Assistant Jonathan Reed was internally shaken to his core.
He had followed his boss for more than ten years. What kind of storms had he not witnessed?
…Actually, he hadn't witnessed this.
Not once.
Richard had never been this attentive toward a woman he'd known for only a few hours. Not even toward his own relatives or his daughter, Victoria, had he ever shown this much concern.
Even when it came to Victoria's jewelry, Richard never bothered himself with the details. Ever since she was a child, he had simply given her money and let her make her own arrangements.
Jonathan: “Yes, sir.”
As he recorded the instructions on his tablet, he couldn't help stealing a quick glance at his boss's impassive profile.
Richard added another instruction.
“The older pieces in the vault are too heavy and too conspicuous. They don't suit her age right now, so there's no need to bring them out and make things complicated.”
Jonathan answered again, already running through several century-old workshops known for their exceptional cutting techniques and modern, lively haute joaillerie designs.
He also added another note to his memo:
Have the brands' in-house designers come along as well.
The boss only needed to look at the stones. The professionals could handle everything else.
“There is one more thing…”
Richard turned his head and gave him a few more instructions.
Jonathan listened quietly.
It wasn't until Richard turned his attention back to the documents on the coffee table that his voice returned to its usual detached calm, the tone he used when handling business.
“Send another one of our security assessment teams over. Focus on tracing the flow of funds behind the community protests.”
Jonathan's expression turned serious as he nodded.
They returned to work.
Elena returned to the guest room on the second floor, locked the door behind her, and leaned against the cool wooden panel.
Her heart was still beating uncontrollably fast.
She walked into the bathroom and looked at herself in the mirror.
Her cheeks were frighteningly red.
Elena silently covered her face with both hands.
She resembled the original owner by about seventy to eighty percent. She had been beautiful since childhood, and when it came to romance, she had always been the one receiving attention from others.
She had never actually tried to seduce anyone.
She quickly washed up and got into bed, intending to go over everything that had happened that night.
But the more she thought about it, the sleepier she became.
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Before long, she drifted off.
The next morning.
The rising sun slipped through the gap between the curtains, casting a golden band of light across the dark carpet.
Elena woke feeling completely refreshed.
From the clothing rack left there the previous day, she picked out a white shirt with fine blue stripes and a pair of fitted, straight-leg washed-blue jeans. She slipped on a pair of white sneakers.
Standing in front of the mirror, she pulled her thick, jet-black hair into a high ponytail, revealing her smooth forehead and graceful neck.
The reflection in the mirror had bright, clear eyes and healthy, luminous skin. She looked full of youthful energy.
Satisfied with what she saw, Elena took a deep breath, opened the door, and walked downstairs.
Breakfast was already waiting in the dining room.
A delicate spread had been prepared on the long dining table.
There were freshly baked croissants with crisp, golden layers, fluffy scrambled eggs seasoned with herbs, and thin strips of crispy bacon.
Beside them was a plate of smoked salmon with slices of lemon and a small serving of creamy avocado.
There was also toasted sourdough topped with butter, along with a bowl of fresh berries and Greek yogurt.
A small stack of warm pancakes sat on another plate, drizzled lightly with maple syrup.
Fresh orange juice and warm milk had also been prepared.
Elena: “…”
Everything was exactly what she liked!
The only problem was that there was simply too much of it.
Other than that, everything was perfect!
Elena immediately began eating with enthusiasm.
By the time she heard the steady footsteps coming down the staircase, she had already eaten most of her breakfast.
She quickly picked up her napkin and wiped her lips.
Richard Sterling came downstairs.
Gone was the black formal suit he'd worn the night before. Today, he had changed into a deep ocean-blue shirt made from a finely patterned silk blend.
The fabric was impeccably structured. With no tie to restrain him, the collar was casually left open by two buttons, revealing a glimpse of his straight, defined collarbones.
His sleeves were rolled up to the forearms, exposing his strong, lean arms.
Even in a relatively casual outfit, he carried an unmistakable air of refined elegance that made it difficult to look away.
Elena suddenly realized that they were both wearing shades of blue.
Her gaze unconsciously lingered on the man's broad shoulders for two seconds.
“…Good morning.”
Elena quickly came back to herself and greeted him.
“Mr. Sterling.”
Richard's gaze naturally settled on her.
He took in the girl's smooth forehead, her bright, clear eyes, and the healthy flush in her cheeks.
“Morning.”
The man gave a slight nod before tilting his head.
The butler stepped forward from behind him, carefully carrying an enormous black velvet jewelry box.
He placed it gently on the table in front of Elena before slowly lifting the lid.
The morning sunlight happened to stream through the floor-to-ceiling windows.
A dazzling cascade of light instantly spilled from the box.
Inside lay more than a dozen pieces of ready-made haute joaillerie.
—Sapphires surrounded by clusters of diamonds, flawlessly cut Colombian emeralds, pink diamonds with astonishing brilliance, and more.
Every piece was exquisitely crafted, breathtakingly luxurious.
“Your earring from last night was scratched.”
Richard's voice came from above her.
“Pick a pair for now.”
He didn't mention that he'd already instructed someone the previous night to source the finest loose stones and have a custom piece made specifically for her. That would take some time.
These ready-made pieces would simply serve as a temporary arrangement.
Elena froze.
She instinctively waved her hands.
“No, no, that's not necessary. I still have some in my dorm…”
Naturally, the original owner hadn't owned only one pair of earrings.
And yes, Elena genuinely liked expensive jewelry.
But she hadn't set her sights on Richard Sterling for money.
She wanted to survive.
Richard took in the amazement and hesitation on her face, the corner of his lips lifting almost imperceptibly.
His tone, however, was firm and left no room for refusal.
“Pick a pair.”
Elena bit her lip.
Whenever he spoke like that, the sheer force of his presence became difficult to resist.
“…All right.”
After hesitating for a long moment, Elena's gaze swept across the dazzling, extravagant gemstones with their impressive carat weights before she reluctantly looked away.
Finally, she extended one finger and carefully pointed to a pair of the most understated diamond studs in the very corner of the box.
They were simple in design, with a single diamond set in each one.
“This one.”
Her voice was soft.
Richard glanced at the little pair she'd chosen but made no comment.
Elena put on the delicate diamond studs and gently tilted her head from side to side, feeling the cool metal against her earlobes.
“Thank you.”
She thanked him with complete sincerity.
Although they weren't particularly flashy, Elena had no doubt that they were worth a fortune.
She was just about to say something when the butler closed the jewelry box and respectfully held the entire box out toward her.
Elena: “?”
Richard lifted his chin slightly.
“Take them all. You can switch them around whenever you feel like it.”
Elena: “…………”