Chapter 178:
Gerry chuckled. “You know, Alicia came to me yesterday. She wanted to attend the art exhibition but didn’t have an invitation. She asked if I could help. It was no trouble, so I said yes.”
Caden picked up his wine glass and drained it in one go. “Did I ask for your commentary? You’re awfully chatty,” he retorted.
With a helpless shrug, Gerry replied, “Alicia shows more grace than you do. What was a small favor for me meant a great deal to her. She even stayed up all night composing a theme song for my upcoming movie to thank me.”
Caden’s demeanor shifted slightly.
He remembered last night when he walked past the study. Alicia was there, surrounded by sheets of manuscript paper, her eyes red and weary. He had assumed she was preparing lessons, but in reality, she was writing a song for Gerry.
Gerry sighed, “When I saw her today, her eyes were bloodshot. She must have pulled an all-nighter.”
Caden swirled his glass thoughtfully. “When did she meet up with you?” he asked.
“We had lunch together around noon,” Gerry answered. “She even introduced me to her friend Monica.”
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Caden pressed his lips together. Earlier, when his call with Alicia had abruptly ended, he’d heard faint noises in the background and suspected she was with another man. Seeing Gerry now, a fleeting doubt crossed his mind, but it was quickly dismissed. He was certain nothing romantic would happen between Gerry and Alicia.
“Honestly, you should stop making things difficult for her,” Gerry said, nudging Caden with his elbow. “I’m actually thinking about hiring her. I don’t want her to have any issues with me because of your attitude.”
Caden responded coolly, “I’ve never made things difficult for her.”
“Stop denying it,” Gerry retorted, his eyes narrowing. “The tension between you two earlier was so thick you could cut it with a knife. It felt like you wanted to kill each other.”
Caden fell silent for a moment before swiftly changing the topic. “So, when is your movie coming out?”
“After Christmas,” Gerry replied. “The last one did well, but—”
The profits weren’t great after all the expenses.
“I’ll finance half of the new movie,” Caden offered casually, swirling his drink.
Gerry, taken aback by the offer, eyed him warily. “Why? What are you up to?”
“What could I possibly want from you?” Caden retorted, his tone sharp.
“You tell me. We’ve been friends for years,” Gerry said, stepping back, half-joking. “There’s no such thing as a free lunch. What’s going on? You got a crush on me or something?”
“I have a crush on your mom,” Caden shot back sarcastically.
“Damn it!” Gerry exclaimed, laughing despite himself. “So that’s your real agenda?” Caden rolled his eyes and set down his glass. “Forget it. The offer’s off the table.”
Gerry quickly changed his tune. “Wait, no need to be hasty. I wouldn’t refuse something free.”
Since entering the industry, Gerry had risen to fame quickly, largely thanks to his family’s support. Their help had been invaluable in the early days, but it always weighed on him. Caden knew that Gerry had always wanted to achieve something significant on his own terms, to prove himself beyond the family’s help.
“Once it’s a hit, we’ll split the profits,” Gerry proposed with a grin.
“I recognize a lost cause when I see one,” Caden remarked dryly.
After a moment’s pause, Gerry returned to the pressing question. “Why are you suddenly so eager to support me?”
Caden gave a nonchalant shrug. “I have more money than I know what to do with.”
Gerry stared at him, slack-jawed and speechless.
Meanwhile, Alicia stood captivated by a renowned painting in the art gallery. The sheer grandeur of the artwork made her feel insignificant; everything around her seemed surreal. She had inherited her mother’s artistic talent but had rarely explored it.
Her father had forbidden her from pursuing art, leading to frequent arguments between her parents. Despite her exceptional gift, which was evident from a young age, her mother feared she might face hardships, encouraging her to hide her talents.
Over the years, her mother had protected her in every possible way.
As Alicia gazed at a vibrant depiction of blooming flowers, she couldn’t resist reaching out as if to touch it, her eyes filling with tears.
The flowers’ breathtaking beauty was ephemeral—just like her mother.
Lost in her reflections, a tear escaped down her cheek.
Just then, she sensed a presence.
Hurriedly wiping her tears, she turned to face the person. “Hello, Ms. Bennett?” The person smiled warmly. “What a delightful surprise. I didn’t expect to see you here.” Alicia felt a flush of flattery as she greeted the man.
“Hello.”
He handed her a business card, introducing himself.
Noticing it was related to art, her eyes lit up.
“I had the pleasure of seeing you at Mr. Hopkins’ movie premiere. You really stood out,” he said, his tone conveying genuine admiration. “You seem particularly interested in art. If you ever need anything, please feel free to contact me.”
“Thank you,” Alicia replied humbly, carefully tucking the business card into her purse.
After a moment’s hesitation, she asked, “I’m sure you’ve seen a lot of the harsh comments online about me. Why would you reach out to me, given all that?”
The man appeared puzzled by her self-doubt. “Keyboard warriors are just losers behind screens. But you? You’re talented, and real success takes time and effort. I can see that in you.” A bittersweet feeling washed over her, and she offered a gentle smile.
She decided to add him on WhatsApp.
The man then remarked, “It’s rare to find someone as successful as you are at twenty-four who remains so humble.”
Alicia joked, “How should I be, then?”
He gestured subtly toward Caden, who stood not far away.
Despite his prestigious status and the many people vying for his attention, Caden wore a perpetually cold expression.
Displeased, Gerry remarked, “So what if he acts all high and mighty? At twenty-five, he’s already the CEO of Blizzard Group. He’s earned the right to a bit of arrogance!”
Alicia found herself momentarily speechless.
Before long, she noticed Caden catching her gaze. Turning back to the man, she said her goodbyes and lowered her head to note his name on WhatsApp. Just as she finished, a shadow fell over her screen.
“Quite busy, aren’t you? Are older men your type?” he asked, a hint of mockery in his tone.
Alicia looked up to see Caden standing before her, having approached unnoticed.
