Chapter 122: Visitor from the Desert (1)
“What? I invited someone to visit Korea?”
At first, Haejin couldn’t see what was going on, but then he recalled something.
When he met Prince Sahmadi for the last time, he introduced his wife and daughter to him. The prince said they will visit Korea one day.
Haejin’s expression said that he remembered now, and Eric slapped his hand.
“I was so surprised! Being handsome is always good.”
“What does that have to do with this?”
“Hahaha! You’ll get to find out in time. Oh, and when you go to meet her, someone else will go with you instead of me. She is an idiot from the US Central Intelligence Agency who doesn’t know a thing about antiques, so just ignore her. I should leave now. Escort the princess well, I will keep in touch.”
Eric stood up to leave, but Haejin grabbed him.
“You can’t leave like this. You should tell me what you are going to do about that painting. What happens if I don’t buy it?”
“Someone else will buy it. You know how it works, if everyone gets to know that the painting is real, would it be good for its owner?”
Haejin couldn’t say anything. Then, Eric added something and left.
“Oh, I’ve prepared a suit in your room. It should fit you, so get changed. If it doesn’t, it will become mine.”
“Thank you.”
Soon, Eric’s girlfriend brought some food. Haejin then started eating and was lost in thoughts.
The owner couldn’t reveal the painting to the world as long as it was real.
If that had been possible, he would have sold it for millions of dollars. As for how the painting that was supposed to be in Norton Simon Museum was in his home wasn’t clear, there had to be some crime involved in it.
That was probably why that organization was trying to lure him into a trap.
Eventually, he would have to hand that painting over to them or sell it to a third person.
Haejin didn’t want to be that third person. There was no reason for him to buy a painting that he couldn’t even exhibit at 5 billion won.
However, Haejin had one more question. Eric knew Haejin, so he must have known that he would say no. Nevertheless, he asked him to buy the painting. Why?
The next morning, at around 9 a.m., Haejin got a call from a strange number. As the call was not from Korea, he could guess who it was.
“Hello?”
“Mr. Park? I’m Jessica Olson. You must have heard about this in advance… come to the lobby.”
The slightly thick voice of a woman sounded urgent.
“Now?”
“Yes. Haven’t you heard that you should come at 9 o’clock?”
“Oh… I didn’t know.”
“Hu… just prepare quickly and come. The people from the middle east don’t like to wait.”
“Okay.”
Haejin took a quick shower and wore the black suit Eric gave him and went to the lobby. A woman with red hair was waiting.
She was wearing a neat suit like an office worker. She looked at Haejin up and down, then nodded as if she liked how he looked.
“Not bad. I heard about you from Eric Holton. You speak good English, right?”
“Yes, but who are we going to meet?”
Jessica looked at Haejin with surprise.
“You don’t know that?”
“Yes. Eric didn’t tell me everything.”
“Oh, my…”
She grabbed her forehead. Then, she picked up her phone to call someone.
“Hey, that crazy idiot didn’t tell this Korean appraiser who the guest is. Does it even make sense? Is this Korean really an appraiser?”
Haejin wanted to tell her that he was, but he didn’t want to be the target of her anger, so he didn’t say anything.
She huffed and puffed like that for some time. Then, she made Haejin climb into her car and headed to JFK Airport. She explained on the way.
“You know Abdula al Sahmadi Abu Dhabi, right? Our guest who arrives at JFK today is Hassena Abu Dhabi. She is 24 years old. She likes Taekwondo and practices at dojang in UAE. Like her father, she also likes antiques and has collected quite a lot.”
“Oh… okay.”
“She is coming to participate in Sotheby’s auction in New York, and you should escort her until she leaves. Usually, she brings her own appraiser, but this time, she suddenly told us you will be her appraiser, so we are a little confused.”
“Hmm… I see.”
Haejin reacted as if it was natural, and Jessica looked at him with shock.
“How on earth did you get to befriend the royal family of Abu Dhabi? I’ve heard about a Korean helping them by appraising some artifacts, but it’s hard to believe that they trust you enough to call you outside of their own country. What exactly happened?”
If it had been nothing, Haejin could have told her, but the matter about Salvator Mundi was not something he could easily talk about. It could do serious harm to the reputation of Abu Dhabi family.
“There’s also something you should know. Although the adult females of the Arab Emirates hide their faces, they don’t do that in official events. However, that doesn’t mean they talk to any man. You know what I’m trying to say, right?”
Of course, Haejin was no idiot.
“Yes. I should not talk to her, right?”
