Total pages in book: 81
Estimated words: 78850 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 394(@200wpm)___ 315(@250wpm)___ 263(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 78850 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 394(@200wpm)___ 315(@250wpm)___ 263(@300wpm)
Cauldron stepped inside with me beside him, entering into a darkly lit room. It wasn’t the typical jewelry store with glass cases on display. The diamonds were in cases along the perimeter, protected by thick glass and bulletproof walls. In the center of the room were two couches and two armchairs around a large circular coffee table. A bottle of champagne and glasses were already sitting there.
Cauldron took a seat on the couch. He got comfortable, leaned back against the cushions and watched his men pour two glasses of champagne. His look shifted to me, silently telling me to join him.
I took the seat beside him. “What do you want me to do?”
“Sit there.”
“I don’t know anything about diamonds—”
“You are a diamond.” He looked ahead, his elbow propped on the armrest.
My hands gathered in my lap, and I waited for whatever came next.
Minutes later, the doors opened again, revealing a couple. The man was older, probably in his late forties, and the woman he was with looked like she was my age. She was dressed similarly, in a tight dress and heels that could break your ankles. It was clear she was his trophy, as I was Cauldron’s.
The men greeted each other with a handshake.
“Thank you for taking the time, Mr. Beaufort.”
“Pleasure is mine, Prince Kline.”
Prince?
Prince Kline introduced the woman. “My wife, Ana.”
Cauldron shook her hand then introduced me. “Camille.”
Once the pleasantries were exchanged, we took a seat and the men got down to business. Cauldron’s men brought each diamond one by one to the coffee table, to allow the prince to examine them up close. There was never an inquiry about price. The couple discussed each one quietly, deciding which one they’d like to purchase.
“Ana needs something to wear to our annual lunar celebration,” Prince Kline explained, as if there was a justification for purchasing diamonds that cost…I couldn’t even guess how much. Prince Kline glanced up often, not looking at Cauldron, but at me.
It made me uncomfortable because his wife was sitting right there. But I got the impression he didn’t care.
Half an hour passed until they decided what they wanted, a diamond necklace. It had a simple chain, but in the very center was a diamond bigger than any other I’d ever seen, even on TV. It looked heavy, something that could only be worn on the grandest occasions.
Prince Kline stared at Cauldron.
“Forty million.”
Did he just say forty million?
Prince Kline continued his stare. “The Archduke diamond was sold for twenty-one million. This price is steep, Mr. Beaufort.”
“It’s not steep when you account for the higher clarity of this diamond, as well as the cut and the size.” Cauldron leaned forward, his arms on his knees. “Prince Kline, I’ll be frank with you. I took this meeting as a courtesy to our mutual friend. I have several buyers interested in this diamond, but I put you on the top of this list only because Sean did me an enormous favor years ago. If you aren’t interested, don’t waste my time.”
It was obvious by the offense in his eyes that Prince Kline was never spoken to this way, but he was powerless to retaliate—not if he wanted the diamond. “I agree to your price—if she’s included in the deal.” His eyes shifted to me.
Ana immediately dropped her gaze, visibly uncomfortable.
I couldn’t keep my mouth shut. “Excuse me?”
Cauldron’s hand went to my thigh to silence me. “Camille isn’t for sale.”
“Damn right I’m not—”
He squeezed my thigh hard.
Now Prince Kline looked affronted. “You want me to pay this price? I want her.”
I was gonna knock this guy out.
Cauldron didn’t move or speak, but his face said it all. “If you think this diamond is expensive, then you couldn’t afford her. I’ll give you one final opportunity to make this purchase. Say anything I don’t like, the deal’s off.”
A silent standoff ensued.
The men stared at each other like guns were drawn.
I wished I’d had a gun because I’d shoot this fucker right in the face.
His wife still kept her eyes down, either hurt or embarrassed, probably both.
Prince Kline was the first to speak. “We have a deal.”
Cauldron immediately motioned to his men.
A laptop in a hard case was presented to the table. Cauldron unlocked the screen and typed in a few passwords. The screen was gray with green writing, not like a regular internet page. He finished what he was doing then turned the laptop to face Prince Kline.
The prince seemed to know what to do because he typed in a couple things before the computer was turned back around.
Cauldron looked at the number at the bottom. “Funds have been received. The diamond is yours, Prince Kline.” Men came forward and took away the laptop and boxed up the diamond, putting it in a special suitcase with a combination lock code. They handed it to the prince, and then they walked out.