Chapter 395
Chapter 395:
“You mentioned the other one was with a private collector,” Kristine said. “He and I happen to be friends p>
“Who?” Asher asked immediately.
“Jim Morris, from the Arbfact Institute,” she replied.
Jim had devoted his entire life to the craft of watchmaking. On a restorer’s salary, a piece like this would have been impossibly out of reach — but years ago, he had helped the CEO of Valenriche restore several rare antique pieces, and the CEO, deeply grateful, had given Jim the 3929SG as a personal gift.
Leo was no longer aware that anyone else was in the room. He had eyes only for the watch, turning it slowly in his hands as though handling something sacred.
Taking advantage of the distraction, Asher leaned toward Kristine and lowered his voice. “How did you actually get him to part with it p>
His breath grazed her ear, and a wave of warmth moved through her chest before she could stop it. She kept her expression composed and her voice quiet. “I made a deal with Mr. Morris. That’s the only reason I have it p>
“What kind of deal?” Asher pressed.
Kristine opened her mouth to answer — but before she could say a word, the door swung open.
𝗟𝗮𝘁𝗲𝘀𝘁 𝗰𝗵𝗮𝗽𝘁𝗲𝗿𝘀 𝗼𝗻
A young woman stood in the doorway.
She had long, rippling blonde hair and a face of cool, composed beauty, as though she had been designed rather than born. There was something effortlessly magnetic about her — a quiet, unhurried confidence that commanded attention without demanding it. She said nothing, and yet the room shifted the moment she appeared.
Asher looked at her, and his jaw went tight.
Kristine was sitting right beside Asher and felt the shift in him the instant the door swung open — something in his posture stiffened, almost imperceptibly.
She couldn’t help glancing at the woman who had just walked in.
The newcomer didn’t spare a look for anyone else. Her eyes went straight to Asher and stayed there, bright with undisguised excitement. “Asher! It really is you! Dad mentioned you were in town, but I had to come see for myself!” She spoke as she settled herself into the seat beside Leo as though she had always belonged there.
Asher gave a short nod and rearranged his expression into its usual composed mask.
The woman finally registered Kristine’s presence, and a flicker of genuine surprise crossed her face. “And who is this p>
“Kristine Green — my assistant,” Asher said, with a note of something just slightly too quick about it. He turned to Kristine. “Kristine, this is Alma Ford. Leo’s daughter p>
Kristine gave a polite nod. “It’s lovely to meet you p>
Alma looked her over slowly, then spoke in the local Raskor language, her voice edged with something sharp. “I thought you only hired men. Since when did that change p>
Kristine didn’t understand the words, but she didn’t need to. Alma’s expression said everything. These two had a history — complicated and unresolved. Kristine kept a steady smile on her face even as an uncomfortable knot quietly tightened in her chest.