CHAPTER086 JULIANSPOV Andyouretheguymystafftoldmeabout,sowhatcanIhelpyouwith,Mr.Blake?shesaid,herattentionstillfocusedonher painting.
Itookadeep breath,tryingtostaycalmdespitethefrustrationbeginningtosimmerbeneaththesurface.Idontknowifyourstafftoldyouthefullstory,buttheressomeverykeyinformationthatwewouldliketoaccessfromhere, andshesaidshecouldntdoit,soIcametoyou,Isaid,takingaseatacrossfromher.
Importantinformation?Areyouwiththegovernmentorthepolice?sheaskedwithoutlookingup,herbrushstrokescleanandslow.
No,Im not,Ireplied,leaningforwardslightly.Yousee,afew… Saveit,sheinterrupted,notevenbotheringtoglanceup.Ifyourenotthepolice,thenyouhavenoright todemandanyinformationfrommyorphanage.
Iclenchedmyjaw,fightingtheurgetoraisemyvoice.Well,Iwasntdemanding;Imaskingyoutograntpermissionforustocheckthisinformation,Isaid,tryingtokeepmytonemeasured,thoughitwasbecomingharderwitheachpassingsecond.
AndyouthinkIwouldjustsayyes? shereplied,hertonecoolanddetached.Idontknoweitherofyou,andyouwantaccesstoourfiles.ForallIknow,youmightbespiestryingtoplantabuginmysystemandmonitorme.
ed,stunned.Thatsoundsridiculous.Whywouldwewanttodothat? culousasitsounds,itcouldbetrue,shesaid,hervoicefinallytingedwithemotion,thoughstillcalm.Ihavealotofenemieswillingtodoanythingtogetkatme.Youmightbeworkingforoneofthem.
rubbedmytemples,tryingtostaycomposed.Well,sorrytoburstyourbubble,butwerenotspies.Neitherarewepartofanyenemypyramid.Ijustneedthisinformationtohelpoutaveryclosefriendofmine.
Sheraisedaneyebrow,herattentionstillonthecanvas.Ok,andIm15yearsold,shesaid,hervoicealmostteasing.

Pardon?Ireplied,completelythrownoffbythesuddenchangeintone.
Exactly,shesaid,turningherheadjustenoughformetoseetheplayfulglintinhereye.Everyonecantelllies.Youcouldbelyingthatyourenotaspywhilestillbeingaspy.
Isighedheavily,mypatienceweletusdothis,Isaid,tryingtorem su Successfullyunlocked!Illreallyjustappreciate itifyoudespitethe risingtideoffrustration.
pie Myanswerremainsno,shesaid,hervoicecoldanddismissive.AndIthinkyouveoverstayedyourwelcome.Pleaseleave.
1/3 CHAPTERORS Istaredatherforalongmoment,mymindracingforawayaroundherobstinate.refusal.Whydideveryonemakethingssodifficultatfirst?Thiswomanwasrefusingtohelp,allbecauseofsomeridiculousspyfantasy.
Iletoutasmallsigh,runningmyhandthroughmyhair.Ihadhoped itwouldntcometothis,butitseemedlikeIhadnootherchoice.
Allright,Isaid,tryingtomaskthefrustrationinmyvoice.Idlikeustomakeadeal.
Shestartedlaughingasoftchuckle,butthemockerywasclearinhertone.
Andwhatdealcouldyoueverofferme,boy?sheasked,herfocusstillonthepaintingasifshecouldntbebotheredtoevenglancemyway.

