It was clear Altair wasn't exactly the safest place in the world.
But Dewitt's bodyguards were no amateurs either. Anyone who tried to start something found themselves thoroughly outmatched.
Word got around fast-once the locals realized who they were dealing with, no one dared make another move.
So, all in all, the night passed without incident.
"Looking at these two pieces of raw jade, are you planning to turn this one into jewelry?"
Dane would've taken them both in a heartbeat, but he genuinely wanted Claire's input.
"Yes, I'd like to keep this one." Claire thought back to how her grandfather's family had gone out of their way to welcome her with thoughtful gifts.
Now that she'd hit the jackpot with her jade stone, she figured it was only right to have a few pieces custom-made for her relatives—a small gesture of her gratitude.
"Alright."
"Would you like me to take care of the arrangements? Or should Dewitt find someone for you?"
Dane always made a point to let Claire decide.
She was easy either way. She turned to Dewitt. "Dewitt, do you know any excellent jewelers nearby?"
"I do know some, even worked with a few of them. But once the piece is finished, getting it safely into your hands might be risky."
"I have to return to Kaston anyway-honestly, it'd be simpler letting Dane handle it for you."
Dewitt wasn't deflecting to avoid trouble; it really was just more convenient for Dane to step in.
Besides, Dewitt had his own ideas. If he ever wanted to give Claire a special gift, he'd source the emerald himself and have something made-no way he'd expect her to bring her own stone.
"Works for me," Dane said easily.
And then he transferred fifty thousand dollars to Claire, claiming the higher-grade piece of jade for himself.
"Isn't that a little too much?"
Claire remembered the most anyone had bid at auction was maybe eighteen thousand dollars-ten thousand for most stones.
Fifty thousand felt astronomical.
Dewitt arched a brow; Dane was definitely overpaying.
But if he wanted to be generous—and Claire was still hesitating to accept it was just a bit exasperating.
"It's not too much," Dane said with a smile. "Finding premium jadeite like this is nearly impossible now. The market is bone-dry."
"With this, I can finally answer to the board back at the company."
If Claire hadn't found such a fine specimen, Dane would've been
scrambling to locate somethine
comparable New, he could design, an entire matching set.
The fall collection was on track, and the store's featured piece was officially sorted.
The jade rough was just the right size for a full suite—and once crafted and sold, it'd fetch far more than what he'd paid.
Of course, if the company's buyers had negotiated, they would have driven the price to rock bottom.
Claire had seen for herself just how generous Dane could be.
"This year's really been tough for premium jade," Dewitt added smoothly, siding firmly with Claire.
Dane's straightforwardness had
earned him some respect in Dewitt's book at least the man wasn't trying
to take advantage just because
Claire was younger.
Shirley and the rest still didn't know Claire had just sold that chunk of jade for fifty thousand dollars.
They hadn't been there for the negotiation.
It wasn't as though Claire was deliberately keeping secrets-no one had asked.
All they knew was that Dane now had the stone.
But everyone understood: Dane would never shortchange Claire.
If he had, Dewitt never would've let the deal stand.
The next day, after one last night in town, Claire and her friends loaded up for the drive back.
The hospital back home had been hounding her with calls—she didn't have much choice but to leave early.
They'd originally planned to take a longer scenic route, especially since they were all decent shape and Shirley had pushed herself these past days so she could keep up.
But with Claire needing to return, the others didn't feel like continuing the trip without
her.
Dane had to return to Cabinda, Dewitt was heading back to Kaston-so right there
in Altair, the three groups went their separate ways.