Chapter 5 Diamonds #2
Elias studied her closely. “You’re really trying to convince me that this doesn’t affect you? Every time I look at you, it’s clear… you’re anything but fine.”
Sophia gave a quiet sigh, a small frown tugging at her features. “It’s not a big deal. It’s over now. I’m recovering… slowly, but I am. I didn’t expect to run into him the very day I came back to Manhattan, that’s all. It might take some time, but I’ll get through it.”
Elias tilted his head, his gaze sharp. “So you still have feelings for him. Are you going to do something about it?”
Sophia’s breath hitched slightly, a grunt of frustration escaping her. “The only thing I want,” she said, exhaling sharply, “is for him to stay out of my life. Every time he shows up in front of me, it’s a bad sight. I hope I never have to see him again.”
Elias’s lips curved into a small, knowing smile. “Alright. Come on. I’ll drop you off.”
***
Sophia sat across from Emma’s desk. Sunlight streamed through the large windows, brushing the maroon walls and golden-trimmed furniture in warm light. Despite several recent project cancellations, work had already begun piling up.
Fortunately, with Elias’s help, the losses were easier to recover from, and several new projects had already appeared.
Sophia’s eyes stayed fixed on her laptop screen, fingers moving deftly as she prepared details for the next auction.
The office was quiet, the royal ambiance of maroon and gold making it feel like a room fit for royalty.
Dark wood tables with gilded edges added to the grandeur, and the subtle morning light cast a warm glow over the space.
Emma, sitting behind her desk, sifted through a stack of files. A soft knock at the door pulled their attention.
“Come in,” Emma called softly, lifting her hair out of her face.
The door opened, and a young man stepped inside.
Barely twenty-one, he had neatly combed dark hair and sharp, alert eyes.
His crisp white shirt and tailored black trousers were perfectly fitted, and a slim tie completed the look.
He carried the file confidently, though a hint of nervous energy lingered in his posture.
“Miss Creed, these are the documents you requested,” he said, handing her the folder.
As Emma opened it, he continued, “The details you mentioned have been confirmed. And yes, Mr. Harold Graves is indeed the same man who saved you.”
Sophia’s head snapped up from her laptop, confusion and curiosity written across her face. She pushed the laptop aside and placed it on the table before standing and walking over to Emma’s desk.
“What’s going on?” she asked, her voice tinged with bewilderment.
Emma glanced briefly at the assistant who had brought the file. “You can leave now, thank you,” she said dismissively.
The young man gave a polite smile, nodded, and quietly turned to exit the office.
Once the door clicked shut, Emma’s face lit up with excitement. She scrolled through something on her phone and then held it out to Sophia.
“Look,” she said, offering the device.
Sophia took it, her brows furrowed in confusion. She glanced down at the screen—and froze.
A video began to play. The grainy footage showed a young girl and boy sitting together on a doorstep, sunlight falling softly across them.
“Is that… you? At your home?” Sophia asked, glancing up at Emma, puzzled.
Emma grinned. “Exactly! That’s me, when I was seventeen.”
Sophia’s gaze shifted to the boy beside her—and her eyes widened in shock. She looked back at Emma, disbelief written across her face. “And that’s… Harold? Magnus’s cousin?”
“Bingo!” Emma said, her excitement evident. “We met when he was fourteen, and I was seventeen. He came to my grandpa’s funeral. Do you remember that?”
Sophia’s expression softened, tinged with melancholy.
“Yes…” she said quietly, a faint, bittersweet smile touching her lips.
“I remember how upset you were. You wouldn’t stop crying, and I…
I wasn’t even there for you. I regretted it so much that I was overseas with my dad. You were literally inconsolable.”
Emma nodded, her eyes glistening. “My grandpa was my favorite person in the whole family. When he passed away, I was devastated. Everyone was busy with the funeral, and I didn’t want to bother anyone.
Then he came with his parents to pay their respects.
He saw me crying and came over to talk to me.
He was so kind, so gentle… I’ll never forget that day. ”
Sophia looked down at the video, a complex mix of happiness and sadness washing over her face. “What a coincidence,” she whispered.
Emma nodded and said quietly, “Yes… I fainted that day. When I woke up, he had already left. I didn’t know who he was or where he came from.”
She paused, remembering.
“I didn’t find out anything about him until the day I met him again at Luxe club.”
Her voice softened with emotion.
“I was really shocked. He looked familiar, but I couldn’t place him at first. I just knew he seemed familiar… like someone I had seen before, someone I somehow wanted to know. And then it turned out… it was really him.”
