Chương 3 - Những Viên Ngọc Quý và Những Bí Mật

I stared at him.

“You have that too?”

“My father collected aggressively.”

“So I’m learning.”

Avery smiled.

“I’m going to leave the two jewelry nerds alone.”

She walked away.

Ethan waited until she was gone.

“There may be more Parker work in this collection.”

My stomach tightened.

“Why didn’t you tell me?”

“Because it wasn’t mine to tell.”

Fair answer.

Then his voice lowered.

“There’s something else.”

“What?”

“The Bennett collection was professionally photographed three years ago for insurance.”

“So?”

“I saw two pieces earlier tonight that didn’t look right.”

“You think they’re fake?”

“I think you should compare them to the old inventory before you say anything.”

“Why me?”

“Because Margaret trusts you.”

I looked across the room.

Margaret was laughing with guests.

“Who has access?”

“Family.”

“That’s not an answer.”

“Margaret. Avery. Avery’s brother, Logan. And the house manager.”

Before I could ask more, a voice carried across the gallery.

“Well, this is perfect.”

Brooke.

Red gown.

Emerald around her neck.

Ryan beside her.

She walked toward me holding a folded document.

“I was hoping you’d be here.”

Avery reappeared almost instantly.

“Brooke.”

“This will take ten seconds.”

She held out the paper.

“Authentication report.”

I didn’t take it.

Brooke smiled at the people who were starting to look our way.

“The emerald Nora claimed was treated?”

I glanced at Ryan.

He looked like he wanted to disappear.

Brooke tapped the report.

“Natural emerald. No significant treatment noted.”

“Who issued it?”

She told me.

I knew the name.

So did Ethan, judging by his expression.

The lab shared ownership with the auction group that had handled the sale.

I looked at Brooke.

“That company has a financial relationship with the seller.”

Her smile froze.

“So now the lab is corrupt too?”

“I didn’t say that.”

“You never say anything directly. You just imply it.”

More people had stopped talking.

She wanted an audience.

Fine.

I said, “Send the stone to a lab that has no relationship with the auction house.”

Brooke laughed.

“Why?”

“Because if the stone is what you were told it was, an independent report will end the argument.”

“And if it comes back clean?”

“I’ll apologize to you personally.”

“In front of everyone?”

“Yes.”

She took one step closer.

“And if you’re wrong professionally?”

“If I’m wrong about seeing signs of treatment, I’ll say so.”

“You should resign.”

Avery cut in.

“Brooke, enough.”

But Brooke kept looking at me.

“You’re very comfortable embarrassing people when you think you’re the smartest person in the room.”

“No.”

I glanced at the paper in her hand.

“I’m comfortable asking for independent evidence.”

That was the sentence that cost me two weeks of work.

Brooke’s father was one of our company’s largest private clients.

By Monday morning, corporate had received a complaint alleging that I had publicly humiliated his daughter, disparaged another firm, and damaged the company’s relationship with a high-value customer.

I was placed on paid administrative leave while they reviewed it.

My manager looked miserable.

“I’m sorry.”

“You didn’t make the decision.”

“No.”

She lowered her voice.

“But I didn’t stop it either.”

“You couldn’t.”

“I could have pushed harder.”

That mattered more than she probably knew.

Megan was standing by the counter when I packed my things.

She didn’t look happy this time.

Just uncomfortable.

“So what happens now?”

“Two weeks.”

“And then?”

“I guess they decide whether telling a customer to get an independent lab report is a fireable offense.”

She picked at the edge of a display cloth.

“I thought Brooke was just going to complain.”

“She did.”

“I mean… I didn’t think her dad would get corporate involved.”

I put my notebook in my bag.

“People who are used to buying outcomes tend to get upset when they find one they can’t.”

For once, Megan didn’t have an answer.

The first morning of my suspension, Margaret called.

“I heard.”

“News travels fast.”

“In our circle? Faster than flu.”

I laughed.

She didn’t.

“I want you to do something for me.”

“Margaret, if this is about calling corporate—”

“It isn’t.”

“Good.”

“I want you to inventory my family collection.”

I went quiet.

“All of it?”

“One hundred and twelve pieces.”

“That’s not a small project.”

“I know.”

“You need an accredited appraiser for insurance values.”

“I already have one.”

“Then why me?”

“Because the last accredited appraiser didn’t notice what Ethan noticed.”

There it was.

“You know about the possible substitutions.”

“He told me he had concerns. Nothing more.”

I leaned against my kitchen counter.

“You understand that if I find something wrong, I’m not going to tell you what you want to hear.”

“That is specifically why I’m hiring you.”

I checked my employer’s policies before agreeing.

Paid leave prevented me from working store shifts or representing the brand.

It did not prohibit unrelated private inventory consulting.