"So what's the second thing?"
"Ah, that. Since I'm talking with V in person, how about you accept Star Risen's request to advertise our place? As well as take nice photos during our official opening ceremony."
"..."
"If you do, I'll cover my ears to your mother's request for me to introduce you to some ladies."
"She asked you directly?"
"Yes. And I shouldn't have told you."
"You're a pain in my neck, do you know that? Are all Paxtons like you?"
Benjamin smiled at the cynical question from his younger cousin.
"Okay. But I will not come as V. I will help you because my cousin asked me to do it. I will come as an ordinary photographer who is entirely unrelated to the V collection. I don't want our connection as cousins to be known by anyone. I want to move freely without the need to be careful and take whatever photos you want. How is it?"
"Deal."
***
Vincent walked from the bus stop to his gallery, looking around. As per his habit, he would snap every time something caught his eye.
Unfortunately... he didn't bring his favorite camera. The tigress pulled him out without letting him take his things.
Luckily he had already put his wallet in his pocket; otherwise, he wouldn't be able to get home on the bus either.
Vincent sighed softly. If only the camera were not left behind, he would immediately return home after leaving the hotel.
Step by step, Vincent walked closer to the gallery. Seeing that the gallery is full of young girls, Vincent hesitated.
In the end, he took his cell phone to call Frank.
"Close the gallery in an hour."
"Huh? It's still four in the afternoon. Usually, we close at nine, right?"
"I'm too lazy to come back with that kind of crowd, and my camera is there."
Frank understood the meaning of his words right away. The gallery was too packed with young girls making Vincent did not want to go inside.
After putting his cellphone in his pocket, Vincent took a walk towards the park, which was not far away while waiting there.
He decided to sit on a bench and look up at the sky.
Ah... so boring. He did not bring the camera with him, nor did the sketchbook. Vincent felt so bored.
Once again, he took out his cell phone and looked at some of the applications he had.
Spotify, Sudoku, Photo Editor, and others didn't intrigue him. In the end, he just played sudoku to waste time.
When the Sudoku application was started, his smartphone vibrated, and his sister's name appeared on the screen.
"Yes?"
"YOU WORK IN V COLLECTION?!"
Vincent almost throws his cell phone away from his ear when the thundering voice hit his ear.
"Nope."
"Your photos are everywhere."
"Oh... Maybe because I want to be a celebrity, so just stop by the gallery to test my good looks?"
"..." Vanessa took her phone away from her mouth to talk to someone. "Mom, it looks like there's a problem with Vincent's brain. We have to take him to the hospital."
Vincent rolled his eyes, hearing his sister's remark.
"My dear sister. If you don't want me to hear your words, don't speak out loud."
"Oh? I did say it out loud on purpose so you could hear me."
Vincent heaved a resignation sigh as he couldn't retort his sister back. Well, not that he couldn't, he just wouldn't. He loved his sister too much that he did not want to hurt her.
"So? You haven't answered my question."
"Well, you could say I was told to go there to increase the number of visitors? I don't know. After this, I'll stop."
"Huh? Why? They're not pretty at all?"
Huh? What does attracting visitors have to do with pretty? Vincent was not in a good mood to respond to his sister's teasing, so he preferred to avoid it.
"Ah, I forgot I had an appointment. See you tonight. Bye."
"Hey.."
Vincent immediately hung up without waiting for his sister to finish her sentence.
After pondering for a moment, Vincent punched a number before sticking his phone back to his ear.
"It's me. Check out all the social media that has my photos; delete them all."
A few minutes later, all photos of him in any media were erased as if his picture had never been there.
After making sure there were no more photos of him appearing on various social media, Vincent smiled with satisfaction.
An hour later, Vincent walked back to his gallery and could breathe a sigh of relief when he found out that the building was empty, leaving Frank and the two employees who are now cleaning the floors.
"You know, a lot of complaining about us closing early."
"Hm..."
"It's about time we put up a new picture."
"Hm... I'm working on it."
"And this..." Frank handed Vincent a rectangular white envelope.
"Just throw it away."
"Hey, this isn't a love letter."
Frank already knew his best friend's habits. If Vincent gets a love letter of any kind, he will immediately throw it in the trash without reading the contents.
"Then what? Ah, your love letter? Okay, I'll read it."
Frank's body shuddered... "Hey, if anyone hears you, they'll think we're gay."
While putting his camera in his bag, Vincent glanced at the two employees who were busy sweeping the floor and cleaning the photo frames.
"They both must have heard it."
Without stopping their work, the two people who were cleaning smiled while stifling an amused laugh.
Frank chuckled a few times, shaking his head.
"Just read it. If you don't like what's inside, throw it out or burn it as you like. Anyway, my job is done."
"Who is it?"
Oops... he shouldn't have said the last word. Now Frank regretted what he was saying.
"It has her name in it. You will know too."
Vincent's forehead frowned as if his mood had changed... in a worse direction for sure.
"Look, this isn't a love letter. Trust me. I didn't read it, but I can assure you it's not a love letter."
Seeing Frank earnestly wishing him to read it, Vincent finally complied. Only, he didn't read it right away. He put the envelope into his backpack.
"I'll read it,"
"Really?"
"If I remember it."
"Hey!"
Vincent laughed and waved his hand before exiting the gallery.