Read Online The Exhibition (An Executive Decision Trilogy) by Grace Marshall - Free Book Online
Authors: Grace Marshall
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held two numbers. Maybe one for Dee? She was bidding on a lovely Western-style painting of a mountain lion stretched on a ledge above a river, and it was clear she wasn’t about to be outbid by anyone. Not far from her, Al Marston offered Stacie a reassuring nod and a hint of a smile.
She remembered that Jamison didn’t always get his way. Ellis had been standing toe to toe with him for a long time now and holding his own. Jamison hated him for that. Al had given the man a run for his money a time or two, and she – well, she owned this gallery outright, and that was a testament to standing up to Terrance Jamison. She squared her shoulders and turned her attention to Jamison, who sat as cool as winter, unflinching, unmoving, his eyes locked on her. And she returned his gaze in spades. None of this was unexpected, she reminded herself. She knew when the time came, he wouldn’t let it go. Well she wasn’t a naïve young girl any more, and she wouldn’t let it go either.
She returned her gaze to Ellis’ secretary, who’d just given the winning bid for the mountain lion painting.
‘Sold!’ The auctioneer pounded his gavel on the podium. In spite of herself, Stacie jumped. ‘ Sunset Vigil by Andrea Vargas sold to Mr. Harris Walker.’
Stacie felt as though the sun had just come out. She hadn’t seen that coming. A quick glance at her BlackBerry, and, sure enough, there was a message from Harris.
Stacie
Just my way of making it up to you for my bad behavior. It’s a lovely painting, BTW. And I trust the artist had her BlackBerry turned off when she painted it. Best of luck tonight. I hope you rake in the dough.
Harris
She didn’t know how he’d done it, some scheming with Ellis, no doubt, but she was more certain than ever that she would have Harris Walker’s work in her exhibition. It was essential. And the timing couldn’t have been better if he’d planned it. It was just the reminder that she needed that she had an exhibition to plan and a new gallery to bring on line with all the fireworks and excitement she could manage. And she planned to manage a lot. Quickly, she texted back.
My hero! Apology most definitely accepted, Mr. Walker.
Stacie
She’d barely gotten the text sent off before Maggie was introducing her and calling her to the podium. She stood and offered the whole room a broad smile, which she now definitely felt. Then she moved to stand next to the gallery’s new manager. There was a round of applause and then silence as she took the podium. For a lingering second, she looked out over the room full of wealthy people, people making an effort to give something back, perhaps even making an effort to assuage their guilt for being “haves” in a “have-not” world or perhaps just putting on a good act. Her gaze came to rest first on Ingrid Watson, then on Jamison. Then she spoke.
‘It’s no secret, I’ve always loved being surrounded by beautiful things, and I’ve always had a deep respect and admiration for those who create them, for those who have studied and trained and sacrificed and put in long hours to create something breathtaking, something moving, something astounding. And I think there’s no one in this room tonight who would deny that we’ve been surrounded, for the past month, here at New World Gallery, with some of the most powerful works of some of the most promising new artists of the day. I’d like to thank all of them for their contributions to this event, for the gift of their time and their talent to give back to future artists.’
There was a round of enthusiastic applause. Then Stacie continued.
‘We need art maybe more than anything else because art is a reflection of ourselves, of our souls, of all the things within us that we can’t see, but know are there. Art feeds us, nourishes us, strengthens us, encourages us and moves us beyond ourselves to act boldly and live bravely and openly, even when we’re frightened, even when we’re unsure. Art gives
She remembered that Jamison didn’t always get his way. Ellis had been standing toe to toe with him for a long time now and holding his own. Jamison hated him for that. Al had given the man a run for his money a time or two, and she – well, she owned this gallery outright, and that was a testament to standing up to Terrance Jamison. She squared her shoulders and turned her attention to Jamison, who sat as cool as winter, unflinching, unmoving, his eyes locked on her. And she returned his gaze in spades. None of this was unexpected, she reminded herself. She knew when the time came, he wouldn’t let it go. Well she wasn’t a naïve young girl any more, and she wouldn’t let it go either.
She returned her gaze to Ellis’ secretary, who’d just given the winning bid for the mountain lion painting.
‘Sold!’ The auctioneer pounded his gavel on the podium. In spite of herself, Stacie jumped. ‘ Sunset Vigil by Andrea Vargas sold to Mr. Harris Walker.’
Stacie felt as though the sun had just come out. She hadn’t seen that coming. A quick glance at her BlackBerry, and, sure enough, there was a message from Harris.
Stacie
Just my way of making it up to you for my bad behavior. It’s a lovely painting, BTW. And I trust the artist had her BlackBerry turned off when she painted it. Best of luck tonight. I hope you rake in the dough.
Harris
She didn’t know how he’d done it, some scheming with Ellis, no doubt, but she was more certain than ever that she would have Harris Walker’s work in her exhibition. It was essential. And the timing couldn’t have been better if he’d planned it. It was just the reminder that she needed that she had an exhibition to plan and a new gallery to bring on line with all the fireworks and excitement she could manage. And she planned to manage a lot. Quickly, she texted back.
My hero! Apology most definitely accepted, Mr. Walker.
Stacie
She’d barely gotten the text sent off before Maggie was introducing her and calling her to the podium. She stood and offered the whole room a broad smile, which she now definitely felt. Then she moved to stand next to the gallery’s new manager. There was a round of applause and then silence as she took the podium. For a lingering second, she looked out over the room full of wealthy people, people making an effort to give something back, perhaps even making an effort to assuage their guilt for being “haves” in a “have-not” world or perhaps just putting on a good act. Her gaze came to rest first on Ingrid Watson, then on Jamison. Then she spoke.
‘It’s no secret, I’ve always loved being surrounded by beautiful things, and I’ve always had a deep respect and admiration for those who create them, for those who have studied and trained and sacrificed and put in long hours to create something breathtaking, something moving, something astounding. And I think there’s no one in this room tonight who would deny that we’ve been surrounded, for the past month, here at New World Gallery, with some of the most powerful works of some of the most promising new artists of the day. I’d like to thank all of them for their contributions to this event, for the gift of their time and their talent to give back to future artists.’
There was a round of enthusiastic applause. Then Stacie continued.
‘We need art maybe more than anything else because art is a reflection of ourselves, of our souls, of all the things within us that we can’t see, but know are there. Art feeds us, nourishes us, strengthens us, encourages us and moves us beyond ourselves to act boldly and live bravely and openly, even when we’re frightened, even when we’re unsure. Art gives
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