Chapter 396
Chapter 396:
Asher’s brow furrowed. He glanced at Kristine and switched languages without hesitation. “Kristine doesn’t speak Raskor, Alma. English, please p>
Alma’s expression soured further. “How very protective of your staff p>
Asher’s scowl deepened.
Before the tension could build any further, Alma suddenly gasped. “The 3929SG! Dad, how did you possibly get your hands on this p>
Leo chuckled and gave her a brief account of where the watch had come from.
The moment Alma understood that the gift had come from Kristine, the hostility in her eyes transformed entirely — replaced by a bright, almost feverish fascination. She sprang from her seat and planted herself directly beside Kristine. “Who is this Jim? How did someone like him end up with a piece like this p>
Kristine was reminded of Danica, the most sociable person she had ever known — but Alma was something else entirely, operating on a different frequency of warmth and intensity altogether. Kristine found herself drawn in despite herself and began telling Jim’s story.
To a serious collector, the 3929SG was something close to sacred — irreplaceable, beyond valuation. But to Jim, it was simply an instrument that told the time. He had always been more in love with the act of restoration than with possession. Ever since Kristine had shown him the last piece she had repaired, he had been unable to stop thinking about the craftsperson behind it. To protect her anonymity, Kristine had only passed along her notes and materials, keeping her own involvement hidden. Jim, grateful and moved by the quality of the work, had given her the 3929SG as thanks.
When Alma grasped that Kristine actually worked on watches herself, her whole face lit up.
“You can restore them? That’s incredible — I have one in my car right now. Come outside with me and take a look!” She didn’t wait for an answer. She closed her fingers around Kristine’s wrist and pulled her out of the private room before Kristine could so much as glance back at Asher. The door swung shut behind them.
Inside, Asher moved to follow — and a sharp, stabbing pain shot from his feet straight up through his legs. He stopped, beads of sweat pressing out across his forehead.
𝖸𝗈𝗎𝗋 𝖽𝖺і𝘭𝘆 𝘥о𝘀e 𝘰𝗳 𝗇ov𝗲𝗅𝗌 𝗼n
Leo watched him with a quiet smirk. “You seem quite concerned about Ms. Green p>
Asher’s gaze turned cold.
Out in the parking lot, Alma retrieved a small, elegant case from her car and handed it to Kristine.
Inside was a high-end TAG Heuer sports watch — not a decorative piece but a precision instrument, the kind built to withstand the demands of elite competition. These watches had been timing Formula One championships for years, and even in an era of advanced technology, they remained the standard for durability and accuracy. The sort of person who wore one valued performance as much as aesthetics.
Kristine examined it carefully. At first she noticed only a few minor surface scratches. Then she found the real issue.
“This watch is running slow by 0.1 seconds,” she said.
Alma’s eyes went wide. “You actually caught that p>