Sophia smiled slightly. She placed the phone down on the table and looked at Emma.
“So what now?” she asked. “Do you want to thank him?”
Emma blinked once, then shook her head.
A sweet, determined smile spread across her face as she pushed her chair back and stood up.
“No,” she said calmly.
“I want to marry him.”
“What?!”
Sophia stared at her with wide eyes, completely shocked by the sudden declaration.
But before she could ask anything else, Emma had already walked around the desk and headed toward the door.
She stepped out of the office and walked quickly toward the parking area while pulling out her phone to call her assistant.
“John,” she said the moment the call connected, “I need you to do something for me.”
“Yes, Miss Creed,” John replied from the other end of the line. “What can I do for you?”
“I need you to find out where Harold is right now,” Emma said. “Send me his location immediately.”
“Understood,” John answered.
The call ended.
Emma walked toward her car and slid into the driver’s seat. Just as she fastened her seatbelt, her phone buzzed with a new message.
She picked it up and read the text.
It was from John.
‘Mr. Harold Graves is currently at the Magnolia Restaurant. He is on a blind date arranged by Mrs. Graves.’
Emma’s expression darkened slightly.
For a moment, displeasure flickered across her face.
But then she simply started the car.
A determined look appeared in her eyes.
She drove out of the parking lot.
About an hour later, her car stopped in front of the Magnolia Restaurant, located inside a luxurious seven-star hotel.
Emma stepped out of the car and walked inside.
The moment she entered, her eyes scanned the elegant restaurant filled with expensive décor and softly glowing lights.
Then her gaze stopped on a table across the room.
She recognized him instantly.
Harold was sitting across from a woman at one of the tables.
He didn’t look happy.
In fact, he looked annoyed.
There was a clear look of frustration and defeat on his face, as if he had been forced to sit there.
Emma watched him quietly from the entrance.
Just then, a surprised voice sounded beside her.
“Emma?”
Emma turned her head.
Standing next to her was a middle-aged woman.
It took Emma a moment to recognize her.
She had seen her in the background reports she had gathered while investigating Harold.
She was Harold’s mother.
Hannah Graves.
But Emma had never expected to meet her like this.
She blinked in surprise and instinctively took a small step back. She gave Hannah a small polite smile, though confusion soon appeared on her face.
“Hello. You know me?” Emma asked.
Hannah immediately nodded, a delighted look lighting up her face.
“Of course I know you!” she said excitedly.
Emma blinked in surprise.
“You own Centurion Hall, the auction house, right? I haven’t had the chance to attend one of your auctions yet, but several of my friends have. I’ve seen some of the pieces that came from your auctions, and they were truly impressive.”
She clasped her hands together happily.
“I was so impressed! I’ve been telling myself that I must attend the next auction no matter what.”
She looked at Emma with sparkling eyes.
“I can’t believe I ran into you here. This is such a surprise! I’m really happy to meet you. I’ve always wanted to meet you.”
Hannah looked at Emma the way someone would look at a celebrity they admired.
Emma smiled politely.
“Thank you, Mrs. Graves,” Emma replied with a smile.
Hannah blinked in surprise.
“You know my name?” she asked.
Emma nodded lightly. “Yes, I know you.”
“Ah, of course,” Hannah said as realization dawned on her. “You deal with so many elites and my friends. Running an auction house like Centurion Hall, you must know everyone in our circle.”
Hannah stepped a little closer, clearly thrilled.
“So what are you doing here?” she asked curiously.
“I was just in the area for some work,” Emma said casually. “Then I thought I’d stop by for some food.”
“Oh, that’s a great idea,” Hannah said with an approving nod. “The food here is really good.”
Then she lowered her voice slightly and leaned closer.
“I’m actually here because my son is on a blind date,” she said with a sigh.
She pointed toward a table across the restaurant.
“That’s him. My Harold. I practically had to drag him here because he didn’t want to come at all. “
Emma’s eyes flickered slightly.
Hannah continued talking without noticing.
But I found a very nice girl who I thought would be perfect for Harold.”
“I’m glad it seems to be going well.”
Emma followed her gaze.
Her eyes landed on Harold.
But the expression on his face didn’t look like things were going well.
He looked annoyed… almost miserable.
Emma turned back to Hannah.
“Mrs. Graves,” Emma said politely.
“Yes?” Hannah replied.
Emma looked straight at her and asked calmly,
“Do you mind if I date your son?”