Chapter 10
Dolores glared at Gail like she’d just seen a freaking ghost. “Seriously, if you were into some
Пуоu three damın year That’s one hell of a twisted way to show love!”
someone. would you have them play the waiting game
for
Gail nodded, her face clouded with confusion. “Exactly. And why’s he so hell–bent on you moving back in? It’s totally pointless if you’re just gonna leave again.”
Dolores had zero interest in figuring out the why
Baffled and not wanting to dwell on a Dolores decided to unwind by eating out. She chose a restaurant and deliberately ordered an dish. Fating it made her sweat profusely, but it was a strangely satisfying experience.
an extra
spicy
d quiet
As night fell Dolores, anticipating more trouble from Adam, simply turned off her phone for some peace and
The next morning, she was up early, quickly stashing her bags in her car and driving off to her new apartment. After getting things organized, she dressed smartly and headed out to Ethers Studio, her new place of work
Upon her arrival. Philip Wood, the elderly, somewhat short head of Ethers Studio, couldn’t hide his surprise. “You’re the ‘Doreen Black‘ restorer Gail has been raving about! I can hardly believe it!”
Dolores nodded politely. “Yes, that’s me”
She hadn’t taken on many projects, but each was a tough challenge, earning her a solid reputation in the industry. Still, she preferred to keep under the radar, using the pseudonym “Doreen Black” to stay low–key and avoid unwanted attention.
things
Philip had heard of “Doreen” but had never met her. He only knew her work was top–notch, even making seasoned pros envious. He had assumed Doreen was an old–timer like himself, not such a young woman.
“I’ve seen your work–holy shit, it’s awesome!” he said with genuine admiration. Dolores gave a modest smile. “You’re too kind. I’ve got so much more to learn.” With that, Philip led Dolores to her workstation and shouted for a colleague, Lexi W For a restorer, knowing how to identify the era, style, and authenticity of artifacts was basic stuff. However, considering how different Dolores’s actual background was from his expectations, Philip decided to stick with the routine onboarding assessment
Lexi White, “Lexi, fetch some items, let the new kid take
take a look.”
Lexi quickly brought several artifacts from different periods and gently placed them on the table. This immediately caught the eye of everyone in the studio, who gathered around, whispering among themselves, “Wasn’t some big–shot supposed to show up today? Why’s it just a young girl!”
“She’s probably just here to schmooze, trying to glam up her resume. Little does she know, Mr. Wood himself is on her case–she’s about to blow her cover
They
say Philip bent over backward for her, even making a few trips just for this. He’s gonna be so pissed”
However, as people were gossiping, Dolores began accurately detailing the era, source, and fine features of each artifact with astonishing precision. silencing everyone with her expertise,
Lexi, visibly impressed, couldn’t help but exclaim. “That quick?” Having been Philip’s apprentice for nearly ten years, even he couldn’t identify them as swiftly as she did.
Philip nodded approvingly, impressed by Dolores theoretical knowledge. In Lexi bring over a fake artifact for Dolores to work hier nugic qui
But he knew that practice was the gold standard. Playing it safe, he had
‘s just how we do things here, he explained. These pieces are irreplaceable treasures, so yeah, we’re kinda
“Dent take the wrong way—it’s alexut when ports to touch them”
brief nod of understanding before diving into the lo
the long, meticulous task of restoration.
picky
Initially, her colleaguri were skeptical–ler youthful appearance didn’t help her case. They soon left her to her work. But as the day wrapped up and Dolores presented the restored amfact, everyone’s jaws dropped.
One of their let out a low whole: “Shit, that piece took me three days to fix when I was n
new…
Everyone was impressed by Doloress fast and flawless restoration, except for Philip. He studied the piece intently, his bifocals slipping down his
1/2
Dreame–Read Roman
Chapter 10
nose, his hands trembling slightly.
Finally, he looked up at Dolores, curiosity lacing his tone. “So, what’s your connection with Julia Wells?”
The mention of the name caused a flicker in Dolores’s eyes, but she quickly smoothed her expression. After a beat, she replied coolly, “I’ve heard of
her, that’s all. Never met her.”
Julia Wells–once the shining star of the antique restoration world, her craftsmanship was legendary. Anyone in the industry knew her name, but she vanished almost as quickly as she had risen to fame,
Philip
p pushed further. his tone laced with doubt. “But your restoration technique…it’s freaking identical to hers. How come?”
“I learned everything from my granddad, he was a master at restoring antiques, she explained with a dismissive wave.
Philip’s face clouded over as he listened. He gave a slow nod, dropping the subject but clearly disappointed.
Despite it all, Dolores’s talent was undeniable. Seizing the opportunity to flaunt his new find, Philip beamed as he introduced her to the crew. “Folks, this is Doreen Black, our latest addition.
Lexi looked shocked, “Doreen Black? The Doreen Mack? Shouldn’t she be an old–timer?”
“How the hell did she end up a young hottie like this!” Lexi blurted out, earning a sharp glare from Philip telling him to put a sock in it.
“Don’t sweat it, Doreen Philip reassured softly.
Dolores merely smiled, brushing off the comment.
Philip then took her around, introducing her to the rest of the small team. They were a tight–knit group of just eight or nine, all genuinely friendly —a stark contrast to the backstabbing she had dealt with at the Walcott Group.
Dolores was quickly falling for the place, it being her true calling and all.
a incal.
As the day ended, the team proposed a dinner outing, explaining it was an Ethers Studio tradition to welcome newcomers with a n They chose a bustling seafood bistro, right across the street from an upscale restauraist,
On the second floor of that restaurant, Olaf Calio, taking a smoke break by the window, glanced down. Spotting a familiar face, he nudged Adam. “Hey. Adam, isnt that Dolores down there!”
Adam looked in the direction Olaf was pointing and, sure enough, there was Dolores, caught up in lively chats with a few folks.
