Chapter 9: Chapter Eight

Athena

We walked to the store in silence, his bodyguards trailing behind us, the weight of the money in my bag making it feel heavier with each step. As we entered, the soft chime of the bells above the door greeted us. 

The bright lights illuminated the sparkling display cases, but I barely noticed. My eyes darted around, searching for the manager, my heart pounding.

"Athena," Eros said, snapping me out of my anxious thoughts. "What are you looking for?"

“I don’t know,” I admitted, panic beginning to creep in.

Just then, a woman approached, her expression polite yet businesslike. “Can I help you with something?”

“Um... hello,” I greeted her, my voice shaky. “My... um—”

“I’ll take it from here,” Eros interjected smoothly, stepping forward. “She was here earlier to collect her mother’s jewelry, but it was stolen from her. She’s not sure what the piece looks like, so we’d appreciate it if you could help us identify it.”

“I’ll get the manager. Please wait a moment,” the woman replied before walking away.

Within two minutes, she returned with the manager, who looked surprised to see me, and even more so when he noticed Eros. He motioned for us to follow him, leading us to the VIP room.

“Courtney mentioned you lost Mrs. Sanderson’s jewelry, correct?” the manager asked, addressing me.

“It was stolen from her,” Eros corrected, his tone sharp.

“Right,” the manager said, slightly flustered. “Well, you’re in luck. We have only one piece of that necklace left. It’s a Renée Bianchi design, limited edition.”

Renée Belmonte-Bianchi was Eros’ cousin. She had married Marco Bianchi, the renowned Italian tenor celebrated for his commanding stage presence and rich voice in both concert performances and a wide array of operas.

She was a highly sought-after jewelry designer and owner of the multimillion-dollar company Gem & Grace Atelier. Every wealthy and famous woman in Eldoria yearned to be seen wearing one of Renée's creations, whether it was a bracelet, earrings, or a necklace. 

It appeared that Beatrix couldn't care less if her husband went broke, as long as she could own one of Renée's exquisite pieces.

“Do you still have it?” Eros asked. “You do know who I am, right? Renée is my second cousin.”

“Yes, I know who you are,” the manager replied with a smile. “I’ll be right back.” He stood and left the room.

I couldn’t relax until I saw the necklace. I tried to keep my knees from bouncing with anxiety as the minutes stretched on, but despite my efforts, I couldn’t help it. I jumped in surprise when I felt Eros’ hand on my knee. It was a brief touch, but it sent a wave of sensation from my head to my toes.

“Relax,” he said softly.

Finally, the manager returned, carrying a green velvet box that he placed on the table before opening it. Inside lay the delicate necklace that Beatrix had adored, glimmering beautifully. My heart sank—it was right there, and I had to buy it, or Beatrix would lose it and carry out her threat to get rid of me.

It was the Imperial Diamond Cascade. The necklace featured a series of flawlessly cut diamonds, with a rare, 30-carat pear-shaped white diamond as its centerpiece. The design mimicked a waterfall, with smaller diamonds cascading down in intricate layers that sparkled in any light.

The diamonds were set in platinum, enhancing their brilliance and adding an air of elegance. Surrounding the centerpiece were halos of brilliant-cut diamonds, each meticulously arranged to amplify the shimmer of the central stone. 

The delicate yet strong chain was lined with princess-cut diamonds, making the entire piece gleam from every angle. It was absolutely stunning.

It’s priced at three thousand euros,” the manager told me.

My gaze shot up to his face in horror. “Three thousand?!” I exclaimed, my jaw dropping open.

“How much did you expect it to be?” he asked, tilting his head to the side.

“Um...” My heart began to race as I realized I was in trouble; I only had one thousand with me.

“Do you take debit cards?” Eros asked.

“Yes,” the manager replied with a nod.

Eros reached into his pocket, pulled out his wallet, and handed his card to the manager. I noticed the manager’s eyes widen briefly at the sight of the exclusive black card used only by ultra-wealthy families. He quickly stood up and left the room.

I looked at Eros, surprised. “You don’t have to do that.” I said.

“I know, but I want to help,” he replied, his tone sincere.

A swell of gratitude washed over me, mixed with something deeper. “Thank you,” I said, my voice barely above a whisper.

The manager returned with a signature pad for Eros to sign, which he did, before handing him the card. He then packaged the necklace for us, and we finally left the store. I made sure to hug the bag tightly to my chest as we walked over to where Alfred waited by the car.

“Um... I should return the money you loaned me,” I said.

“No need,” he said, shaking his head as he opened the door for me. “You’ve had a harrowing experience today. You should go home and rest.”

“I’ll just drop it off and head back to school,” I replied, sliding into the car.

“Fine, have it your way,” he shrugged.

“Thank you so much for this, Eros. I’ll never forget it,” I said earnestly.

“That’s the idea,” he replied, throwing me a mock salute before shutting the door.

I kept my gaze fixed on Eros until he was out of sight, then turned to face the front and caught Alfred glaring at me in the rearview mirror. His eyes were fixed precisely on the bag I was still clutching to my chest, which unsettled me as an errant thought flitted through my mind. 

I quickly pushed it aside, choosing instead to thank God for helping me escape the mess I was in.