policy, it’s more accurate to say we’re being reborn. We’ve found a very supportive patron.”
Secretary Song’s eyes gleamed at her explanation.
“Could you tell me who this patron is?”
Beth Porter raised an eyebrow at the man’s interrogative tone.
“I’m afraid I can’t disclose that. It’s odd, isn’t it? The gallery is the one purchasing the paintings, not the patron.”
“My apologies. It’s just that Sunyang Gallery has only sold to individuals before.”
“Isn’t it well-known that individuals are the main clients of galleries? Are you hoping to deal with the patron through us?”
“With all due respect, yes. Is that possible?”
Beth Porter found it puzzling. The payment for the paintings would come from the patron anyway. Even if the patron dealt directly, they could donate the paintings to the gallery, resulting in the same outcome.
The man from Korea was making a pointless argument.
The only difference between a gallery and a private transaction is whether the painting is displayed in a public space or a private one.
Beth Porter finally realized the kind of deal he was after.
“Are you saying… the paintings shouldn’t be publicly displayed, and the transaction should remain confidential?”
Secretary Song’s expression brightened.
“Exactly. That’s the kind of deal we’re looking for.”
“That’s a common condition in private transactions.”
Many artworks disappear this way.
“So, even if our gallery purchases them, as long as we adhere to those conditions, there shouldn’t be an issue, right?”
“Yes, but can a gallery refrain from public display?”
“It would need to be discussed by the board, but it’s not impossible. Considering the masterpieces Sunyang Gallery holds, it might be feasible for preservation purposes…”
Seeing her positive reaction, Secretary Song pushed the conversation further.
“Would you like to take a look at this?”
He pulled a thick file from his bag.
“Some of the works you requested are not for sale. Here’s a list of the ones available. Please review it.”
As Beth Porter received the list, Secretary Song bowed slightly.
“Please let us know your decision. How long will it take?”
“I’ll inform you by the day after tomorrow at the latest. Is that acceptable?”
“Of course. Then.”
After Secretary Song left, Beth Porter let out a short sigh.
She was genuinely curious about what was happening at the famous Korean company known for its mobile phones.
“So, those are the conditions.”
The terms Beth Porter relayed confirmed the accuracy of Executive Director Woo Byung-jun’s report.
How many artworks are stored in Sunyang Gallery’s vault? It’s likely that the few pieces displayed during special exhibitions are all there is.
“Let’s see the list they brought.”
I compared the list of Sunyang Gallery’s artworks that Executive Director Woo had investigated and handed Beth Porter a separate list of the missing ones.
“Those are probably the ones Sunyang Gallery won’t sell. What’s their approximate value?”
As she scanned the list with her finger, her expression turned incredulous. When her finger stopped, she shook her head.
“If these were auctioned at Christie’s, no one could predict the final bid. If they were all auctioned simultaneously, the competition among global billionaires would drive the prices sky-high.”
“I wasn’t asking for an exact price. Just a rough estimate.”
After pondering for a moment, she finally spoke a number.
“At least 2 billion dollars.”
Many had likely been sold off long ago, but even if we assume half, my grandmother had over a trillion won invested in stocks. It’s time to uncover her hidden fortune.
“How much would it cost to purchase all the artworks Sunyang Gallery is offering?”
She looked at me curiously, surprised that I didn’t even flinch at the mention of 2 billion dollars.
“All of them?”
“Yes, they’ll propose a price, but we can’t just accept it outright, can we? We need to think of the most optimal amount that won’t break the deal.”
“Six hundred million dollars.”
He answered without a moment’s hesitation, as if he’d already done the math.
“Let’s buy it all.”
I didn’t hesitate either.
Bette Porter looked both surprised and delighted, but I quickly put the brakes on.
“Hold on, Bette. This isn’t a donation. The buyer of the artwork will be either Miracle or myself. We’re just leasing it to the Wentworth Art Gallery for free. We need to be clear on that.”
A flicker of disappointment crossed her face, but she nodded, understanding this was a common practice in philanthropy.
Then her expression darkened.
“But… if our gallery can’t even display the pieces, what’s the point of all this?”
Her frustration was palpable. Wasn’t she someone who believed that locking masterpieces away in a basement was an insult to the art itself?
I gave her a reassuring smile.
“It’ll be at most a year. After that, we’ll make sure those works can be seen by the world.”
“Really?”
“Absolutely. But first, we need to close the deal, right?”
“If we agree to their terms, the deal is practically done.”
“Is this your first negotiation? We’ve heard their terms, now it’s time to present ours.”
My sly grin seemed to mirror her confusion perfectly.