Golden Print [EN]: Chapter 289

Three months had passed since the first round of submissions for the Magok Convention Center closed.

Despite this, Jacob and the Blacktails design team were still working in Korea. They had taken on more projects besides the convention center.

This extra work was why Jacob was meeting someone in Gangnam today.

“Nice to meet you, I’m Jacob Perez.”

“Pleased to meet you, Jacob. I’m Colton Taylor.”

Jacob was handsome. He was tall and thin. But Colton was even more striking. He looked like a model.

Colton was fifty, but he looked much younger, maybe late thirties. He had a handsome, clean-cut face and wore a stylish black suit that fit him perfectly.

Colton greeted Jacob with a bright smile. The two men sat down facing each other in the quiet hotel lounge. Soft music played, and the smell of coffee filled the air. The chairs were deep and comfortable.

Jacob spoke first.

“It’s a real pleasure to meet you like this, Colton. I’m very happy to have this chance to meet a designer I’ve always wanted to meet.”

Colton was an automotive designer, and Jacob designed exhibitions and buildings.

They worked in different industries, but their fields were closely related. Jacob specialized in exhibition design within architecture, and he had much experience designing motor shows and car showrooms.

So, even though they were meeting for the first time, they knew a lot about each other.

Colton and Jacob were both famous designers, considered among the best in their fields.

“I’m also very happy to have this chance to meet you, Jacob. I thought I might see you at the last KINTEX exhibition, but I’m sorry we missed each other. Haha.”

“Ah, that time. It was incredibly busy. I remember it being a tough exhibition for my design team, too.”

“Indeed. There were some communication mishaps….”

“Anyway, I’m honored that you remember me overseeing the KINTEX exhibition.”

Actually, if you think about fame in the design world, Colton was probably more famous than Jacob.

Colton had been working in the design industry for ten years longer, and cars were more likely to gain public attention than exhibitions.

However, Colton didn’t care about industry fame.

Jacob was one of the few excellent young designers he knew from whom he could learn.

Therefore, he was genuinely happy about today’s meeting.

‘Having a conversation with a talented designer is always a pleasure,’ he thought.

Colton was a vice president, a high position. Usually, someone else might handle a simple contract meeting. But Colton came himself because he wanted to meet Jacob.

“Have you had a chance to review the proposal we sent over?”

“Of course.”

“Most of it is standard, so there shouldn’t be anything unusual….”

“It was a clean contract.”

“Ultimately, the only part that needs adjustment is the design fee, so I was wondering what you thought of our proposal?”

“Ah, I actually have a few things to say about that part.”

“I’m listening.”

“Please don’t misunderstand. Blacktails is quite satisfied with the overall contract terms, but there are just a few clauses we’d like to adjust.”

The two men spread out documents on the table and negotiated skillfully.

Both were designers and directors who had led groups.

They had been through countless contracts, so they knew each other’s interests.

Also, they both held high positions in their companies, which helped them agree.

Colton and Jacob had almost complete decision-making power, so they could change the contract on the spot.

They finished their business quickly.

Only an hour had passed.

“Efficient.”

“Good. Let’s continue as planned.”

With plenty of time to spare, the two men could relax.

They both had time before their next appointments.

So, they began to share personal stories.

“How long have you been in Korea?”

“Hmm, it’s almost been half a year now.”

“Your office is in Seoul, you said?”

“Near here.”

“Oh, Gangnam.”

“By the way, Colton, you seem to know Korea very well?”

“I’ve been working for Jaeun Motors, a Korean company, for ten years now.”

Jacob had admired Colton as a designer for a long time, and Colton was naturally talkative.

“By the way, I heard that Jaeun Motors’ new model will be shown at the Frankfurt Motor Show, you know, the big car show in Germany.”

“Oh, that’s still supposed to be secret. Where did you hear that?”

“Secret… is it? My team member knew about it?”

“Oh dear. Our company’s security is a mess.”

“I’m looking forward to it.”

They put the desserts on the table and talked endlessly….

“I see you like our company’s cars?”

“Jaeun’s cars always have a classic style.”

“Have you ever driven one?”

“Of course. My friend owns a Jaeun Motors Chronos.”

“Wow.”

“I was amazed at how spacious the inside of a mid-size sedan could be when I rode in that car for the first time.”

Naturally, they talked about industry stories.

“Ah, speaking of which, there’s something I wanted to ask you, Jacob.”

“What is it?”

“Do you happen to know Damian?”

“If you’re talking about the designer Damian Gunth, of course, I know him.”

“Oh, that’s right. He’s quite famous, isn’t he?”

