Chapter 4
The security guards quickly grabbed Grace, just in time to keep her from collapsing.
Grace's face went very pale, her lips trembling as she struggled to speak. "1-15 million dollars," she stammered.
"Just kidding," I said, crouching down to pick up the pieces. "Maybe 10 million at most. It's broken, after all."
Grace's legs gave out, and she collapsed.
"I-I didn't mean to," she stammered, clutching Elizabeth's pant leg. "Ms. Vaughn, please, help me."
Elizabeth shot her a cold look and yanked her leg away.
"Who was it just now, acting all concerned about my safety?" Elizabeth said.
Grace's face went pale and green. She turned to me, her eyes filled with terror. "Sir, I swear I didn't mean to."
"It's fine," I said, putting the pieces back on the coffee table. "It's only a child's toy."
"B-But," she protested weakly.
"But," I said, lifting my head with a smile that never touched my eyes, "didn't you just accuse me of being after Ms. Vaughn?"
Grace trembled. "I-I just blurted it out."
"Just saying it is still slander," Elizabeth said coldly. "Mrs. Holloway, do you have any idea what kind of trouble you could get into for that?"
Grace looked like she was about to be sick.
The two security guards, sensing things were about to get ugly, quietly backed away.
"Ms. Vaughn, I was wrong." Grace cried, begging. "I just blurted it out, I swear. Please, don't hold it against me."
"Enough," Elizabeth said, gesturing impatiently. "Get out."
Grace looked like she'd just been granted a royal pardon, practically crawling out of the room in her rush to escape.
The security guards quickly followed after her.
Once the door closed, Elizabeth turned to look at me. "That emerald?" she began.
"It's real," I replied. "But it doesn't really matter. I was going to gift it to someone anyway."
Her gaze was complicated as she looked at me. "Gift it? To whom?"
"Leo," I said with a smile. "He loves shiny things."
Elizabeth was silent for a moment, then suddenly asked, "Who are you, really?"
"Just an unemployed ordinary guy," I replied.
"An ordinary guy who carries around a 15-million-dollar emerald as a toy?" she retorted.
"10 million," I corrected her. "It's broken, remember?"
She let out a laugh, half exasperated, half amused. "You're really hung up on that, aren't you?"
I shrugged and walked back to the couch, sitting down.
Elizabeth followed and sat down next to me, this time a little closer than before.
"Seriously," she said, giving me a serious look, "are you in some kind of trouble?"
"Why do you ask?" I replied.
"Because," she bit her lip. "I've met plenty of rich people, but none quite like you."
"What do you mean?" Elizabeth asked.
"You're obviously rich, but you pretend like you're broke," Elizabeth said, a hint of sympathy in her eyes. "Did you piss someone off? Are you hiding from creditors or something?"
I almost burst out laughing.
Her imagination was wild.
"No," I replied. "I just wanted a change of scenery."
"Then how come you?" she started.
"How come I dress like a bum?" I cut her off. "With a kid to look after, I can't really bother with that stuff."
She nodded, seemed to get it, but not really. "So, what are you going to do next?" she asked.
"As I said, I'm just going to find a job," I replied.
"You're applying to Vaughn Group?" she asked.
"Yeah," I replied.
Her eyes flickered. "Do you know who the CEO of Vaughn Group is?"
"I heard it's a woman under thirty," I said casually. "And she's got a real temper."
Elizabeth's face darkened. "Who said that?"
"That's what everyone says online," I said with a grin. "The Ice Queen CEO with no family ties, who never cuts anyone any slack."
"That's just being professional." Elizabeth shot back, flustered and a little pissed.
"Oh," I nodded. "Guess I'm kind of looking forward to it."
"Looking forward to what?" she asked.
"To seeing just how icy this Ice Queen really is," I replied.
Her cheeks turned red under my stare, and she quickly looked away. "You'll regret it."
"Why?" I asked.
"Because," she mumbled, "because she might not be all she's cracked up to be."
I just smiled, not saying a word.
Outside, more fireworks bloomed in the night sky.
In the glow of the fireworks, I noticed the fine fuzz on her cheek. It was really cute.