Chapter 33
Cordelia felt her heart tighten as she exchanged a brief glance with Annie. The latter’s expression was full of concern.
“Why did she ask for you?” Annie frowned. “She must be up to no good. Be careful, Cordelia!”
Cordelia gave a calm nod. “Hmm, it’ll be fine.” She walked steadily toward Karine’s office.
As soon as she entered, Cordelia noticed Karine had pulled up all the blinds, leaving the door wide open. It seemed like she wanted everyone to witness what was about to unfold inside. Cordelia couldn’t help but feel suspicious. It didn’t seem like Karine was simply trying to confront her—it looked like she had something else planned.
“Cordelia, this is Mr. Jones from the Star Group,” Karine said with a bright smile. “Mr. Jones, this is our company’s top salesperson of the month!”
Cordelia nodded courteously but couldn’t shake the feeling that Karine was up to something. The more she watched Karine, the more it seemed Annie had been right—there was definitely an ulterior motive.
Oliver Jones was a kind-looking middle-aged man, but his gaze never left the ring on Cordelia’s finger the moment she entered. He had been staring at it intently.
“It’s your lucky day, Cordelia!” Karine smirked. “Mr. Jones here is not only a businessman but also an expert in jewelry appraisal. He’s a permanent member of the Jewelry Association and has worked with many jewelers to evaluate precious stones.”
She turned to Oliver, “Mr. Jones, what do you think of the ring that Cordelia is wearing?”
Cordelia’s heart raced, and she instinctively covered the ring on her finger. Oliver stood up with a polite smile. “Ms. Cordelia, may I have a closer look at your ring?”
Cordelia hesitated, glancing at the curious colleagues peeking from outside the office. Karine crossed her arms, clearly enjoying the spectacle.
“Mr. Jones,” Cordelia said softly, “this ring is worth nothing. It’s just a dress ring. Nothing special about it. It’s not worth taking a closer look at.”
Karine’s voice rang out loudly, “What? I heard that this is her wedding ring!”
She looked at Cordelia with a taunting grin, “Why are you so modest, Cordelia? Mr. Jones is passionate about jewelry! Just show him the ring—he’s a VIP. Don’t offend him!”
Cordelia took a deep breath, now understanding the real reason Karine had opened the windows and door—to put her on display, to try and humiliate her. She took a moment before expressionlessly removing the ring from her finger and placing it on the desk.
Oliver smiled and put on a pair of white gloves. Then, he carefully pulled out a professional Chelsea Filter from his bag. He scrutinized the ring with growing interest. The longer he examined it, the more dramatic his expression became.
Cordelia’s nerves were on edge. Marcus had told her the ring wasn’t worth much, and now Karine had brought a jewelry expert to confirm it was nothing special. But as she watched Oliver’s focused expression, she began to wonder if something else was going on.
“Ms. Cordelia,” Oliver suddenly spoke, his tone serious. “Where did you get this ring?”
Cordelia was confused. The question seemed out of place, but she kept her composure. “My husband gave it to me. It’s my wedding ring. Is something wrong with it?”
Oliver’s eyes widened, and his gaze intensified. “May I ask, what is your husband’s name?”
Cordelia was taken aback by the question, but she remained polite. “His name is Grist.”
Oliver’s surprise deepened, his expression shifting to something between confusion and disbelief. “Are you sure?” he asked. “Could you take a look at the symbol on the ring?”
Cordelia glanced at the small, almost hidden totem on the ring, but Oliver’s words left her unsettled. It seemed that this was more than just an appraisal.
“The totem on the ring,” Oliver said, “It’s from the Hamerton family in Centrolis. This is an heirloom that’s been passed down through generations. It’s a noble family’s symbol.”
Karine’s face faltered as she heard this, unable to hide her curiosity. “Mr. Jones, what’s wrong with the ring? Is it fake?”
The growing crowd outside the office exchanged whispers, and their eyes shifted back and forth between Cordelia and the experts.
Cordelia bit her lip, but she took the ring back, slipping it onto her finger once more. Oliver slowly removed his gloves, looking at her with a soft smile. “Not only is the ring authentic, but it is priceless. The emerald, its size, purity, and toughness, are all extremely rare. The gold should be from the Hume Gold Mine. Even though the design is ancient, it’s valuable beyond measure.”
The room went silent. Karine’s face turned pale as she processed what Oliver had just said.
“What!?” Karine stammered. “Mr. Jones, are you sure about that?”
Oliver raised an eyebrow. “What? Are you questioning my competence?”
Karine quickly backpedaled, “No, no. That’s not what I meant…”
Oliver shot her a displeased look before turning back to Cordelia. “Ms. Cordelia, the value of this ring would be immeasurable if it were to be auctioned at Christie’s.”
Cordelia was stunned. She had no idea the ring was worth so much.
The crowd outside had grown, and people whispered among themselves, their gazes now filled with a mix of admiration and envy.
“I heard Ms. Cordelia is outstanding in sales,” Oliver continued, with a warm smile. “I’d like to discuss some business opportunities with your company. Do you have time?”
Cordelia was taken aback. She looked up, meeting his kind eyes, feeling as if the ground had shifted beneath her feet.