"Alright, I accept," Edward said, continuing, "I must, after witnessing the determination you've invested in this. I can't bring myself to reject it any longer, especially since I stand to gain the most from it."
Edward smiled, though he couldn't shake the feeling that something was amiss with William. William was smiling too, but there was an unsettling exuberance in his expression— more than Edward's, which seemed implausible.
It almost felt like he William was the one who about to get the most out of this deal when it wasn't like that.
'What is he so pleased about?' Edward pondered. 'Is it because he managed to broker a deal with a prestigious house on his own, or because his proposal was accepted? Whatever the reason, something feels off.'
"So, when should I transfer the money?" William inquired.
"Whenever you like, though it would be best if you could do so within a week." Edward suggest.
William nodded "Alright. Once I draft the contract and we both sign it, I'll hand over the money immediately. How does that sound?"
"Yes, that sound good to me. But for reassurance, let me ask you again— are you sure this is the way you want to do this?" Edward asked, repeating his question.
"Yes, I'm sure. And are you fully on board with this as well?" William countered.
Edward nodded, "Yes, I am."
"Alright then, let's seal it with a handshake." William stood and extended his hand. Edward rose as well, and they shook hands. The moment they did something unusual happened to them.
As their hands clasped, an unusual sensation washed over them. William felt a strange chill as his eyes momentarily lost their usual warmth, a coldness permeating them. This coldness mirrored in Edward's eyes, yet neither of them noticed.
They shook hands absentmindedly, and before long, the coldness dissipated, leaving Edward unaffected while William couldn't shake the feeling that something peculiar had occurred. 'Whoa, what was that?' he wondered.
Anne's voice echoed in his mind, 'That was the new skill doing its work.'
As if on cue, a few notifications materialized before William's eyes:
[ Conditions Have Been Met ]
[ The Skill 'Deal With Heaven' Is Currently Activated And Linking With Its Target ]
"Other collection?"
"Yes, this gallery is just for public display. The true masterpieces are in my private collection. Next time you visit, I'll be sure to show it to you and explain every detail." Edward said with a smile.
William wasn't sure whether to laugh or cry upon hearing this. He managed a brief smile that seemed to falter under some unspoken pressure as he replied, "Sure... I'd like that... much."
They exchanged a few more pleasantries before William's car arrived. "It seems my ride is here, so this is goodbye." William said.
"Yes, and I'll be waiting for your response." Edward replied.
"One week, right?"
Edward nodded, and William said, "Alright, I'll draw up the contract and come back."
"Alright." Edward agreed, as William got into the car. It slowly pulled away from the estate, disappearing from Edward's view. Shortly after, another car pulled up— equally stylish, though perhaps not as luxurious as William's.
The car stopped right in front of Edward, and a beautiful woman stepped out. She appeared to be in her early twenties, though in reality, she was in her thirties, only a few years younger than Edward. She was stunning, and had William seen her, he would have immediately commented on her supermodel-like appearance.
The woman walked straight to Edward and embraced him. "Honey, how was it? Did the meeting go well?"
"It started off a bit strange, but," Edward smiled, "it went very well in the end."
The woman smiled too. "That's great. I hope the father and son duo met your expectations?"
"Well... the father has some problems at work, so he sent his son instead."
The woman looked perplexed. "But you said the meeting went well?"
Edward nodded, "Yes, it did. I wasn't sure if the young man was already aware of what I was about to propose, but he was quite perceptive and even a step ahead of me on the matter."
The woman widened her eyes and teasingly said, "A young man more perceptive than the great Edward Saintsgate? Now, that is something truly peculiar."
Edward chuckled at his wife's jest and said, "Let's see if the boy can keep his word, or if he'll crumble under the pressure."