Reborn As Super Heiress

Chapter 1636: Chapter 1620: Twelve Authentic Works

Adrian was quite surprised to learn that Huo Sining and Augustin knew each other, but soon he understood the connection and smiled:

”I almost forgot, since you participated in the New York International Treasure Appraisal Conference, it’s normal for you to know Augustin, so I don’t need to introduce you two.”

”Augustin is an experienced appraiser with substantial research into European antiques, especially paintings and calligraphy. He is my appraisal consultant now, so I brought him in to help me verify if the paintings you’ve brought, Miss Huo, are truly works by Mr. Pablo.”

Huo Sining nodded: ”I’ve already witnessed Augustin’s deep expertise in European antiques back in New York and I’m very impressed. Mr. Adrien, you made the perfect choice by inviting him.”

Even so, while speaking, Huo Sining didn’t rush to present the paintings. Instead, she casually chatted with Augustin.

Though she noticed the eagerness in Augustin’s eyes, Huo Sining had her own calculations.

The more Adrian valued these paintings, the more advantage she had. She would exchange these paintings only for a batch of Huaxia antiques she coveted; otherwise, she would rather not exchange them and continue to negotiate with Adrian.

”Huo, shall we start?” Adrian inquired.

Huo Sining smiled and shook her head: ”No, Adrian, to ensure the fairness of our transaction this time, I’ve also brought in a lawyer. This is to uphold the responsibility we bear towards each other.”

”Given that we are potentially dealing with works by Mr. Pablo, I believe that with the respect the Albert family holds for Mr. Pablo, Mr. Earl wouldn’t want to desecrate the master.”

”Therefore, our transaction procedure should be more formal, as we’re not buying a sketch from street artists at a pound each on the roadside, wouldn’t you say?”

Upon hearing this, Adrian’s anxious expression eased considerably, his demeanor became more dignified, and he nodded towards Huo Sining with some approval:

”Miss Huo, you’re right, I was too hasty. The transaction should be formal, that is the least respect Mr. Pablo deserves.”

After about an hour, the lawyer contacted by Gu Xu arrived. After discussions with Adrian’s lawyer, they finally drafted a contract. After printing it out and confirming it multiple times, both parties signed their names.

With the agreement officially in effect, Huo Sining was no longer afraid of Adrian backing out, and signaled Gu Xu to take the brocade box containing the sketch and ink paintings out of the backpack.

Seeing this, Augustin quickly stood up and respectfully took the brocade box, carefully extracting the paintings from it.

As the saying goes, specialize in your field — Augustin was very familiar with Picasso’s works. Moreover, many appraisers in Europe are studying Picasso, so identifying whether a painting is by Picasso is not particularly difficult.

However, even Augustin did not expect that the brocade box Gu Xu brought out contained a stack of twelve Picasso works. As he slowly unrolled the scroll, his expression turned from expectation to surprise, soon becoming shock, until finally he unconsciously stood up, his entire body trembling involuntarily.

Meanwhile, Adrian, who was sitting on the sofa waiting for the result, also looked visibly shocked as Augustin pulled out painting after painting from the scroll, his astonishment showing no less than Augustin’s.

Initially, Adrian didn’t hold much hope for the Picasso paintings in Huo Sining’s possession; he didn’t believe Huo Sining could produce genuine Picassos.

Although he had heard Huo Sining mention she might have several genuine Picassos, Adrian didn’t pay it much mind. Over the years, he had traveled everywhere but managed to collect only a few, so he assumed the chances of Huo Sining having them weren’t high.

But as he watched Augustin take out one painting after another and saw Huo Sining looking so confidently assured, Adrian began to suspect he might have been very wrong.

Twelve paintings took more than an hour to thoroughly study before Augustin finally came to a conclusion.

After comparing the sketches and ink paintings in terms of paper age, painting style, and signature notes, Augustin confirmed that these paintings were indeed made by Picasso, far from the forgeries sold in the market.

This result left not just Augustin, but even Adrian in disbelief.

Besides Picasso’s descendants, no other private collector has ever possessed such a large number of genuine Picassos. Twelve paintings — such a number, if exposed, would certainly create quite a stir.

Once he confirmed these works were genuine, Adrian realized, only then, that he had just signed an agreement with Huo Sining. He initially thought even if the pieces Huo Sining held were authentic, it would only equate to exchanging dozens of Huaxia artifacts, which he considered no big deal.

But now he realized he might have fallen into this Eastern young woman’s trap.

Twelve pieces meant exchanging over two hundred Huaxia artifacts. Even as an heir to the Albert family, he didn’t have that power; he must consult with other elders in the Albert family to mobilize such a number of artifacts.

”Miss Huo, I’m truly sorry, I think I may have made a mistake. I didn’t know you had so many genuine Picassos in your possession. I should have told you earlier that the items in my collection belong to the entire Albert family, and not something I can easily dispose of. Over two hundred artifacts would require convening an Albert family meeting before making a final decision.”

Adrian’s face revealed embarrassment and difficulty; aware of his mistake, especially in front of so many people, this made him very uncomfortable, wishing to find a hole to hide in.

Huo Sining’s expression stiffened as well, she looked up, seemingly displeased, at Adrian and said: ”Mr. Earl, we signed an agreement, are you planning to breach it?”

Adrian, hearing these words, immediately waved his hands: ”No, no, I’m not breaching it. It’s just that I really didn’t expect Miss Huo, you would have so many Picasso works. Exchanging over two hundred Huaxia artifacts, that’s too large a number. If I make a rash decision, it could trigger a family conflict, and that’s a consequence I cannot bear.”