Manager Jennings thanked her profusely. "Miss Everett, you’ve done our auction house a huge favor this time. Thank you so much!"
Sienna Everett smiled sweetly, humble and composed. "You’re welcome. It was nothing."
Manager Jennings was impressed by her modest attitude.
If at first he had been respectful to Sienna Everett because of Julian Forrester, now he felt a genuine sense of admiration for her.
The lead art appraiser from the group behind them stepped forward and asked, "Miss Everett, may I ask how you were able to tell that this *Ink Frost Charm* was a forgery?"
The fake painting had also been brought over. The lead appraiser unrolled the scroll, seeking Sienna Everett’s guidance.
Sienna Everett first glanced at Julian Forrester.
She knew him best here, so she looked at him subconsciously.
The man raised an eyebrow slightly, his voice light and lazy. "Say what you want."
Samuel Sutton, standing to the side: "..."
’How should I put this? I’ve never seen Mr. Forrester be so accommodating to anyone before.’
Sienna Everett didn’t hold back. She rose and walked to the scroll, pointing a slender, pale finger to the mountain range in the upper right corner. "The lines here are broken, and their flow differs slightly from Mr. Fabian Vance’s usual style."
Hearing this, the appraisers immediately leaned in, studying it intently for a long while before they saw it.
"I see it! Right here, the flow of the lines in this spot is wrong!"
"My god, that detail is hidden so well."
"I have to say, the person who forged this is a master. They imitated Mr. Fabian Vance’s brushwork almost perfectly. The average person would never notice."
"You’re not wrong. Just now, Zhang and I looked this painting over and over and didn’t notice a thing."
"Miss Everett, you’re truly incredible! Much better than us old geezers, HAHAHAHA!"
Sienna Everett gave a polite smile and then pointed to the seal in the lower right corner. "The color of the seal paste here is also wrong. Compared to the one Mr. Fabian Vance commonly used, this is a bit too red."
The appraisers followed her finger and nodded repeatedly. "Right, right! Out of the eight of us, only Master Sheffield and Elder Finch noticed something was wrong with the seal paste and were barely able to identify this painting as a forgery based on its color."
"Miss Everett, if you don’t mind my asking, do you appraise traditional paintings often?"
"Miss Everett, I have a grandson, about your age, who also loves studying traditional painting. Could I give you his number and ask you to spare some time to give him some pointers?"
After hearing Sienna Everett’s analysis, the appraisers enthusiastically surrounded her, eager to bombard her with a mountain of questions.
Watching Sienna Everett being swarmed, Julian Forrester’s expression instantly turned cold, especially after hearing the part about a "grandson about your age."
Seeing this, Samuel Sutton was rendered speechless.
’What’s going on here?’
’Giving her a phone number?’
’Is this turning into a matchmaking session?’
’Hello! Miss Everett is already taken! She’s Mr. Forrester’s secret wife!’
Noticing his boss’s face growing colder by the second, Samuel Sutton quickly stepped in to smooth things over. "Alright, alright, everyone! Since we already know the painting is a forgery, let’s not bother Miss Everett any longer!"
Blocked by him, the appraisers very reluctantly shut their mouths.
Sienna Everett could finally breathe and returned to her seat.
Manager Jennings was a very shrewd businessman. His eyes darted thoughtfully before he turned to Julian Forrester and Sienna Everett with an eager smile. "Mr. Forrester, would we have the honor of hiring Miss Everett as our auction house’s honorary consultant?"
Julian Forrester looked at Sienna Everett, respecting her opinion. "Are you willing?"
Sienna Everett was a little confused. "Honorary consultant? What’s that?"
Manager Jennings explained with a broad smile, "We’d like to hire Miss Everett as a senior appraiser for our auction house. But rest assured, we won’t bother you normally. Only when our auction house receives certain paintings or calligraphy that are difficult to appraise, and our own appraisers can’t determine their authenticity, would we ask for your help. In return, we would, of course, pay you a generous fee."
Sienna Everett understood now. So that was it.
