Chapter 22
She Must Have Misunderstood Something
The next day, after Julian Sterling went to work, Claire Bennett sent her draft to Tanya Sterling.
A complete mural involved everything from design to drawing to the overall spatial layout, all of which had to be taken into consideration. It was not a simple matter.
Unexpectedly, Tanya Sterling told her that from now on, Ethan Sterling would be handling this mural.
Claire Bennett had no choice but to remove Ethan Sterling from her blacklist and get in touch with him to coordinate.
She had her own relief mural studio, and she completed every order with utmost seriousness. She had never once gotten a bad review, and this time she definitely did not want to stumble because of Ethan Sterling.
Although mural artists were well-paid, there was little demand in the industry, and orders did not come in all the time. Claire Bennett would do her best to complete every single order.
Even if she was facing her ex-boyfriend, she had no intention of backing down.
After Claire Bennett sent the first draft to Ethan Sterling, he replied that she could begin. He actually did not make things difficult for her, and she had no idea whether he had suddenly grown a conscience.
That afternoon, Claire Bennett brought all her tools to Sterling International.
She hired workers to put up scaffolding. The metal frame, more than six meters high, looked very tall, but Claire Bennett was not afraid in the slightest. After securing her safety gear, she climbed up.
Standing at the top, Claire Bennett held her brush and began painting with focused seriousness.
In the blink of an eye, she had already roughed in part of the basic shapes.
Suddenly, a harsh voice rang out. "What the hell is this you're painting? It's ugly as hell. Do it over!"
Claire Bennett looked down and discovered that at some point Naomi Pierce had appeared beneath the scaffolding and was pointing fingers at her mural.
Claire Bennett's eyes darkened.
It was obvious Naomi Pierce had come to pick a fight, and the aggressive way she was charging in made it clear she would not be easy to deal with.
Claire Bennett set down the brush in her hand and slowly climbed down from the scaffolding.
Standing in front of Naomi Pierce, she said calmly, "This is only a draft. I've already confirmed the final effect rendering with Ethan Sterling, and he said there was no problem."
Naomi Pierce sneered, her face full of contempt, and said, "Ha, no problem? Why don't you take a look at what kind of crap you've painted? If it's already this ugly now, how good could the finished mural possibly look?"
Although Claire Bennett was angry when she heard Naomi Pierce say that, she knew Naomi Pierce had obviously come looking for trouble. There was simply no reasoning with her.
She took out her phone and dialed Ethan Sterling's number.
As soon as the call connected, Claire Bennett immediately said, "Ethan Sterling, please keep your woman under control and tell her not to come bother me when she has nothing better to do."
Five minutes later, Ethan Sterling hurried downstairs from above.
His face was dark as he looked at Claire Bennett unhappily and barked angrily, "Claire Bennett, what are you trying to do to Naomi again!"
Hearing Ethan Sterling's baseless accusation made Claire Bennett feel sick, like she'd swallowed a fly.
"Ethan Sterling, I don't think you've got this straight. It's not me doing anything to Naomi Pierce. It's her crawling out of the sewer again to disgust me. What, does the shit truck pass your door and she still has to scoop up a ladleful to taste how salty it is? No wonder she's got a mouth full of shit!"
Naomi Pierce was furious at those words. She knew she could not win in an argument against Claire Bennett.
With a pitiful look all over her face, she tearfully complained to Ethan Sterling, "Ethan, I just thought Claire's painting was too ugly, so I reminded her a little. I didn't expect her to be so unwilling to take criticism."
"If it really turns out that ugly in the end, won't that affect Sterling International's image? Maybe your uncle would even get angry."
At the mention of that mysterious and unfathomable uncle, Ethan Sterling's expression changed at once.
Ever since joining Sterling International, Ethan Sterling had wanted to meet Julian Sterling in person.
But Marcus Reed had informed him that Julian Sterling did not have time to see him for the time being. Later, the man went away on a business trip, and to this day Ethan Sterling still had not met him even once.
Ethan Sterling had come to Chicago because he wanted to latch onto this uncle.
If the Sterling family was to be inherited by Julian Sterling in the future, then Ethan Sterling's own status would rise along with him, so he absolutely could not mess this up.
At the very least, this matter had to be handled properly before he returned from his business trip!
Thinking of that, his face darkened. He glared at Claire Bennett in dissatisfaction and snapped angrily, "Claire Bennett, what kind of crap is this you're painting? Is this all the skill you've got? Are you deliberately trying to cause trouble just because I broke up with you?"
Ethan Sterling believed that Claire Bennett was still hung up on him, so she was using this method to try to get his attention.
How could Claire Bennett possibly be intimidated by him?
She said bluntly, "I've already had you confirm the final effect rendering, and you personally said there was no problem. If you really think I'm the one causing trouble, then we'll just have to let everyone judge who's in the right."
The president's office on the top floor of Sterling International.
Julian Sterling stood in the top-floor office, watching the three people arguing below through the venetian blinds.
Marcus Reed had just gone to gather some information and was now reporting back promptly: "Mr. Sterling, Ms. Bennett came to paint the exterior wall, but Ethan Sterling is obstructing her and saying her painting isn't good enough."
Julian Sterling's brows drew tightly together. He had seen Claire Bennett's draft when she painted it. Her design was bold and stunning, definitely a fine piece of work.
Ethan Sterling simply had too much free time. If that was the case, then he would give him something to do.
"Tell Ethan Sterling I've returned and that I want to see him."
Marcus Reed was astonished, but he did not dare disobey Julian Sterling's order. He hurriedly left the room and took the elevator downstairs.
At that moment, Claire Bennett was still arguing her case with Ethan Sterling when she suddenly saw Marcus Reed walk in from the outer edge of the crowd of onlookers.
Ethan Sterling recognized Marcus Reed. He immediately calmed down and said in surprise, "Assistant Marcus?"
"Young Master Ethan, Mr. Sterling is back. He wants to see you."
"What! Really? I'll go right now!" Ethan Sterling immediately cast Claire Bennett aside. He did not even bother with Naomi Pierce and at once returned to Sterling International to take the elevator upstairs.
But Claire Bennett, left at the scene, was filled with shock, her whole person seeming to have lost her soul.
It was over. The real Julian Sterling had actually come back!