CHAPTER VI
"Excuse me?"
"He wants to meet you"
"Why? Can't you handle his requirements?"
"He told me that he saw several of your paintings in the art gallery by the beach and he was interested in marketing it in the US. But first he wants to meet you and commission you to do a portrait."
"Well I hope you told him that it was not possible to meet me and that I only do portraits for select clients."
"I did. I did. For the portrait he agreed to just give me a copy of the photograph he wants you to do but for his other request he was quite adamant. He said he could meet you in your house if you're concerned about privacy."
"What did you say his name was again?"
"Oh I didn't. His name is Stiles. A.B. Stiles?"
Kay couldn't believe her ears. She was momentarily paralyzed as if frozen in place.
"Katherine dear, are you alright? You're as white as a ghost. If seeing the man really makes you this uncomfortable then I'll call him right now and tell him we're not interested."
"What? Oh, I'm okay. I don't know what came over me. And no, don't tell him we're not interested. This could be our big break to penetrate the US market. But I don't think I'm ready yet to meet him. Just get the photograph and I'll do it."
"Just like that? What changed? A minute ago I could have sworn you were not open to the idea."
"How is he?"
"How is who?"
"Stiles. I mean how is Mr. Stiles? Hmm, on second thought never mind. Lyn could you make the call to Mr. Stiles in my office so that I could put him on speaker. Just wanted to hear his voice. You know, just to get a feel of him before I do his portrait."
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Stiles was sitting in his car, binoculars on hand, waiting outside the house by the cliff. He followed Lyn Johnson from her office. He made sure that his offer for TLS would be enticing enough for Lyn to immediately contact TLS. He was getting antsy because he could not see the face to match the name of TLS. The drapes in the house obstructed his view of the inside. After waiting for about an hour, his cellphone rang.
"Hello."
"Mr. Stiles. This is Lyn Johnson"
"Hi! So when do I get to meet TLS?"
"I'm sorry but I can't give you a definite answer on that one. However, we can meet your requirements concerning the portrait. If you can give me the photograph I'll show it to TLS and she can give you an estimate as to when it will be finished."
"Sound good. It's a start. At least now I know TLS is a woman. Where are you now? I can meet you there if you want."
"Um, you're staying at Boracay Beach Club right? I can meet you at the bar near the beach in 20 minutes."
"Great. See you there".
Turning the phone speaker off, Lyn looked at Kay and said "Mission Accomplished". Kay exhaled deeply, as if holding her breathe throughout the phone call. She smiled, something that she doesn't do as often as before. It was so great to hear his voice. She missed him so much. She can't wait to see him.
"Excuse me?"
"He wants to meet you"
"Why? Can't you handle his requirements?"
"He told me that he saw several of your paintings in the art gallery by the beach and he was interested in marketing it in the US. But first he wants to meet you and commission you to do a portrait."
"Well I hope you told him that it was not possible to meet me and that I only do portraits for select clients."
"I did. I did. For the portrait he agreed to just give me a copy of the photograph he wants you to do but for his other request he was quite adamant. He said he could meet you in your house if you're concerned about privacy."
"What did you say his name was again?"
"Oh I didn't. His name is Stiles. A.B. Stiles?"
Kay couldn't believe her ears. She was momentarily paralyzed as if frozen in place.
"Katherine dear, are you alright? You're as white as a ghost. If seeing the man really makes you this uncomfortable then I'll call him right now and tell him we're not interested."
"What? Oh, I'm okay. I don't know what came over me. And no, don't tell him we're not interested. This could be our big break to penetrate the US market. But I don't think I'm ready yet to meet him. Just get the photograph and I'll do it."
"Just like that? What changed? A minute ago I could have sworn you were not open to the idea."
"How is he?"
"How is who?"
"Stiles. I mean how is Mr. Stiles? Hmm, on second thought never mind. Lyn could you make the call to Mr. Stiles in my office so that I could put him on speaker. Just wanted to hear his voice. You know, just to get a feel of him before I do his portrait."
==================
Stiles was sitting in his car, binoculars on hand, waiting outside the house by the cliff. He followed Lyn Johnson from her office. He made sure that his offer for TLS would be enticing enough for Lyn to immediately contact TLS. He was getting antsy because he could not see the face to match the name of TLS. The drapes in the house obstructed his view of the inside. After waiting for about an hour, his cellphone rang.
"Hello."
"Mr. Stiles. This is Lyn Johnson"
"Hi! So when do I get to meet TLS?"
"I'm sorry but I can't give you a definite answer on that one. However, we can meet your requirements concerning the portrait. If you can give me the photograph I'll show it to TLS and she can give you an estimate as to when it will be finished."
"Sound good. It's a start. At least now I know TLS is a woman. Where are you now? I can meet you there if you want."
"Um, you're staying at Boracay Beach Club right? I can meet you at the bar near the beach in 20 minutes."
"Great. See you there".
Turning the phone speaker off, Lyn looked at Kay and said "Mission Accomplished". Kay exhaled deeply, as if holding her breathe throughout the phone call. She smiled, something that she doesn't do as often as before. It was so great to hear his voice. She missed him so much. She can't wait to see him.