Jacob didn’t say anything.

“Anyway, I heard from Damian recently that Blacktails gave up on the International Auto Association design competition.”

“You know exactly what’s going on.”

“I heard the reason was the ‘Magok Convention Center’ design competition you’re currently working on….”

Jacob nodded, watching Colton speak carefully.

“That’s half true. The Magok Convention Center design project is so large that we couldn’t handle both projects.”

“If it’s half true, does that mean there’s another reason?”

“That’s right. But this is due to internal reasons within our company, so it’s difficult to discuss.”

“Ah, I wasn’t going to ask about that. It’s just that I’m quite interested in the new convention center being built in Magok… I had a few questions related to that.”

“Ah, I see.”

Colton took a short sip of his now cold Americano and asked without much thought.

“The competition results should be out, right? They said July.”

Jacob hesitated. “Maybe, I guess so.”

Colton pushed. “Blacktails definitely entered, didn’t they?”

Colton stopped talking. Suddenly, it was quiet.

Silence.

Colton’s eyes widened. He knew he’d said something wrong.

“Oh no,” Colton said, worried. “Did I say something bad?”

Jacob didn’t look angry, just a little surprised. “It’s okay,” he said.

“We thought we had won,” Jacob admitted. “But, well, things change.”

Colton frowned. “So, someone else won?”

Jacob shook his head. “No, not exactly.”

“Then what?” Colton asked, getting impatient.

“They’re doing a second round of judging soon.”

Colton knew about design competitions. He had even run some himself. A second round? That was unusual.

*A second round means the judges are really stuck,* Colton thought. *It must be a very close competition.* Time was important in these projects. To delay things like this meant the designs must be very, very good – and very similar.

Colton was actually impressed. “Wow,” he said. “That’s really something.”

Jacob raised an eyebrow. “What is?”

“I mean, another company is good enough to compete with Blacktails! That’s amazing! Who are they?”

“Exactly,” Jacob said, smiling a little. He liked that Colton understood how good Blacktails was.

“I really want to know who it is,” Colton said.

“We did too,” Jacob said.

Colton leaned forward, interested. “You mean… you found out?”

Jacob chuckled. “Of course. I had to know. I checked all the companies who entered. I wanted to see who was good enough to challenge us.”

“But when we found out,” Jacob continued, “we were even more surprised.”

“Why?” Colton asked, his eyes wide.

“The company… it’s called WJ Studio. And we’ve never heard of them.”

Colton gasped. “Really? Never heard of them?”

Colton was really surprised now. *A company no one knows, competing with Blacktails?* he thought.

“WJ Studio,” Jacob repeated. “That’s all we know.”

“Hmm,” Colton said, thinking.

*WJ Studio… I don’t know that name,* he thought. *But it sounds… familiar somehow.* He frowned, trying to remember.

“Well, good luck with the second round,” Colton said.

“Thanks,” Jacob replied.

“You’ll win, I’m sure,” Colton added confidently.

Jacob chuckled. “I hope so.”

Colton left the office and went to his car.

*Vroom-* The engine started. It was a new Jeun Motors car, a sleek sedan. Colton loved driving, even though they offered him a driver. He liked being in control.

“Time to go home,” he murmured to himself. “See Jaden.”

He smiled and started to hum as he drove. The traffic wasn’t bad yet. He turned into the narrow streets of Hannam-dong, parking in front of his old house.

*Beep* The elevator doors opened, and there was Jaden!

“Dad!” Jaden yelled, surprised and happy. “Bloody hell, Dad! You’re here!”

“Jaden!” Colton grinned. “You’re home!”

“Yeah, but… you didn’t tell me you were coming!” Jaden exclaimed. “You just show up!”

“Didn’t I tell you?” Colton asked, pretending to think. “I said I’d be in Korea soon.”

Jaden rolled his eyes. “Soon? You said that this morning!”

“Okay, okay,” Colton laughed. “Get me some cold water, will you?”

Jaden pointed to the kitchen. “Fridge is right there, Dad.”

“Lazy kid,” Colton said, smiling. “Fine, I’ll get it.”

He took off his coat and flopped onto the sofa. *Finally, relax,* he thought. He imagined turning on the TV, grabbing a beer, and ordering some chicken. *Perfect.*

Just as Colton was about to relax, he remembered something. “Oh, Jaden, by the way,” he said.

“Yeah, Dad?”

“Do you know… a company called WJ Studio? Someone said they’re Korean.”

Jaden froze. His eyes went wide.

“WJ Studio?” he whispered. “Dad… Bloody hell!”