Five Years a Secret, Now I Deny We Ever Met Chapter 08

Five Years a Secret, Now I Deny We Ever Met Chapter 08

The anger on Julian’s face gradually faded, replaced by an amused admiration. He gave a low laugh and shook his head. “To avoid being labeled a ‘crazy woman,’ you turned yourself into a ‘genius’ they can’t touch. Chloe, you’re far more formidable than I imagined.”

His reaction surprised me. I had expected him to be offended at being used as a pawn.

But before I could puzzle out the motive behind his startling cooperation, the terrace door slid open with a sharp sound.

My advisor, Professor Albright, rushed out like a whirlwind. She didn’t even glance at Julian. She came straight to me, grabbed my arm, and pulled me behind her like a mother hen bristling to protect her chick.

Only then did she turn her sharp, hawk-like eyes on Julian.

Professor Albright swept him from head to toe with a critical gaze, full of the oppressive authority of an old-school Ivy League scholar.

“Mr. Julian,” she began, her tone icy, every word dipped in sarcasm. “I’ve heard that Silicon Valley’s new money is unconventional, but I didn’t realize ‘unconventional’ included announcing a six-figure academic sponsorship at someone else’s engagement party. My student, Chloe, has not received a single formal email from your foundation. Are you planning to build her future on this sort of casual ‘investment’ as well?”

The air froze.

My palms began to sweat.

The lie I had spun was now being unraveled, in the most cutting way possible, by the mentor I respected most.

Yet Julian was stunned for less than a second.

He immediately dropped his careless irreverence and stood perfectly straight, adopting the flawless sincerity of a corporate executive.

“Professor Albright, you’re absolutely right. I apologize.” He inclined his head slightly, meeting my advisor’s gaze with a tone so earnest he might have been reporting to his own board. “The process on our end has been far too slow, and I apologize for keeping Miss Chloe waiting. I assure you, she is our foundation’s most important investment in the field of art history this year.”

Those words were like a sponge, instantly absorbing all the sharpness my advisor had prepared.

Professor Albright’s expression visibly softened. She frowned, her vigilance shifting to practicality. “Most important investment? For an independent research project in Florence… what kind of support do you intend to provide? Laboratory resources? Archival access? Or…”