Jeanne: Art In Life

1. Parisian Tea

In a dimly lit bar along the Seine, Jean-Pierre was enjoying a rare evening off with his closest friends—Lyle Monteverdi, William Lauren, and Joseph Hugo. The four of them had known each other since their childhood days in elite private schools, growing up in the circles of wealth and influence. Together, they formed a close-knit group, bonded not just by their shared backgrounds but by the secrets and ambitions they held close to their chests.

Lyle Monteverdi was leaning casually against the bar, swirling a glass of red wine. Lyle berasal dari keluarga yang terkenal karena kemampuan arsitekturnya, merancang beberapa bangunan paling ikonik di Paris dan sekitarnya. Tall and effortlessly charming, Lyle had a natural charm that made him the life of any party. Tonight, he was dressed in a sleek, tailored jacket that screamed casual luxury, his dark hair slightly tousled as he glanced around the room with a laid-back air.

Sitting beside him was William Lauren, a man of few words but intense focus. Keluarganya meraup untung besar dari bisnis high-end fashion, yang membuat merek mereka dianggap sebagai salah satu yang paling bergengsi di dunia. Tidak seperti teman-temannya yang riuh, William memiliki pembawaan yang tenang dan pikirannya yang tajam selalu bekerja—entah itu menyusun strategi untuk kerajaan bisnis keluarganya atau menganalisis tren Haute Coutoure terbaru. He sat with a whiskey in hand, his eyes scanning the crowd, always observing.

Then there was Joseph Hugo, who, like the others, had grown up in wealth but had forged his own path. His family was legendary in the world of high-end fashion, and Joseph, with his larger-than-life personality, was known for pushing boundaries in both business and life. Ia adalah tipe orang yang bisa menjadi liar dalam satu waktu dan sangat filosofis di saat berikutnya, dualitas yang membuatnya menarik untuk diajak bergaul dan berbisnis tentunya.

Joseph, si pemilik bar di beberapa kota di Prancis, merupakan orang yang menjaga suasana grup tetap ceria dengan lelucon dan ceritanya.

Jean-Pierre, seated in the middle, was laughing as Joseph finished recounting a particularly outrageous story from a recent trip to Monaco, where they had been invited to an exclusive party hosted by a European royal family.

The four of them often found themselves in such circles, where champagne flowed freely, and wealth was the only common language spoken.

"Come on, Jean," Joseph grinned, nudging him.

"When are you going to tell us about your next big conquest in the art world? I heard you're going to tear apart some new exhibition soon. Who's the unlucky artist this time?"

Jean menyesap minumannya, seulas senyum tersungging di bibirnya. "You know me, Jo, I don't tear people apart. I just tell the truth. If an artist's work isn't up to par, it's my duty to call it out."

Lyle chuckled, his eyes gleaming with mischief. "And you love it. Admit it, Jean. You enjoy watching the art world tremble whenever you publish a review."

Jean hanya bisa tertawa ringan mendengar penuturan Lyle.

He did have a reputation—his critiques were respected but feared. An endorsement from him could catapult an unknown artist to fame, but a harsh review could ruin a career.

It was a power he wielded carefully, but he'd be lying if he said he didn't enjoy the rush that came with it.

"I heard there's an exciting new artist in town," Ucap William.

Nada suaranya santai tetapi tajam yang menunjukkan bahwa dia sudah tahu lebih banyak daripada yang dia akui. "Seorang pelukis anonim yang karyanya telah menarik perhatian di beberapa galeri pribadi. Mereka bilang gaya lukisannya terasa familiar, tetapi tidak ada yang bisa menentukan dengan pasti."