Magnus’s expression was troubled. He paced back and forth in his office, his steps sharp and restless. His jaw was tight, his expression dark.
After a few tense seconds, he stopped, lifted his head, and fixed Brent with a determined stare.
“Find out where Sylvia will be tomorrow,” he ordered, his voice low but commanding. “I will personally try to convince her to join this project.”
Brent blinked, caught off guard.
The man who negotiated billion-dollar deals with icy precision was now talking about personally persuading a single auctioneer.
The thought felt surreal.
Still, he nodded quickly. “Yes, Mr. Graves. I’ll look into it.”
***
Magnus and Brent stood at the entrance of one of the city’s most popular auction halls.
They waited near the exit door.
Guests were leaving, getting into their cars. Voices filled the air — praise for the designs, admiration for the auction, whispers about Sylvia.
“She was incredible.”
“Her voice is unforgettable.”
“She knows every detail about the diamonds.”
The compliments floated through the air.
Eventually, the hall grew quiet. The crowd thinned. The entrance became nearly empty.
Then Sophia finally stepped out of the exit.
The moment she stepped out, she saw Magnus standing there. But she didn’t pause.
Without even sparing him a second glance, she walked straight past him as if he were invisible.
Magnus’s jaw tightened.
Before she could take another step, he sidestepped smoothly and moved directly into her path, blocking her way. He stood close enough that she had no choice but to stop.
“Sylvia, I was waiting for you.”
She finally looked at him.
Even though she had to tilt her chin slightly to meet his gaze, her eyes were cold. Distant.
He held her stare for a second longer than necessary, then said evenly,
“I’d like to invite you to dinner.”
She turned her body fully to face him, her posture straight.
“Mr. Graves,” she said evenly, her voice calm but edged with cool distance, “what is this about?”
Her brows lifted faintly.
“I’m sure you’re too busy to have dinner with random people. It would be better if you got straight to the point instead of delaying the topic.”