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Isatupstraighter,adjustingthecollarofmyTshirt.ThiswasntgoingthewayIdhoped,butIwasntbackingdown.Nothingmuch,justasimpleoffer.Idliketobuytheorphanage,Isaid,leaningforward,watchingherreactionclosely.
Shepaused,thepaintbrush hoveringmidair,beforeslowlyplacingitdown.Thesilencestretchedforamomentassheturnedherheadtofaceme,askepticalglintinhereyes.AndwhatmakesyouthinkIwouldwanttosellmyorphanage?sheasked,hervoicedrippingwithdisbelief.
Imethergaze,undeterred.FromthemomentIwalkedintothisbuilding,Icould seehowbadlyitwasfallingapart.Thechippedpaint,theoutdatedfurnitureeverythings-indisrepair.Thisplaceiscryingforrenovation,but itsclearyoudonthavethefunds tomaintainitproperly,Isaid,eachworddeliberate,meanttomakeherthink.
Sheremainedsilent,herfingerstwitchingeversoslightly,asthoughweighingmywords.IknewIdhitanerve.
Youreright,shesaidfinally,hertonesofternow,buttingedwithresignation.ButevenifIwerethinkingaboutselling,doyoureallythinkthisplaceiswithinyourpaygrade?DoyouhonestlybelieveIdsellitfortwenty thousanddollars?Please,dontmakemelaugh,shesaid,asmirkcurlingatthecornerofherlips.
Ileanedin,watchinghercarefully,myeyessteady.Howaboutamilliondollars?Isaid,lettingthefigurehanginthe air.
Herexpressionshiftedinstantly.Thebrushshedbeenholdingfelltothefloorwithasoftthudassheslowlyturnedtofaceme,wideeyed.Whatdidyoujustsay?sheasked,hervoiceamixtureofdisbeliefandcuriosity.
Onemilliondollars,Illbuytheorphanageforonemilliondollars,Irepeatedcalmly,watchingtheimpactofmywordssettlein.
Foramoment,shedidntsayaword.Shesatthere,staringatmeasiftryingtoprocesswhatIdjust proposed.Icouldpracticallyseethegearsturninginherhead.Then,asifshecouldntcontainitanymore,sheshottoherfeetfasterthanIdexpectedforsomeoneherageandsaid,Deal.Deal,deal,deal!Shestartedpacingtoward me,herhandsclappingtogetherinexcitement.

20 CHAPTER086 Iallowedmyselfasmallsmirk.Asexpected,theoldwomancouldntresistsuchanoffer.Whocould?Nosanepersonwouldturndownonemilliondollars,no matterhowsentimentaltheywereabouttheplace.Thebuildingdidntlooklikeitwasworthafractionofthat,butitdidntmatter.Shewasalreadytooexcitedtothinkstraight.
Istoodup,adjustingmyshirtasIofferedmyhand.Itsadeal,Isaid,shakinghersfirmly.
Shegrabbedapenfromherdeskandimmediatelyscribbleddownthedetailsofherbankaccount.Justtransferthefundstomyaccount,andtheorphanageisyours,shesaid,hervoicefullofexcitement.
Icouldnthelpbutbe alittleamusedbyhereagerness.Shewassoquicktojumpintoitnowthatthemoneywasonthetable.Thepowerofmoney,Ithought.Itwasalmostlaughablehowfastsomeonecouldswitchsideswhenthepricewasright.
Thankyouverymuch,sir,shesaid,hervoicenowdrippingwithpoliteness.
Sir?Isaid,raisinganeyebrowinsurprise.Youwerejustcallingmeaspyafewminutesago,andnowImsir?The thingsmoneycando.Ichuckledsoftly.
Shelookedupatme,slightlyflusteredbutstillsmiling.Iapologize,Mr.Blake.Itsjustthat…well,thisis ahugeoffer.Ididntexpectanyonewouldbewillingtopaysomuch.Shepausedforamoment,then,asifrealizingtheshiftinpowerdynamics,added,Thankyou,sir.Itrulyappreciateyourgenerosity.
Ishookmyhead,smiling.Asmuchaswouldloveforyoutocontinuesayingthat,mymomraisedmewell,sopleasedroptheSirandjustcallmeJulian,Isaid,alittlesmirktuggingatmylips.No needforalltheformalities.
wthatt Butafter Sheblinkedatme,clearlynotexpectingmetoabriefmoment,shenodded,asmalllaughescapingherlips.Alright,Julian.Isupposewehaveadealthen.