’It doesn’t sound too troublesome,’ she thought. ’Just helping them appraise a painting’s authenticity now and then. It shouldn’t take much effort.’
After a moment’s thought, Sienna Everett nodded in agreement. "I can accept your offer, but I don’t wish to use my real name."
When Manager Jennings heard her agree, he was ecstatic, happier than if he’d won a five-million-dollar lottery. He immediately assured her it was no problem. "Of course! We will accommodate all of Miss Everett’s preferences! If you don’t want to use your real name, you can give us a codename!"
"A codename..." Sienna Everett couldn’t think of a good one on the spot, so she picked one at random. "Then let’s use... Winchester."
"Excellent! I will draft an employment contract shortly. It is truly a great honor to have you as our senior appraiser!"
Manager Jennings was grinning from ear to ear. After showering her with effusive compliments, he looked at Julian Forrester and Sienna Everett. "Please, continue enjoying the auction. We won’t disturb you any further."
Sienna Everett thought for a moment and decided to see her good deed through to the end. Her voice was as crisp as cracking ice. "The *Stream and Mountain Landscape Painting* in the hallway is also a fake."
As her words fell, Manager Jennings froze.
Another... another fake painting?
This time, however, Manager Jennings held not a shred of doubt or disdain for Sienna Everett, only immense gratitude. "Thank you for the guidance, Miss Everett. We will take it down immediately!"
After thanking Sienna Everett several more times, he turned and left the private room.
The room returned to silence once more.
Sienna Everett let out a long breath, picked up her teacup for a small sip, and as she set it down, she noticed Julian Forrester watching her without a word.
Sienna Everett blinked. "Why are you staring at me? Is there money on my face?"
Julian Forrester: "..."
Julian Forrester calmly averted his gaze, speaking in a seemingly casual tone, "Someone wanted to introduce his grandson to you just now."
Sienna Everett waved her hand dismissively. "He was just saying that."
Julian Forrester’s deep, dark eyes glanced at her, but he said nothing more.
Beside them, Samuel Sutton shook his head helplessly.
’Oh, Miss Everett, don’t you see it? Mr. Forrester is jealous.’
The auction was nearing its end. Sienna Everett propped her chin on one hand, lazily watching the activity in the main hall below.
Only then did she notice that her older brother, Mason Everett, had also arrived at some point.
The auctioneer on stage had been calling out for so long his voice was a bit hoarse, but it did nothing to dampen his professional enthusiasm.
"Ladies and gentlemen, we now present the final item of tonight’s auction! Designed by the top international designer, Violet, over a period of three long years, this Sapphire Necklace is one of a kind!"
An attendant displayed the Sapphire Necklace to the audience below.
The auctioneer loudly introduced it, "The Chinese name for this necklace is quite beautiful, translating to ’Rest of Life’! It is a masterpiece that Master Violet poured her heart and soul into!"
"Most notably, the sapphire on this necklace is of a purity that is unique in this world, the only one of its kind! Friends who like it must not miss this opportunity!"
"Now, let the bidding begin! The starting price for this ’Rest of Life’ necklace is twenty million!"
When Sienna Everett heard the name Violet, her eyes suddenly lit up.
She also showed a clear look of admiration for the necklace named ’Rest of Life’.
Julian Forrester caught the change in her eyes and couldn’t help but raise an eyebrow.
’Is Sienna Everett interested in this necklace?’
Down in the main hall.
Shannon Everett stared intently at the necklace on the stage, unable to hold back a gasp of awe. "So beautiful..."
’As expected of a piece by the top master, Violet.’
Shannon Everett had once accidentally learned that Sienna Everett was a big fan of the designer Violet and loved her work.
’If I buy the piece that Sienna Everett likes, and then flaunt it in front of her, her expression would be priceless, wouldn’t it?’
Just the thought of it made Shannon Everett eager to see Sienna Everett look defeated!
Sitting beside her, Mason Everett heard Shannon’s praise and offered a faint smile. "Since you like it, Shannon, then I’ll buy it for you."