Chapter 57

At the auction, the auctioneer moved through the early lots with practiced elegance. Neither Asher nor Drake showed interest until the pink diamond necklace appeared.

“Opening bid at £400,000,” the auctioneer announced with polished precision.

Drake immediately raised his paddle. After several rounds, the price reached £600,000, most bidders falling away.

“£620,000,” Drake called.

The auctioneer gestured elegantly. “£620,000. Shall we try £650,000?”

Asher raised his paddle with casual indifference.

“£650,000. Do we have any advance?”

Drake shot Asher a venomous glance before bidding again. A subtle war unfolded between them, the price rising steadily. At £700,000, Drake remained resolute. The necklace would be worth every penny if it helped secure Sterling Industries’ investment. The old saying rang true – sometimes you had to spend money to make money.

“£750,000,” Asher countered smoothly.

“£800,000,” Drake snapped.

As Asher moved to bid again, Kimberly touched his arm. “Let it go. It’s not worth this.”

The necklace was barely worth half its current price, and she preferred the sapphire piece coming up later. There was no point in a petty bidding war with Drake.

Watching from beside Drake, Sienna smirked triumphantly in Kimberly’s direction. Clearly, her new man didn’t value her enough to continue.

Later in the ladies’ room, Kimberly was applying lipstick when Sienna sauntered up.

“My, my, how quickly you found a replacement,” Sienna’s reflection sneered. “Though Drake just spent £800,000 on a necklace for me, while yours couldn’t be bothered. But then,” she studied Kimberly through the mirror, “you’re hardly worth the investment, are you?”

Kimberly finished her lipstick with steady hands. “Best of luck with that,” she said simply, turning to leave. Sienna’s words were meaningless now – like a small dog yapping at a distance.

At the gala days later, Alexander Sterling’s estate filled with luxury cars and elite guests. Beyond social climbers like Drake, many industry leaders had come specifically to meet Kimberly – valuable connections for her legal career. The Sterling estate’s driveway was lined with cars worth millions. Among the guests were not just opportunists like Drake, but genuine industry leaders Alexander had personally invited to meet Kimberly. In the legal profession, connections were invaluable.

Kimberly and Asher arrived early. Alexander, cutting a striking figure in his white dinner jacket, greeted them at the main entrance.

“Finally, cousin!” He embraced Kimberly warmly. “More stunning every time I see you.” He turned to Asher with a playful grin. “Never thought I’d be calling you brother-in-law. Come on, let’s hear you call me ‘brother’ just once.”

Asher’s only response was an arctic look.

“So cold!” Alexander laughed. “How does my cousin tolerate you?”

“Cold?” Kimberly’s eyes sparkled. “He’s perfectly warm with me.”

“Save the romance for after the engagement,” Alexander groaned theatrically.

After some light conversation, Kimberly and Asher entered the ballroom. The ground floor was already filling with guests, most unfamiliar to Kimberly. Asher was immediately surrounded by people hoping to catch his attention.

When a foreign couple needed to discuss an important project with Asher and Alexander, Kimberly gracefully stepped aside. “Go ahead. I’ll entertain myself for a bit.”

She had barely settled onto a sofa when Mrs. Clarke approached with pearl earrings.

“Miss Jordan, you forgot these when you left. Your stepmother asked me to bring them.”

“Oh!” Kimberly touched her bare earlobes. “How careless of me.”

“Shall I help you with those?” Mrs. Clarke offered warmly, the same maternal care in her touch that had comforted Kimberly through her mother’s death.

“Well, well. Kimberly Jordan.” A familiar voice cut through the moment. Margaret Ashcroft, Drake’s mother, stood there with Sienna. Her eyes moved between Kimberly and Mrs. Clarke’s uniform with calculated disdain. “So your mother’s a servant? How… illuminating.”

“No, madam, you misunderstand,” Mrs. Clarke quickly protested, distressed at causing Kimberly potential embarrassment. “I’m the Jordan’s housekeeper.”

Margaret’s laugh was brittle. “Oli, darling, no need for pretense. We all saw that touching little moment with the earrings. How… quaint.”

Sienna covered her mouth, giggling. “No wonder you’re embarrassed. I’d simply die if my mother was a servant.”