“Yes. Her coming alone means her family members are not coming with her. It doesn’t mean her attendants won’t come, either. It can become a diplomatic problem, so be careful.”
“Then shouldn’t at least someone from the Korean Diplomatic Service help me?”
“I’ll be doing that part, too. The princess doesn’t want many people going around with her.”
“Oh…”
“We’ve explained the situation to your Diplomatic Service. As long as everything goes well, they will not call you or something. You are simply working as an appraiser, that’s all.”
“Okay. But why does the US Intelligence Agency care so much about her? It looks like she’s just here to do some shopping…”
“You don't understand. We do not care about her, we are treating her with respect. It is to get rid of the possibility of her getting into trouble with American citizens or other kinds of problems. Of course, we just care a little bit more as she is a member of the UAE’s Abu Dhabi family.”
Haejin received a lecture like this from Jessica and arrived at the airport. The plane with the princess had just arrived.
Jessica went to the Arrivals Hall with a sign written in Arabic which she had prepared in advance.
About half an hour later, they saw a woman wearing black clothes and a black hijab.
She was a beautiful lady with blue eyes. Like the actress of a movie.
Around her were buffy people who were clearly bodyguards.
She looked around. She didn’t even give a look at Jessica with the sign and walked straight to Haejin.
“We meet again.”
Haejin had imagined her voice would be charismatic as she was a member of a powerful family in Arab, but to his surprise, her voice was beautiful.
“Oh… yes. I only got to see your eyes last time, but you are very beautiful.”
She smiled and turned to Jessica who was holding the sign awkwardly.
“Nice to meet you, I’m Hassena. I guess you are escorting me this time?”
“Yes, Selina is on vacation. If you told us in advance, she would have changed her schedule…”
“No, it’s fine. I don’t need much of your help this time. Shall we go?”
“Of course.”
Hassena had prepared the cars, not Jessica. Two heavy Ford Explorers and a Benz slid into a stop in front of them. Hassena got on the Benz in front.
Haejin was about to get on one of the Explorers, but a huge guy, who was at least 190cm tall, tapped his shoulder.
“Hey, you get into the princess’s car.”
“What? That’s…”
Even though Haejin was her appraiser, this was too much. He didn’t know what to do, but Hassena poked her head out of the car and looked at him.
She looked as if asking why Haejin was not getting in, so Haejin had no choice but to climb in the passenger’s seat. He didn’t have to look back to feel Jessica’s surprise.
Next to Hassena was a woman in her mid-30s without a hijab. She was wearing a neat two-piece suit.
She slightly frowned as Haejin got into the car.
No one talked even after the car started to move. Haejin couldn’t stand the mood and started talking first.
“Khmm… anyway, nice to meet you. I was able to have an unforgettable experience in Abu Dhabi, but I didn’t expect to see you here.”
However, the woman next to Hassena replied again.
“The rules of the desert are strict.”
It meant Haejin couldn’t talk to the princess. He wondered why he had been told to get into that car, but Hassena spoke dryly.
“That’s why I am pressed so much. Women born in the desert are unhappy.”
“Your Highness.”
Her attendant scolded her, but she continued.
“I once went to Korea when I was 16. It was for a Taekwondo competition. I didn’t get to win any awards, but it was so pleasant. Korea is free, and sometimes exciting, but it also has a deep history.”
Haejin thought he had read something like that in a book.
“I am glad you liked it.”
“I am going to Korea after Sotheby’s auction three days later. Could you escort me?”
Haejin couldn’t say no, or the head of Diplomatic Service would curse him.
“Yes, of course.”
“It would draw attention if I wear a hijab in Seoul, right?”
“It wouldn’t be a problem if you just wear it on your head like that and show your face. There are some Islam women in Seoul these days.”
“That’s good. You wouldn’t be troubled much.”
She was saying she wasn’t going to not use her hijab but show her face like now. Nowadays, there are some women who show their hair, but Haejin couldn’t expect much.
“Thank you.”
“Oh, and Mr. Holton told me about Rembrandt’ painting.”
What was that about? Was she saying she was there to buy the Portrait of Titus?
“Really?”
“Yes. You are in trouble, so of course, I should help you.”
Haejin almost asked, ‘what kind of trouble am I in?’ What did Eric tell her?
“Haha… that wouldn’t be necessary…”
“No. My father would have told me to help if he knew about this. Our family owes you. And, as you are going to help me with this Sotheby’s auction, this is nothing.”
“Haha… thank you.”
Haejin didn’t know what he was thanking her for, but he thanked first and sent a message to Eric to demand to tell him what was going on.
However, before he got a reply, Hassena said something very unexpected.
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