Chapter 17
Elijah was still dazed when she heard Leon’s serious, steady voice and met his gaze head–on.
“Yes,” he said, his tone calm yet resolute. “The value of a painting lies in the work itself. There are far more people in this world who can recognize true art than you think.”
He leaned back slightly, his lips curving faintly as he continued,
“Even if that piece wasn’t hung in a prestigious gallery, even if it were just a mural tucked away in some random alley, it would still be the one that draws every pair of eyes.”
“And the moment I see a mural like that, I’ll make sure to track down its creator… I won’t let her
talent be buried.”
Elijah’s chest tightened as a rush of conflicting emotions surged within her. She bit her lower lip, inhaled deeply, then looked straight at Leon.
“The person in the painting is my mother,” she said softly but firmly.
“She’s willing to testify for me, and I still have several original drafts from the time I created it.
These are enough to prove that Hannah stole my work.”
She paused briefly, steadying her breath before continuing,
“I know Eternal Light Corp is still a new company in the fine arts scene and doesn’t have much
name recognition yet. But that painting is trending right now. If we expose Hannah for plagiarism, the publicity will be enormous.”
Leon’s expression shifted slightly, his gaze sharpening with interest.
“You want to join Eternal Light?”
Her fingers unconsciously clenched beneath the table, and she nodded, nervous despite her best
efforts to stay calm.
“…Yes. I want to join Eternal Light.”
“As you wish.”
“…I won’t rely solely on this painting,” she rushed to explain, panic flashing across her face. “I have other works, and I promise I’ll–wait… what?”
He smiled faintly at her stunned expression. “I said yes.”
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Elijah blinked, frozen in place, her mind struggling to catch up.
She had come prepared with multiple negotiation plans, worst–case scenarios, and fallback options, but not a single one accounted for it being this… easy.
Were CEOs always this reasonable now?
Her confusion must have been obvious, because Leon chuckled softly.
“You’re an exceptionally talented artist, Elijah,” he said, his voice warm and steady.
“Any sensible company would fight to have you on board. If anything, Eternal Light should be
honored that you chose us.”
Then, his tone softened even further, carrying a quiet promise:
“And rest assured, this brilliant piece of work will bear its rightful creator’s name.”
The tension in her chest loosened, the boulder she’d been carrying finally sliding off her shoulders.
And Leon didn’t stop there. Not only did he offer her a highly competitive salary, but when he learned she was planning to move out with her mother, he arranged a house near the company for
them.
“You’ve brought Eternal Light a massive wave of publicity,” he said casually, as though explaining something obvious.
The benefits we’ll gain from this are immeasurable. Think of the apartment as just another employee perk–one you’ve more than earned.
Before Elijah could find the words to thank him, Leon glanced at his watch and stood up.
“Perfect timing,” he said smoothly, adjusting his cufflinks.
“You’re not full yet, are you? Come on. I’ll take you to West Street for some real food–there’s a seafood place there that does the best grilled skewers and spicy crawfish you’ll ever taste.”
Elijah blinked at him, dumbstruck. “Uh… what?”
How had they suddenly jumped from corporate contracts to… crawfish?
2
And this man, a CEO who could buy an entire restaurant chain if he wanted, was taking her to a
street food stall?
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Leon only smiled at her incredulity and tilted his head toward the table.
“Take a look for yourself.”
She glanced down, and her cheeks warmed immediately. The expensive entrée sitting in front of her was practically untouched.
She couldn’t get used to those so–called expensive dishes when the Morgan family having Hannah
to dinner.
To prove the freshness of the ingredients, most of the dishes were just cooked a little, raw and dull. She couldn’t stand those dishes that were literally raw meats.
She couldn’t deny that the taste of the imported beef were good, but it was too oily.
She hesitated, embarrassed, and Leon’s knowing smile deepened.
her “Today’s restaurant was arranged by Mrs. Morgan, wasn’t it? I heard she considers you goddaughter,” he teased lightly. “Seems she doesn’t know your taste very well.”
He gestured for her to follow, his voice low and casual, “Come on. Let’s see if the place I picked
suits you
better.”
Turns out, it more than suited her. The open–air food stall Leon brought her to had a lively, smoky charm that made Elijah’s mouth water the moment they sat down.
The owner, a cheerful woman everyone called Mrs. King, seemed more than familiar with Leon.
She welcomed them warmly, setting down a plate of nuts without even being asked.
And Leon, the refined, seemingly untouchable CEO, looked perfectly at home here.
He chatted easily with Mrs. King, even helping her carry a tray of skewers to another table before sitting back down.
Elijah watched him, momentarily forgetting the food in front of her.
This was only the first day she’d really met Leon. But somehow, sitting there across from him in the glow of the neon lights, she felt like she was seeing a different man entirely.
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