“Wow, brought a new friend along? And such a stunner, too! Look at that figure, that face-how come I’ve never seen her before?” asked Reece, visibly surprised.
Melanie chuckled, half-jokingly. “Reece, are you crushing on our girl here? If you are, let me set you up. She’s the real deal-a proper lady, you know!”
The moment Reece heard “proper lady,” his eyes lit up. He gave Scarlett Wood a slow once-over, practically drooling. Clicking his tongue, he raised a thumbs-up. “Beautiful. Truly a classic beauty.”
Hearing this made Scarlett Wood’s heart feel warm. Sure, she’d been complimented plenty before, but hearing it in this setting, with seasoned flirts like Melanie and Ophelia around, it hit different.
“Miss, nice to meet you. I’m Reece, sales manager here,” he said, reaching out his hand for a shake.
Scarlett hesitated but eventually extended her hand. Refusing might have made her look out of place alongside Melanie and Ophelia. As soon as their hands met, Reece’s fingers started to slyly slide against hers.
Suddenly, he stopped and let out a curious “Huh?” as his gaze dropped to her ring. When he saw it, his expression froze. “The Blood Diamond Ring!” he exclaimed, shocked.
This was a ring he was all too familiar with, and one glance was enough to recognize it.
Hearing this, Melanie and Ophelia immediately leaned in. Their eyes widened as they spotted the sparkling ring on Scarlett Wood’s finger. Both gasped and clasped their hands over their mouths.
“Wait, is that the Blood Diamond Ring? The one that sold for 20 million last year?” Ophelia blurted, astonished.
Twenty million. That number instantly shifted the balance between them. Melanie and Ophelia might’ve been flaunting their rings worth a few million, but Scarlett’s single piece was leagues ahead. Their envy was palpable as they stared at Scarlett’s hand.
“My God, it’s really the Blood Diamond Ring! This can’t be real, right?” Ophelia asked, her face full of disbelief.
Melanie scoffed, forcing a laugh. “Fake, obviously. Something that precious? Even I couldn’t get my hands on it. You think Scarlett could? C’mon, Scarlett, what’s with the knock-off? Jewelry’s not a game-you either afford it or you don’t. Wearing fakes just makes you look bad when you’re caught.”
But Reece interjected, his tone firm. “No, Melanie, this isn’t fake. That’s the real Blood Diamond Ring.”
Melanie’s face stiffened, her smile vanishing as awkwardness crept in.
Ophelia blinked, incredulous. “You’re telling me this is real? That’s insane! This isn’t just about money-it’s so rare it’s practically impossible to get your hands on. Scarlett, where did you even get this?”
Ophelia grabbed Scarlett’s hand, her eyes glued to the ring. Gone was the earlier sarcasm; now it was pure admiration, laced with envy.
Melanie, trying to play it cool, asked, “Scarlett, who got you this ring?” Her tone was light, but her jealousy was evident.
Scarlett hesitated, glancing at the Blood Diamond Ring. “Well, it was…”
Before she could finish, Reece cut her off. He lifted her hand and asked sharply, “Miss, where did you get this Blood Diamond Ring?” His tone had shifted, turning cold and hostile.
Scarlett, caught off guard, stammered, “I-I didn’t buy it. It was a gift.”
Reece’s expression darkened. Gone was the charming salesman; now he was menacing. “A gift? Don’t lie. Look at you, looking all innocent-I can’t believe someone like you would stoop so low. You stole it, didn’t you?”
His accusation was loud enough to draw a crowd.
“What? Stolen?” Melanie exclaimed, feigning shock. “Scarlett, you… you didn’t steal it, did you?”
Ophelia gasped, covering her mouth dramatically. “Oh my God, Scarlett, I never thought you were that kind of person.”
She even started rummaging through her bag, muttering, “I need to check if anything’s missing.”
Scarlett’s face flushed with anger and embarrassment. She struggled to free her hand from Reece’s grip, protesting, “Don’t accuse me! I would never steal anything. This was a gift!”
“A gift?!” Reece sneered. “This ring is one of a kind in Hiphia. It was stolen from our store a month ago! We’ve been searching for it ever since, even firing several employees over it. And now it’s on your finger? I polish this ring daily-I know it’s ours!”
Scarlett’s voice trembled as she defended herself. “That’s nonsense! This was a gift-I didn’t steal it!”
“Then who gave it to you?” A commanding voice interrupted.
Turning to look, Scarlett saw an older man striding toward them. His expression was stern, his presence imposing.
“Boss!” Reece immediately stood at attention, bowing respectfully.
This was Roland Hadley, the owner of Emerald Jewelry Store and a prominent figure in Hiphia’s jewelry scene. Dressed in a regal golden traditional suit, his silver hair and piercing eyes radiated authority.
Fixing his gaze on Scarlett, radiating authority and dominance. There was no denying it-Roland Hadley, the second giant in Hiphia’s jewelry industry, carried himself with a commanding presence and an air of grandeur.
This Blood Diamond Ring was his treasure, and he had grieved for a long time over this precious possession.
Scarlett glanced at Roland Hadley but didn’t speak right away. Unable to hold back, Roland pressed on, his tone aggressive and unrelenting., “Who gave you that ring? This Blood Diamond Ring is one of only two in Hiphia-one belongs to me, and the other to Jerome Stevens of Treasure Jewelry Store. So, tell me, who gave it to you?”
Scarlett swallowed nervously and stammered, “It-it was Jerome Stevens.”